GB Snowsport Launches Diversity And Inclusion Group
Britain’s snowsport governing bodies have announced a new Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group which will aim to improve representation in the sport.
The group – which will have representation from GB Snowsport, Snowsport England, Snowsport Scotland and Snowsport Wales alongside an Independent Chair and an Independent Member – will initially serve until the end of 2021 before ‘longer-term decisions’ will be made on the best way for the bodies to work collaboratively on promoting diversity in the sport.
Drawing on data and analysis from a previous Diversity and Inclusion Research Programme launched by the collection of bodies, the new group will focus on diversity and inclusion across racial, LGBTQ+, and disability issues, and will focus initially on practical steps that can ‘help to entrench the importance of diversity and inclusion within the Governing Bodies’ work’.
The group will be Independently Chaired by Hilary Lissenden, Head of Community Sport for the Mayor of London, and will have additional Independent Member support from Melanie Antao, who will bring expertise in funding, programme development and high-performance sport from a career encompassing roles at Sport England, Premiership Rugby and the Football Foundation.
“Across the whole of our sport we recognise just how important improving diversity and inclusion is; the Advisory Group will play an important role in helping us to take meaningful steps that can lead to real improvements,” said Vicky Gosling, Chief Executive, GB Snowsport.
“We are delighted to have the support of so many expert individuals and organisations in this endeavour, in particular Hilary Lissenden and Mel Antao whose experience and knowledge of the wider sport sector will ensure we are making informed decisions around this important area of work.”
The group will meet formally for the first time this month, while GB Snowsport says the initiative has already received ‘welcome offers of support’ from a number of external parties, including Stonewall, Two Circles, and former skier and Stonewall Sporting Champion, John Dickinson Lilley.
