MEET THE SPEAKERS FOR BE INSPIRED 2026

Safwan Afridi

Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP

Safwan is experienced in advising on all aspects of UK employment law for both employers and individuals. He acts for clients across a range of sectors, including, sport, technology and financial services. Safwan frequently advises on workplace disputes and termination negotiations, as well as the enforcement of restrictive covenants, contractual claims and employment tribunal claims. His practice also includes advising on redundancies and reorganisations, grievances and disciplinaries, general HR matters, as well as the employment aspects of large corporate transactions. He advises Women in Football and its members on a pro bono basis on a range of employment-related disputes, including, matters relating to sex and disability discrimination. Safwan also works on conducts and assists with complex workplace investigations. 

Paul Barber OBE

Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman, Brighton & Hove Albion FC; Women in Football director

Paul's career in professional football has spanned more than 25 years, during which time he has held senior positions at Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC and The Football Association. Since joining Albion, Paul has been elected to various representative roles for the Premier League, The EFL, and The FA. He is currently a member of The FA Council and Professional Game Board. Paul also serves as one of The FA’s international ambassadors, and sits on numerous Premier League committees.

Paul was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to association football, and has since received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sussex. Paul was named Overall Chief Executive of the Year at the Football Business Awards in both 2022 and 2013, and European Sports Executive of the Year at the Stadium Business Awards in 2016. 

Gurpri Bains

Founder & Consultant, Hyphen8 Labs

Gurpri is an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategist with experience in designing and delivering EDI strategies across four professional football clubs, including Wolves, Birmingham City and Burnley, alongside Aston Villa Foundation, where her work focussed on school sport and girls’ participation.

Her career also includes major event delivery for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. She currently serves on the Equity, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group at Women in Football, alongside the Football Association of Wales, and is a Trustee at Zest Theatre.

She is also the founder of Hyphen8 Labs, working at the intersection of sport, culture, media and governance. With a background spanning event production and as a radio host, she brings expertise in facilitation, storytelling and shaping public conversation. 

Alina Barlow

Director and Owner, Sydney FC

Alina Barlow is an entrepreneur, business leader and advocate for women in leadership, with a career spanning sport, property and retail.

As Owner and Director of Sydney FC, one of Australia's most successful football clubs, Alina plays an active role in shaping the club's strategic direction. She is also Deputy Chair of the Sydney FC Foundation, supporting its social impact work.

Beyond football, Alina is Founder and Creative Director of ALINKA Fine Jewellery and Owner and CEO of STRADA Group. As a female owner and leader in football, she champions greater visibility and representation for women in the game. 

Louise Beltrame-Bawden

Director of Women’s Sports Strategy, Stats Perform

Louise leads the company’s global approach to accelerating the growth, visibility, and commercial value of women’s sport through data, AI, and storytelling. With a background in sports journalism and international content leadership, Louise brings a media-first perspective to the data revolution reshaping sport. She has worked closely with leagues, federations, broadcasters, and digital platforms to deliver live coverage at scale, giving her firsthand insight into how data quality influences coverage, fan engagement, and commercial opportunity. Louise now focuses on building strategies that help the industry unlock long-term commercial growth in women’s sport.

Jenny Beacham

Chief Financial Officer, Liverpool FC

Jenny has always remained close to her Liverpool roots, obtaining a degree in Mathematics with Finance from the University of Liverpool and then joining KPMG Liverpool in 2004 as an Audit Assistant. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2007. During her time in audit, she worked with a diverse client base, and it was her role as Assistant Audit Manager of the Club which led to an opportunity to take a position as Financial Analyst at LFC in 2009.

Jenny has worked within the Finance team at LFC for over 16 years and in 2024 was promoted to Chief Financial Officer. In June 2025 Jenny then took the role as Executive Director for Liverpool Women, with appointment to both the LFC and LFCW Statutory Boards in September 2025. Jenny oversees the financial health of the Club as it continues to navigate its way through an evolving landscape of financial regulation across industry. She is also responsible for Club Strategy as well as People and Culture.

