How much do you really know about your colleagues? This month, we're getting the lowdown on two colleagues from Sport Intelligence and Business Development - Emma Roberts and Lauren Thomas...
Sgwrs Tîm - Huddle Nov 2021
Emma Roberts - Service and Partner Development Officer
- What’s your hidden talent? I enjoy baking and once made a cake shaped like BB8 from Star Wars.
- Dream job growing up? I remember always wanting to be a nurse which is bizarre as I now have a phobia of anything medical! I have to leave the room if anyone starts talking about blood or broken bones!
- First job? I was a kitchen assistant at my local pub so I’ve peeled A LOT of vegetables!
- What would you put in Room 101? People who overshare on social media.
- Your best and worst qualities? Best – I like to think I’m quite friendly and chatty. Worst – I can be really lazy and love a nap.
- Who is your hero? Mary Berry – she’s the queen of baking.
- What would be the title of your autobiography? I really can’t think of one???
- Who would play you in a movie about your life? Emma Roberts (the famous one). We’re the same age too it makes sense.
- Happiness is… Watching Wales win from the Canton Stand at Cardiff City Stadium.
- Guilty pleasure? Eating peanut butter straight from the jar.
- Favourite place? Llanddwyn Island on Anglesey.
- Biggest fear? Frogs.
- Who makes you laugh? Joe Lycett.
- If you had to sing a song word for word to save your life, what would it be? Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum.
- If you could be one sports star for a day, who would you be? Dina Asher Smith – I’d love to know what it’s like to be that fast.
- If you could go back in time to be in the crowd at one sporting event in history, which would you choose? I’d be in the Kop end watching Liverpool v Barcelona in the semi-final of the Champions League in 2019. What a match!!
- Best thing about working at Sport Wales? As cheesy at it sounds, it’s the people. Everyone is so friendly and loves a chat.
- How long have you worked at Sport Wales? Technically nine years but with a year elsewhere in the middle. I worked here from 2012 – 2017 and then came back in October 2018.
- You get to learn one skill with the click of your fingers, what is it? I’d love to be able to play a musical instrument like a guitar or the drums.
Emma in the Canton Stand at a Wales game.
Lauren Thomas - Sport Partnerships Development Officer
- What’s your hidden talent? I can work a sheep dog.
- Dream job growing up? I wanted to be a singer until I was 10/11 years of age. Then I realised my vocals resembled the sound of a seagull. The next best thing was aspiring to be like my P.E teacher.
- First job? I was about 14 and my mother got me a job in her work, waitressing and cleaning in Forum Coffee Lounge, Merthyr Tydfil.
- What would you put in Room 101? *quickly googles ‘what’s room 101’* My biggest fear is a room full of people against Regional Sport Partnerships!
- Your best and worst qualities? I get told my best quality is my ability to lift a room and make people feel comfortable and at ease. My worst quality is people pleasing and not saying no.
- Who is your hero? I really admire Ayah Abduldaim. I met her four years ago on a training course and since she has become a role model, creating cultural change in Cardiff and beyond. Ayah has heavily influenced the way I think and approach work and life in general.
- What would be the title of your autobiography? After every storm there’s a rainbow.
- Who would play you in a movie about your life? Denise from the Royal Family! My family quite often compare me to her, particularly the Christmas special where she attempted to cook the turkey in the airing cupboard!
- Happiness is… Looking through my horse’s ears whilst I gallop across the top of the Welsh Valleys.
- Guilty pleasure? 90s Hardstyle music.
- Favourite place? Amadores in Gran Canaria because of the memories I have with my family and friends there.
- Biggest fear? Getting wrongly accused of a crime and getting sent to prison (Shawshank Redemption has affected me).
- Who makes you laugh? Kevin Bridges. If you haven’t seen the ‘getting stabbed for a pound’ stand up piece he does, give it a watch. Oh, and people on ‘Rate my Plate’ on Facebook.
- If you had to sing a song word for word to save your life, what would it be? Tom Jones – Green, Green Grass of Home.
- If you could be one sports star for a day, who would you be? I would be Serena Williams. I would spend the day learning how to become an amazing role model like she is and then ring Oprah, Beyonce and Meghan Markle to ask them if they fancied a girls’ night.
- If you could go back in time to be in the crowd at one sporting event in history, which would you choose? England v Wales Rugby at Twickenham, 18th January 1958. I found the ticket at my Grandparents’ house after my Grandad had passed away. I would go back in time and watch that game with him.
- Best thing about working at Sport Wales? How friendly and welcome everyone at Sport Wales is! My team is pretty epic too!
- How long have you worked at Sport Wales? Since June 2021.
- You get to learn one skill with the click of your fingers, what is it? Sing like Whitney Houston so I can achieve my childhood dream!
Lauren in her 'happy place', riding through the valleys.