Continuing to showcase how sustainability is driving the future of the International Table Tennis Federation, the ITTF Group announced at the first ever ITTF Summit the creation of the Sustainability Manager position for the federation.

Karine Teow, a sport for development and programme development expert from the ITTF Foundation was tapped to head the newly created position. She has been a member of the ITTF Foundation since its creation, and her position works to ensure table tennis contributes to providing solutions towards the UNSDGs.

“After a steep learning curve at the ITTF Foundation, I am both grateful and excited to take on this new challenge within the ITTF Group. Having the role positioned across ITTF, WTT and the ITTF Foundation is to me, a clear signal that we have a real buy-in from the leadership and commitment to making the changes, necessary to ensure Table Tennis is a sport for tomorrow,” Teow said of her announcement.

Commenting on her appointment, ITTF Group CEO Steve Dainton said, “We are thrilled to have a Sustainability Manager join us. We want all members of the table tennis family to think about sustainability in everything they do and deliver. Karine will support us with our agenda; her experience and expertise will be a huge asset as we move forward to attain our goals.”

Teow spent her formative years growing up in both France and Singapore and currently lives in Germany. Her global perspective will be invaluable for the ITTF Group as it looks to not only position itself as a global sport leader, but a steward of the environment while doing so.

“I will do my upmost to find my allies in making sustainability accessible and digestible to the table tennis community and ensure, all aspects of our sport contribute positively to People, Planet and Prosperity. It is with urgency that we should build on the wonderful work that has been done, get the dialogue going and take further steps together on this long journey.”

The announcement came during a panel discussion on “Sustainability, the Only Way Forward” during the ITTF Summit, a time when stakeholders from around the entire table tennis family have gathered to tackle key issues about the future of the federation.