Shaun Dawson has been Chief Executive of the award winning Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) since1997. Shaun is responsible for the strategic development and management of the 10,000 acre park which serves residents of London, Hertfordshire and Essex and is a major sport and leisure destination for the South East, attracting around 5m visitors every year.

The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority has guaranteed the future of four London 2012 venues. After the Games the Authority will own, fund and manage:
• Lee Valley White Water Centre just north of the M25, near Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire
• the spectacular Velodrome and Lee Valley VeloPark in the Olympic Park
• and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centres at the northern end of the Olympic Park

The Park Authority has already delivered a very tangible early legacy to the London region by opening Lee Valley White Water Centre in spring 2011 – a full year before the London 2012 Games. The 1st year of operation has brought great sporting and commercial success for this world class sporting venue/visitor attraction, with high levels of usage from schools, clubs, corporates and the general public.

Owners of three venues and 35% of the parklands in the Olympic Park, LVRPA is working closely with the London Legacy Development Corporation to determine the most effective and economic ways to deliver a popular and vibrant visitor focused Olympic Park destination.

Before joining LVRPA Shaun enjoyed success in the sport & leisure industry in both the public and private sector.

He has fulfilled a number of non executive positions. Shaun was a governor on the board of Middlesex University. In 2010 he was appointed Regional Champion for Community Sport for London, one of nine Ministerial Regional Champion appointments across England. In 2012 Shaun acted as the Government’s ‘Red Tape Champion’ for the sport and leisure industry.