Emma Kavanagh

Dr. Emma Kavanagh is an Associate Professor of Sport Psychology and Safe Sport at Bournemouth University, with dual HCPC registration as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist and chartered scientist. Her work focuses on safeguarding, athlete welfare, and addressing interpersonal violence in sport, particularly in online contexts. She chairs the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Integrity Advisory Group and contributes to international initiatives such as the IOC Safeguarding Consensus Statement (2025).

Education:

• PhD: The Dark Side of Sport (Bournemouth University, 2014)
• MSc in Sport Psychology (Brunel University, 2006)
• PGCE in Higher Education Teaching (2009)

Research Interests: Dr. Kavanagh’s research critically examines abuse in sport, including cyber-abuse, gender-based violence, and systemic safeguarding failures. Her work bridges psychology, sociology, and policy, with a focus on athlete protection and organizational integrity. She collaborates globally, including with the International Research Network on Violence in Sport (IRNOVIS) and Laval University’s Research Chair in Sport Security.

Awards:

• BASES Fellowship (2024) for contributions to sport science and safeguarding

Grants & Projects:

• Australian Research Council: Creating Safer Sport Communities (2025)
• BASES Safeguarding Workshops (UK-wide athlete protection training)

Labs & Networks: Member of IRNOVIS, NSPCC Sport England Advisory Group, and IOC Safeguarding Task Force. Leads sport psychology support for Team England at Commonwealth Games (2026).