Sport boards may be an untapped opportunity for aspiring, early stage and established Non-Executives & Trustees
There are now fewer women on sports boards and in Senior Leadership Teams than there were in 2020 and the age profile is going up, according to Sport England and UK Sport data released this January.
So now is the time to consider women’s sports boards as part of your career – there is no such thing as ‘too young’, ‘too inexperienced’ or ‘not sporty enough’!
New data show that the gender balance on sports boards has dropped to 41% female, down from 43% in 2020. At the same time, 39.94% of sports board members are over 55, up from 30.94% in 2020.
Yet, the visibility and influence of women’s sports are at an all-time high. This year the Women’s Rugby World Cup is being hosted across England – and including Manchester – from 22nd August to 27th September. With record-breaking ticket sales and unprecedented media coverage, it’s a powerful platform for promoting gender equality and inspiring the next generation of female leaders in sport.
The ground is fertile ground for women to step into leadership roles and drive meaningful change in the industry. Women hold only 30% of board positions in National Governing Bodies of sport in England and Wales. Only 8% of board positions in professional sports clubs are held by women and just 23% of CEOs in the UK sports sector are women…
We are delighted to bring together a panel of extraordinary leaders in the sports arena to explore the wide-ranging benefits of board roles in the sport. It will be an evening of eye-opening learnings and stories as we hear from:
- Michelle Orange, co-owner of Sale Sharks Rugby Club, Trustee & Board member;
- Yvonne O’Malley, Head of Leisure at MCC & Trustee, Non Exec and Ambassador;
- Ebony Quow, HR expert, Advisory Board member for Lancs Cricket Foundation & Ambassador.
We look forward to engaging with this wonderful panel, hosted by our Regional Lead, Rebecca Ganz, thanks to the support of Eversheds Sutherland, Manchester
Register asap to avoid disappointment at this popular event – we look forward to seeing you there!
Lead for the North, Rebecca Ganz
Rebecca Ganz, Non-Executive Director, Entrepreneur & C-Suite adviser and Women on Boards Lead for the North
Rebecca Ganz (aka Becks) is an ex-pat who successfully kickstarted her Non-Exec career in August 2018. With a range of Chair, Non-Exec & Advisory Board roles, which span Education, Institutional Health and Business sectors, Becks knows what it takes to strategically build a Non Exec portfolio, while continuing to grow her Entrepreneur and C-Suite coaching practice. Becks is Non-Exec of Bolton NHS Foundation Trust & Blueskeye AI Ltd, Trustee of Leodis Multi Academy Trust and Advisory Board Member for Patchwork Health. As part of her Board roles, she Chairs various committees relating to transformation, strategy, finance, risk & remuneration. For further background on Becks, please see www.rebecca-ganz.com
Speakers
Michelle Orange, Co-owner of Sale Sharks, Trustee & Board member
Sale-born Michelle Orange is co-owner of Sale Sharks Rugby Club, and describes herself as “a bit feisty; a bit Northern gobby”! As the only female co-owner of a Premiership Rugby Club, Michelle’s role is both noteworthy and trailblazing. In 2020 Michelle decided to invest in an all-new women’s team: Sale Sharks Women, born during lockdown, is now the only Premiership Women’s Rugby team north of Loughborough.
Her commitment to women’s rugby extends beyond her team: Michelle is committed to growing the game in the North and to developing the player pathway through to England’s Red Roses. In addition, she influences strategy for the women’s game through her Board role at Premiership Women’s Rugby and is a massive advocate for getting young girls into the grass roots game through her Trustee role at the Sale Sharks Foundation.
Ebony Quow, Associate CIPD, BSc, MSc
Lead People Partner, the Post Office, Advisory Board Member & Ambassador
Ebony Quow is a dynamic HR leader and board advisor, renowned for driving transformative people strategies that unlock talent potential and embed lasting cultural change. A specialist in HR transformation, organisational design, and DEI strategy, she challenges the status quo, collaborating with C-suite leaders to shape inclusive, high-performing environments that drive sustainable, impactful business outcomes.
Beyond corporate HR, Ebony plays a key role as an Advisory Board Member for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, where she passionately supports initiatives that make cricket more inclusive and accessible. As an Ambassador for WiHTL & Diversity in Retail, she advises on long-term DEI strategies that amplify representation and equity.
With a commitment to breaking down barriers, and facilitating meaningful change Ebony’s influence extends across corporate, sport, and retail sectors. She thrives on shaping governance, accelerating diverse talent, and driving high-performance cultures that foster innovation, inclusion and belonging.
Yvonne O’Malley
Head of Leisure, Manchester City Council, Non-Executive Director, Trustee, Board Advisor & Ambassador
Yvonne O’Malley, Head of Leisure, Events, and Contracts at Manchester City Council, is a dynamic leader with over 20 years of experience in the public and charity sectors including playing a pivotal role across a number of boards. She spearheads ambitious investment and activation programs that elevate Manchester on the global stage by drawing on her commercial acumen and community focus to enhance the city’s public image, cultural landscape, and resident outcomes. Yvonne’s work on a range of boards and charitable organisations underscores her commitment to inclusivity and community well-being.
A passionate advocate for sport as a catalyst for urban development, Yvonne overseas key areas such as Manchester’s leisure infrastructure and high-profile events that foster community inclusivity and create lasting positive impacts. Her leadership ensures Manchester’s sporting and leisure offerings remain world-class and accessible, driving the city’s growth and vibrancy. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, Yvonne is shaping an active, inclusive, and thriving Manchester. She is a Trustee of Manchester Youth Zone, Non-Executive Director of MCRactive, Ambassador to We Love MCR Charity and Board Advisor to FC United of Manchester.
What previous Boardroom Insights attendees say:
“A most insightful evening. I met some fascinating ladies and I found the whole event inspiring.”
“I got so much from you and wanted to thank you for sharing your learnings. You’ve helped me reframe what a NED is.”
“It totally surpassed my expectations! Inspirational! I made some great contacts.”
“The session was a true inspiration to me. It was just what I needed at this time. The speakers you chose shared great insights on what NED roles they’d done, why they’d chosen them and how they got them. I also liked the Q&A session where the panel shared their hints on how to demonstrate what you will bring to the organization.”
With thanks to our hosts, Eversheds Sutherland