Welcoming new EDI Committee members
May 2, 2024
Welcoming new EDI Committee members
Badminton England are excited to appoint two new members to our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee – Bhavni Shah and Rohan Mapara.
They will join our existing seven members and will bring their expertise, lived experience, and passion for equality, diversity and inclusion to the group.
Badminton England’s EDI Committee brings together expert representatives across equality, diversity and inclusion to advise on the future development, implementation and monitoring of our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
The Committee are supporting and informing, through expert knowledge, guidance, insight and challenge, delivery of Badminton England’s EDI Strategy and the annual Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, as required under the terms of the Code for Sports Governance.
Welcome
Bhavni has had a passion for badminton from a young age and now helps run a local badminton club, where she is also a Welfare Officer. Bhavni is keen to promote badminton as a sport which can help transform physical and mental wellbeing for all.
Wanting to increase the number of women members in her local club, she introduced women-only sessions which engaged more women in the club – offering an inclusive, friendly, fun, safe and positive environment to play badminton.
Bhavni has extensive experience as a senior policy adviser in central government at HM Treasury and Cabinet Office. Bhavni’s life-long passion for gender equality, diversity and creating an inclusive society also guided her to work with the Treasury’s Diversity Board.
Bhavni said: “I am excited to be part of Badminton England’s EDI committee to help drive change by bringing ideas and perspectives from individuals of different backgrounds and ages. By making small changes together, we can enable real change in the badminton community to make it the nation’s most accessible, diverse, and inclusive sport.”
Rohan first began playing badminton at his family badminton club when he was six years old. The sport has been a constant in his life and a source of many friendships.
Whilst at university, Rohan expanded the badminton society, increasing numbers and getting the team to the University National Championships for the first time.
A current county player, Rohan also partakes in LGBTQIA+ badminton community tournaments and sessions such as Goslings and Bristol Swifts.
Rohan said: “Blending my academic passion with my love for badminton, I’m eager to begin my role on the EDI Committee, ensuring badminton is a sport for all.”
Kate Aldridge, Board Director and EDI Committee Chair, added: “I’m delighted to welcome two more members of the badminton community to our EDI Committee. I know both Bhavni and Rohan are already leading the way on inclusion at their own clubs and I know they will bring lots of great ideas and enthusiasm to help make badminton even more inclusive and accessible to all.”
For full bios for each member of the EDI Committee, please visit EDI Committee | Badminton England