Charlotte Beresford

Rights Acquisition Manager, Sky Sports

Charlotte works in the Rights Acquisition team at Sky Sports, helping shape the portfolio of sports content available to Sky customers through the acquisition and renewal of Sky’s media rights deals. Prior to Sky, she held a range of commercial roles at BT Sport before completing an MBA in Paris and later joining Manchester United, where she worked across sponsorship strategy and the commercial growth of the women's team. Outside of work, Charlotte is a keen road cyclist and if not cycling up a hill somewhere, will be found watching sport or (attempting) to play Tennis. 

Rebecca Caplehorn

Chief Football Officer, Premier League

Rebecca was appointed Premier League Chief Football Officer in April 2026, having previously spent more than a decade at Tottenham Hotspur, where she held senior roles in football administration and operations across both the men's and women's game.

As Chief Football Officer, Rebecca oversees all football matters and works closely with clubs and stakeholders across the professional game to support the development, regulation, and long-term success of the competition. She has extensive experience in football leadership and governance and represents the Premier League across a range of industry bodies and working groups.

Prior to joining Tottenham in 2015, Rebecca held senior roles at Queens Park Rangers and the Lawn Tennis Association. She is a Chartered Accountant and graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Physical Education, Sport Science and Mathematics. 

Faye Carruthers

Broadcaster and Journalist

Faye Carruthers is an award-winning journalist and broadcaster specialising in live football and is talkSPORT's England correspondent, covering the men's and women's teams around the world. She hosts the Guardian's Women's Football Weekly Podcast and interviews incredible guests on the Seaman Says Podcast with former England goalkeeper David Seaman.

An accomplished events host, her clients include the Premier League, FA, and PGMOL; she’s also narrated various sports documentaries for FIFA and UEFA. Faye additionally runs a media training and speaker coaching business for individuals, athletes and corporate clients. She’s an avid Luton Town fan and passionate about using her platform to make football accessible for everyone.

Ben Carter

Chief Marketing Officer, CarWow; Director, Women in Football

Ben is the Global Chief Customer and Marketing Officer of CarWow tasked with revolutionising how consumers buy and sell cars. Prior to joining CarWow in 2022, Ben has worked for a number of the UK’s biggest digital businesses in Executive marketing roles helping them drive growth, build their brands and accelerate their digital transformation including Just Eat, Betfair and Notonthehighstreet.

Ben who was recently named as one of the Top 100 Most Effective Marketers by esteemed trade publication Marketing Week is also Chair of the Lily Foundation- a charity dedicated to finding a cure and raising awareness of mitochondrial disease and is a Director of Women in Football, a non-for profit organisation that is focused on making football a more acceptable place for women on and off the pitch to work, play and support.

Lee Chambers

Founder and CEO, Male Allies UK

After a diverse career, from corporate finance to building and exiting tech company, he is now focused on supporting organisations to engage men in inclusion and promote effective allyship. He has been featured on the Startups 100 Index, has received a Great British Entrepreneur Award, and sits on the board of CMI Women and the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. In 2024, he received the Freedom of the City of London for services to equality in business.

He is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, an international leader on the impact of AI companions and chatbots on boys, and co-Chair of the Cross Sector Taskforce on Online Misogyny and Men’s Engagement. He is the 2023 UN Women Changemaker of the Year, is an EDI Fellow at the University of East London and is an ambassador for both Refuge and 50:50 Parliament. He is recognised as a global expert on gender equality, allyship and masculinity, having taken the stage at the Women’s Forum and the Bloomberg Global Equality Summit. He is the author of the bestselling book, Momentum: 13 Ways To Unlock Your Potential. 

Kaammini Chanrai

EDI, Safeguarding and Wellbeing Director, Brentford FC

Kaammini Chanrai is EDI, Safeguarding and Wellbeing Director at Brentford FC, where she leads the club's work to create an environment in which everyone feels safe, supported, welcome and valued. Her career has taken a non-linear path across the private, public and charity sectors, with previous roles at Warner Bros. Discovery, Vodafone UK, Business in the Community and Brent Council. Throughout her career, she has been driven by a passion for fairness, inclusion and creating meaningful change. Beyond her professional role, Kaammini has served as a Trustee for Agenda Alliance, supporting women and girls at risk, and volunteered on the National Domestic Abuse Helpline. She recently returned from maternity leave which has been by far the most rewarding and challenging step in her life to date. 

