Meet the Chance to Shine trustees, staff and ambassadors who work to inspire young people through cricket.
Chance to Shine’s Board is made up of independent Trustee Directors. You can see the full list of our committees and policies here.
Tim Score became Chair of Chance to Shine’s Board of Trustees in September 2023 and brings a wealth of experience to the charity. Formerly Chair at British Land and Deputy Chair at Pearson, he is Chair at Bridgepoint and also sits on the board of trustees of the Royal National Theatre.
Tim was formerly a non-executive director of The Football Association and HM Treasury and Chief Financial Officer of ARM Holdings.
Dana is on the Welfare and Safety Lead for the Board. She was formally Assistant Principal at Dinnington High School in Yorkshire, where she played a key role in developing the PE and PSHE curriculum.
In 2000 Dana became the first Muslim and Arab woman to compete for England internationally, subsequently gaining 67 England caps in rounders. She also gained experience as an international rounders coach for the U13-19 age groups and supported the development of the UKCC Level 1 & 2 coaching materials.
In 2008, she became the first Hijabi Muslim woman to qualify to teach PE in England, and became a trustee at the Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation in 2017, where she supported inclusion opportunities for the foundation.
Amit is an Associate Partner at More Partnership, one of Europe’s leading consulting firms for the not-for-profit sector.
He is an experienced charity NED, having previously served on the Boards of No Smoking Day and the Abraham Initiatives UK, and now serving as Vice-Chair of the Costa Coffee Foundation which builds schools in coffee-growing communities around the world.
Amit qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC, and was formerly Director of Corporate Partnerships for Great Ormond Street Hospital children’s charity.
Emma has led on the delivery of several large funding programmes including investment into the London 2012 Olympic venues and more recently HM Treasury’s Covid-19 recovery and energy support funds for public sector leisure. Her interest in data and impact analysis drove the development of Sport England’s Moving Communities service. She works closely with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Authorities and leisure operators.
Emma studied Management Science and Spanish at the University of Southampton and recently graduated from the Women’s Sport Leadership Academy. She is married with two daughters. Her hobbies include cricket, football, cycling and travel. She volunteers as a Committee member at a womens’ cricket club and has played for Middlesex and the MCC. Emma is the Board Champion for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Now a Performance Coach, Steve works with CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs & other senior leaders to achieve their professional development and enhance their physical & mental health. He also invests in and advises a number of wellbeing start-ups.
Steve has been a supporter of Chance to Shine for over a decade and is also a patron of Team GB.
Sharon is Managing Director of Pearson School Assessment and Qualifications. She is responsible for the delivery of K-12 qualifications, assessments and teaching and learning resources globally. This involves working with governments, schools and other partners around world to provide services that help children and young people make progress in their lives.
Sharon graduated from Oxford and trained as a teacher and taught in school in the UK. She has for Pearson for over 20 years and is passionate about K-12 education
Mark’s career was in business and finance, predominantly in private equity. He was a Partner at Bridgepoint Capital from 2001 to 2005 and was then one of five Founding Partners of Vitruvian Partners in 2006, from which he retired in 2019.
He holds a BA from Durham University (1986) and an MBA from INSEAD (1991). From eight years old to his mid-40’s he played cricket for his school, university and several amateur clubs until injury eventually got the better of him. But he remains devoted to the game.
Alongside Chance to Shine, he has a number of other director/trustee roles, including Chair of Governors at Cheam School in Berkshire.
A former England captain and World Cup winner, Eoin brings a wealth of experience to the board, having retired from international cricket in 2022 as England’s leading ODI run scorer and most capped player in both the 50 over and T20 formats.Eoin has been a long-term supporter of the charity, naming Chance to Shine as a beneficiary of his testimonial celebrations in 2022.
His dedication to grassroots cricket has led to significant contributions within his local community, with a track record of adding value within a wide range of financial service audits and advisory projects. He is currently a Senior Internal Audit Manager and Likewize.
Bilal brings invaluable expertise and leadership to our board, as well as a thorough knowledge of Chance to Shine’s programmes – having been a participant in both his school and local Street club. Committed to furthering the charity’s mission and cause, Bilal is now striving to inspire the next generation. Bilal is a member of our Audit Committee.
Chris played first class cricket for the MCC and Oxford University before moving into education, where he ran the 1st XI sides at Dean Close and Stowe. While at Felsted, he has helped to promote the success of women’s cricket with the girls’ side winning three national titles in the last few years. As well as continuing to play cricket for a number of clubs, Chris is a keen marathon runner and has been involved with a number of charities.
