Sandy Gill is a specialist in operational and strategic safeguarding with experience across a range of statutory services and a national governing body.
And Katie Simmonds is a sports governance expert with a background in sports law and is a champion of equity, diversity and inclusion.
“I am delighted we have secured the support and skills of two excellent new non-executive directors to join the Basketball England Board. It is so important that we are able to attract people of this quality into our sport to help drive basketball forward in this country.
“Katie and Sandy both bring valuable expertise and experience that I am confident will really help us and ensure that we continue to develop and improve as a NGB.”
Gill is the Strategic Safeguarding and Welfare Manager (Women’s Game) for the Football Association, a school governor and formerly Senior Safeguarding Manager in Children’s Services for Stevenage Borough Council. She has a background in the education sector.
Gill said: “I have a strong belief that sport has the unique power to bring different communities together and create opportunities. In this role I will advocate for person-centred and safer environments where anyone can thrive in basketball.
“I have developed a strong understanding of grassroots participation, talent pathways and elite sports environments. I am passionate about driving a culture that embeds safeguarding into the core of an organisation’s activity from strategic planning through to event delivery.
"I will champion the rights of people involved in the game and keep safeguarding central to decision-making processes.
“I didn’t have any opportunity to play basketball when I was younger, but I have a very young family who feel an affinity with basketball. Back garden basketball is a huge hit in our house!”
Simmonds has worked with international sports organisations to affect positive cultural change and has advised a range of sports clients on litigation, competition and commercial matters.
Her prior roles include working in private practice at American law firm, K&L Gates where she advised a wide range of sports clients in relation to litigation, competition and commercial matters.
More recently, Simmonds was the Global Chief Operating Officer of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) and worked closely with an extensive number of international sports organisations to enhance their governance systems. Katie played a leading role in the development of international integrity standards for the sports industry together with a best-in-class quality assurance system, to deliver transparency and accountability to sport.
As the Global Chief Operating Officer of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) she worked with international sports organisations to enhance their governance systems, while, as Managing Director of SIGAWomen, she created and led a successful programme for aspiring female executives in the sports industry.
She said: “I am thrilled to join Basketball England’s board and contribute to unlocking the unrivalled potential of basketball in England.
"Having witnessed first-hand the unique power of this sport to erode barriers and unite communities from diverse demographics,
"I look forward to making a sustainable and measurable contribution to Basketball England’s gameplan, I believe that a well governed sport off court positively impacts its commercial success, and I will apply my experience of working with several international sports organisations in this regard, to pave the way for an exciting new chapter in the UK as we focus on increasing participation and access to the sport for all.”
Gill and Simmonds replace former vice chair Russell Bell and fellow board member Graham Biggs, who both recently left the BE board.
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