Perspectives on Careers in Sport

Wednesday 2 March, 7.00pm 

The next Perspectives Lecture will focus on careers in sports. Join our panel of speakers on Zoom to hear them discuss the opportunities and challenges of careers in a range of creative fields. Drawing upon their varied experience, five Bolton School alumni will also reflect upon the diverse range of career choices within the sector and the skills requires to succeed.

Our panellists are: Beth Coton (Class of 2013), tennis coach and customer service manager; Catherine Rees (née Salmon, Class of 1994), founder of a sport and lifestyle PR company; Rosie Arthur (née Poynor, Class of 2001), Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Psychology; Jasmine Howarth (Class of 2021), student of Sport and Exercise Medical Science; and Annabel Ault (Class of 2014), a Media Analytics and Strategy Manager.

‘Perspectives’ is a series of free, public lectures hosted by Bolton School Girls’ Division, currently taking place on Zoom. They are free to attend and open to pupils in Year 10 and above, parents, alumni, and all other members of the School and local community.

About our panellists:

Catherine Rees (Class of 1994) - Founder of Move PR and Non-Exec Director of the FA National Futsal Series

Catherine is the founder of sport and lifestyle communications agency Move PR.

Before setting up her own agency, she was Global Head of Communications at Umbro, responsible for high profile campaigns around the England football teams, Manchester City F.C. and some of the world’s best-known football players.

She now works with sport companies, brands, and charities from grassroots sport upwards. This includes working with a charity that supports professional sportspeople when their sporting career comes to an end.

In her role with the FA National Futsal Series, she recently helped secure a broadcast deal with BT Sport, the biggest of its kind in the history of futsal in England.

Beth Coton (Class of 2013), Tennis Coach and Customer Service Manager at Kooyong International Tennis Academy

After leaving Bolton School in 2013, Beth went on to study Communication and Media Studies at the University of Northern Colorado. Alongside her studies she played tennis at Division 1 level, went on to be ranked in the top 40 Intercollegiate Tennis Association of America and captained the university’s tennis team, a continuation of her success representing Lancashire whilst growing up.

Since graduation, Beth has lived in Melbourne for four years, working at the Kooyong International Tennis Academy as a Customer Service Manager and Tennis Coach and has recently held tennis clinics alongside world number one players: Stan Smith and Ash Barty.

Dr Rosie Arthur (Class of 2001), Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of the West of Scotland

Rosie is a Lecturer, researcher and practitioner in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of the West of Scotland.

Her interests focus on the psychological determinants of sport performance and physical activity behaviour. She investigates the interplay between psychological, physiological and social factors (e.g., deprivation) and how they work together to influence the participation and performance of physical activity. She has worked with many organisations to assist them to understand and improve their sport and exercise programmes (E.g., GB rowing, NHS Lanarkshire, Celtic Football Club, Scottish Football Association, British Military paratroop regiment, Street Soccer, Sport Wales) and she uses her research findings and experiences to support University students to develop their understanding of Sport and Exercise Psychology.

Annabel Ault (Class of 2014), Media Analytics and Strategy Manager at City Football Group

After reading Geography at the University of Oxford, Annie started her career in Strategy Consulting at Deloitte before moving to the Strategy and Ventures team at City Football Group. CFG own Manchester City and 10 other football clubs globally and are widely recognised as one of the most innovative and fastest growing companies within sports. The focus across Annie’s roles has been identifying new opportunities in a rapid growth period for the group – working on projects as diverse as acquiring new clubs, determining the optimum broadcast deals for women’s football and launching a Manchester City language learning app during lockdown. Annie has recently been promoted to Media Analytics & Strategy Manager at CFG, and combines working with studying part-time for a Global MBA at the University of Manchester. 

Jasmine Howarth (Class of 2021), student of Sport and Exercise Medical Science

After joining Bolton School in Sixth Form, Jasmine left in 2021 following completion of her A Level studies and has since been living in London and studying Sport and Exercise Medical Science at Kings College. Alongside her studies she is part of her university's dance team, which competes against other universities across the UK, as well as being part of the Kings College powerlifting club. Jasmine is particularly interested in the applied physiology of the human body to sport, but also intends to look into sport contract law after completing her undergraduate degree.