2024 JUDGES PANEL
Click judges name for bio
Gary Laybourne
Rob co-founded Switch The Play in 2014, with the aspiration of contributing to a sports industry which prioritises its duty of care over sportspeople and supports every sportsperson to fulfil their potential at every stage of their lives. Switch the Play Foundation, is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting all sportspeople to successfully transition to life outside of sport. It works with organisations like The Premier League, UK Sport, League Football Education, the Netball Players Association and GLL Sport Foundation providing wellbeing, life skills and career pathways support to sportspeople across their sporting careers and beyond.
Rob’s experience across a range of roles in sport includes Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, work with National Governing Bodies of sport, professional sports clubs, national and local government, and further and higher education. For six years Rob worked on the legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, for which he was awarded an MBE in 2013. Rob became CEO of Switch the Play Foundation in 2021.
Rob Young MBE
Rob co-founded Switch The Play in 2014, with the aspiration of contributing to a sports industry which prioritises its duty of care over sportspeople and supports every sportsperson to fulfil their potential at every stage of their lives. Switch the Play Foundation, is the only UK charity dedicated to supporting all sportspeople to successfully transition to life outside of sport. It works with organisations like The Premier League, UK Sport, League Football Education, the Netball Players Association and GLL Sport Foundation providing wellbeing, life skills and career pathways support to sportspeople across their sporting careers and beyond.
Rob’s experience across a range of roles in sport includes Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games, work with National Governing Bodies of sport, professional sports clubs, national and local government, and further and higher education. For six years Rob worked on the legacy programme of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, for which he was awarded an MBE in 2013. Rob became CEO of Switch the Play Foundation in 2021.
Liz Keeble
Liz began her teaching career as a graduate Special Needs Teaching Assistant and loved the work so much, she completed a PGCE with the Open University and has now been teaching for 25 years. Throughout her career, she has held a number of roles, including Lead School Improvement Consultant for Essex County Council, where she undertook a post-graduate diploma in Mathematics in Education. She was a deputy head for four years before taking up a five year headship. She is a fully qualified Senco with a specialism in social, emotional and mental health challenges. After completing some consultancy work for us, she joined Omnia Foundation as Chief Operating Officer in September 2021. She brings with her an interest in long distance walking and physical fitness, as well as music and the performing arts.
Andy Hicks
BIO
Dana Dar
With extensive experience in the Sports Media and Sports Technology industry, Dana is an expert in her field specializing in the use of technology and innovation across the sector.
Dana spent the first part of her career as a sports reporter and producer, and over the past decade, has held senior positions in leading global firms, focusing on introducing new technologies dedicated to enhancing the sports experience within the entire ecosystem through media and digital strategies, content monetization and fan engagement, and player development.
In addition to being an advisor to multiple tech start ups, Dana is currently the co-founder of Kick Off, a company set up to bring tech innovation to sports organizations world wide, while bridging the gap within emerging sports markets.
Dana is a champion of empowering women in tech and the advancement of women in sports, promoting diversity and inclusion across the industry.
Yvonne Harrison
Yvonne became Women in Football CEO in January 2022. Equality is a huge passion for Yvonne, from grassroots participation to the boardroom, and with over 20 years in the sports industry, she has experience across the board, in sport, health and business.
She began her career with Manchester-based charity GreaterSport, where she later became CEO and led the charity to unprecedented success, helping to put Greater Manchester firmly on the map as innovators, driving impact and changing lives through sport and physical activity. During her tenure she was awarded The Charity Times Awards – Rising CEO star, the Northwest Institute of Directors, Director of the Year for Public and Third Sector and was added to the Northern Power Women’s top 50 Power List, alongside the charity securing multiple awards.
In 2018 Yvonne became Managing Director for Project 92, overseeing the sport and education portfolio for the Class of 92, which included a game-changing higher education institution in Greater Manchester, UA92.
In late 2020 Yvonne established StryveUK, a sports consultancy which has worked with professional sports franchises, clubs, national governing bodies and charities as well as supporting individuals through executive coaching and mentoring. In addition to this, Yvonne is actively involved with several organisations in a Non-Executive Director capacity, and is Chair of Trustees for Foundation 92.
Anju Solanki
BIO