Meet the Team

Sarah Humphreys (she/her)

Director of Sport and Active Wellness

s.humphreys@brookes.ac.uk

Sarah joined Oxford Brookes as Director of Sport & Active Wellness in 2025 and oversees the Sport & Active Wellness Directorate, ensuring strategic delivery in line with the University’s ambition to place sport and active wellness at the heart of student and staff life. She has almost 30 years’ experience in the higher education sport sector and has led the development and success of several institutions, including Leeds Beckett University and the University of Nottingham in China.

Sarah has experience across the full sporting pathway, from participation to performance, alongside extensive expertise in facility management, operations and strategic delivery. She has also played an active role within British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) for many years, undertaking a range of support and advisory roles and helping to shape sector-wide delivery. A strong advocate for sport and active wellness, Sarah is passionate about the crucial role it plays in supporting mental, physical and social health.

Sarah Madden-Queralt (she/her)

Deputy Director of Sport & Active Wellness and ECS Strategic Projects

squeralt@brookes.ac.uk

Sarah joined Oxford Brookes in 2007 and is now Deputy Director of Sport and ECS Strategic Projects. After holding a variety of roles across the student sports programme, operations and commercial portfolio, she became Deputy Director of Sport in 2016. In her current split role, Sarah sits on the ECS Directorate’s Senior Leadership Team and oversees strategic projects aligned with ECS business objectives, primarily focusing on people, culture, and business improvement. She also serves on the University’s LGBTQ+ Staff Forum and is one of the Directorate’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion champions.

Emma O'Hara (she/her)

Head of Engagement

eohara@brookes.ac.uk

Emma first joined Oxford Brookes in October 2019 as Sports Coordinator. After a brief role as Community and Inclusion Officer at the Berks & Bucks FA in 2022, she returned later that year as the Marketing and Engagement Manager. Emma now leads engagement for the Directorate, overseeing the Brookes Active programme, major events, memberships, data and all marketing, communications and digital channels.

Drawing on her experience as a former Irish international hammer thrower and sports scholar at the University of Maryland, USA, Emma is dedicated to creating an accessible, engaging and impactful sporting experience for the entire Oxford Brookes community.

Jamie Buxton (he/him)

Head of Operations and Compliance

jbuxton@brookes.ac.uk

Jamie joined Oxford Brookes in October 2014 as a Duty Manager and has over 20 years of experience in the leisure industry, having previously worked across several West Oxfordshire sites. He became Senior Sports Manager in May 2019 and now serves as Head of Operations & Compliance, overseeing compliance and operations across all sites. His responsibilities include producing and updating risk assessments, COSHH assessments, A&I investigations, site audits, training records and managing budgets. Jamie also leads the Sports Operations Team.

Richard Cole (he/him)

Head of Business Delivery

rmlcole@brookes.ac.uk

Richard joined Oxford Brookes in 1997, having previously worked in the outdoor industry as a climbing and mountaineering instructor. He is responsible for the Climbing Centre and commercial sports delivery, leading a large team of instructors and coaches who run a wide range of indoor and outdoor climbing and mountaineering courses. Richard has also led expeditions to the European Alps and the greater ranges of Nepal.

Richard Ormiston-Rees (he/him)

Head of Workforce Development

rormiston-rees@brookes.ac.uk

Richard joined Oxford Brookes in 2020 and brings over 13 years of experience in higher education sport. He currently leads the Brookes Applied strategic area of the sports strategy, helping students gain real-world experience in the fitness industry, while also overseeing the campus fitness and wellness spaces. Before joining Oxford Brookes, he spent six years at Oxford University Sport.

Richard's main sporting interest is Muay Thai, which he has been involved in for 20 years as both a competitor and coach. He has also worked as a personal trainer for 13 years.