Judy Murray OBE

Judy Murray OBE is a prominent figure in British tennis, recognized as a former Scottish international player, coach, and advocate for women in sport. Murray competed as a Scottish international tennis player, earning 64 national titles and representing Great Britain at the World Student Games before focusing her career on coaching. She obtained her first tennis coaching qualification at age 17 and began coaching at Dunblane Sports Club while her children were young.

Murray became Scottish National Coach and was the first woman to pass the Lawn Tennis Association's Performance Coach Award. She initiated the Scottish Development School program, which produced four Davis Cup players and one Billie Jean King Cup player, including her sons Jamie and Andy Murray, both of whom achieved major success at Wimbledon and reached year-end World Number 1 rankings in doubles and singles, respectively. In her role as national coach, Murray contributed to the development of several British number ones, including Jamie Baker, Elena Baltacha, and Colin Fleming. As Captain of the British Billie Jean King Cup Team, she worked to increase the profile and participation of women in tennis, both among players and coaches, and addressed issues of gender equality in the sport.

Murray has developed grassroots tennis initiatives such as "Miss-Hits," a starter program for girls aged 5 to 8; "Tennis on the Road," which brings tennis to remote and underserved areas of Scotland; and "She Rallies," a program encouraging more women and girls to participate in tennis across the UK. The Judy Murray Foundation aims to make tennis accessible in rural and disadvantaged inner-city communities. Her "Learn to Lead" initiative focuses on empowering participants beyond the court. Murray received the Lifetime Achievement award at the UK Coaching Awards for her contributions to sport.

The University of Edinburgh awarded Murray an honorary doctorate, and she was appointed OBE for her services to tennis, women in sport, and charity. Outside of tennis, Murray appeared on the reality TV show "Strictly Come Dancing" and presents the "Driving Force" docuseries, which explores the stories of successful British female athletes. She is the author of two books, "Knowing the Score" and "Wild Card." Her memoir "Knowing the Score" details her experiences with financial challenges, personal growth, and gender barriers. As a keynote speaker, Murray addresses topics such as leadership, perseverance, and gender equality, offering insights relevant to audiences in sport, business, and beyond.