Sarah Cheadle

Senior Football Director, Sky Sports

Sarah's career started at Sky Sports in 1998 as a runner and after working her way up through the ranks, including VT-coordinating hundreds of football games, she started match directing football in 2009. Sarah has directed over 1000 matches, primarily in the Premier League which she directs weekly during the season. She has also directed many Champions League games, Internationals, the EFL and League Cup matches including 6 showpiece finals.

On top of these matches, Sarah’s recent credits include the FIFA 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, UEFA 2020 Men’s Euros in Bucharest, the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the Women’s 2025 UEFA Euros from Switzerland where she directed 11 matches including England’s dramatic penalty shootout win in the Final. Sarah has recently returned from the USA and Canada after being selected to be a director at the FIFA 2026 World Cup. As a pioneer in her field, Sarah is acclaimed at being the first female football match director at Sky Sports – she is also the first female to direct at a men’s UEFA and FIFA showcase event.

Ally Clegg

Head of Startup Activation, UKI - Google Cloud

A technology sales leader serving as Head of Startup Activation (UKI) at Google Cloud in London . Ally leads high-performing go-to-market teams dedicated to accelerating early-stage and high-potential AI and software startups across the UK and Ireland. Specialising in strategic partnerships, venture ecosystems, and complex commercial structuring, Ally works closely with frontier AI labs and founding teams to deploy enterprise cloud and cutting-edge AI infrastructure. She is a passionate advocate for diversity in tech and has a passion for sport. 

Jessica Creighton

Presenter and Journalist

With more than 15 years experience with BBC Sport, TALKSport and Sky Sports, she's become a familiar face as an anchor for Sky Sports News. Jessica has travelled the world covering football, broadcasting live from multiple World Cups and European Championships. And she was live outside Buckingham Palace for England Lionesses' historic Euros triumph celebrations in 2025. A long-time advocate for the women's game, Jessica is an Independent Non-Executive Director for the Football Association where she helps drive growth and development of tiers 3 and 4 of the game - the Women's National League.

Sami Dar

Chief Executive, ABL Foundation

Sami is the CEO of ABL, a charity that provides internships to Disabled students in the UK. He is a thought leader in the disability space, was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and has experience advising organisations across a range of industries. Sami is a wheelchair user with a brain injury, and was named in the Top 100 Disabled People in the UK. 

Sue Day

Director of Women’s and Para Football, the FA

Sue is Director of Women’s Football and Para Football at The FA, where she is leading the long-term strategy for women’s football, as well as the UK’s bid for the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup. A former England rugby captain and record try scorer; she won three Six Nations Grand Slams and played at three World Cups. She previously served as COO, CFO and Board Member at England Rugby, leading strategy, people, finance, stadium, technology, the women’s game and inclusion. Prior to that she was a Partner in KPMG UK’s Deal Advisory business. 

Nikki Doucet

CEO, WSL Football

Nikki is CEO of WSL Football, the independent organisation responsible for running England’s top two tiers of women’s professional football – the Barclays Women’s Super League and the Barclays Women’s Super League 2. With over 20 years of experience spanning finance, investment banking, consumer goods and sport industries, Nikki has worked in private equity and held roles in investment banking and within venture capital firms before moving to Nike where she held senior executive roles over eight years in North America and UK & Ireland, most recently as the General Manager of the Nike Women’s business. 

Jill Ellis

Chief Football Officer, FIFA

Globally accomplished, respected, and renowned women’s football coach, club president, and executive, Jill Ellis serves as FIFA’s Chief Football Officer.

Appointed in December 2024, Ellis is a member of FIFA’s executive management team and leads the development and implementation of FIFA’s global football strategy. She previously chaired FIFA’s Technical Advisory Group for Women in 2021 and currently represents FIFA on the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Ellis is the only coach in history to win back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup titles, leading the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) to victory in 2015 and 2019. A two-time recipient of The Best FIFA Women’s Coach award, she remains the most successful coach in USWNT history with a record of 106 wins, 7 losses, and 19 ties. As an assistant coach, she also helped lead the team to Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012.

Ellis began her coaching career in the collegiate ranks in the late 1980s, holding assistant roles at NC State, the University of Maryland, and the University of Virginia. Ellis later served as head coach at the University of Illinois and then UCLA, where she built one of the most successful programs in the history of collegiate soccer. During her 12-season tenure at UCLA, she led the Bruins to eight College Cup appearances – seven consecutively – and six straight Pac-10 Conference championships between 2003 and 2008.

