Sport Birmingham has appointed two new members to its Board of Trustees: Claire Murray and Kate Oliver. The appointments follow the farewell of three long-serving trustees: Keith Fraser, Shah Begum, and James McLaughlin.
Claire Murray, Head of Strategic Content & Campaigns at British Gymnastics, joins the Board with extensive experience in strategic marketing. Her expertise will be invaluable in developing the Sport Birmingham brand and raising awareness of its work across the city.
Having previously lived and worked in Birmingham, and then more recently taking up a role in sport with British Gymnastics, I was excited about the opportunity to use my knowledge, passion and marketing expertise to help raise the profile of the important work Sport Birmingham does and the many opportunities it offers, particularly for those most in need.
I’m excited about the organisation’s ambition and what’s next, and how I can play my part in supporting a more active Birmingham.
Claire Murray (Trustee)
Also joining the Board is Kate Oliver of HCR Law. As a specialist in legal matters within the sports sector, particularly safeguarding, her knowledge will be a huge asset to the organisation’s ongoing efforts.
Sport Birmingham is celebrating the significant contributions of three departing trustees: Keith Fraser, Shah Begum, and James McLaughlin. Each brought unique expertise and passion to the board, leaving a lasting impact on the organisation’s work.
Keith Fraser’s knowledge as Chair of the Youth Justice Board for England & Wales was crucial. He helped Sport Birmingham demonstrate how sport and physical activity can be used as a powerful tool for youth engagement and intervention for young people.
Shah Begum chaired Sport Birmingham’s internal Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group. Her leadership helped the team better understand and highlight the organisation’s impact in this vital area, drawing on her experience with the United by 2022 Charity and legal background.
As Chair of the Commercial Working Group, James McLaughlin shared his extensive commercial experience, including his role as CEO of Cure Leukaemia. His expertise was key in helping to drive change and innovation across the organisation.
It’s always exciting to welcome new trustees, and Claire and Kate both bring essential skills and experience as well as a passion for and belief in the difference that sport and physical activity makes to people’s lives.
Although we say a huge thank you and goodbye to Keith, Shah and James, we acknowledge their commitment and look forward to an ongoing relationship with them all.
Mike Chamberlain (CEO)