Paul Owen, British Canoeing’s top man for over 23-years, has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE); we take a look at his outstanding career and just why he has been honoured by the Queen.

Paul was a volunteer in the sport for 17 years from 1975, and was then appointed as Chief Executive of the British Canoe Union (BCU) in 1992. The youngest ever appointed Chief Executive of an Olympic Sport in Britain.

During his seventeen years of voluntary service, Paul worked in a number of roles from Press Officer of the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race, where he established the Event as a World renowned brand to a committee member and international official for Canoe Marathon. Paul served as secretary of the BCU’s southern region and was a key member of the committee of Reading Canoe Club. 

Paul was a leading member of the team that organised the first Canoe Marathon World Championships in Nottingham during 1988 and in 1989 Paul was awarded the BCU’s award of Merit.

Paul led the BCU for 23 years taking the organisation from a small National Governing Body (NGB), to the large and extremely respected and successful organisation it is today.

Upon his appointment, Paul discovered that the organisation was effectively trading insolently with a large bank overdraft and negative capital employed. He quickly took a grip of the finances, transforming the organisations financial position through sound business management and creating commercial partnerships. Since then he led with clear vision and ambition to succeed.

The BCU’s Olympic disciplines went from strength to strength under Paul’s guidance, resulting in our athletes consistently winning medals at significant competitions, and now being recognised as amongst the best canoeing athletes in the World. Paul wrote the first World Class Performance programme for canoeing in 1996, and initially to get the programme running, took on the role of the Sports Performance Director, before appointing the current post holder. Paul continued to play an active part in the strategic management of the BCU’s World Class Programme, providing guidance and acting as a “critical friend” to the programmes Senior Management Team.

Since Paul was appointed, British athletes medalled at every Olympic Games, most significantly at the Games in 2008 and 2012, where three Olympic champions came from the BCU. Paul’s leadership skills were influential in this process, ensuring that no stone is ever left unturned, resulting in proven achievements on the world stage.

Still on the topic of the Olympic Games, Paul worked tirelessly to ensure that the BCU were best placed to deliver results at London 2012, and is a firm advocate of providing a lasting legacy from the London Games. This is evident in the Whitewater Course at Lee Valley, which Paul was involved with from day one.

Under Paul’s leadership, the BCU has grown from a small organisation to one, which now has in excess of 70,000 members and a further 2 million participants in the UK. Paul drove the success of this growth, with his innovative thinking and by encouraging the workforce to buy into the aims of the business, with the creation of a positive work culture.

As an NGB, the BCU is highly regarded within the sport industry, for its high standards in governance and good practice. Paul was instrumental in ensuring that the pathways were in place to achieve this, and has provided on going-support to ensure it was maintained.

Paul has been responsible for securing international level competitions in the UK including several World Championships, and in particular Paul led the successful bid to host the 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships at Lee Valley; the first London Legacy World Championships to be awarded.

Additionally, Paul was a trustee and director of the BCU’s charity, the Canoe Foundation. During his time on the Canoe Foundation, the charity went from strength to strength, with over 35,000 children benefitting from its donations and having positive experiences in our sport. The growth of the charity is, in part due to Paul’s creativity and drive and ambition to succeed.

Paul was canoeing’s representative on the National Olympic Committee contributing immensely to the organisations activities and strategic direction. In particular, Paul worked tirelessly behind the scenes towards the goal of bringing the Olympic games to Britain; first Manchester, then London. Even when things became tough, Paul never stopped believing.

Paul is passionate about equality and is prepared to stand up and be counted when it comes to driving forward situations that he sees as unfair. In particular, he has been a key advocate in taking forward the participation of women and in developing the sport for people with a disability.

In 2011, Canoeing was added to the programme of the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. The British Canoe Union under Paul’s leadership was key to this decision, having organised the first Paracanoeing Championships in the UK during the 1990’s and then finally having proposed at the 2008 International Canoe Federation Congress, the inclusion of Paracanoeing in its future development and World Championships. During the International Paralympic Committees decision phase, Paul actively lobbied IPC members for its inclusion.

Until recently Paul was the Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance (previously CCPR) Water Recreation Division, having previously been its Vice Chair for six years, and before that an active member since 1992.

He also served on UK Sports Ethics and Anti Doping Committee and has been a Director of the Sports Aid Foundation Southern region.

Internationally, in addition to the work previously mentioned with respect to events and Paralympic inclusion, Paul has actively supported the International Canoe Federation (ICF) Avoiding seeking office, Paul carved out a role of unofficial consultant and advisor to the ICF; this role has given Paul an extensive influence in the direction and affairs of the federation. Until recently Paul was engaged with the organisations strategic governance review, which is determining the International Federations’ organisation and strategic direction for the next few years.

In 2004 Paul voluntarily took the role of Finance Director of the Commonwealth Games Council for England, a position that he held for three years, instigating major reform with the introduction of a new independent chair and the structure we see today.

At a club level, again voluntarily, Paul worked tirelessly with his wife Tamsin to redevelop Reading Canoe Club to be come the fine community facility it is today.

Paul has been outstanding in his role as Chief Executive of the British Canoe Union. Prior to his appointment, the BCU was a small organisation, with lack of vision, lack of funds and lack of ambition. It simply served the sport, providing the basic administration required. Paul however, breathed new life into the organisation and has, over the years, developed it into the successful, well managed, and highly regarded organisation it is today.

He is, quite simply, inspirational, and the BCU, and the wider sport of canoeing, has greatly benefitted from this wonderful trait. 

In 2012 Paul was awarded British Canoeing’s highest award – the Award of Honour.