Who are the Board Members?
Our Board comprises of highly experienced individuals from all walks of life, including education, health, business and, of course, sport.
Chair - Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, DL
Tanni’s term of office as Sport Wales Chair began in July 2022. Tanni had formidable achievements as a world record-breaking Paralympian and World Champion from 1988 to 2004. Since 2010 Tanni has served as an Independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords and is involved in various All-Party Parliamentary Groups and debates on a range of issues including Accessibility, Assisted Suicide, Equality, Welfare Reform and Sport.
Vice Chair - Ian Bancroft
Ian is currently a serving Chief Executive at Wrexham County Borough Council.
He has a background of playing sport to a high level at cricket and rugby, studying Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough University, working leading sports development and leisure management teams, being a qualified sports coach in a number of sports, and having tutored sports coaches. Ian has always constantly remained involved in sport both professionally and as a volunteer.
More recently Ian has worked in North Wales helping establish a range of sports related organisations including Sport North Wales, Aura Leisure and Libraries, Cambrian Aquatics Sports Centre and Holywell Leisure Centre.
As part of his current work Ian has been a key player in helping Wrexham grow as the spiritual home of Welsh football leading on behalf of the Council plans for development of the Wrexham Gateway and the Racecourse Ground (returning internal football to the ground) and chairing the Football Museum of Wales steering group.
Nuria Zolle
Nuria Zolle is an experienced leader with a passion for social justice and community development. She brings experience in the non-profit and public sector, and is a well-respected advocate for tackling poverty and promoting inclusion. She has shaped national and local strategies, coalitions and partnerships. Her pioneering strategic and partnership work has been replicated across the UK and overseas, and has helped drive real change and progress in the fight against poverty and inequality.
Nuria also brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, risk management, governance and leadership. She has held executive roles and is a trustee on a number of charities including Ospreys in the Community. Currently, she is a Non -Executive Director of Swansea Bay University Health Board where she chairs the Audit Committee and Charitable Funds Committee.
Rhian Gibson
Rhian has a background in media, communications, sport, and culture. She is Director of Communications, Engagement and Partnerships for The National Library of Wales.
She has worked as a senior leader in BBC Wales News and Current Affairs; Director of Commissioning, S4C; CEO, Welsh Gymnastics; CEO, The Pony Club UK; Charity Director, Velindre University NHS Trust; and Deputy Director, Welsh Government.
She is currently a Trustee, Diverse Cymru and a Director of Pontypridd Rugby Football Club.
Rhian has worked to increase participation, diversity, and opportunity in her various roles in Sport.
She lives in Aberystwyth.
Hannah Bruce
Hannah is an experienced external affairs professional with established reputation within the sports industry. She is Head of Public Policy at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), responsible for designing and leading the organisation's engagement with key external stakeholders including Government and external sporting agencies to enhance the ECB's reputation. Hannah previously was policy advisor to the UK Government Cabinet Office, responsible for advising departments on their deregulation strategy and was also a senior political advisor to the leader of the opposition based in the National Assembly for Wales.
Rajma Begum
Rajma’s passion and dedication for working in sport equality stems from negative personal experiences and barriers to sport from a young age. Now working closely with other partners across the spectrum of equality and diversity, Rajma’s mission is to ensure all sports and physical activities are accessible and welcoming for all sections of the community.
Rajma has over 10 years' experience in Project Management and currently she is the Strategic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (Race) in Sport across Wales – Employed by Wales council for Voluntary action (WCVA). She has set up first BME Sport and Physical Activity Forum and Women and Girls Sport Forum in Wales as well as delivering the first conference in Wales focused on Ethnic Minority communities in sport.
Rajma has won an award for her outstanding contribution to Sport, Arts and Culture at the 2021 Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association (EMWWAA) Awards. Rajma has a deep passion for women’s rights, social justice and equality and diversity and has been the Chair of Women Connect First for the past seven years. Rajma loves all sports and actively participates in swimming, cycling, walking (including Snowden) and completed the 2018 Cardiff Half Marathon.