Prior to that, he was Co-Head of the firm’s Corporate and M&A practice and of its Financial Institutions Group. Roland’s principal areas of work are public and private M&A, joint ventures, activism defence, governance and crisis management. He has been named on a number of occasions as one of Financial News’s 50 Most Influential Lawyers.
David joined British Land in 2017, and prior to becoming CFO held various roles including Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC, before spending over seven years at Deutsche Bank. Since then, he worked for over 10 years in Investor Relations, Finance and Corporate Development roles within UK listed businesses. For 4 years to 2023, David was Chair of the UK Investor Relations Society, having served on the Board since 2012 and was a Board Director of Glebe Housing Association until 2022. David is currently a Non Executive Director at Equiem, a property technology business and a member of The Business Council at the National Literacy Trust.
David is Chair of the Chance to Shine Audit Committee.
Kate is Chief Executive of Chance to Shine and leads the charity’s mission to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket. An experienced charity leader, Kate was previously CEO at Smart Works, a UK charity that empowers women to secure employment and fulfil their potential, where she led the transformation from a London-based initiative to a national organisation, growing its funding from under £500k to £4 million and expanding to 11 centres across the UK. She has also served on the boards of leading family charities and is currently a trustee for the Whitehall and Industry Group, which exists to foster collaboration across the public, private and third sector.
Kate joined Chance to Shine in 2024, as the charity embarks on its four-year plan to deepen impact and reach 1 million young people each year. Kate has always believed in cricket as a force for good, witnessed as a young person growing up around a cricket pitch in West Yorkshire; as a teacher working in Sri Lanka, where cricket is embedded into cultural life; as a professional working on public affairs campaigns around sport; and as a parent of cricketers. Above all, she believes in the potential of cricket, and of Chance to Shine, to help young people achieve their potential at a time when the need has never been greater.
Kate.Stephens@chancetoshine.org
Sam joined Chance to Shine in 2021 and leads on securing and managing funding from charitable Trusts and Foundations. With over 12 years’ experience in the sector, Sam has helped to raise millions of pounds for local, national, and international causes. At Chance to Shine, Sam has grown annual income from Trusts through building strong, long-term partnerships with funders such as the Westminster Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and the Fidelity Foundation.
Before joining Chance to Shine, Sam worked for organisations including Sense International, Richard House Children’s Hospice, Sue Ryder, and React, where he delivered significant income growth and managed impactful projects across health, education, and international development.
Cricket has always been part of Sam’s life — he played for Surrey at youth level and has even volunteered at an orphanage in India, coaching cricket and teaching English. His proudest moment at Chance to Shine was helping to secure a major multi-year grant from the Westminster Foundation that has enabled thousands more young people to experience the power of cricket in schools and communities in the Borough of Westminster and West Cheshire.
Solomon joined Chance to Shine in May 2025, bringing valuable experience from his previous role at the Football Foundation. He holds an MSc in Development Studies from SOAS University of London and a BA in International Development from the University of Sussex.
During his academic run, Solomon focused on sports diplomacy, exploring how sport can serve as a tool for international cooperation and advancing global initiatives such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Joining Chance to Shine represents an opportunity for Solomon to apply his knowledge and passion to a cause that drives meaningful, long-term impact. He is excited to continue his work in the sport for development sector and contribute to positive change through cricket.
Outside of work, Solomon is an avid sportsman who plays football regularly and actively supports grassroots sports initiatives.
Solomon.Bailey-Smith@chancetoshine.org
Chris joined Chance to Shine in October 2024 bringing with him over twelve years of experience in the charity sector. Prior to joining Chance to Shine Chris worked at the Charlton Athletic Community Trust and has also had experience working in the arts, international development, and sporting charities during his career.
Chris has an MA in History from the University of Sussex and an undergraduate degree in American and British History from the University of East Anglia. As a part of his studies, he also studied in Ottawa for a year at Carleton University.
Sport is a big passion for Chris and he counts cricket, football, American football, and ice hockey (a hangover from his time in Canada) as particular areas of interest.
Chris.Baker@chancetoshine.org
Charlie joined Chance to Shine in 2019. An experienced corporate partnerships specialist, he looks to engage companies in our mission to help more children play, learn and develop through cricket.
