Rothna Begum had been a senior women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. Her focus was on discrimination and violence against women and girls in the Middle East and North Africa region. She had led research and advocacy on topics like the mistreatment and exploitation of migrant domestic workers, domestic violence, child marriage, and more. Rothna had also championed the advocacy for Human Rights Watch on a new global International Labour Organization (ILO) treaty related to workplace violence and harassment, which was adopted in June 2019.

Tony Simpson was a Partner and Sport Industry Lead at Oliver Wyman. As the firm’s first UK Partner of Afro-Caribbean descent, he had been instrumental in paving the way for others by co-chairing the firm’s Professional Black Network and mentoring Black consultants. Tony had been an advocate for inclusive performance in the sports industry and had played a significant role in shaping the new independent regulator for English football in 2022.

Lauren Corelli was a grassroots footballer, content creator, and abolitionist organizer. She had co-founded Studs, a platform that showcased women’s football. Lauren had also been associated with Football For Future, where she educated individuals about the interplay between climate change and football.

Nick Ames was the Guardian’s European sport correspondent. With a deep understanding of European sports dynamics and a keen eye for detail, Nick had contributed extensively to the Guardian’s sports coverage, offering insights and analyses on various European sports events and trends.