Joel Lavery appointed as Chair of the Stakeholder Board for the World Taekwondo 2027 Grand Prix Series III

British Taekwondo is delighted to announce that Joel Lavery has been appointed as Chair of the Stakeholder Board for the World Taekwondo 2027 Grand Prix Series III, set to be staged at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

In this role, Joel will lead the stakeholder board – working with British Taekwondo, alongside fellow stakeholders GB Taekwondo, Manchester City Council and UK Sport – to provide independent oversight and ensure the event is delivered effectively, within budget and meets its strategic objectives. He will set the tone for governance, decision-making, and lead the alignment of the stakeholders toward the shared vision of a World class Grand Prix event.

Joel’s lived experience as an international Taekwondo athlete, as well as his pronounced business portfolio leading large scale international events for British Cycling and West Midlands Growth Company, gives him a unique perspective that will further enhance our position as outstanding hosts of Taekwondo events in the UK.

With his strategic leadership skills and experience in delivering impactful events, we are confident that the 2027 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series III will be a modernised and future-ready Grand Prix that continues to deliver on our hard-earned reputation as ‘home of the Grand Prix’.

Volunteer at World Taekwondo 2027 Grand Prix Series III

Do you want to play your part in the biggest Kyorugi event in the UK in 2027? Experience the thrill of live elite sport and be a part of history at the National Cycling Centre by joining the British Taekwondo volunteer team.

Volunteering at British Taekwondo events is a unique opportunity to be part of major events, supporting athletes and the wider Taekwondo community. It’s a rewarding way to give back to the sport, while playing a key role in creating a safe, inclusive, and exciting environment for all involved.

Whether you are helping us set up the event, supporting registration, accreditation & ticketing or assisting athletes with competition flow and safeguarding, there is plenty to get involved with during our events, and we welcome as many of you as possible to come and join our team.

Fill out the form below to register your interest in volunteering at British Taekwondo events, we look forward to seeing you in Manchester!

About Joel Lavery

Joel began his Taekwondo journey in 1979 when he joined his local Taekwondo club in his hometown of Thornton Cleveleys, near Blackpool under the guidance of Grandmaster Craig Waddington.

He was awarded his first Dan Black belt at the age of 10 and developed a passion for Kyorugi. He became the British Taekwondo Federation’s Heavyweight champion at the age of 18 and over the next decade went on to represent Great Britain, winning national and international open events. Joel represented Great Britain at the 1996 European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, alongside other members of the national team including Paul Green, Jo-anne Nash and Kathy Hook, before becoming coach and instructor with Il Gi Taekwondo Association.

In the business world, Joel is a senior strategic advisor with over 30 years of experience specialising in strategic planning, advocacy, commercial partnerships and major sporting event impacts. He has a proven track record of building cross-sector collaborative partnerships and leading high-impact strategies that drive investment, participation, and legacy in sport.

Joel began his career in Local Government where he led Sport, Leisure and Cultural Services before joining British Cycling in 2009. As Head of Partnerships and Major Events, he led the multi-agency delivery of numerous World Championships and developed national mass participation programmes, leading partnership programmes with Sky and HSBC UK.

As founder of Sporting Impacts in 2019 he has gone on to advise governments and cities on event hosting strategies, including the Scottish Government’s successful bid for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and was responsible for shaping and delivering the Major Sporting Event Strategies for both Birmingham and West Midlands Region as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games £24m Business and Tourism Programme, attracting sporting events to boost trade, tourism, and inward investment.

He helped to establish the Commonwealth Games Major Events Fund and led the bid to attract and host SportAccord World Business and Sport Summit in 2024 and the Kabaddi World Cup in 2025. Birmingham appeared for the first time in the Global Cities ranking and rose to 31 in 2024 after securing the European Athletics Championships in 2026 and Invictus Games in 2027.

Joel was most recently appointed Vice President of British Esports Federation where he is leading strategy, partnerships and major events and consults globally holding board positions with the International Association of Event Hosts and IWG Women and Sport Global Conference.

Speaking of the announcement, British Taekwondo CEO Dave Marshall said:

“We are delighted to welcome Joel as Chair of the Stakeholder Board for the World Taekwondo 2027 Grand Prix Series III in Manchester. Joel brings an exceptional combination of strategic leadership, major event expertise, and a genuine understanding of Taekwondo that makes him uniquely positioned to help guide this event forward.

