Lucy Piggott

Lucy Piggott is an Associate Professor in sociology of sport at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Sociology and Political Science. Her research focuses on issues of equality, diversity and inclusion in and through sport, with particular emphasis on gender equity in sport leadership and governance.

Dr. Piggott holds a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science from Loughborough University (UK), an MA in Sport and Society from the University of Brighton (UK), and a PhD in Sport Sociology from the University of Chichester (UK). Her doctoral research examined gender equity in English sport leadership and governance. During her PhD, she was closely involved with the Anita White Foundation, coordinating the Women's Sport Leadership Academy.

Dr. Piggott's research interests center on organizational aspects of sport, particularly examining how gender, diversity, and inclusion manifest in sport leadership and governance structures. Her work spans multiple contexts including national and international sport federations, sport for development and peace organizations, and esport organizations. She employs intersectional approaches to understand how multiple identities and social positions affect experiences in sport leadership. Her research often involves collaborations with sport organizations to translate findings into practical interventions.

Analysis of Dr. Piggott's recent publications reveals a strong focus on gendered power dynamics in international sport governance, with increasing attention to emerging areas like esports leadership. Her work consistently applies sociological and organizational theories to understand barriers to inclusion while identifying practical pathways for change. A notable trend is her expanding research scope from UK-focused studies to more international and comparative analyses, particularly examining Norwegian and international contexts.

Dr. Piggott actively supervises PhD students including Martin Nesse (researching "The Norwegian Model of Sports as a Care and Welfare Actor in the Civil Society"), Tina Danielsson (studying "Women's Experiences of Menopause in Norwegian Workplaces"), and Helen Curtis (examining "The International Women and Sport Movement"). She also supervises numerous bachelor's and master's students on topics related to social inequality in sport, including gender diverse youth experiences, sport as integration for refugees, gender inclusion in coaching, and menstrual cycle experiences in sport.

Dr. Piggott has led and contributed to multiple funded research projects, including analyses of career pathways of British postholders in international sport governance (funded by UK Sport), assessments of gender equity in international sport governance (funded by UK Sport), evaluations of soccer referee development for the women's game (funded by the English Football Association), and reviews of transgender, intersex and non-binary inclusion in sport (funded by the University of Hertfordshire).

She is actively involved with the Anita White Foundation, having previously coordinated the Women's Sport Leadership Academy and currently serving as an advisor. Dr. Piggott also contributes to public discourse through media appearances and podcasts, notably the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) podcast where she discusses gender equity in sport governance.