Aquatics GB has launched its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Group.
The group aims to bring together a collective of expert representatives and interested associates to offer advice and guidance to support the future development and evaluation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It also aims to support the challenges and matters faced by Aquatics GB by offering recommendations for the Organisation.
Meet the eight members of Aquatics GB's DEIAG below:
Amrit Bains
I'm Amrit Singh Bains, a dedicated professional with a background in football coaching and development. With a bachelor’s degree in Football Coaching and currently pursuing a Master's in Sports Directorship, I am committed to developing an expertise in player development, talent identification, and football governance.
I strongly believe in that Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DEI) supports each environment in getting the best out of every individual whilst creating a legacy of ‘diversity in longevity’. From my previous inclusion-based roles within sport, I have seen first-hand the tremendous impact that sport can have for individuals, communities, and society. Therefore, it is essential as sports practitioners we harbour an attitude of making sport for everyone.
That's why I'm proud to be a part of the Diversity, Inclusion Action Group at Aquatics GB. Together, we're driving positive change and fostering an inclusive culture within the organization.
With my passion for sports and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, I'm hoping to support a group that make valuable impact to the sports industry and beyond!
Eliza Humphrey
An eighteen-year-old visually impaired para-swimmer competing in the S11 classification for swimmers who are blind with no useful vision. I represented Great Britain at the 2022 World Para-swimming Championships and 2024 European Championships and am a multiple British record holder in the S11 class.
I am currently on a gap year having completed my A-level studies in the summer of 2023. Previously I have been involved in diversity and inclusion as part of my school's Culture, Unity and Equality (CUE) council with responsibility for the organising and running the annual Culture Day celebrations throughout the school, as well as supporting other initiatives to increase inclusion and diversity throughout the school community. Outside of my swimming activities, I am an avid sports listener and also enjoy playing piano and saxophone.
Stephanie McGuigan
A proud Northerner! Stephanie is an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist and Human Resource Professional. Stephanie is the Workforce Lead for Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at a Northeast Council, but has previously spent more than 16 years working for Northumbria Police - in the latter years as part of their Senior Management Team driving change in culture, deepening employee engagement and diversifying the workforce.
Stephanie has volunteered her time to support Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work holding Advisory Board positions. Alongside this, Stephanie has worked as, a Non-Executive Director to the Board of Women’s Health in South Tyneside (WhiST), a Development Award Assessor for the Princes’ Trust and a Mentor as part of the National Girls Network. She has used her voice regionally and nationally within these forums to provide a strong platform for those from diverse backgrounds and with a collaborative approach has passionately pushed for work to be done around trust and confidence within communities and the workplace.
Stephanie studied at Teesside University, gaining a Bachelor of Science Degree, BSc (hons,) in Criminology and Masters (MSc) in Forensic Investigation.
Stephanie is a general sports fan but has always had a real passion for swimming, having swum as a club swimmer when she was younger and loves to watch her local North East football team each week. She loves spending time with her family and friends.
Peter Hornig-Dixon
Peter has been involved in Parasport since he was 14 years old. Starting his Parasport journey assisting a childhood friend who played Boccia, Peter has gone on to coach Boccia internationally with his athletes having won many medals.
Meticulous, impartial, and pragmatic, Peter puts the athletes at the center of all of his endeavors, listening keenly to the voices of those who partake in Sports activities.
As a sports administrator, he has been the driving force in bringing the sport of Boccia to the Caribbean and works closely with World Boccia and the International Paralympic Committee on developing the sport in the region.
Before this, he was an administrator and senior coach in Germany, where he conceptualized and spearheaded novel initiatives to engage youth with complex physical impairments in sports activities. He worked within the German Wheelchair Sports Federation, a sub-working group of the German Paralympic Committee. He was also the head Boccia coach for the state of Berlin and coached national team athletes from the region.
Peter has seen firsthand how diverse representation within coaching and management enrich and empower everyone involved.
Peter also sits on the World Boccia Development Committee.