In the professional game, following her decorated coaching career, Ellis served as President of San Diego Wave Fútbol Club, an NWSL franchise that launched in 2022. Under her leadership, the team made history as the first expansion club to reach the NWSL Playoffs in its inaugural season, broke league attendance records (surpassing 32,000 fans), and captured the NWSL Championship in just its second year.

Born in Portsmouth, England, Ellis moved to the US at age 15. She earned a BA in Literature and Composition from the College of William & Mary, where she was a Division I All-American forward and later honoured with a place in the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2016 and received the Alumni Medallion—the university’s highest alumni award – in 2018.

A trailblazer on and off the pitch, Ellis was also the first woman to earn the U.S. Soccer Federation Professional Coaching License and is a Fellow of the Fellowship of Elite Coaches at Loughborough University in the UK.

In recognition of her career achievements, Ellis was inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2023. She was further celebrated in 2024 with her inclusion in both the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. 

Sonia Gardner

President, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Avenue Capital Group

Ms. Gardner is President and Managing Partner of Avenue Capital Group, the global investment firm she co-founded in 1995 and which she manages today. Avenue is primarily focused on specialty lending, opportunistic credit and other special situation investments and credit investing has been the focus of Ms. Gardner’s professional career for over 40 years.

Prior to the formation of Avenue, she co-founded Amroc Investments, LLC, where she was Senior Portfolio Manager responsible for investing the partners’ capital, and was active in the review and trading of the debt of hundreds of bankruptcies. Before forming Amroc as an independent entity, Ms. Gardner was General Counsel and Senior Managing Director of Amroc Investments, L.P., an investment fund affiliated with the Robert M. Bass Group. She began her career in 1987 at Cowen & Company in the Bankruptcy and Corporate Reorganization Department.

Beyond her responsibilities managing Avenue globally, Ms. Gardner is the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Capital Development Fund for Gender Equality in Access to Finance. In her role, she advocates for ways to give women in the world’s poorest countries access to economic resources to lift their families out of poverty, and help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Ms. Gardner was the recipient of the 100 Women in Finance 2008 Industry Leadership Award, where she served as the Global Chair of the Board of Directors and presently serves as Chairman Emeritus. She previously served on the Board of Trustees of The Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Client Advisory Board of Citi Private Bank.

Ms. Gardner received a B.A. with Honors in Philosophy from Clark University (1983) and a J.D. from the Cardozo School of Law (1986).

Rupa Ghelani

Senior Social Media Journalist, Sky Sports

Rupa is a Senior Social Media Journalist having worked at Sky for five years in the Social Media team. She loves football and cricket and has a passion for languages. She particularly enjoys combining her interests to help create and produce unique content for Sky Sports social accounts, with the hope that it can reach all corners of the world and provide relatable, culturally aware content for people like her and people from all walks of life. Rupa loves her job and hopes to inspire others every day. 

Yvonne Harrison

CEO, Women in Football

A multi-award-winning sports industry executive, Yvonne was appointed as the CEO of Women in Football in 2022 where she has led the team to significant growth in commercial revenue, membership, influence and impact. Yvonne was recently featured in Telegraph Sport's 50 most influential women in sport list for 2024, as well as being awarded the title of Women’s Football Champion at the prestigious Women’s Football Awards in 2024. Her previous accolades include the Northwest Institute of Directors' Director of the Year for Public and Third Sector.

From grassroots participation to the boardroom, equality is a huge passion for Yvonne, whose previous achievements have helped to make a difference to people's lives through sport and physical activity. Before joining Women in Football, Yvonne established her own sports consultancy, Stryve; worked as Managing Director of Project 92, the business of former Manchester United stars the 'Class of 92’; and was Chief Executive at GreaterSport, a charity changing people’s lives across Greater Manchester. In addition to her role current role, Yvonne is involved with a number of organisations in a non-executive director capacity, as an executive coach/mentor, and as chair of trustees for the Class of 92’s charity, Foundation 92.

