Dr Graham Spacey

Dr Graham Spacey is a Senior Lecturer in Sports, Events, and Tourism and Programme Leader for the MSC Sport Management degree. His teaching philosophy is values-led and student-centred, grounded in collaboration, inclusion, experiential learning, and practical application to support students to become confident, ethical, and globally aware practitioners.
His research and consultancy focus on sport management, education, and social impact, combining mixed methods and participatory approaches to generate insights that inform policy and practice. He has co-authored major reports for the Commonwealth Secretariat, Sport Ireland, and UNESCO, and contributed to University of Brighton’s UK REF 4* impact case studies evidencing sport’s role in peacebuilding and community development through values-based coaching, teaching, and community engagement with Football 4 Peace International.
He studied Physical Education (BA Hons) at Chelsea College, and International Sport Policy (MA) at the University of Brighton, before his doctoral studies at the University of Johannesburg where he earned his DPhil in 2021.

• Spacey, G.B. & Hatton, D, & Sambili, L (2025) ‘Global Sport and SDGs Impact Report’; London: Commonwealth Secretariat;
• Marriott, Y. & Crawshaw, K. &Gonouya, R. & Spacey, G.B. (2025) ‘BMMUK 2024 Impact Report’, London, BMMUK.
• Crawshaw, K. & Ekrayem, Z. & Spacey, G.B. (2025) ‘Parent Zone Everyday Digital: Fial Evaluation Report’; High Wycombe: inFocus.
• Spacey, G.B. & Hatton, D. (2024) ‘Sport Ireland: Mapping the contribution of Irish sport to the UN Sustainable Development Goals’; Dublin: Sport Ireland;
• Spacey, G.B. & Hatton, D. & Crawshaw, K. (2021) ‘The Covid-19 Pandemic’s Impact on London’s Community Sport Sector and its Response: Sport Unites and the Major Events Engagement Fund’; London: Greater London Authority
• Spacey, G.B. & Burnett, C. & Roux, C.J. (2020) ‘Homeground Initiative : fulfilling the remit of the South African government for quality physical education in rural KwaZulu-Natal’ Africa Journal for Physical Activity and Health Sciences (AJPHES); DOI:10.37597/ajphes.2020.s.11
• Teideman, G & Spacey, G.B. (2020) ‘Coaching and teaching LGBT Youth’ in Wallis, J & Lambert, J (Eds.) ‘Sport Coaching with Diverse Populations: Theory and Practice, Abingdon: Taylor and Francis; https://doi.org/10.4324/9780367854799
• Sugden, J.P. & Spacey, G.B. (2020) ‘SDP partnerships and the Government sector: Manna from heaven or Faustian pacts? in Green, C & Welty-Peachey, J ‘Partnerships and Alliances in Sport for Development and Peace Considerations, Tensions, and Strategies; Urbana: Sagamore; ISBN/ISSN: 978-1-57167-981-9
• Sugden, J.P. & Spacey, G.B. (2019) ‘Football for Peace is coming home: reflections on the ongoing contribution of sport to the peace process in Northern Ireland’ in Bradley, J.M. (Ed.) ‘Celtic Minded 4’, Colintraive: Argyll Publishing; ISBN: 9780993282867
• Caudwell, J. & Spacey, G.B. (2018) ‘Football 4 Peace versus Homophobia: A critical exploration of the links between theory, practice and intervention’ in Pringle, R. & Larsson, H. & Gerdin, G. (Eds.) ‘Critical Research in Sport, Health and Physical Education: How to make a Difference’ I, Routledge; https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203702598
• Spacey, G.B. (2016) ‘Learning and teaching values through physical education’ in Stidder, G & Hayes, S ‘The Really Useful Physical Education Book: Learning and teaching across the 11-16 age range’; Abingdon: Routledge; https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203858134
• Spacey, G.B. (2015) ‘Tourism and Development: a collaborative approach in The Gambia’ in AM Global Report: Public Private Partnerships with and within Emerging Tourism Economies; Griffith University: UNWTO; p61;
• Spacey, G.B. & Sugden, J.T. (2015) ‘The Football 4 Peace Experience’ in Conrad, D. & White, A. (eds) ‘Sport Based Health Interventions – Case Studies from Around the World’, New York: Springer; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5996-5