Before his fundraising work, Charlie spent ten years working in outdoor and water-sports education, primarily with young people, giving him a strong understanding of the power of sport to change young lives.
Charlie lives in North London and enjoys triathlon and surfing. He also coaches the girls team and plays touch rugby at his local rugby club. This also offers him an annual opportunity to use his limited cricketing talents in the annual match against the local cricket club.
Laura joined Chance to Shine as Events Officer in May 2025, bringing with her a wealth of experience in delivering impactful and engaging events across the charity and sports sectors. Her previous experience includes roles at The Air Ambulance Service, the Child Brain Injury Trust, and Warwickshire Cricket Board, where she coordinated high-quality campaigns, supporter events, and community initiatives, always with a focus on inclusion and creating positive experiences.
As a qualified Level 2 cricket coach with extensive playing experience for Warwickshire and Leicestershire, she is passionate about using cricket to inspire the next generation. Beyond the pitch, Laura is dedicated to making a difference and volunteers as a trustee for a childhood cancer charity.
laura.crofts@chancetoshine.org
Katie joined Chance to Shine in December 2024 as Director of Strategy. She also chairs our EDI Steering Committee.
She spent the first half of her career in various policy, strategy and economist roles in the civil service and healthcare regulation. In 2022 she became a non-executive director at the Sport and Recreation Alliance and sits on the UK Steering Committee of the International Working Group for Women and Sport. These roles opened her eyes to the world of sport for development and in 2024 she made a career pivot – starting as health lead at Be Active (the active partnership for Bedfordshire) before joining us. She’s passionate about understanding and using evidence and analysis to ensure our resources are focussed appropriately and maximise the positive impact of our programmes on children.
Katie.Fawkner-Corbett@chancetoshine.org
Ian joined Chance to Shine in November 2016 as Operations Manager, having previously worked for Shropshire Cricket Board as Cricket Development Officer. In May 2022 he was appointed Schools Programme Manager. Ian studied at Loughborough University from 2006-2011, gaining a BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences as well as an MSc in Exercise Physiology. Ian previously had a role as a talent scout at ECB within the women & girls’ game.
Ian’s life has revolved around the cricket & hockey pitches at Bridgnorth CC, having played at the club as a junior from the age of 7. He supports as a committee member and coach at the club, notably with the All Stars programme where he is now seeing his young family start to develop their love for the game.
Ian is Chance to Shine’s current representative on the Children’s Coaching Collaborative (who support the Play Their Way campaign) and the Physical Literacy Panel for England.
James joined Chance to Shine in July 2019 as Operations Manager for the North region.
After completing his Master’s in Sports Management at the University of Central Lancashire in 2010, James had a short spell working in IT project management before spending six years working for Cheshire Cricket Board.
A bit of a late starter to cricket, James first got hooked on the game at the age of 12 — playing his first season of junior cricket and attending the 1999 World Cup Final at Lord’s. Since then, his love for cricket has only grown, and he still enjoys both playing and watching the game every summer.
Outside of work, James loves nothing more than travelling to Old Trafford and watching the best football team in Manchester with his dad — Manchester United, of course! And when sport takes a back seat, he’s usually planning his next trip, watching a film or TV series, or keeping up with the latest in tech.
Alessandro joined Chance to Shine in May 2026 as Digital Systems Manager, bringing extensive experience in Salesforce and digital systems across the charity sector. Originally from Italy, he had never come across cricket before moving to the UK, but quickly came to appreciate the important role sport can play in young people’s lives.
A keen swimmer from an early age, Alessandro still makes time to swim and values the confidence, discipline and social connection it gave him growing up. His professional background includes leading platform improvements, integrations and user-focused digital change, always with a practical and thoughtful approach.
Alessandro enjoys working for a charity that helps more children experience the benefits of sport, both on and off the field, and is passionate about creating systems that support that mission in meaningful ways.
Ross joined Chance to Shine as Director of Communications and Digital in 2019, stepping into the world of cricket for the first time having previously enjoyed over a decade working in football with Wycombe Wanderers, Reading and the English Football League.
Prior to arriving at the charity, he also spent two weeks in Doha at the World Athletics Championships, helping to build the IAAF’s digital strategy ahead of their rebrand to World Athletics.
Despite his ‘on field’ cricketing achievements being consigned to primary school and the back garden, Ross is a passionate about the impact that sport can make on younger people up and down the country.
