The FA appoints Deji Davies as Chair of Inclusion Advisory Board

The FA has appointed Deji Davies as Chair of our Inclusion Advisory Board [IAB].

Deji will bring substantial senior leadership experience to the IAB. He's currently a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, as well as a board trustee of education charity Future First and ambassador for the charity Awaken Genius.

As a non-executive director at Brentford FC and a former semi-professional footballer, having played for Boreham Wood and Slough Town amongst other clubs, Davies brings a strong passion and understanding of football at all levels of the game to the role. He also champions social inclusion, supporting disadvantaged students as part of his role with Awaken Genius, which strongly aligns with our commitment to tackling all forms of discrimination and promoting equality.

He will join the IAB in November and succeeds former professional footballer and Kick It Out co-founder, Paul Elliott CBE, who held the role for eight years.

Deji Davies said: "It’s a great privilege to be appointed as Chair of the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board, especially at such an exciting time for English football. Football has been a major part of my life from an early age, and I have seen first-hand how powerful it can be in challenging inequality and championing inclusion.

"With my experience both inside and outside of the game, I believe that I will bring a fresh perspective to the role and I look forward to working with the other members of the Inclusion Advisory Board and the FA Board on creating and driving forward positive and meaningful change. The value and benefit of inclusion in our game has never been more important, both on and off the pitch, and I’m eager to get started."

FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE said: "We’re delighted to appoint Deji as the Chair of our Inclusion Advisory Board. Deji has a wealth of experience that will bring impetus to this next era, including the development of our A Game For All strategy, which is a core and fundamental part of our mission. The Inclusion Advisory Board has made an invaluable contribution to the FA since its formation in 2013, bringing English football together on the critical matter of equality, diversity and inclusion.

"I’d like to thank Paul Elliott for his outstanding contribution as Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Board over the past eight years, particularly the key role he played in the creation of the Football Leadership Diversity Code, a pivotal moment for the English game."

The FA’s IAB was formed in 2013 and reports into the FA Board. Its role is to work alongside and challenge the Executive and Board in the creation and delivery of our EDI strategies. The organisation’s EDI strategy, A Game For All, which runs until 2024, includes three main strategic priorities: Lead the Change, by actively tackling discrimination on and off the pitch; Be the Change, by building a diverse workforce from the inside out; and Inspire the Change, by promoting an inclusive and united game which is for all.

Following the new appointment, our Inclusion Advisory Board now comprises:

• Deji Davies [IAB Chair]
• Staynton Brown [Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Talent, Transport for London]
• Sanjay Bhandari [Chair, Kick It Out]
• Hannah Dingley [Academy Manager, Forest Green Rovers, and IAB representative on the FA Women’s Football Board]
• Wasim Haq [FA Council and Managing Partner, First Team Partners]
• Sarah Hughes [CEO, Centre for Mental Health]
• Chris Paouros [Strategy and Leadership Consultant]
• Liam Rosenior [Ex-professional football and first team coach, Derby County]
• Marvin Sordell [Ex-professional footballer and Co-Founder, 180 Productions]
• Nuala Walsh [Vice Chair, UN Women and Founder, MindEquity Consulting]

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