• Sport for development and peace; Impact measurement and management
• Sustainable development goals (16 / 11)

• Sport management
• Sport policy
• Sport for sustainable development and peace
• Niche tourism
• Sport tourism
• Marketing for non-profits
• Impact measurement and management
• Monitoring, evaluation, and learning

• PhD, Sport Management, University of Johannesburg
• MA, International Sport Policy, University of Brighton
• BA (Hons) Physical Education, Chelsea College

• International Sport - Events, Governance & Ethics
• Marketing Principles in Sport and Cultural Events Contexts
• Events Leadership
• Consultancy (MSC Sport Management & MSC Cultural Events)
• Destination Management and Marketing (BA Tourism & Hospitality Management)
• The Sports Ecosystem
• Sport, Events, and Operations
• Professional Opportunities in Sporting Contexts (BA Psychology with Sport Management)

• 2017 Excellence in Research and Enterprise Award (University of Brighton)
• 2014 Excellence in Community Engagement Award (University of Brighton)

The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA)

• 2022: UNESCO, Paris – Empowering Girls and Young Women through Sport
• 2016-2020: UNICEF / SAUPEA, Johannesburg - The state and status of Physical Education and School Sport in South Africa
• 2018: UNDESA, New York – Strengthening the Global Framework for Sport for Development and Peace
• 2015-2021: F4P Gambia
• 2013-2020: F4P Korea
• 2017-2019: Rugby 4 Peace Colombia
• 2011-2018: F4P Ireland
• 2013: UNESCO, Paris – Sport, Universal Values, and Anti-Doping Curriculum Development
• 2005-2012: Football 4 Peace Israel

• ‘The Future of SDP: Opportunities and Limitations’: Global Sport for Development and Peace Knowledge Collaborative (GloKnoCo) – ERASMUS+, Brussels, Belgium (May 2022)
• 'Values Based Physical Education and National Development Goals in the South African Public School System': North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) - Vancouver, Canada (October 2018)
• 'PE, School Sport and National Development Goals in South Africa': International Society for the Sociology of Sport (ISSA) International World Congress - Lausanne, Switzerland (June 2018)
• 'Embedding peace and development outcomes within a new national curriculum for physical education for South Africa': UNICEF / South African Universities Physical Education Association (SAUPEA) - Johannesburg Olympic Study Centre (August 2016)

Graham has consulted for inFocus Consultancy leading impact related projects with charities, NGOs, and government organisations including the International Olympic Committee (Olympism365; Olympic Solidarity), Commonwealth Secretariat, Sport Ireland, UNESCO, London Sport, Youth Sports Trust, Black Minds Matter, ICSSPE, ISCA, Nominet; Parent Zone, and the Premier League.
Graham also volunteers with Football 4 Peace International, advising partner organisations and training coaches in values-based methods.

• Access Sport – Disability Sport Networks in London (Lead Researcher): Led research for stakeholders across London on disability sport and inclusion, assessing the potential for a coordinated pan-London network to reduce exclusion and improve access.
• UK Deaf Sport – Participation Research (Lead Researcher): Co-designed, administered, and analysed a national survey exploring sport participation and physical activity levels among people with hearing loss
• Youth Sport Trust – School Games Competition Formats (Lead Researcher): Evaluated the purpose, function, and accessibility of school competition formats in England. Worked with School Games Organisers, National Governing Bodies, and schools to recommend improvements based on evidence and youth voice.
• UNESCO – Fit for Life Scoping Study (Researcher): Developed the scoping study on data-driven sport interventions addressing inactivity, mental health, and inequality as part of a post-COVID programme
• Erasmus+ – Global Sport for Development and Peace Knowledge Collaborative (Tutor): Contributed to an Erasmus+ initiative promoting participatory approaches to understanding how sport and physical activity drive social development and change. (Ref: 2019-1-CZ01-KA203-061224).
• UNICEF & Department of Basic Education – State and Status of Physical Education (Researcher): Participated in a two-year national study across nine universities examining the condition of physical education in South African public schools, leading to the formation of SAUPEA
• EU Partnership for Peace Grant – “Playing for Peace: Strengthening Community Relations through Football” (Research Partner). Collaborated with the University of Brighton, British Council, and Sporthochschule Köln to advance peacebuilding through football. (Ref: ENPI/2009/227-857)

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5213-7891