SWITCH THE PLAY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Deputy CEO
- Member of the Fundraising Advisory Board
- CEO of Power2Inspire
- Deputy CEO for the Charity Power2Inspire
Role
Deputy CEO for the charity Power2Inspire
Biography
Alex is CEO of Power2Inspire, an inclusive sports charity with a vision that ‘nobody is left on the bench'. He is also Head Coach for the Swedish Men's Rugby Union National XV, who recently won a Grand Slam and Promotion to Rugby Europe Trophy. Further roles include being Chair of Trustees for the British Gymnastics Foundation as well as sitting on the Inclusion Advisory Group for British Canoeing, and the Loughborough University Alumni Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Team
- Athlete Engagement Manager
Role
Athlete Engagement Manager
Biography
Ally is a Netball player who has represented England at Netball Europe's as well as on tour in Australia and New Zealand. After playing for a premier league team in Sydney last season, she is back in the UK to start playing in the Netball Superleague with Celtic Dragons. A big part of Ally's love for sport comes from her appreciation of the positive impact it can have on people's lives and individuals mental health. She understands the difficulties that arise when playing sport is no longer the priority of an athlete's life. After studying Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience at university, she now wants to help ensure athletes recognise the continued positive impact sport can play in their life, even once their career in playing is over.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Managing Partner at Elite Performance Partners
Role
Trustee
Biography
Anna Edwards is Managing Partner at Elite Performance Partners, a performance and search specialist which provides consultancy, recruitment and coaching for sports organisations. Working with those in elite football, rugby, cricket and national governing bodies, she works across all levels from boardroom to performance leads and supporting teams. Studying for an MA in Coaching and Mentoring, she helps the Foundation to ensure we help all sportspeople thrive.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Trustee and Olympic Gymnast
Role
Switch the Play Foundation Trustee and Olympic Gymnast
Biography
Beth is an Olympic Bronze Medalist, a triple World Champion, a six-time European Champion, a Commonwealth Champion and seven-times consecutive National Champion. In 2007, she graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with 2:1 in Sports Science. In 2010, she received an MBE for her success, commitment and dedication to gymnastics. Beth has now set up her own company Beth Tweddle Gymnastics which gives as many children as possible the opportunity to experience the sport. Beth also has commitments within Switch the Play to ensure athletes are having positive experiences during their transitions in sport.
Role
Trustee
Biography
With accolades including 'Britain's Best Boss', Chris is one of the UK's foremost leaders in business and sport. His success is a result of a unique set of experiences including working with Olympic athletes and using sport to inspire success within business. With a focus on high performance, creating winners and delivering change, he has worked extensively with academics from leading business schools as well as executives, managers and team leaders within global PLCs.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Member of the Executive Team
- Head of Partnerships
Role
Head Of Partnerships
Biography
Claire has worked in the charity sector for almost 20 years and has experience in a range of leadership, fundraising and project management roles with a particular focus on corporate partnerships. As a keen athlete in her youth and a lifelong sports fan, Claire is thrilled to join Switch The Play and use her skills and experience to create exciting partnerships with real purpose, to support the needs of athletes across the UK.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Trustees
- Trustee
Role
Chair of Trustees
Biography
As former CEO of Metro Bank, Craig Donaldson was responsible for providing executive leadership to the bank's rapidly expanding business. He was charged with guiding the bank's evolution from fresh, new entrant in retail banking to trusted financial services partner to millions of UK customers. From helping define Metro Bank's brand values, to hiring its inaugural employees and ensuring that the bank's staff deliver daily customer delight; Craig was instrumental to Metro Bank from day one, stepping down at the end of 2019 after almost 11 years. Craig has a degree in Technology and Management from the University of Bradford. Craig is a keen and loyal supporter of Sunderland AFC and is lucky enough to have a young family to enjoy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Fundraising Advisory Board
- Head of Strategy & Business Services at the Football Association
Role
Head of Strategy & Business Services at The Football Association
Biography
Daniel is passionate about sports development at all levels of sport. He is The Football Association's Head of Strategy & Business Services for the grassroots game and the former Chair of East London Hockey Club. In both organisations he has led the development and delivery of long-term, purpose-focused strategies that place people at their heart. His strategy expertise was refined whilst working at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants and in the strategy team at Barclaycard. In his spare time Daniel still coaches, umpires and plays hockey.
Job Titles:
- Senior Elite Performance Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Trustee
- Vice President
- Vice President for Strategic and External Affairs at WFSGI and Director at Badminton Europe Confederation.
Role
Trustee
Biography
Emma is a former international badminton player turned sports lawyer and now a businesswoman with leadership positions in several international sport governing bodies. Emma's own career transition was forced upon her at 24 following complete failure of her left kidney. At that time, Emma was left wondering what her future held and uncertain how to rebuild her identity or who she could turn to for help. Emma is therefore acutely aware of the importance of athletes preparing for their transition and is delighted to have joined Switch the Play at a key point in its development.
