We are delighted to officially welcome and introduce the new President of Table Tennis Ireland, Professor Alan Strong MBE. This photo captures a special moment as our amazing outgoing President, Pat Hunter, formally hands over the role to Alan – a gesture that reflects the continuity, dedication, and passion at the heart of our sport.
Professor Alan Strong MBE, TTI President in 2025, has a deep and long-standing involvement in Table Tennis, alongside a distinguished professional career.
His playing career saw him excel as an Ulster Junior, Irish University Singles Champion, and a medallist at the UK University Championships.
Returning to the sport, Alan became a highly qualified coach, achieving Level 2 awards, becoming a Sport Ireland Coach Tutor, and TTI’s first Coach Developer Assessor. He dedicated 21 years as Ulster’s Director of Coaching, developing winning teams and players, and providing coach education across all four provinces.
Alan’s leadership extended to event management, where he oversaw prestigious tournaments like the Milk and Wedgie Irish Opens, staged European and Friendly International Matches (including Ireland v China), and managed media coverage. He served as NPC for several teams, notably leading Ireland to its “best ever performance” at the European Youth Championships in 1982. He also guided Ulster Teams to five Commonwealth Championships and two Commonwealth Games (2002 and 2014).
His strategic contributions include chairing the ITTA High Performance Committee and co-authoring the “TTI High Performance Operational Plan (HPOP)” 2015.
Beyond the court, Alan has held significant governance roles, including his current position as Director of Commonwealth Games NI and a past role as a Government-appointed Board Member of the Sports Council for N Ireland, where he chaired the Places Committee. He has also served as acting TTI Chair and on the TTI Governance Audit Team.
His extensive contributions have been widely recognized with numerous accolades, including NI Coach of the Year (1987), the ‘NI Service to Sport Award’ (2003), and the Joe Veselsky Award (1996). He is one of nine TTI Honorary Life Members and a former ITTA Vice President. His exceptional service was further acknowledged with an MBE in 2017 for Education and Sport.
Outside of his sports commitments, Alan has a successful career as a chartered civil engineer and is a Visiting Professor at Ulster University, receiving industry awards for his passion for sustainability and leadership.
He remains deeply committed to being an advocate, ambassador, and promoter for Table Tennis Ireland.