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Melda joined Chance to Shine in September 2019, bringing experience as a researcher for GfK and Ipsos. Her research projects focused on reputation management and social research, including social issues affecting children and young people, gender equality, employment, and health, to inform policy and practice in Turkey.
Melda has a BA in Sociology from Galatasaray University and an MA in NGO Management and Social Projects from Istanbul Bilgi University. She enjoys using data to inform decisions and uses her skills to improve Chance to Shine’s programmes and maximise their impact on young people.
Coming from Turkey, where cricket is virtually unknown, made Melda’s first Chance to Shine Awards night back in 2019 especially memorable; it’s where she heard for the first time what cricket can do for young people through the amazing stories of the winners.
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and getting active, whether through sports or just running after her two kids in the playground!
Cat joined Chance to Shine in March 2024, bringing her passion for people and workplace culture to the team. With a strong background in HR and a previous career as a personal trainer, she believes in the power of sport and movement to create positive change.
Outside of work, Cat enjoys running, reading, watching movies and spending time with her family.
Cat.Kerr-Smith@chancetoshine.org
Roshni joined Chance to Shine in July 2025 as part of the Finance & Resources team. She grew up in India and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management at MSU in Vadodara, Gujarat. After moving to the UK she went on to achieve a Masters in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Coventry. She is currently pursuing an ACCA qualification alongside her role.
Growing up in India, cricket was a constant for Roshni, and it’s always been something she’s loved – knowing that her work helps young people get into cricket is what motivates her to succeed.
Roshni.Kewlani@chancetoshine.org
Will joined Chance to Shine in May 2025, bringing with him an array experience in sports media. He has freelanced for various outlets, including Wisden Cricket Monthly and The Cricket Paper, where he covered the charity sector with esteem. He brings a strong understanding of social media from growing his own channels, and was also enrolled on the ECB’s Rising Reporters programme as a Master’s student.
He achieved a distinction with honours in a Sports Journalism MA from the University of Brighton, having previously completed a BA with Honours in Geography, at the University of Liverpool.
Will has always followed all forms of cricket with great interest, and is truly invested in the growth of the game at grassroots level. He believes that as many young people as possible should play cricket, and is determined to drive this growth with Chance to Shine.
He is also a keen golfer, and captained his club, Pannal G.C, at junior level.
William.Kirkup@chancetoshine.org
Matt Joined Chance to Shine in December 2024 as Operations Manager for London & East.
Matt brings in depth experience of the cricket landscape having been Participation Manager for six years at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club, leading on the Chance to Shine Primary, Secondary and Street programmes.
Matt has been involved with Football and Cricket from a young age. Following his father around Northamptonshire to watch him play until he was old enough to play himself! Matt continues to play football regularly and will get back to playing cricket once he finishes football.
Matt’s most memorable moment in Cricket was his first ever ball in adult cricket aged 11 – he bowled the ball and his father caught it as the wicketkeeper. Matt has a young family and a border collie, so is kept very active outside of work and sport.
Matt.Long@chancetoshine.org
Danny joined the Chance to Shine team in September 2022 as the operations manager for the Midlands, he is also the designated safeguarding lead for Chance to Shine. Most recently, Danny has overseen the Warwickshire Cricket Board’s Schools’ programme in which cricket has been delivered in over 200 primary and secondary schools across Birmingham and Warwickshire. Danny studied Physical Education at Wolverhampton University, his cricketing journey started at an early age with his family all playing at Hunningham Cricket Club.
Danny believes that all children should be able to play, learn and develop through cricket in a safe environment. Away from work, Danny enjoys spending time with his family and watching as much sport as possible. Danny is passionate about our Chance to Shine programmes and enjoys working with coaches, teachers and children to ensure they all have a positive experience.
Steve is Director of Operations at Chance to Shine and joined the charity in 2006 having previously worked at Sussex CCC as Development Director.
Steve lives in Chichester with his family, and enjoys nothing more than watching his son play hockey, daughter perform song and dance on stage, mountain biking on the South Downs with his dog Dizzy and watching his beloved Liverpool FC. Unfortunately, Steve’s cricket and football days are no more following many injuries and operations, mainly to his left knee – 13 operations!
In all, Steve has over 25 years’ experience in sports development, 19 of which have been dedicated to cricket.
Hugh joined Chance to Shine in February 2026, bringing fundraising events experience from roles at Teenage Cancer Trust, Rays of Sunshine and Cancer Research UK, after studying Business at the University of Hertfordshire.