Role
Vice President for Strategic and External Affairs at WFSGI and Director at Badminton Europe Confederation.
Biography
Emma is a former international badminton player who represented Scotland at European, Commonwealth, and World Championship level. Emma remains passionate about her sport and is a Director of Badminton Europe and a Badminton World Federation Council Member.
In her professional life, Emma is the Vice President for Strategic and External Affairs at the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI). WFSGI is the global representative body for the sporting goods industry and its members (sport brands, manufacturers, and retailers) comprise over 70% of the industry by annual turnover.
Having overcome her own challenges, Emma is also committed to providing greater support for athletes transitioning from their sporting careers to life after sport.
Emma previously worked as a sports lawyer dealing with a range of regulatory and commercial issues. She has an undergraduate degree in Chemistry, is a graduate of UK Sport's International Leadership Programme, and a WeAreTheCity Rising Star in Sport.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
Role
Double Paralympic Champion & 10 times World Champion
Biography
Emma is passionate about the power of sport to make positive changes to peoples lives.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Director of Wellbeing and Client Relationships at Next Steps Consulting
Role
Director of Wellbeing and Client Relationships at Next Steps Consulting
Biography
Gemma previously worked in Higher Education Sport for 15 years developing student sports opportunities and supporting student athletes to combine their academic studies with their sporting aspirations.
Gemma has subsequently changed careers and now works within organisational wellbeing and coaching and is passionate about working with individuals to support them to be the best version of themselves and reach their potential. Gemma uses a wellbeing approach in her coaching to help people to focus on themselves so they are better equipped to navigate change, transition careers, build confidence and resilience, find purpose and become more effective both in their professional and personal lives.
In Gemma's spare time, her and her husband own a hospitality business which includes two pubs, a wedding venue and a wedding catering business. When time allows Gemma plays tennis, plods the pavements and enjoys a meal out!
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Player Care Manager at Aston Villa Football Club
Role
Player Care Manager at Aston Villa Football Club
Biography
Helen Roberts is the Player Care Manager at Aston Villa Football Club specialising in athlete and elite teams wellbeing and personal development for performance, having worked within Olympic/Paralympic and Higher Education sport previously. Helen has a MSc Sport and Exercise Science and a PGDip in Mentoring and Coaching which help form a flourishing person centred holistic development philosophy.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Coach
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Chief Coach at University of London Boat Club
Role
Chief Coach at University of London Boat Club
Job Titles:
- Ambassador
- Member of the Executive Team
Role
Brand Ambassador
Biography
Leon is a former professional rugby player who represented Leicester Tigers, Gloucester and England. In 2008, Leon was faced with making the transition into the ‘real world' when injury ended his career. Building on his experience, Leon published his first book 'From Boot Room to Boardroom' alongside graduating with a first class (Hons) degree in Business Leadership and Management and successfully transitioned into the world of business. Leon led the charity as CEO of Switch the Play for 4 years and is focused on supporting sportspeople with their personal development. Leon is also a Judiciary Officer for the RFU, European and World Rugby and a proud ambassador and business mentor for the Princes Trust and a Patron for Action Deafness.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Head of Brands at Nielsen
Role
Head of Brands at Nielsen
Biography
Lynsey has worked for Nielsen Sports in the UK since 2016 and heads up Client Strategy, providing strategic insights and measurement to major brand & rights holders clients. Lynsey has also taken on the role of Women's Sport global lead, driving forward Nielsen Sport's focus on supporting the sports industry to develop Women's sport through data.
Lynsey has 15 years experience in the sport's industry, both rights holder side with Williams F1 and on major brand's sponsorship activation, including Land Rover and Lucozade Sport. Outside of her career, Lynsey achieved 30 caps for Scotland including playing in two Rugby World Cups and was previously chair of Wasps Ladies FC.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Fundraising Advisory Board
- Experienced Sport and Business Professional
Role
Experienced Sport and Business Professional
Biography
Mark's background is in the Automotive Industry, he is a trained technician and has worked in customer service with brands such as Lotus, Mercedes Jaguar Land Rover. Mark is currently an Aftersales Controller for a Honda Dealership. Married for over 36 years and have two grown-up children aged 24 and 27.
Sport has always been a big part of Mark's life; he used to play football and cricket with his father and in later years he moved more into Rugby. He recently look the RFU Level 1 Coaching badge and has enjoyed going into schools coaching rugby and carrying out the role of Schools Liaison for a local Rugby Club.
