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Diversity and inclusion

LTA announces launch of Board-level Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Group

• 2 MINUTE READ

We have today announced the launch of a Board level Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Group (IDAG), comprising eight expert individuals from the inclusion sector. The establishment of the group is central to our overarching vision to open up tennis to people of all backgrounds and forms a central part of our Inclusion Strategy.

The IDAG will be chaired by Rachel Baillache (LTA Board Inclusion Lead and Senior Independent Director), who oversaw the creation of our Inclusion Strategy. Rachel is joined by Sanjay Bhandari (LTA Board member and Chair of Kick it Out), Funke Awoderu (Diversity & Inclusion Director at Live Nation and former LTA Independent Councillor), Shiv Paul (LTA Independent Councillor and Founder, Caprihan Consulting), Emma Birchall (Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Ericsson), Selva Ramasamy KC (Leading barrister and an advocate for inclusion at the Bar), Vicky Williams (LTA People Director and Executive Inclusion Lead) and Barry Horne (LTA Independent Councillor and CEO at Activity Alliance).

The IDAG brings together a diverse range of lived experience and significant expertise to provide strategic guidance on the implementation of the Inclusion Strategy, and to offer an external perspective on best practice and areas where we can be more inclusive. The group will work closely with our colleagues and the independent Inclusion, Diversity, Equality and Accessibility (IDEA) working group. The IDEA group, which was set up in February 2021 and which informed the development of the Strategy, will continue to provide ideas, suggestions and an operational level consultation forum, which will feed into the IDAG.

Through steps such as establishing this group, we have committed to changing that perception and ensuring that tennis truly is a sport that reflects the diversity of our communities across Britain.

Rachel Baillache, LTA Senior Independent Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Inclusion and Diversity Action Group said: “We are thrilled to announce the formation of our Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Group. The group includes eight individuals who, between them, have a wealth of experience in the inclusion sector.

“When we launched our 2019 – 2023 Vision - Tennis Opened Up – we placed inclusion firmly at its heart, as we recognised that tennis was still viewed by some as hard to access. Through steps such as establishing this group, we have committed to changing that perception and ensuring that tennis truly is a sport that reflects the diversity of our communities across Britain. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing the contribution this group can make with its broad range of knowledge, experience and expertise, as we continue to open up our sport”.

Our Inclusion Strategy was launched to support the LTA’s 2019 – 2023 Tennis Opened Up Vision and with one clear ambition – that we would not be satisfied until participation in the sport fully reflects the diversity of our communities across Britain.

With the LTA Annual Report for Inclusion due to be released imminently, the creation of IDAG is one of the key actions taken by the LTA in inclusion over the past year.  

Read the LTA Inclusion Strategy 

Meet the Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Group

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