He’s seen first-hand the positive impact that sport can have through his own experience, and is proud to help give young people joy, confidence, friendships and lifelong memories with Chance to Shine.
Outside of work, he’s a huge sports fan. You’ll find him playing sport or cheering on his beloved QPR in the hope, rather than expectation, of three points!
His love for sport began as a youngster and in 2012 he founded his own football and cricket team so his group of friends could regularly get together to play. More than a decade later, the teams are still going strong, welcoming new players and providing a brilliant way for old friends to stay connected.
Nic joined Chance to Shine in May 2017 after seven years working at Locality, a charity who’s mission it is to inspire community action so that every neighbourhood thrives. Prior to Locality, Nic spent 8 years running his own business in the French Alps teaching and renting skibikes. He is a qualified skibike instructor and has been racing as part of the British Skibike Team for 20 years.
Nic plays his cricket for the Islanders in a Last Man Stands 20:20 league, bowling surprisingly effective military medium and batting with a lot of bottom hand.
Stuart has operational responsibility for Wales, South West and South England. He has been with the charity since 2005 and believes, then as now, that every child should have the opportunity to play cricket at school as part of their education.
He has fulfilled many roles in cricket both on and off the field, increasingly now as a parent watching his two young girls begin their cricketing journey.
He is incredibly proud of the County Boards he works with and the many great people that bring our vision to life.
He really understands the ‘power of cricket’ to change and improve lives having been diagnosed with a life limiting condition (cystic fibrosis) when young which was greatly ameliorated, both physically / and psychologically, by the opportunity to play cricket. That opportunity wouldn’t have been provided without having a state school that valued sport and a teacher (Pat Colbourne) who recognised his effort and desire.
Ella joined Chance to Shine in October 2025. She brings eight years of fundraising experience at sport for good, medical research and health charities. She is well qualified with an MA in the History of Medicine and BA in History from the University of Warwick.
She believes in the power of sport, and how it can help young people to develop. She enjoys running, particularly at a weekly Parkrun, and combines running with a love for travel by aiming to complete the World Marathon Majors. She also plays the saxophone in a local community orchestra and enjoys reading.
Ella.Rogers@chancetoshine.org
Les is the Finance Manager for Chance to Shine having joined over a decade ago when the charity was still the Cricket Foundation.
His time here has spanned celebrating reaching our one millionth girl in 2014, to seeing the charity reach its seven millionth child in 2024. He played a role in the 2016 rebrand, led on the implementation of our Workplace Wellbeing initiatives in 2019, and supported with the design of the digital portal in 2021. He even met his wife, Annabel, at Chance to Shine during her time in the Events team.
As Finance Manager Les has played a role in over eleven years of clean audits and acted as Chair of the Independent Financial Review Panel from 2015-2022.
Away from the office he enjoys nothing more than spending time with his wife and children. At the weekends he supports his sons’ football teams and has recently taken up playing again alongside his nephew, and eldest son.
Les is passionate about our projects and is proud of the difference Chance to Shine had made to millions of children across the country.
Rohan joined the Chance to Shine team in January 2022 as the Inclusive Programmes Manger with a focus on leading on the Street project nationally. His relationship with cricket started from an early age with his cricket loving father taking him to the local nets every day of the week throughout his younger years.
He went on to graduate from Sheffield Hallam University with a first-class degree in BSc Sports Development & Coaching. Most recently he worked for Yorkshire Cricket Board as the Disability Development Manager where he worked tirelessly to ensure that cricket is a game for everyone. Rohan is thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in shaping Chance to Shines impactful strategies that results in changing thousands of young people’s life for the better through the power of cricket.
Alice joined Chance to Shine in May 2026 as Communications and Marketing Manager, stepping into the world of sport for development for the first time after five years working for a strategic communications agency.
Alice brings experience from extensive work with non-profits to the role, including from her previous position as well as from voluntary roles throughout her time at university. She is passionate about the impact of sport to develop the social, mental, and physical abilities of children across the country and uses her experience in communications to showcase the important work of Chance to Shine.
She holds a BA in Geography from Newcastle University as well as an MA in International Development from the University of Sheffield.
Sam joined Chance to Shine in March 2025. Her fundraising background encompasses a wide range of sectors including heritage, higher education (Oxford, King’s College London), the performing arts (Southbank Centre, Royal College of Music, RSC), religion, social welfare, and healthcare. At Chance to Shine she has enjoyed developing her knowledge of the sports sector.
