Geraldine Costello is the Director of Governance and Safe Sport at British Gymnastics, leading a dedicated team focused on creating an uplifting gymnastics experience that is safe, enjoyable, and accessible to all. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to safeguarding and ensuring zero tolerance for abuse and harm within the sport.
Geraldine brings extensive experience from across the charity, policing, and sports sectors. Previously, she led safe practice strategy at Girlguiding, supporting volunteers, and served for 31 years with the Metropolitan Police, where she specialised in protecting vulnerable groups, managing domestic abuse cases, and overseeing the management of violent and sexual offenders. She also holds voluntary roles as an independent Case Management Group Chair for England Netball and as a Safeguarding Advisor for the domestic abuse charity Surviving Economic Abuse.
Her passion for safeguarding is rooted in personal lived experience, motivating her to ensure that people are heard, believed, and cared for. Geraldine strives to create environments where compassion and safety are paramount, and where equitable experiences are promoted for all.
At British Gymnastics, Geraldine leads one of the largest safeguarding and welfare teams in UK sport, bringing together expertise from across sport, local authorities, and the voluntary sector.
Geraldine believes gymnastics can profoundly impact lives, particularly for children and young people. Her vision is for the Governance and Safe Sport department to make every member’s experience safe and enjoyable, contributing to a bright future for the sport.