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EFDS welcomes new Board members

The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is pleased to welcome two new members to its Board. Rashmi Becker and Fran Williamson will sit alongside another eight Non-Executive Directors to help strategically lead sport for disabled people across England.

 Rashmi Becker has over 15 years experience as a marketing and communications professional. She has worked in London, Brussels and Dubai and in a range of areas including healthcare, education, the UK government and European Union. Rashmi has advised senior executives and ministers and helped organisations such as the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the European Parliament and Commission and one of the world’s largest medical research charities to develop and implement strategies that engage people to make informed decisions and bring about positive change.

Commenting on her appointment Rashmi said:

“I am passionate about the positive impact of physical activity on quality of life. I have seen the difference this has made to my brother, who has autism; being able to participate in activities like going to the gym and swimming have really helped improve his mental and physical health and emotional wellbeing.”

Most recently as an Executive Director for a leading UK learning disability and autism charity, Rashmi helped develop relationships with stakeholders such as policymakers, disability groups, carers and the media to improve understanding of the needs and aspirations of disabled people in order to enable them to achieve their full potential.

Rashmi continued:

“EFDS has a fantastic mandate to improve opportunities for disabled people to participate in sport at every level. This is also a very big challenge as there are many barriers to participation such as accessibility, cost, support from the wider community and the confidence of disabled people and the people supporting them to participate. I am looking forward to helping EFDS in its efforts to enable disabled people to have the same choices as everyone else when it comes to being active and taking part in sport.”

Fran Williamson is a former Paralympic swimmer who represented Great Britain for over ten years as one of the leading disability swimmers in the country. She began her career competing at EFDS Disability Sport Events in athletics and swimming, progressing to represent Great Britain.

During her career as an international swimmer, she won six Paralympic medals, competing at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. Fran also won five world championship titles, recently beginning her coaching qualifications in order to pass on the benefits of her experience to others.

Also an athlete mentor with the Youth Sport Trust, Fran has worked with national sports governing bodies and several charities including United Response, for whom she is a Vice President. She also holds a first class degree in social policy and a Masters degree in disability politics.

Fran said on joining the EFDS Board:

“I’m delighted to be joining the EFDS Board, and to be able to put my skills, knowledge and passion for disability sport to constructive use.  I look forward to working with the board to help to ensure that the potential of a post games disability sport legacy becomes a reality.  Having started my competitive sporting career in EFDS events, it is great to be able to now give back as a board member.”

EFDS Chair, Charles Reed, who welcomed the two new Board members, said:

“We are always seeking to expand the range of skills and experience we have at Board level in EFDS. Rashmi and Fran bring particular qualities and I look forward to working with them to improve and increase opportunities in sport for disabled people.”

 

To read further information on our Board members, please visit here