Ever since she was a teenager, Sam has been an avid cricket fan. Although her girl’s state school did not offer cricket, she eventually became a feisty wicketkeeper for Lancaster University women’s team! She is deeply passionate about the role of sport in developing and inspiring young people, particularly those in state schools.
Outside of work, Sam has a real passion for gardening, volunteering at a London inner-city park and a weekly community garden. She even achieved a level 2 Horticulture qualification last year. She’s very handy at pub quizzes and loves nature photography – she loves to collect snaps of all manner of flora and fauna.
Sam.Tilling@chancetoshine.org
Alison joined Chance to Shine in October 2025 as a Multimedia Producer. She’s lived in three different continents but her heart remains in South Africa, where she grew up.
Having achieved a degree in Film from AFDA – Cape Town, and a degree in History from the University of South Africa, she starting out her professional career as a video editor, having one of her films officially selected at the Eden Independent Film Festival.
She has gone on to spend the last decade in the Educational Technology space, designing learning experiences for corporate and charity clients.
Alison has always enjoyed playing sport, having joined all the sports her high school had to offer. She continued to play hockey until 2019 (winning the CT town league in 2017) and passionately believes that all children deserve access to safe sporting facilities and sessions. She is a valiant Proteas supporter and this has taught her much resilience and patience throughout the years.
Outside of work, she enjoys wildlife photography, playing tennis, lifting her 98th percentile toddler, watching cricket and enjoying the greenery of Greater London with her family.
Alison.VanSittert@chancetoshine.org
Sandhya joined Chance to Shine in August 2025, bringing a strong background in administration, governance and stakeholder engagement across education, events and hospitality sectors. She’s previously held roles in operations, customer engagement, and social media marketing, most recently with London Borough of Hounslow, supporting governor services and training programmes.
Growing up in India, cricket has always been a big part of her life. She developed a fondness for the game because of the values it presents: teamwork, discipline and resilience. Chance to Shine is the perfect fit for Sandhya, as it shares her belief in the power of cricket to inspire and educate young people.
Outside of work, Sandhya enjoys travel, particularly when discovering new cultures and cuisines, and loves to get creative through painting and small craft projects.
Sandhya.Yadav@chancetoshine.org
Mina was born in Pakistan and moved to the UK in 2008 at the age of 13. A lifelong cricket enthusiast, she has represented Pakistan, Scotland, and Warwickshire at senior level.
After earning a 2:1 degree in Sport Business and Finance from Coventry University, Mina began her coaching journey with Warwickshire, delivering both Chance to Shine Street and school sessions. Her dedication led to a role as a Community Engagement Officer, where she focused on engaging women and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Over four years, she led a number of standout initiatives — including glow-in-the-dark cricket for girls, Bolly Cric-Hit sessions for mums and daughters, and soft ball tournaments to create fun, inclusive spaces.
Now at Chance to Shine, Mina brings her rich experience and deep passion to the charity, driven by a desire to inspire others through the power of cricket — just as it has inspired her.
Mina.Zahoor@chancetoshine.org
Chance to Shine are proud to work with our founders and ambassadors to raise the profile of our charity.
Lord Mervyn King was the Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013, having previously served as Deputy Governor, Chief Economist and Executive Director. He was educated at King’s College, Cambridge, and Harvard University.
He is a Fellow of the British Academy, Chairs the Philharmonic Orchestra, and is an Honorary Fellow of King’s and St John’s Colleges.
Lord King went to school at Wolverhampton Grammar School; this is where he was introduced to cricket and fell in love with the game. Along with Mark Nicholas and manufacturer Duncan Fearnley, he launched Chance to Shine to arrest the decline of state school cricket.
The skills he learnt playing school cricket, where he was captain, helped him significantly during a glittering career. This is why he is so passionate about educating children by using cricket as a vehicle.
Mark Nicholas captained Hampshire to four major trophies during an 18 year career, before becoming one of the most highly regarded cricket broadcasters in world cricket.
He has covered international cricket throughout the past 25 years and co-wrote the late great Shane Warne’s autobiography, No Spin.
He has now serves as the MCC President, alongside broadcasting duties, as successor to Sir Stephen Fry, one of Chance to Shine’s ambassadors.
