Alex is a Senior Consultant in the Inclusive Sport Team at Inclusive Employers and has 10 years’ experience in Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). For the last 5 years Alex has specialised in inclusion in sport working with 48 National Governing bodies in England and other organisations across the sector.

As Head of Talent Inclusion Alex was responsible for delivering the inclusion elements of Sport England’s talent strategy and developed multiple inclusion-led pilot programmes.

Alex has written EDI strategies, designed and delivered cultural change programmes, provided advice and guidance around the Equality Act 2010, and challenged the status quo to create more inclusive environments.

What do you enjoy about your role at Inclusive Employers?

I enjoy supporting organisations in sport and physical activity (PA) to think about how they can be more inclusive. Sport and PA can give a person so much, as with art it can be the best way for someone to express themselves, it can have such a positive impact on your mental health, it creates a place for fun and socialising or a place where you can have some alone time and zone out.

I think it’s important that every part of sport and PA is open to everyone, from working, volunteering, coaching to participating. Everyone should be able to experience that positive energy.

I hate that people have negative experiences in sport and PA and want to be part of the solution to create positive and inclusive spaces.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

I wouldn’t say I have any particular big achievements, but I like to think there are several small things I’ve contributed to, to help make the world a bit more inclusive. For example when I worked at Sport England I was able to help get funding to some amazing organisations to support them create talent pathways which are more accessible and inclusive like the ACE cricket programme, Greig City Academy Scaramouch Sailing Trust, and London Youth Rowing.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Many years ago I was taught about John Rawls’ concept of the ‘veil of ignorance’ which relates to how you would design a society and political system if you didn’t know your status within it (e.g. socio-economic group, ethnicity, gender etc.). Without knowing it, it was my first introduction to how privilege and bias influence your decision making, and helped me to be more conscious of that in everything I do.

Tell us something about you that we might not know.

I started a new sport at the beginning of the year called Historical European Marshal Arts (HEMA) which is centred around sword fighting. It’s great, I really enjoy it!