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Swinton Lions add three to Board!

06 September 2023

Swinton Lions become the latest club to benefit from Rugby League’s Inclusive Boards project

Swinton Lions has become the latest professional club to benefit from the ground-breaking partnership between the Rugby Football League (RFL) and executive search firm Inclusive Boards.

Inclusive Boards specialises in supporting organisations to become more inclusive, through greater board diversity and stronger governance structures, and is working with the RFL to help broaden and strengthen the skills, knowledge and expertise within boardrooms.

The Lions, one of an initial 10 professional clubs involved in the Rugby League Inclusive Boards project, have appointed three new directors:

 

  • Tommy Gaughan, founder and director of The Salford Rum Company, a spiced rum brand that has gained national recognition with listings in Waitrose, Selfridges, Morrisons and the Co-op. Tommy played Rugby League for Leigh East and Leeds University, and will combine his passion for the game with his wealth of experience in marketing and branding;

 

  • Amarron Frederick, a financial services advisor with fifteen years’ experience supporting corporate and small to medium-sized enterprise clients, and who has also held a number of senior positions across relationship management, business development and structured finance at two of the UK’s largest banks. Amarron is also a trustee at one of the UK’s largest multi-academy trusts, and has a passion for sports including Rugby League, football, F1 and tennis:

 

  • Lisa Murgatroyd, a leader in the Armed Forces third sector, serving as Strategic Development Director at Armed Forces Community HQ. Her background includes previous service in youth work, and a career in the private sector managing co-working business hubs and tech start-ups. Lisa is passionate about social mobility, working with under-represented groups to promote better life chances. She’s been an avid Rugby League fan since her father, a RAF veteran, began taking her to games at the age of 11, and is looking forward to supporting Swinton Lions in the growth of on-field and off-field success.

 

On behalf of the Lions, CEO Steve Wild said, “We are delighted to have taken part in this ground-breaking partnership between the Rugby Football League and the executive search firm, Inclusive Boards. Having successfully completed the programme we were able to link up with three outstanding individuals, whom we first interviewed at length over two sessions each, and then formally invited to join the Swinton Lions Board of Directors.

“Each of our new ‘recruits’ was able to offer something different but valuable to our club structure, allied to their educational and business experiences. Between them they will add skills, knowledge and expertise to our boardroom. The process also demonstrates in a very practical sense that we are an open and welcoming club, always willing to be self-critical, and encourage new talent to join us if we feel it will enhance our organisation and encourage future success.”

 RFL Inclusion Lead, Ben Abberstein, added, “The Board Diversity Project aims to ensure that Rugby League’s reputation for inclusion at all levels applies at the very highest level – in club boardrooms. This project is another important part of our TACKLE IT inclusion strategy and a massive step forward for the game – a step that is only made possible by the commitment of clubs such as Swinton Lions.”

The 10 clubs currently taking part in the Rugby League Club Board Diversity Project are: Barrow Raiders; Halifax Panthers; Huddersfield Giants; Hunslet; Midland Hurricanes; Salford Red Devils; Sheffield Eagles; Swinton Lions; Wakefield Trinity; Widnes Vikings. Inclusive Boards is working alongside all participating clubs.

More information about Inclusive Boards is available at inclusiveboards.co.uk

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