Nicholas formed Chance to Shine with Lord King and Duncan Fernley as a response to a decline in state school cricket during the early 2000s. He continues strong support for Chance to Shine, regularly hosting fundraising events and promoting Chance to Shine at every opportunity.
Sir Tim Rice has enjoyed a remarkable career in theatre, working with Andrew Lloyd Webber to write some of the most famous plays of the 20th century. Alongside Elton John, he co-wrote The Lion King, which earned him an Academy Award with the song ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight”.
Rice has held a longstanding interest in cricket, forming his own team, “Heartaches CC”, in 1973, is a longstanding member of fellow cricket charity Lord’s Taverners, and was MCC president from 2002-2003.
Back in 2019, he showed remarkable support for Chance to Shine, donating £15,000 for every individual hundred scored and 5-wicket haul taken, raising vital funds for the charity.
At 23 years old, Sonny Baker, has recently burst through as one of England’s brightest talents as a rapid swing bowler
He became a professional in 2020, signing for Somerset Academy, and has progressed to make his test debut during the 2026 summer, against New Zealand at the Oval.
Growing up in Torquey, cricket has always been close to Sonny. Chance to Shine were part of his introduction to the game when they delivered sessions at his Oldway Primary School.
He is a believer in the wider benefits cricket has for children as they develop, and helped celebrate the charity’s eight millionth participant, visiting John Henry Newman Academy in Oxford.
Aged just 22, Shoaib Bashir has already played 19 test matches for England, after his surprise call up in early 2024.
He has already produced numerous impressive performances, including a match winning spell against the West Indies at Trent Bridge, and taking the match winning wicket against India at Lord’s last summer.
Bashir was born and raised in Surrey by British-Pakistani parents, and developed as a club cricketer, before playing age group cricket for Surrey and Middlesex.
He is an avid believer in the value of state school cricket, and attended our 2025 National Street Finals, inspiring all of the young people.
Chance to Shine is magnificent. We’re never going to have a great England cricket side in another 20 years unless Chance to Shine does its work. It goes throughout the country giving an opportunity to those brilliant cricketers who have never yet even seen a cricket ball.
There may be some geniuses out there who have never watched a match of cricket, never thought that cricket might be something that would give them pleasure and Chance to Shine exists entirely to spread the word about cricket and to enthuse amongst those who are naturally endowed with that mysterious gift that makes you a great cricketer.
– Stephen Fry
In September 2018, Mick challenged the England and India teams to raise as much money for the charity as possible.
Mick pledged to back the players on both teams to the tune of £20,000 each time one of them scored a hundred or took five wickets and £10,000 if they scored a fifty or took three wickets. The game, which saw Alastair Cook score a magnificent century in his final match, ended with an England win and Mick’s donation totalled £190,000.
Speaking before the game, Mick said “I follow England – the game in general, in fact – from wherever I am in the world and thought this would be a fun way to make some money for Chance to Shine. It’s been an exciting series that has got people talking cricket so let’s reflect that; with every inspiring performance comes a new fan and the younger those fans are, the better it is for cricket’s future.”
Heather Knight has been a coaching ambassador for Chance to Shine since breaking into the team in 2010. Heather replaced Charlotte Edwards as England captain in 2016 and led England to triumph at the Cricket World Cup in 2017 on home soil. Heather received an OBE in the New Year’s Honours List following the World Cup triumph. Heather and the team have been an incredibly inspiring force for the game and for young girls in particular.
Heather’s work with Chance to Shine has helped to inspire thousands of girls and boys to take part in the sport. Knowing how beneficial the sport has been for her, Heather hopes that the children can learn from it too: “It’s fantastic to see the smiles on the children’s faces and to see they’re enjoying their cricket. They can learn a huge amount from the sport that will help them later in life in terms of communication, team-work and respect.”
Tara Norris has enjoyed an impressive career as a professional cricketer, representing the USA at an international level, along with Lancashire domestically.
She was Lancashire’s T20 player of the year in 2025, as her side achieved a historic One Day Cup and T20 County Cup double, and has also played in The Hundred for London Spirit.
She was introduced to cricket when Chance to Shine delivered cricket sessions at her school. She flourished, and soon joined her local Horsham Cricket Club, before progressing through Sussex’s pathway and later earning a professional contact.
She has long been an advocate for Chance to Shine, and most recently visited the 2025 Street National Finals to play with some of the girls, and deliver a bowling masterclass.