Anna Kessel MBE

Journalist; Co-Founder, Women in Football

Anna is an award-winning journalist, executive and campaigner. She is currently writing Championess, a history of women's sport, publishing in 2028 following a 14-way auction. Britain’s first women’s sports newspaper editor Anna has worked at The Telegraph, The Guardian and Sky Sports. Anna has been at the forefront of the sports equality movement in the UK for over 20 years helping to change the landscape for women and girls. She is co-founder of Women in Football and author of the acclaimed Eat, Sweat, Play: How Sport Can Change Our Lives, a manifesto for women's sport.

Ebru Köksal, CFA

Chair, Women in Football

Born in the vibrant city of Istanbul in 1968, Ebru Köksal’s journey from the bustling streets of New York to the heart of Turkish football is nothing short of inspiring. She kicked off her career as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley, navigating the fast-paced world of finance with finesse. Her return to Turkey saw her rise through the ranks at Citibank, where she honed her skills as a senior manager.

In 1999, Ebru took a bold leap into the world of private equity with AIG, before making a game-changing move to Galatasaray Sports Club in 2001. As CFO, and later CEO, she steered the club through a transformative era of growth and international success. Ebru’s influence extended beyond Turkey when she was appointed General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation in 2011. Her expertise was sought after by FIFA and UEFA, where she served as a consultant from 2012 to 2018. She returned to Galatasaray as a Board Member, continuing to shape the future of football.

Today, Ebru Köksal is a senior adviser at J Stern & Co., Chair of Women in Football, UK, Board Director at A-Leagues Australia, INED at the Professional Footballers Association UK, and an INED at the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Her accolades include the Executive of the Year Award 2011 by Stadium Business Awards and the first-ever Making a Difference Award by HBS Executive Education in 2018. A graduate of Brown University with dual degrees in Economics and International Relations, and an alumna of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Ebru is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ebru’s story is a testament to her unwavering dedication and pioneering spirit in the world of sports and finance. She has significantly impacted the representation of women in sports globally through her pioneering leadership and advocacy. She broke numerous glass ceilings, becoming the first woman on the Executive Board of the European Club Association and the first female General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation. As Chair of Women in Football, she champions gender equality, creating opportunities and raising awareness about challenges women face in sports. Ebru’s journey inspires women and girls worldwide to pursue careers in sports, and her work with various organizations promotes diversity and inclusion, making her a key figure in creating a more equitable sports environment. 

Hayley Ladd

Professional Footballer, Crystal Palace Women FC and Wales Women's Football Team

Hayley Ladd is a professional footballer who plays for Crystal Palace and the Wales national team. 
Ladd has previously represented Arsenal, Finnish side Kokkola Futis 10, Coventry City, Bristol City, Birmingham City, Manchester United and most recently, Everton.

She lifted the Adobe Women's FA Cup in 2023 with Manchester United, where she also won the club’s Player of the Season award in 2019/20. Ladd is the Wales vice-captain, and currently stands as the fourth-most capped player in their history with 111 senior appearances. 

Ashley Lehr

Director, Bloom Sports Partners

Ashley brings over a decade of experience across global football, with deep knowledge of the professional landscape across North America and Europe. A former player who competed in the US and Spain, she has built extensive relationships on both the business and sporting sides of the game, alongside an international outlook. She is driven by a passion for elevating women into senior leadership roles, building the global pipeline of women professionals, and raising standards in particular across the pro women's game. Ashley is fluent in Spanish and based in South Carolina, USA.

Lungi Macebo

Sports Consultant; Director, Women in Football

Lungi has worked in professional football for over 6 years, supporting the board of directors and senior management, she is efficient in planning, organising and working collaboratively to influence, design and deliver initiatives, essential to the accomplishment of the business.

She is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Birmingham City Football Club, having spent a number of years at Charlton Athletic. In October 2018, she was named as a NextGen Leader for 2019 - one of 30 rising professionals from across the UK sports industry. A graduate in Psychology, Lungi is especially interested in developing people and believes in the balance of diversity and representation at all levels of football.

Hannah Mansour

Director of Environment, Social & Governance, Arsenal FC

Hannah leads Arsenal's work across sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, and enterprise risk. With a strong track record of delivering measurable improvements in inclusion, Hannah is passionate about using football’s unique influence to challenge discrimination and create positive social change.