Nicola Mead-Batten
Nicola is a Partner at law firm TLT LLP, specialising in public law and regulatory matters and judicial review. Nicola has been a trusted adviser to the likes of the British Medical Association, UK Anti-Doping, the Gambling Commission, Welsh Government, the Future Generations Commissioner, as well as her own regulator, the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Sanjiv Vedi OBE
Sanjiv graduated from Cardiff University (Law and Politics) and holds a post graduate Certificate in Leadership. He is an accomplished professional having worked in the public and voluntary sector. He has received a Recognition Achievement award from the First Minister for Wales and an OBE from His Majesty for his contribution to Voluntary, Charitable and Public Service.
His professional career spans decades of dedication to public service and a commitment to sport and sports development. As a senior manager with considerable experience gained at strategic and operational levels, Sanjiv is performance driven with a proven track record of high-profile projects and programmes including working in risk management, safeguarding, child abuse prevention, social care and health, princes trust, and voluntary sector leads and equality.
Dr Alison Parken OBE
Until recently, Alison was Director of Executive Education at Cardiff University Business School.
A long-time advocate of gender mainstreaming, Alison’s research has been applied in her work with governments and employers to improve women’s position in the workplace. In 2008, she led action research for the DCMS and the Welsh Government to develop a method for mainstreaming equality on an intersectional basis in policy development. This method has been applied to considering how to ensure an Equal and Just Transition for all as Wales aims to attain Net Zero emissions.
With colleagues, Alison provided the research base for the design of the Welsh public sector equality duty on pay differences and subsequently directed the Women Adding Value to the Economy (WAVE) research programme, working with employers to ‘bring the duty to life’!
She has been an advisor to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), a member of the UK Government’s academic expert group on gender pay gap reporting (2016), the Wales Committee of the EHRC (2017-2022), and the Welsh Government’s ministerial steering group for the Gender Equality Review (2018-2020).
She was awarded an OBE for services to equality and diversity in 2017.
Róisín Connolly
Róisín is a senior management consultant with over thirteen years of experience working with executive- and board-level clients in FTSE-100 companies, private organisations, and the public sector. She brings extensive commercial leadership and a strong track record of delivering complex strategic, digital, and cultural transformations; always driven by a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and sustainable outcomes.
A passionate advocate for inclusion, Róisín is dedicated to creating workplaces that value diversity of thought and opportunity. She has led a broad range of initiatives to improve gender equity in the technology sector, with an active focus on retaining more women in the industry.
Currently, Róisín is also an Independent Governor at Cardiff Metropolitan University and sits on their Strategy and Finance committees.
Róisín’s broad experience in transformation, governance, and equality makes her well placed to support the organisation’s mission to foster sport and physical activity across Wales in an inclusive and impactful way.
Owain Schiavone
Raised in the Conwy Valley, Owain Schiavone has lived in Aberystwyth for 23 years and is a keen supporter of sport at local and national level. He had a 20 year career as an amateur footballer and now coaches Llanilar Football Club's youth teams. After retiring from football, he turned to competitive running and has represented Wales' masters teams on numerous occasions. He is a qualified athletics coach and coaches the junior athletes of Aberystwyth Athletics Club, as well as adult running groups. He is also a member of the West Wales Athletics Committee and the Welsh Athletics Mountain and Trail Running Committee, and has been helping to organise various running races in Mid Wales for several years.
Professionally, Owain has been an Executive Director with Golwg for 16 years, and Chief Executive since 2022. He has a keen interest in contemporary culture and music, and has been Senior Editor and Director of Y Selar magazine since 2009.
Martin Hurst
Martin Hurst is a UK-based Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of international experience in strategy, corporate finance, and risk management. After training in audit and risk management, he spent the majority of his career helping businesses develop, interpret, and implement their strategies — whether through acquisitions, disposals, or reorganisation.
After qualifying in London, Martin joined EY, where he was promoted to Partner in 2001. He went on to hold senior roles in the UK, Germany, and Australia. A fluent German speaker, he spent nearly two decades in Frankfurt as EMEIA Head of Divestiture Advisory Services, guiding global clients through complex transactions. Earlier, he advised the Australian federal government on its privatisation programme, including exits from major government held assets.
Since 2018, Martin has operated independently, acting as an expert witness in global M&A disputes, supporting global advisory firms, and contributing to the development of AI-enabled due diligence platforms with EY and IBM.
He combines strategic leadership with hands-on operational insight, underpinned by deep international experience.