After his promising England career was cut short by a serious heart illness in 2016, James has become an inspiring Chance to Shine ambassador. Every year since, James has visited schools and communities across the country on behalf of the charity, talking to the children and young people about his own experiences of the sport and how they helped him get through a remarkably difficult period of his life.
James credits cricket with giving him the resilience and mental strength to deal with the serious incident as well as helping him continue his life after cricket. Having worked in TV and radio since his diagnosis, James held roles as England selector and Head Scout until stepping down in June 2022.
The Development Board support the Fundraising team with raising vital funds for Chance to Shine’s work.
Qasim joined the Development Board in late 2023 with a focus on helping to continue diversify the donor base of Chance to Shine. He is passionate about cricket and the power it can have within communities.
Jack comes from a family that loves cricket and believes in the positive impact it can have on the lives of everyone who has the chance to learn and play the game.
Mark’s career was in business and finance, predominantly in private equity. He was a Partner at Bridgepoint Capital from 2001 to 2005 and was then one of five Founding Partners of Vitruvian Partners in 2006, from which he retired in 2019.
He holds a BA from Durham University (1986) and an MBA from INSEAD (1991). From eight years old to his mid-40’s he played cricket for his school, university and several amateur clubs until injury eventually got the better of him. But he remains devoted to the game.
Mark is a Trustee at Chance to Shine and is the Chair of the Development Board. Alongside Chance to Shine, he has a number of other director/trustee roles, including Chair of Governors at Cheam School in Berkshire.
Until recently, Ravi was the Chairman of Fortis Healthcare, India’s second largest listed entity in healthcare, the Vice Chair of Peabody Housing and NED and Audit Chair of Vedanta plc.
This follows a 35-year career with two leading organisations, Diageo plc in London (1996-2015) and ITC, India’s largest consumer business (1979-1995) with core experience set in Finance, Controls and Risk. Senior roles held in Strategy, General Management and M&A. Operating experience and exposure to many countries across Europe, Asia, S America and Africa. Reputation for building strong relationships coupled with an ability to connect the dots and possessing a keen commercial instinct.
Ravi is also a Trustee at a school for under-privileged children in Chennai (formerly Madras), India where 1100 students up to 12th grade, are taught free of charge. Other interests include tennis, music, reading and a Foundation Trustee of the Science Museum.
An ardent cricket lover – and father of three sons who share that passion – he is a passionate believer in the power of the sport to engage and unite diverse groups and communities and promote physical and mental wellbeing in its participants.
Michael read Modern History at Oxford University and also has an MBA from Manchester Business School.
The Youth Advisory Board ensures we put youth voice at the heart of our work as reflected in our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan. Through our programme evaluations we get feedback from children and young people to inform continuous improvement, learning and future plans.
Rowan has played cricket his whole life, and is involved with Chance to Shine as a Community Coach working with Essex Cricket. Joining the Youth Advisory Board allows him to share thoughts and ideas he’s developed as a coach, to ensure change for the better.
Outside of cricket Rowen spends plenty of time on the golf course.
Momina graduated with a BSc in Marketing and Management and currently works as a Navenio Coordinator, supporting hospital soft services operations.
She has been passionate about cricket for as long as she can remember and currently plays for Wanstead CC and NACC, continuing to build on her long-standing love for the sport.
Momina joined the Chance to Shine Youth Advisory Board to support the organisation’s mission of making cricket accessible and inclusive for everyone. She believes that every young person should have the opportunity to experience the game that has had a positive impact on her life.
In her spare time, Momina enjoys playing cricket, tennis and chess, as well as watching thriller series.
Mollie has been involved in cricket since the age of 8, and has become a school sports coach. She played county cricket for 8 years as growing up and has also coached to the same level. Mollie has played and coached cricket in countries across the world including Australia, India, New Zealand and Japan.
She loves being a part of the Youth Advisory Board and having the opportunity to get involved with lots of different events as well as being able to shape the future of Chance to Shine.
Kinjal has always loved cricket, and enjoys playing regularly at her local Bharat Sports Club. She recently achieved her Level 2 coaching qualification and coaches girls at Chance to Shine’s Soar Valley Girls Club and at MCC Hubs. She is also part of the Take Her Lead programme, where she shares her cricket journey to inspire girls to start playing.
She loves working with children and is committed to creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment wherever she goes. Alongside her Chance to Shine and MCC coaching, she delivers engaging All Stars and Dynamos cricket sessions for primary school age children at Bharat Sports Club.
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