Team
Our two office hubs are in Loughborough and Manchester. Many of us work remotely across England. Our Board is made up of highly experienced volunteers with a variety of skills to support our charity's strategy, policies and vision.
Please see below the details for staff, Board and Advocates. You can also use the contact us form for general information.
Found 7 team members.
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Tanni, Baroness Grey-Thompson
Honorary PresidentAs Honorary President, Tanni offers a wealth of knowledge as well as decades of experience, from grassroots to elite level. She is an 11 times gold Paralympic medallist and a respected figurehead in sport and policy. Over her career she won a total of 16 Paralympic medals, held over 30 world records, and won the London Marathon six times between 1992 and 2002.
Having acted as Chair herself for several months until the 2011 AGM, Grey-Thompson became our Honorary President following.
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John Amaechi OBE
Vice PresidentJohn Amaechi OBE became our Vice President in 2006, when Disability Sport Events (DSE), as a separate charity, merged with the English Federation of Disability Sport (Activity Alliance's previous name). He brings with him a wealth of sporting insight and player pathway expertise. Now retired from professional sport, he is an advocate for inclusion and challenges perceptions on every level.
Amaechi is a psychologist, New York Times best-selling Author and social entrepreneur working in both the US and the Europe. John’s personal characteristics and working experience in public and private sector organisations, educational institutions and governments across the UK, mainland Europe and the United States means he approaches every engagement with a cross-cultural, intergenerational and international clarity.
John has extensive expertise in keynote and motivational speaking, conference chairmanship and workshop administration. He is able to set and maintain tone, as well as use wit, warmth and insight to link the individual facets of any programme. His demeanour and experience allow for an inspiring, entertaining and unforgettable interaction.
(Image courtesy of APS Intel)
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Dr Philip Friend OBE Hon D.Sc. FRSA
Vice-ChairPhil is acknowledged as one of the UK's foremost consultants on disability matters. A powerful and highly popular communicator, he has provided consultancy, training and mentoring support to many of the country's best-known companies.
He is the co-author of 'Why are you pretending to be normal?' a self-help book designed to encourage disabled people to manage rather than cope with their disability. He co-hosts the podcast 'The Way We Roll' and produces and hosts the 'Gear, Gadgets and Gizmos' podcast for RIDC.
Phil is a long-standing Ambassador of the Business Disability Forum, Chair of Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC), a Churchill Fellow, and a former chair of Disability Rights UK and RADAR.
He was awarded an OBE in 2001 for services to equal opportunities and disabled people, and became an honorary Doctor of Science (Hon DSc) in 2009 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to equality and diversity from University of Hertfordshire.
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Ben Andrews
AmbassadorBen Andrews is Managing Director of Community Interest Company, Beyond Empower, children’s author and disabled people’s rights activists.
All of Ben’s work is focused on working towards a more inclusive world for disabled people, driven by his own personal experience, being registered blind.
Ben’s work in this area has been recognised through numerous endorsements and awards, including his inclusion on the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list in 2022 as one of the most influential disabled people in the UK.
Ben has followed the Activity Alliance closely over the years. Initially as a go-to for research to support his 1st classification in his Health and Exercise Sciences degree, and after as close partner to work alongside through his Company Beyond Empower to support more disabled people to be active across Greater Manchester.
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Eve Roberts
AmbassadorOnce a disengaged disabled student perceiving herself to be at a disadvantage within sport, Eve is a former GB U25s programme athlete and supported Activity Alliance’s pilot youth advisory panel. Now working strategically as a professional in equality, inclusion and diversity within sport to ensure inclusion is embedded and diversity is celebrated within sports and physical activity.
Her lived experience and finding an inclusive environment within sport has shaped her drive to ensure inclusion works better for everyone. She says sport has offered her so much.
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Dr Harrie Larrington-Spencer
AmbassadorHarrie Larrington-Spencer is a Research Fellow in the Active Travel Academy at the University of Westminster and is passionate about ensuring that disabled people can access the transport modes that they need to live well.
Her role involves understanding the walking, wheeling, and cycling needs of disabled people and ensuring these are included in transport policy and the design and implementation of active travel infrastructure. Harrie is a disabled person and loves cycling adapted trikes for transport, leisure, and exercise with her dog Frida.
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Temi Johnson
AmbassadorTemi has always had a passion for para and disability sports. He feels he has gained and learned so much playing and working as a Disability Sports Coach (DSC). Based in London, DSC uses the unique power of sport to enhance the lives of disabled people.
Starting out as a volunteer coach, Temi assisted with club sessions, showing his knowledge in adapting sports and his understanding of inclusion.
In 2019, he became a qualified Level 1 Football Coach, and in 2023, he achieved a Level 2 Coaching Multi-Skills qualification. After gaining his Level 2 qualification, Temi became a paid coach with DSC while continuing to provide his services as a volunteer.
He is a previous winner of StreetGames’ Coach of the Year Award and says, “everyone matters – and nobody should be left out”.