“Having someone with Joel’s experience across international sport, partnership development, and major event delivery is a huge asset not just for British Taekwondo, but for all stakeholders involved in this project. His ability to connect sport with wider economic, social, and community impact aligns perfectly with our ambitions for the Grand Prix in 2027.

“What makes this appointment particularly exciting is Joel’s lived experience within Taekwondo itself. He understands the athlete journey, the importance of creating world-class competition environments, and the role major events can play in inspiring communities and developing the sport at every level.

“The UK has built a global reputation as the home of the Grand Prix, and Manchester has become a hugely important city within the international Taekwondo landscape. With Joel’s leadership, we are confident that the 2027 event at the National Cycling Centre can set new standards for innovation, operational excellence, and long-term legacy.

“We look forward to continuing our strong collaboration with GB Taekwondo, Manchester City Council and UK Sport as we work together to deliver an outstanding event that showcases Manchester and the UK on the global Taekwondo stage, and Joel’s appointment is a major step towards achieving that vision.”

Speaking about his appointment as chair of the Stakeholder Board Joel said,

“I am incredibly grateful for the trust that British Taekwondo, GB Taekwondo, UK Sport and Manchester City Council have placed in me to lead this prestigious World Taekwondo Grand Prix event and Chair the stakeholder board.

“It is a huge honour and feels like a genuine full-circle moment to return to where it all began for me. Taekwondo has shaped so much of my life, both personally and professionally. From stepping into a dojang as a young child, it helped build my character, shaped my values and ultimately gave me the privilege of representing my country at the highest level.

“My journey in Taekwondo eventually led me into a career in sport specialising in strategy, partnerships and major event impacts, having worked at all levels with local sports clubs, governing bodies, international federations, rights holders and major event host cities. To now bring that experience back into the sport that gave me so much is incredibly meaningful. I hope to bring clarity, ambition and purpose to this event and ensure it leaves a lasting and positive impact across the Taekwondo community in the UK.

“It is inspiring to see how far Taekwondo has evolved since my competitive days; from the increased profile of the sport and the support systems built around athletes, to advances in coaching techniques, use of technology and the emergence of virtual Taekwondo. As one of the final qualification events ahead of LA 2028, this Grand Prix will provide an important home opportunity for GB athletes within the Olympic cycle and a world-class platform to perform on.

“Beyond the competition itself, this event is also a major opportunity to bring the Taekwondo community together and celebrate the extraordinary contribution the sport and Martial Art has made across the UK. For hundreds of thousands of people, Taekwondo has provided far more than medals or competition, it has supported physical and mental wellbeing, given people purpose, created lifelong friendships, strengthened communities and changed many peoples lives for the better.

“I look forward to working closely with stakeholders, partners and our hosts Manchester and re-connecting with many of my old Taekwondo friends to help plan and deliver an unforgettable event which not only benefits Taekwondo but also becomes a standout moment in the 2027 major events calendar.

World Taekwondo 2027 Grand Prix Series III

Great Britain has secured the rights to host the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series III in Manchester in October 2027. This event is an important qualification event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games with both Olympic and Paralympic competition on the programme.

The UK has hosted Grand Prix events regularly since co-creating the format with World Taekwondo in 2013. This long-standing role at the heart of international Taekwondo has established the UK as a leading nation, and Manchester a leading city in our sport.

In 2027, the Grand Prix will take place in a new venue, the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, and we believe this event can become a model for operational efficiency and digital innovation that will benefit Taekwondo globally.

Beyond the world-class competition, the 2027 World Taekwondo Grand Prix Series III will also be an opportunity to inspire communities across the UK and showcase the inclusive values at the heart of British Taekwondo.

From Olympic and Paralympic competition sharing the same platform, to engagement opportunities designed to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with the sport, the event will celebrate Taekwondo as a truly global and accessible community.

With Manchester once again welcoming the world, the Grand Prix will not only highlight elite performance, but also the power of Taekwondo to bring people together, inspire the next generation, and create a lasting legacy both on and off the mats.