Ashraf Wallace 

Ashraf Wallace joined West Riding FA in November 2023 as the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead, leveraging over 20 years of professional experience. A committed Muslim for over 25 years, Ashraf is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and cultural sensitivity within organisations.

During his tenure at West Riding FA, Ashraf has implemented transformative enhancements including a contemplation room, prayer mats, and a Wudu facility to meet diverse religious needs.

Additionally, as Club Secretary of Eccleshill United, Ashraf introduced innovative practices such as designated prayer spaces and halal food options to enhance inclusivity in sports.

With over 21 years at Lloyds Banking Group, Ashraf brings strong financial management and leadership skills. He has also volunteered for over 8 years with Penny Appeal, significantly diversifying fundraising efforts for global challenges.

Having completed all six world major marathons, Ashraf now aims to inspire individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to achieve similar athletic feats and embrace challenges to reach their full potential.

Ashraf Wallace is a visionary leader committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across professional, community, and personal spheres, leaving a lasting impact on organisations and individuals alike.

Lizzie Saunderson-Trowell

Lizzie Saunderson-Trowell is the Director of Operations at Bradford City FC Community Foundation, specialising in operations, compliance, and safeguarding. With 9 years’ experience in the non-profit sector, particularly football, she is passionate about creating positive social impact and empowering communities to achieve their potential. 

She has recently worked on several EDI focused projects including creating a multi-faith and sensory space for fans of the Club, tackling domestic abuse across genders and spearheading the need for translated assets amongst national NCS assets to support young people with English as a second language to access opportunities. Lizzie is constantly on the lookout for ways to expand and enhance her and her team's knowledge and understanding of EDI, regularly seeking, and advocating for further training to support the diverse needs of Bradford.

Asma Iqbal

Asma Iqbal is an Equity Partner and Head of Corporate Recovery and Insolvency at Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors.  This area of practice includes advising business, Directors and Insolvency Practitioners in corporate pre-insolvency and insolvency scenarios.  During 2020 – 2021, Asma represented ex-Yorkshire cricketer, Azeem Rafiq, in his claim of institutional racism against Yorkshire County Cricket Club and, supported by her employment team, secured a settlement in his subsequent employment tribunal.  

Asma won several awards on the success of the high-profile case.  She has now taken on a proactive role to tackle racism and promote inclusion, diversity, and equality, working with institutions to audit their practices, procedures, and behaviours, to help them implement meaningful and lasting change.  Asma supports social mobility for women and for minority ethnic groups through her various voluntary committee and Board roles.  Asma is the diversity and inclusion champion for the Joint Insolvency Service and R3 Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group nationally.  Asma also sits on the INSOL International Diversity and Equity Inclusion Committee.  Asma is the Deputy Business Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin and the Inclusivity Champion and Board Member for West Yorkshire Combined Authority Business Board.  Asma also sits on the West North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce BAME Committee and attends schools and colleges to mentor and talk about her journey, to inspire students embarking on career choices.  

Dr Daniel Kilvington

Dr Daniel Kilvington is a Reader and Course Director in Media and Cultural Studies at Leeds Beckett University. His teaching and research focuses on ‘race’, racism and anti-racism in sport and new media contexts. He is widely published in academic journals, and is author of five books, including Sport, Racism and social media (2015) and Sport and Discrimination (2017). He is the co-founder of the annual Sport and Discrimination Conference series and has presented a number of keynote papers at academic and industry events. He has secured significant external funding for research with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the British Academy (BA) and has undertaken research collaborations with stakeholders including the English Premier League (EPL), Kick It Out, Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), The English Cricket Board (ECB), to name but a few.   

Sharron Kaur

Sharron is a passionate ex-football player and dedicated business owner, with a lifelong love for the beautiful game. Her football story began at a young age, playing 5, 7, and 11-a-side matches that laid the foundation for her deep connection with the sport. As a proud former member of West Leeds Ladies, she experienced the camaraderie and competitive spirit of grassroots football. This journey continued as her team merged with Wortley FC, enriching her experience, and solidifying her love for community-based football. These formative years honed her skills and fuelled her passion, enabling her to play at university level and compete across the country.

Being of South Asian heritage, Sharron takes immense pride in representing her community in football. Her journey is a testament to the opportunities available for aspiring athletes from diverse backgrounds to excel in sports. Balancing her professional career and commitment to football, she strives to inspire others to pursue their passions, regardless of the 
obstacles they may face. Through this platform, she aims to share her experiences, insights, and love for football, connecting with fellow enthusiasts and fostering a vibrant community around the sport they all cherish. Join Sharron as she continues to explore the world of football, celebrate its unifying power, and promote the importance of diversity and inclusion in the game.