Tom Stokes, Jon Austin and Nicki Combarro will play key roles in supporting the delivery of Team England’s campaign as preparations for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games progress. 

Tom Stokes joined Commonwealth Games England in November 2024 as Head of Events and Operations and has now been appointed Deputy Chef de Mission for operations. Tom brings more than 20 years of experience delivering major sporting events and high-performance programmes. 

He has held senior operational roles with England Rugby, the British & Irish Lions and Team GB providing him with extensive experience of complex, multi-sport and international environments. 

Upon his appointment, Tom said, “I’m really excited to take on this new role as Deputy Chef de Mission for Operations and build on the strong foundations already in place. With my experience, I’m looking forward to supporting our athletes and teams behind the scenes, and working closely with colleagues and partners across operations to ensure everything runs smoothly. We'll focus on fostering a united and thriving team culture and ensuring we create the high performance environments that enable people to be their best. It’s an exciting Games for Team England, and I’m honoured to play my part in helping our athletes and staff thrive in Glasgow.” 

Nicki Combarro currently heads up Performance Services for Team England with 27 years of experience in physiotherapy and performance support. Throughout her career, she has played a central role in the delivery of integrated performance services, supporting teams across Olympic and Commonwealth sport. 

As Deputy Chef de Mission for Performance, Nicki will oversee Team England’s performance strategy for Glasgow 2026, working closely with sports, athletes and coaches to ensure the right support is in place to enable optimal performances.  

Nicki said, “Taking on the role of Deputy Chef de Mission for Performance is a real privilege. Supporting our athletes and coaches to perform at their best has always been at the heart of my work, and I’m looking forward to leading our performance services for Glasgow 2026. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work closely with our sports teams, athletes, and coaches to ensure the correct support is in place throughout the Games cycle and beyond.” 

Jon Austin brings a wealth of experience from across the British sporting system to his role as Deputy Chef de Mission for Sport ahead of Glasgow 2026. He has previously served as both CEO and Performance Director within two National Governing Bodies and has extensive Games experience, having acted as a Team Leader at Olympic, European and Commonwealth Games. 

On taking on the new role, Jon said, “After a lifetime working in sport, it is an amazing privilege. My wish is to support the athletes, coaches, support staff and our team behind the team as much as I can to be successful and enjoy the adventure.” 

Following the confirmation of the appointments, Team England’s Chef de Mission Jonny Riall said, “I’m delighted to appoint three outstanding Deputy Chef de Missions, who bring a huge amount of experience, energy and passion to the role. Their support will be invaluable as we prepare for the Games in Glasgow, and I’m really looking forward to working even closer with them over the coming months.”  

He added, “They will play a crucial role within our senior leadership team during the Games, working closely with myself, Head of Security Chris Dick, Chief Medical Officer Mike Rossiter, Head of Media and Communications Kirsty Woodcock, Games Services Manager Hollie Lunn and Reporting Manager Harriet Smith.” 

With the leadership team now in place, Team England can focus fully on the road to Glasgow 2026, ensuring everything is set to support athletes and staff. These appointments are an important step in shaping a strong, connected team that's Ready to Win.