Before joining Arsenal, she built extensive experience in strategic consulting, advising organisations on complex challenges and driving meaningful change. Hannah also serves as a Trustee of Kick It Out, supporting the delivery of its Football United strategy and helping to shape a more inclusive future for the game, both on and off the pitch. 

Yasir Mirza

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director, the FA

Yasir joined the FA as Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director in July 2023 and is responsible for developing and executing our ‘A Game Free from Discrimination’ strategy. His work involves working on initiatives to improve diverse participation across the game, to promote inclusion through effective campaigns, and to develop anti-discrimination education for footballing environments.

Yasir has extensive EDI experience in the journalism and broadcast sectors. He has a track record of diversifying global content, audiences and workforce for some of the world’s leading brands, including The Guardian, Channel 4, BBC Studios, and the Financial Times.

Simon Morris

Vice President of International Marketing, Adobe

In his role, Simon has strategic responsibility for shaping and scaling Adobe’s brand across EMEA, APAC, and Latin America. He leads a 
multidisciplinary team overseeing Brand Experiences and Partnerships, Communications and Social Media, Advertising, and Performance Marketing — operating across more than 90 countries and 50 languages. His remit spans Adobe’s full portfolio of products, driving integrated marketing efforts that deliver meaningful digital experiences and foster emotional connections across a wide range of audiences, from professional creatives and small business owners, to students, knowledge workers, and global enterprises.

Since joining Adobe over a decade ago, Simon has played a pivotal role in the company’s digital transformation, helping transition Adobe Creative Cloud from a packaged software product to a global, subscription-based platform. A passionate advocate of “Creativity for All,” Simon is also a committed champion of Adobe’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, supporting employee networks and purpose-led programs that drive representation and impact.

Most recently, Simon spearheaded Adobe’s sponsorship of the Women’s FA Cup, an initiative designed to empower players, clubs, fans, and creators to tell their stories using Adobe tools like Adobe Express. In recognition of his leadership and advocacy for gender equity in sport, Simon was named to the RAISE Women’s Sports Champions – Power 100, a list honoring individuals who are shaping the future of the women’s sports industry.

Before Adobe, Simon served as Vice President of Global Marketing at ClickSoftware (acquired by Salesforce), where he was part of the executive leadership team that led the company through a successful IPO. Today, he continues to shape the future of marketing and creativity as a speaker, industry judge, and board member, championing human-centered creativity, ethical AI, and storytelling at scale. He is also an active mentor, supporting students through the School of Marketing, ORT UK, and Founders4Schools, helping to cultivate the next generation of marketers and business leaders.

Maggie Murphy

Managing Director, Aston Villa FC Women; Director, Women in Football

Maggie Murphy is a sports business and strategy consultant, media contributor, and co-host of the Expected Goals podcast. Former CEO of Lewes FC, she drove the club's record attendances, commercial growth, and award-winning fan engagement over five years. Previously, she held senior advocacy and policy roles at Transparency International and Amnesty International and co-founded Equal Playing Field, promoting opportunity, equality and respect for women and girls in football. She served on the FA Women’s Super League and Championship Board (2021–2024) and was named to the BBC Woman’s Hour Power List in 2023 as one of the UK’s most influential women in sport.

Alice Nightingale

Social Media Output Editor, Sky Sports

With a decade at Sky Sports, Alice is a Social Media Output Editor overseeing the strategy, production, and delivery of football content across all social channels. Alice manages a team of journalists to produce high impact, real time coverage that sets the industry standard and reaches expansive audiences. She is committed to driving innovation in storytelling, championing women’s football, and shaping the future of sports media.

Jacqui Oatley MBE

Broadcaster

Jacqui is a familiar voice and face across global sport, making history in 2007 as the first female football commentator on the BBC’s Match of the Day. She has since covered 15 major international tournaments, including men’s and women’s Euros, World Cups and Olympic Games, and commentated on site at the  2026 FIFA World Cup. Awarded an MBE in 2016 for services to broadcasting and diversity in sport, Jacqui is also a compelling keynote speaker and host, where she has spoken about breaking barriers in a field where women were rarely heard.