Matthew Martin
Matthew Martin is the Health & Wellbeing Officer at Swim England, since 2022. He works across the country to make facilities more accessible, welcoming and inclusive and addresses barriers for participants to access the water. Working on the water wellbeing programme, he develops tailored aquatic opportunities to get those with long term health conditions, disabilities and impairments active. This involves working closely with the health sector and national charities.
Starting as a competitive swimmer for a local team, he progressed his career in the leisure industry, holding many different roles. Previously roles include a lifeguard, sports officer and activities manager. He still currently teaches swimming at his local pool and tutors swimming teacher qualifications.
Matthew uses his own life experiences to educate the wider public on long-term conditions, mental health problems, LGBTQ+ issues and about his time, as a former police constable. He is passionate about making aquatics for all.
Away from work, he enjoys hiking, running and following Middlesbrough football club.
James Williams
James Williams possesses a 25-year global tenure in the sports marketing area. Initially operating out of London, to where he returned last year having spent 10 years abroad in both Brazil and Japan. James has cemented a legacy through a fusion of commercial, marketing, and ESG strategies. Williams' proficiency extends to the management of intricate, multi-dimensional programs, ensuring optimal digital integration and meticulous stakeholder management.
A vital part of the Coca-Cola leadership from 2006 to 2022 across many of their sporting and music properties James was paramount to the brand's unprecedented success during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. His leadership transformed Coca-Cola's strategy, integrating business legacies and pushing the envelope with initiatives that resulted in a staggering $372m in incremental commercial legacy revenue. James has a formidable knack for inspiring teams, evident in his reformation of team engagement metrics and the development of diverse and inclusive initiatives.
Furthermore, he has been pivotal in various global sporting events, like the Rio 2016 Games and London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. James' associations now spans beyond Coca-Cola, has contributed as an advisor to both Lasso Safe, Made by Dyslexia driving positive change in society and also very much in the start-up world across FMCG and sports. He also shares his knowledge and experience through the Skema business school in France as a guest lecturer for 2 modules on the Global Business of Sport and Rights Management for the MSc Sports, Events and Tourism. He’s passionate about aligning purpose with people, performance and partnership.
Emma Dunleavy-Harris
Emma has always had a deep-rooted passion to support and empower underrepresented groups, focussing on equity, health and wellbeing. For example, she worked at Active Connections (a CIC) leading an award-winning volunteer programme working with individuals who had served time in prison to support their personal development, enabling them to thrive as they integrated back into their communities.
Whilst at Active Connections, Emma was an integral part of changing the business model whilst still achieving its objectives. This included the transition of the income generation from fundraising to include commercial services. The success of this enabled us to use the profits to deliver projects that we were passionate about and knew helped change people’s lives.
Within Emma’s current role at L3Harris as a Marketing Business Partner, she has been involved in the recent equality, diversity and inclusion developments. Volunteering her time, she has been the UK representative for the Pride Employee Resource Group as well as being involved in WE3 (Women who strive for Empowering, Enhancing & Encouraging women), WILA (Willing and Able) and APEX (Asian Professionals for Excellence). Working alongside international ERG partners from across the world, sharing, learning and providing a voice for her LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies. Locally Emma has created and implemented the Pride ERG strategy to drive a progressive, inclusive, and inspiring environment for current and new employees, which was recently recognised as a finalist at the LGBTQ+ in Defence Awards.
Emma has invaluable lived experience across a fast-changing landscape within the LGBTQ+ community and has a diverse professional career that crosses the aviation, defence, health and wellbeing, and voluntary sectors. With more than 10 years' experience in Strategic Marketing and a passion for DE&I within the workplace, Emma is excited to be part of the new Aquatics GB DE&I Advisory Group.
Liz Johnson
Liz is a former Paralympic Swimmer, winning gold medals in the Paralympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships. She is an athlete mentor & corporate speaker, sports commentator & pundit.
In August 2018, Liz started "The Ability People" an organization that is aimed at recruiting disabled people beside the able-bodied people without discrimination. In the same year, she was listed as one of the BBC's 100 Women.
In 2024, Liz was appointed as executive producer by Whisper TV to cover the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
