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Star quartet join SJA committee

The SJA are delighted to welcome four co-opted members on to our committee and believe that their expertise in different fields will prove of tremendous value in the coming 12 months.

Telegraph head of sport Adam Sills, broadcaster and writer Leon Mann, ConnectSport founder Simon Lansley and freelance Christian Radnedge provide a depth of knowledge and experience which can only help us as we strive to look for new ways to take the association forward.

Sills, who replaced David Bond as sports editor of the Telegraph in 2010 has overseen massive changes during his tenure, including the launch of the current website and the development of an outstanding line-up of writers including three-time SJA sports writer of the year Paul Hayward.

Mann has worked for major broadcasters at big events such as Euro 21016 and the London Olympics. He is also the founder of the Black Collective of Media in Sport (BCOMS), a network that aims to raise the prospect and profile of black sports journalists in the UK. He also founded the Sports People’s Think Tank, is a director of Refresh Films, and was the organiser of the successful DWORD diversity forums.

Lansley has strong relationships with governing bodies and has worked with the FA, FIFA, Football for Hope, Football Foundation and the PFA. He was sports editor and editorial directer at the Press Association before becoming head of marketing and communications at football charity Street League.

Radnedge has already made his mark at the SJA by organising social get-togethers for our younger members. He is a multi-platform journalist who has reported and presented for the BBC, Sky, ITN, CNN, Al Jazeera, Around the Rings, World Soccer, FC Business and more.

He reported from the 2015 women’s World Cup for the Mail and reported breaking news from the scene of racist attacks in Lyon and written feature pieces for the Independent from Syrian refugee camps in Jordan.

All four were unanimously welcomed on to the committee. Their diverse talents will help us plot a course through an increasingly-changing landscape as we look for innovative ways to improve our two flagship awards and providing a meaningful and valuable service to our members.