Samuel Okafor

CEO, Kick It Out

Samiel is an experienced and strategic leader with a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. He began his career playing for Colchester United, before moving to various non-league clubs. Samuel worked for NatWest Group for 22 years, holding a number of key leadership roles, as well as driving the Group’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion agenda. Notably, he co-led the Racial Equality Taskforce, which published the impactful report Banking on Racial Equality: A Roadmap for Positive Change.

Samuel joined Kick It Out in July 2024 as CEO and published the organisation’s 2030 strategy, Football United, aimed at creating positive change in football. 

Eartha Pond

CEO and Founder, ESP Foundation

From the penalty box to the political arena, Eartha Pond is a force for systemic change. Highly regarded as one of the best defenders of her era, she defended the backlines of Arsenal and Chelsea to win league titles and FA Cups, representing the Lionesses at Youth Level and Saint Lucia’s Piton Girls as a senior. Today, Eartha channels that drive into advocacy. She served as the first Black Independent Non-Executive Director on the FA Women’s Football Board and an elected City of Westminster councillor. Named in the Top 50 Teacher across the world, Eartha also founded the ESP Foundation to support and empower the next generation.

Khalida Popal

Founder & Director, Girl Power Organisation; Co-founder, Former Captain, Afghanistan WNT

Khalida is an award-winning human rights advocate, former captain and co-founder of the Afghanistan Women’s National Football Team, and Founder & Director of Girl Power Organisation. Forced into exile for challenging discrimination and advocating for women’s rights through football, she has become a leading global voice for gender equality, safe sport and social change. Khalida has also led Right to Dream’s Purpose Entrepreneurship Programme, empowering athletes and community leaders to turn purpose into lasting impact. An author and international speaker, her leadership and advocacy have received global recognition, including being named to the TIME100 Sports list in 2026. 

Eleanor Roper

Sports Journalist and Broadcaster, Sky Sports

She is the lead reporter on Sky’s coverage of the Women’s Super League, embarking on her second season with the football team. Eleanor was previously involved in Sky’s boxing and rugby union coverage. Including the 2025 British and Irish Lions Tour to Australia; as well as working as a reporter and presenter for Sky Sports News. Prior to this, she worked for the BBC, including being Radio 1 Newsbeat’s sports reporter.

Alessia Russo

Professional Footballer, Arsenal WFC and England Women's Football Team

Arsenal and England striker Alessia Russo gained widespread recognition during her time at the University of North Carolina. On her return to England, she signed for Manchester United, quickly making her mark in the WSL. It was Alessia‘s performances for United that saw her earn a place in the Lionesses team where she played a vital role in them winning Euro 2022 and becoming runners up in the FIFA Women’s World Cup a year later.

In 2025 she added the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Arsenal to her list of accolades, topping it up two months later with retaining England’s title as champions of Europe as once again the Lionesses brought home victory at Euro 2025 where she scored the crucial goal in the final.

The 2024-25 season was a marquee season for Alessia personally, as she was crowned the WSL Golden Boot winner, finished third in the Ballon d’Or and was once again named in the FIFA Best team of the year for the second year running. She also lined up in the UEFA Euro, UEFA Champions League, FIFPro and PFA Best XIs and was named the FWA and Women’s Sports Awards player of the year.

In 2025, she launched The Alessia Russo Foundation, which aims to increase the participation of young girls in sport, educate teachers and coaches and enable greater access to healthcare products and kit. 

Anni Sahala

Senior Producer, Sky Sports News

Anni is a Senior Producer at Sky Sports News with nearly two decades of experience in sports broadcasting. She leads editorial planning, oversees a team producing documentaries for Sky Sports and sports bulletins across Sky News platforms, and manages Sky’s international editorial partnerships. Passionate about supporting early-career talent, Anni is committed to creating an inclusive culture where people can thrive and do their best work. Outside of work, she enjoys keeping active and spending time outdoors. 

Rachael Smith

Head of Growth, Evelyn Partners 

Rachael is Head of Growth at Evelyn Partners where she leads the sales, digital and marketing functions. Rachael was part of the management team that sold the business to NatWest Group earlier this year and has spent time in commercial leadership roles across private equity and at easyJet PLC. Rachael is passionate about inclusion, she champions diverse teams and brings an energetically entrepreneurial approach to delivering customer-led revenue growth across a broad range of sectors.  

