The CGE Team

Paul Blanchard
Chief Executive

Louise Bell
Operations Director

Louise has worked on international sport events since 2000, where she worked as a sport volunteer at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Following the Sydney Games, she worked for one of Australia’s leading Event Management companies, project managing events across Australia for client’s such as Swimming Australia and Surf Life Australia – two of the country’s most followed sports.

In 2007 Louise moved to the UK and began work with the UK’s leading outdoor fitness provider, British Military Fitness. Here she managed challenge events, treks and off-road running events around the UK and Europe, before moving on to work with the London Olympic Organising Committee in 2011. At the Olympics Louise was initially responsible for the logistics operation of the Aquatics Centre, before moving in to Venue Management, were she oversaw the Games Time operation.

Louise joined Commonwealth Games England in January 2013.

Vicki Harris
Business Support Executive

Vicki started her career as Vice-President for Sport at the University of Birmingham. She worked for the Students' Union, maintaining close relationships with the University and 52 sports clubs, to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to get involved with sport. During this time she also served as a member of the Advisory Board of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) as West Midlands Student Chair.

After her sabbatical year, Vicki worked as Support Assistant for British Ski and Snowboard, where she provided logistics and marketing support to the elite British squads and programmes, as well as general administrative support to the business.

Vicki joined the team at Commonwealth Games England in February 2016.

Lara Kazakos
Commercial Manager

Lara began her career in the legal industry but moved to work in sport after becoming involved in mass participation events through her local running club. Lara volunteered at a number of large mass participation events including ITU World Triathlon and the Tour of Britain and as a result gained an internship with IMG. Whilst at IMG Lara worked in the Mass Participation Sports Team on their portfolio of summer events including the London Triathlon and Sure Run to the Beat.

Lara joined Commonwealth Games England in November 2014 to support Nick in the Commercial team.

Dominique Mignot
Finance Executive

Dominique has worked as a management accountant for a number of companies such as Financial Training Company, Debenhams and more recently ATC (International Holdings). He has always had a keen interest in sports, which was just as well when he was offered this position at CGE.

Dominique joined the Team in January 2015 to support the Finance Manager Debbie Morrod.

Deborah Morrod
Finance Manager

Deborah is a chartered accountant who specialises in SME businesses. She worked with PwC for 12 years in London SME business sector and was involved in the setting up of the Ukraine office.  Deborah also worked with ATC (International Holdings) for a number of years as both Finance Director and Overseas Taxation Consultant.

Deborah joined Commonwealth Games England in December 2012.

Don Parker
Sports Director

A former International Table Tennis Player who represented England over 200 times, Don joined Commonwealth Games England in 1997. Don graduated from Loughborough University in 1978 and was appointed National Coach by the English Table Tennis Association.

He worked within the Governing Body for 18 years in a variety of performance related positions. In 1995 he took up the position of Deputy Technical Director at the British Olympic Association, and was involved in the 1st BOA Holding Camp in Tallahassee.

In his time with Commonwealth Games England, Don has undertaken a senior role at all four Commonwealth Youth Games as well as the last five Commonwealth Games.

Pivotal to the roles undertaken by Don has been his relationship with the Governing Bodies, his sports knowledge, his relationship with athletes across all the Commonwealth Sports and his understanding of the multi-sport environment.

In recognition of his achievements, Don was voted on to the Commonwealth Games Federation’s Sports Committee.