The Golf Foundation has appointed four new members to its Board of Trustees who will help develop innovative digital and inclusive strategies for the child-centred charity in the years ahead.
Economist and researcher Davinder Jhamat, digital marketing expert Jim Brigden, media and technology entrepreneur Sanjit Atwal, and publisher Kim Wild were all welcomed formally to their first board meeting on December 10 by Foundation Chairman Stephen Lewis and the charity’s senior management team.
The new recruits join the board at an exciting time in the Golf Foundation’s history. The Foundation operates a number of successful initiatives for young people in schools, communities and golf clubs. However, looking ahead, the charity’s team is eager to reach and inspire a greater number of youngsters from more diverse backgrounds, working with its partners to bring the considerable benefits of golf to more families who have not yet enjoyed golf as a realistic sporting option.
The four new Golf Foundation Trustees are:
Davinder Jhamat is a trained economist who works for a global engineering organisation, the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and holds Trusteeships with The Laurel Trust, the Royal Society for Public Health and Liverpool FC Foundation. Areas of specialisation include global infrastructure, transport, health, food and education, working on programmes that deliver sustainable public benefit. Davinder has a passion for sport and she is a keen swimmer, runner, fencer and cyclist, with a strong appreciation of the physical and mental health benefits sport brings to young people.
Jim Brigden has more than 20 years successful commercial experience in the digital marketing Industry where he has worked with a variety of different companies on their digital strategies. Jim is committed to social mobility, diversity and inclusion and wants to share his love of golf with more young people, helping more players to participate in a great sport.
Kim Wild has worked in media for the past 30 years, in former years with Emap plc. She is now chairman and joint-owner of Women & Golf, a leading media brand in the women’s game. Kim was Chairman of Enfield GC for six years and supported the development of its successful junior section. She is a long-term friend of the Golf Foundation, helping organise fundraising events in the past.
Sanjit Atwal is an award-winning digital entrepreneur who studied in film/TV before 10 years in advertising, marketing and technology with Time Warner, GolfMagic and TradeDoubler. In 2011, he founded football media-tech start-up Squawka, which in six years was employing over 50 people. In 2017, Sanjit founded Halfspace, a growing agency which helps brands in sport and media to understand their audiences and build strategies. Harlequins Rugby Union, Brentford FC, Eurosport, The Madrid Open, and Velon (cycling), are among the brands he has supported.
Golf Foundation Chairman Stephen Lewis said: “Our Golf Foundation team is delighted to welcome four really outstanding new Trustees to join our Board. As Chairman, I am proud of the creativity, enthusiasm and support our Board has shown the Golf Foundation’s committed staff in recent times, giving them the confidence to excel as a team in helping many more youngsters to Start, Learn and Stay in the game.
“However, we must never stand still and we recognise that as sport, business and technology are all developing quickly, as is the society around us, it is now great to bring in trusted individuals with new skills, business experience and fresh ideas; who are all passionate in helping us to grow the game, make it better and more inclusive for the good of all young people. I’m very confident that Kim, Sanjit, Jim and Davinder are a wonderful fit for the values of our charity and they will be a great asset to the Golf Foundation as we seek to inspire a new generation of young players.”
The appointments follow Sir Robin Miller stepping down from the Board earlier in the year, and more lately, Debbie Allmey, Di Horsley, and Ian Armitage, the latter attending his final Board meeting last week.
Lewis said: “In all these cases our Trustees are finishing after completing their years of service and they can all be really proud of their achievements and the encouragement they have given to the Golf Foundation team as a whole, and to individual staff members. Debbie, Di and Sir Robin have been excellent, sharing their passion and also experience and they will be much missed. Ian Armitage perhaps deserves a special mention for his remarkable service for our charity. Ian’s brilliant understanding of finance, his creative thinking and his own personal financial contribution to this charity have been truly outstanding.”
The new Trustees now join a Board rich in business experience and a commitment to growing the game, joining key figures from the sport, its companies and organisations, including Stephen Lewis (Chair), Nick Bragg (Deputy Chair), Jeremy Tomlinson, Sally Stewart, Nick Sladden, Stephen Proctor, Evie Carter and Kevin Barker.