Nuria Tarré

Chief Marketing & Fan Experience Officer, City Football Group

Nuria Tarre is Chief Marketing & Fan Experience Officer at City Football Group (CFG). Her role encompasses content and digital platforms, fan relationship management, fan data and insights, retail and brand growth. Nuria joined CFG in November 2015 after 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles in strategy consulting, telecom, travel and entertainment. Her career has focused on growth-oriented companies in need of performance turnaround, digital innovation and business model transformation. Nuria is well travelled. Her career has seen her live and work in 12 different countries. She is fluent in French, Spanish, Catalan and English.

Jo Tongue MBE

CEO, Tongue Tied Media; Director, Women in Football

With 20 years in the industry Jo has experience across the board in sport, media and commercial opportunities. Her sports management and production company Tongue Tied Media is seen as one of the most highly respected and leading sports agencies in the UK. Jo was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to association football and gender equality. In 2019 she was listed on the Evening Standard’s list of most influential Londoners and was also selected as one of Leaders in Sport 40 under 40 global leaders. 

Starting out at the BBC as a sports reporter she moved into online, radio and TV before joining independent agency Somethin’ Else and editing the flagship football show 606 for 10 years. Jo co-wrote the BBC book The League Doesn’t Lie. An FA registered agent she is passionate about securing fair contracts for all clients be they male or female. Jo currently represents more than 30 former and current players and football broadcasters. She was integral in placing the first female pundit on BBC MOTD. Jo is a Director and board member of Women in Football. She is also a Trustee of the Michael Carrick and Jason Roberts Foundations.

Kyle Walker

Football Reporter, Sky Sports

Kyle is a football reporter at Sky Sports, where he works on Soccer Saturday and Soccer Specials. He also regularly interviews players across the PL, EFL and WSL, while also reports on live games across Sky’s football portfolio. He has also been a regular face on Sky Sports News and has covered major tournaments, including Good Morning Euros during the UEFA Women’s Euro and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Alongside his Sky Sports work, he regularly appears on the FA’s platforms, co-hosting their FIFA Women’s World Cup coverage and live events.

Carla Ward

Head Coach, Republic of Ireland Women’s Football Team

Alison Warwood

CEO, Stockport County Community Trust

Alison is an experienced charity and community leader with more than 20 years’ experience across football, professional sport and the voluntary sector. She is currently CEO of Stockport County Community Trust, having joined the club as its first CEO in 2023, and has previously led the Sale Sharks Foundation and worked for over a decade at Kick It Out, football’s equality and inclusion campaign. Alison began her career at Manchester City and has worked extensively across her career to develop partnerships, programmes and opportunities that use the power of sport to create positive social change. She is passionate about equality, inclusion and supporting women to thrive in sport and recently oversaw the development of a new semi-professional women's team at Stockport County.  

Alex White

Chief Executive, Premier League Foundation

Alex White was appointed Chief Executive of the Premier League Foundation in July 2025.

He joined the Foundation in 2014 and has held several key leadership roles at the charity including Community Programmes Manager, Head of Grants and Impact, and Chief Operating Officer before taking on the Chief Executive role.

The Premier League Foundation is one of the largest sports charities in the world. Established in 2014, it distributes £40 million each year from the Premier League and its partners to professional football club charities across the Premier League, EFL and National League, supporting programmes that address major societal challenges.

Before joining the Foundation, Alex worked at the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, serving as Community Development Manager from 2011 to 2014. He has also previously worked at disability equality in sport charity, Interactive, and the veterans’ support charity Blind Veterans UK.

Alex has been Chair of the children’s rights charity Street Child United since 2014. He is also Vice Chair of the South Downs Learning Trust and a trustee of Active Sussex. 

Suzy Wrack

Author, Podcaster and Women’s Football Writer 

Suzanne is an award-winning author, podcaster and women’s football writer for the Guardian. She co-host’s the Guardian’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast and is on the expert panel which helps determine the Women’s Super League player of the month and is on the panel for deciding who is inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame. Suzanne is the author of ‘A Woman’s Game - The rise, fall and rise again of women’s football’, she co-wrote England captain Leah Williamson's non-fiction children's book 'You Have the Power', she did the words for an illustrated guide to 50 great sportswomen titled ‘Strong Women’ and ghost wrote Khalida Popal's memoir 'My Beautiful Sisters'.