Staff profile

Jonathon Dawes is an ESRC-funded PhD researcher in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Durham University. His doctoral research is supported by a 1+3.5 studentship from the Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP). 

Jonathon’s research examines politics, policy implementation and governance in sport, with a particular focus on British tennis. His PhD takes an organisational perspective, exploring how and why governing and policy arrangements shape collective efforts to increase participation among underrepresented population groups. The research is informed by theories of collective action and polycentricity. 

Before beginning his PhD, Jonathon completed an MA in Research Methods (Political Science) at Durham University, achieving a Distinction. His MA dissertation critically examined the Lawn Tennis Association’s (LTA) approach to community sport policy implementation. He previously graduated from King’s College London with First-Class Honours in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. His undergraduate dissertation explored the use of evidence within LTA sport-for-development programmes. 

Alongside his research, Jonathon teaches on the Introduction to Sport and Exercise Industries module in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences. He is also the elected President of the Ustinov College Graduate Common Room, the representative body for students at Durham’s only exclusively postgraduate college. In this role, he leads the organisation’s strategy and operations, with a particular focus on delivering high-quality student enrichment and strengthening the postgraduate student community. 

Jonathon complements his academic work with extensive experience across tennis, public policy and the wider sport sector. He is currently the youngest-ever LTA Councillor in the organisation’s 137-year history. He also undertakes consultancy work for organisations including the Queen’s Club Foundation, Cheshire Tennis, King’s College London and Tennis Scotland. His work has covered philanthropy and fundraising, commercial partnerships, voluntary sports clubs, padel development, public policy, inclusion, alumni engagement, education and tennis heritage. 

Jonathon is an experienced tennis player, volunteer, university sport leader and LTA-accredited coach. He previously served as a Board member of Pride in Tennis and has held roles with Sport Wales and the Youth Sport Trust. He is also a former Member of the Welsh Youth Parliament, where he held the national portfolio for education. 

His contributions to sport and public life have been recognised through several awards, including the 2019 LTA Young Person of the Year Award, a British Citizen Youth Award, a King’s College London Distinguished Alumni Award and Honorary Life Membership of King’s College London Students’ Union for his exceptional contribution to tennis.

Research Interests

• Sport politics and public policy, particularly policy implementation 
• Sport governance and the evolving role of national governing bodies
• Collective action, polycentricity and the political economy of institutions  
• Power, politics and organisational relationships within community sport  
• Co-production of knowledge with underserved communities, particularly disabled and LGBTQ+ participants  

• Qualitative approaches to researching sport policy and governance

   

Publications

Dawes, J. and Lindsey, I. (2027, forthcoming) ‘Tennis Opened Up? How a national governing body implements community sport policy in practice’, in Hoye, R., Kerwin, S., Joseph, J., Downward, P. and Warner, M. (eds) The Routledge handbook of community sport. Abingdon: Routledge. 

Scholarships

Economic and Social Research Council, Northern Ireland and North East Doctoral Training Partnership (NINE DTP) 1+3.5 Studentship. 

Conferences

Political Studies Association Sport and Politics Specialist Group Conference, 2026  

Wimbledon History Conference, 2025