Our Team
Trustees:
Dr Howard Haughton
Chair
Howard is a multifaceted professional with extensive expertise in finance, technology, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
Naz Deen
Trustee
Naz Deen has over 20 years of experience working and mentoring in the Sports Development, Youth, Charity and Voluntary Sector as well as schools and further education settings too.
Nikita Smith
Trustee
Nikita entered the working world specializing in brand, marketing, and strategic communications spanning Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Lindon Neil
Trustee
Lindon Neil is a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (FCT) and recently completed a full five year term as an Independent NED for ARC Ratings UK Limited and ARC Ratings SA.
Steve Shaw
Trustee
Steve is a seasoned HR professional with over 30 years of experience landing teams in both commercial and not-for-profit sectors. With more than fifteen years of executive boardroom experience across, housing, technology, advertising and e-commerce, he has spearheaded large teams in organisational transformations enhancing service delivery, engagement and culture.
Christian Scotland-Williamson
Trustee
Christian is a former two-sport professional athlete (Premiership Rugby and NFL) with over a decade of experience in elite sport. Christian brings a unique perspective and expertise.
He is a prominent broadcaster for talkSPORT and the BBC, covering the NFL International Series and Super Bowls LVII, LVIII and LIX. He has proudly served as an International Ambassador for the NFL.
Naseem Akhtar BEM
Trustee
Naseem Akhtar BEM is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Saheli Hub, a pioneering organisation that empowers women and marginalised communities to improve their health.
Richard Grainger
Trustee - Welfare and Safety Lead for Sporting Equals
Richard has over 25 years of management experience in elite sport and education, with a proven track record at both national and international levels. He is deeply passionate about the transformative impact of physical education (PE) and school sport on children’s lives.
Simon Kirkland
Trustee
Simon has a broad sporting background and over 40 years’ experience in sport development. Initially, he worked for Birmingham City Council as a PE teacher, facility manager, Sport Development Officer and an Area Sport and Leisure Officer. Then after a short period as National Development Manager.
Our Team
Senior Management:
Nik Trivedi
Acting CEO
Nik has been working at a strategic and practitioner level in the public and third sectors in the fields of sport, health, community safety and regeneration for over 20 years.
Shaheen Bi
Director of Research and Insight
Shaheen graduated from Sunderland University in 2000 with a Business Studies Degree, and began her career in the housing sector working for the National Housing Federation and the Birmingham Social Housing Partnership supporting housing policy in the midlands region.
Fatmata K Daramy
Head of Race Equity and Impact
Fatmata’s role at Sporting Equals is to lead race equity, research and impact.
She is a race equity specialist with experience leading strategic Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work, outreach, evaluation, and academic partnerships across multiple higher education institutions.
Our team:
Ellie Bradwell
Marketing and Communications Manager
Ellie is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Sporting Equals with a strong background in Marketing in the youth sports and activities sector having worked for local activities provider SSG Services and national holiday camps and NCS provider Activate.
Colby Brooks
Marketing and Events Officer
Growing up in three different countries, Colby has grown up into different cultures and environments. Making Colby flexible and adaptable, and even exposing him to the positive effect that sport has done in first and third world countries.
Yaegan Gore
Development and Partnerships Coordinator
Yaegan’s role at Sporting Equals is primarily to support the Business Development Team to increase income generation and explore further partnerships.
Caoimhe Heath
Projects Coordinator
Graduating with a 1st class degree in Sport Studies, Caoimhe’s main passion focuses on inclusion and equitable opportunities. She believes the benefits of sport should be accessible to everyone.
Tim Masih
National Partnership Manager
Tim originally joined Sporting Equals in 2013 as the London Partnership Officer having graduated from the University of Bedfordshire where his involvement led to Bedfordshire being selected to host 12 Paralympics teams before their move to the Athlete Village for the London Paralympics Games in 2012. Now he leads community engagement.
Rina Thiara
Grants & Governance Coordinator
Graduating from the University of Chester back in June 2020 studying BSc Psychology, Rina came to believe her passions lie within human behavior. Throughout her life she has been part of numerous charity schemes and believed making a difference in the communities were a driving force for her.