Alison Kervin OBE
"She has done as much over the years for battling females as any woman since Boadicea.” The Spectator
Alison Kervin is a keynote speaker, journalist, novelist and media adviser who has spent four decades at the top of British sport and national media.
She became the first female sports editor of a national newspaper when she took over the Mail on Sunday sports desk in 2013, a role she held for eight years. In 2017 she was awarded an OBE.
Alongside her journalism career, Alison has written more than forty books - including novels under the pseudonym Bernice Bloom - and now runs Gold Medals Media, a consultancy that helps organisations understand how the media works, develop powerful stories and communicate with clarity.
She works with major brands, start-ups and individuals seeking expert guidance on media strategy, storytelling and reputation.
Alison is also a keynote speaker and panel chair, sharing lessons from four decades interviewing the world’s most successful athletes, leaders and decision-makers.
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Alison speaks internationally on leadership, elite performance and media insight, drawing on four decades interviewing the world’s most successful athletes, coaches and decision-makers.
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Background:
Alison Kervin became the first female sports editor of a national newspaper when she took over the reins at the Mail on Sunday newspaper in 2013. She ran the sports desk for eight years, and was awarded an OBE in the 2017 New Year's Honours list for her achievements, most notably her concussion campaign, which ran for five years, pressuring the authorities and sports’ governing bodies into taking head injuries seriously.
“Sports and journalism are very difficult areas for women to achieve success in — and to champion both is amazing. Bravo.” Baroness Brady, West Ham vice-chair
Before her editing job, Alison worked as Chief Sports Feature Writer for The Times, Chief Sports Interviewer for the Daily Telegraph and editor of Rugby World magazine.
“Alison's work on behalf of women in sport has helped break the gender barrier for women on the field of play and in administration.” Lord Sebastian Coe
She has a hugely varied sporting CV: she was in the England gymnastics squad before qualifying as a coach for no fewer than 10 sports. In 1991, she became the first woman to referee a rugby match at Twickenham.
“I've known Alison for over 20 years. She was one of the first women to write about rugby, which at the time was truly groundbreaking. I have always held her in the highest regard because she has never shied away from controversy or been afraid to speak her mind and became a role model for women working in a historically male-dominated environment.” Sir Clive Woodward, World Cup-winning coach
In 1994 she was appointed editor of Rugby World magazine. In 1997 she became publisher of IPC sports publications, overseeing Rugby World and Golf Monthly, then in 1999 she became rugby editor of The Times, before becoming the paper’s chief sports feature writer in 2003.
“Alison is a hugely impressive figure in the sports world with a sporting pedigree few sports editors can rival. Of course, it really doesn’t matter whether The Mail on Sunday’s sports editor is a man or a woman – but I can think of no better candidate to break the mould than Alison.” Geordie Greig, editor of the Daily Mail.
As Chief Sports Features Writer, she wrote The Kervin Interview - a weekly interview series which ran for three years and featured stars ranging from Nick Faldo and Michael Owen to Prince Edward and Sean Connery. She even managed to interview Catherine Zeta-Jones by accosting her in the ladies toilets at a sports event in Monte Carlo.
“Alison is a trailblazer in the sports industry. Not only is she a fantastic journalist and writer, she has pushed the boundaries in becoming one of very few female sports editors in the world.” Gabby Logan, TV presenter
Before working as a newspaper and magazine interviewer, Alison was The Times' rugby editor for two years, and prior to that she was editor of Rugby World - the biggest-selling rugby magazine in the world. Alison worked for the Rugby Football Union as the public relations manager of the England team, was the first woman presenter on Rugby Special.
“I'm thrilled Alison's achievement in being the first female sports editor of a national newspaper has been recognised and hope it encourages many more women into sports journalism.” Clare Balding, TV presenter on Alison being awarded an OBE
She also holds coaching qualifications in 10 sports, and sits on numerous judging panels including the BAFTAS, BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Laureus International Sports Awards and the Magazine Journalist and Sports Journalist of the Year Awards.
“Alison knows the job inside out and back-to-front and it's a pleasure to work for her.” Stuart Broad, England cricketer
She was Cosmopolitan magazine’s Woman of Achievement, and won Feature Writer of the Year, Interviewer of the Year and Magazine Editor of the Year.