Mark has assisted athletes with facilitating introductions to a trusted network of companies within Sport and Business. Mark is thrilled to join Switch the Play Foundation Advisory board as he believes that having a trusted support network around you is so important.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Senior Elite Performance Manager at the Premier League
Role
Senior Elite Performance Manager at the Premier League
Biography
Dr Matthew Green is Senior Elite Performance Manager at the Premier League, working with First Teams and Academies across the areas of science, medicine, talent identification, psychology, performance analysis and loan management. Before joining the Premier League in 2017, Matt worked at West Bromwich Albion FC for 10-seasons, where he was First Team Fitness Coach and led the Club's sport science programme. Matt has a Professional Doctorate in Applied Sport and Exercise Science and is a Fellow of The British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Athlete Services Manager
I'm over the moon to be starting this role with Switch The Play. Everything I've done personally and professionally has built towards this role, and I can't wait to make a contribution to something I genuinely believe in. I look forward to adding to the amazing work this charity already does.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- British Gymnastics As National Education Programme Manager
- Education Programme Manager at British Gymnastics
Role
Education Programme Manager at British Gymnastics
Biography
Richard works at British Gymnastics as National Education Programme Manager, overseeing the national pathway of coaches from development through to high performance. Prior to this, Richard started his career at Loughborough University, where he worked after graduating, before moving onto work for the English Institute of Sport as a Performance Lifestyle Advisor. Here he worked with Taekwondo, Para-Cycling and Boxing during the Tokyo 2016 Olympic cycle, qualifying as an Executive Coach and Mentor in the process. Richard also sits on the Squash Wales Board as Director of Sport. Richard hopes to bring his experience and passion from his various roles to support Switch The Play in achieving its ambitions moving forward.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Team
- Member of the Fundraising Advisory Board
Role
CEO
Biography
Rob co-founded Switch The Play, having seen both the positive and negative sides of transition in sport and deciding that there was a need to support the industry in helping to ensure that transition, whenever it occurs, can be stepping stone to achieving other great things in life. Rob's experience across a range of roles in sport includes Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, work with National Governing Bodies of sport, professional sport, national and local government, and further and higher education. For six years Rob worked on the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, for which he was awarded an MBE in 2013. Rob became CEO of Switch the Play in February 2021.
Role
Trustee
Biography
Stacey Francis-Bayman has been on the international netball scene since she made her debut for the Vitality Roses in 2010. With 73 caps to her name, she has also won two Vitality Netball World Cup bronze medals as well as another bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Stacey has been a part of every Team Bath Superleague title-winning side (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013). She joined the squad in 2005 as a 16-year-old and was Team Bath's longest-serving player which led to her induction into the University of Bath Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Since 2017, she has played for West Coast Fever in the Suncorp Super Netball League in Australia. Stacey is also a Pride House Birmingham ambassador and vice-chair on the Netball Players Association. Stacey supports the Foundation with Athlete Services and other areas of governance.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Member of the Fundraising Advisory Board
- Trustee
- Marketing Director of CSM Live and Switch the Play Trustee
Role
Marketing Director of CSM Live and Switch the Play Trustee
Biography
An award winning creative, commercial and communications director, Stacey has succeeded in delivering financial success, developing exceptional corporate teams and a marketing pioneer to boot. Currently a Commercial and Marketing Director for sports and entertainment agency CSM Live, along with a NED for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, when Stacey isn't in the board room she can be found practicing her martial arts and passion for sky diving! Stacey assists the charity with all areas of governance, predominantly supporting the Foundation with fundraising and marketing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Trustee and Founder of Sporting People and Sport for Confidence
Role
Switch the Play Foundation Trustee and founder of Sporting People and Sport for Confidence
Mitch has been with Switch the Play since 2014, and moved into a Trustee role when we converted to a charity in 2020. In our formative years, Mitch helped the organisation grow using StP as the organisation through which he completed consultancy projects with the Premier League, AoC Sport and BUCS. This included his leadership work in convening a group of experts to design and secure approval for the Level Sporting Excellence Professional Apprenticeship Standard which is delivered across professional sport academy environments. He has experience and networks across the sporting landscape working in and around talent pathways and player welfare for over 15 years. Mitch has a portfolio of interests including another charitable trustee role with the Coach Core Foundation; Board and NED roles with Sport for Confidence, Propel Teams, Transcend Awards and Karalius Education; and works in the people development space through his Sporting People brand where he supports organisations to take a modern and ambitious approach to leadership, governance and coaching.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Athlete Services Advisory Board
- Member of the Executive Team
- Athlete Engagement Manager
Role
Athlete Engagement Manager
Biography
Tom Brown brings over 15 years of experience playing professional rugby. Capped at International level and with over 100 appearances for Edinburgh Rugby and most recently, Scotland 7s. Tom holds a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) and is currently training for his Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) at ACS Flight Training in Perth, Scotland. He holds a BSc in Human Biology from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.