Greater Canberra Area
๐ก As a Director at the global agency Sports Diplomacy Alliance (SDA), Iโm an internationally recognised consultant, strategist, and commentator in sports diplomacy. My expertise sits at the intersection of sport, soft power, and international relations โ particularly in advancing the interests of small nations, substates, cities, non-state sporting actors and the diplomacy of the worldโs game: football. ๐ I co-authored the British Councilโs flagship research report 'Towards a Welsh Sports Diplomacy Strategy', which laid the foundation for the Welsh Governmentโs (UK) pioneering policy in this space. It is now an oft-referenced blueprint for governments, cities, and organisations worldwide seeking to develop a sports diplomacy approach. ๐ฌ I am also the creator of Sports Diplomacy Unwrappedโa leading Substack newsletter exploring how sport connects with diplomacy, trade, cultural relations, soft power, creative industries, and progressive policy. See: ๐ sportsdiplomacy.substack.com ๐ I pioneered the concept and approach of sports paradiplomacyโsports diplomacy by substates, cities, regions, and other non-state actorsโand have led and advised on strategic initiatives across government, academia, sport, and business in the UK, EU, Asia-Pacific, North America, and beyond. ๐ค ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค๐๐ซ | ๐๐จ-๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ | ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ I donโt just speak at global events and dialogues โ I build them. Co-founder, Project Manager, and Co-Director of: โข World Congress on Sports Diplomacy (2023, DonostiaโSan Sebastiรกn) โข AustraliaโUK Sports Diplomacy Dialogue (2023, Edinburgh) Recent presentations include: โข FISU International University Sports Federation World Forum (2024, Zagreb) โข TAFISA Mission 2030 dialogue โ Sport for All Diplomacy (2025, Frankfurt) ๐ผ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ / ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ With 15+ years of senior experience across the UK, Australian, and EU public sectors, I also bring deep capability in: โข International Trade โข Policy Development โข Org. Development โข Industrial Relations โข Workforce Strategy, Capability & Culture โข Change & Project Management ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ / ๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐๐ซ๐ฒ โข Hon. Member, Centre for Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy, Rijeka University, Croatia โข PhD Candidate, Bond University (ongoing) โข Tutor, SOAS (Global Diplomacy MA) โข Tutor, Hungarian University of Sports Science (International Sports Diplomacy MA) โข Global Ambassador - MeetinWales.com ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ง๐๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ: ๐ฌ sportsdiplomacy.substack.com | ๐ Bluesky: @gavinmprice.bsky.social | โ @GavinMPrice
Key Areas of Focus: โข International security and risk mitigation โข Supporting and advising offshore post networks โข Diplomatic and intergovernmental engagement โข International project management and capacity building โข Liaison with international organisations and agencies โข Strategic policy and project advice and coord in international ops โข Managing visiting international delegations and protocol
Sports Diplomacy Unwrapped is an independent newsletter, insights platform and consultancy that demystifies the complex world of sports diplomacy. It offers analysis, strategy and advisory on sport's role in diplomacy, business, culture and global engagement โ built for the governments, federations, cities, regions and peak civil society and sporting bodies shaping the field, and for the practitioners, scholars and curious readers following it.
Recent examples (not exhaustive) of major SDA consulting projects I have driven include: 1. Co-Program and Event Director, inaugural (1st) World Congress on Sport Diplomacy, Donostia-San Sebastian, Basque Country (Oct 2022 โ July 2023). Program details: https://www.uik.eus/en/activity/challenges-opportunities-sports-diplomacy-21st-century Media coverage: https://nation.cymru/sport/wales-and-the-art-of-football-diplomacy/ (English) https://www.naiz.eus/eu/info/noticia/20230526/kirol-diplomaziaren-erronkak-aztertuko-dira-donostian-egingo-den-mundu-mailako-biltzarrean (Basque-Euskara) https://www.elcorreo.com/deportes/mas-deportes/mayores-expertos-mundo-participan-congreso-sobre-diplomacia-20230626163838-nt.html (Spanish-Espaรฑol) 2. Team Wales-Cymru (Welsh Government, Welsh Arts International & Football Association of Wales) delegation lead and presenter at the inaugural (1st) World Congress on Sport Diplomacy, Donostia-San Sebastian, Basque Country (May 2023 โ July 2023). Media coverage: https://twitter.com/walesintheworld/status/1673994753161981954?s=20 https://nation.cymru/sport/wales-and-the-art-of-football-diplomacy/ 3. Co-Program and Event Director of The 2023 Australia-UK Sports Diplomacy Dialogue. Delivered by Sports Diplomacy Alliance in partnership with The British Council, The Australian Government, and The University of Edinburgh (March, 2023). Event Summary: https://www.sportsdiplomacy.com/works/the-2023-australia-uk-sports-diplomacy-dialogue-the-return-leg/ 4. Author of the Post-Event Evaluation Report of The 2023 Australia-UK Sports Diplomacy Dialogue. Link to report available soon. 5. Expert guest and advisor on the Welsh Government in Canada podcast (produced by Podstarter) titled 'Soft Power Cymru', providing a 6 part series about Welsh sports diplomacy within the context of the enduring bilateral relalationship between Wales and Canada (Nov, 2022). https://www.wales.com/news/canada/wales-canada-sports-podcast-here
ICR Research is a leading research consultancy specialising in evidence-based policies, strategies and evaluation for those involved in international and transnational engagement. Our clients include Governments, Embassies, Cultural Institutes, and universities. Our areas of expertise are: โข Policy, strategies, theory and practice of International Cultural Relations, Soft Power (influence through attraction), Cultural Diplomacy, Public Diplomacy, Knowledge Diplomacy (including Science Diplomacy). โข Data analytics to support evidence-based policy, strategy, advocacy, and accountability. โข Global challenges: the intersections of culture, education, climate, health, theand security. I partner with our expert network of academic researchers, practitioners and policymakers to give you the evidence base, analysis, insight and advice you need. More info: https://www.icr-research.com/ https://www.icr-research.com/network-members/gavin-price
Partnering with Director James Allen and an expert team of professional consultants and researchers on a range of contracts connected to sport, society, and relations. See: https://www.counselltd.com/ and https://www.counselltd.com/team