Meet the Team
 | Nigel Harrison - Director of West Yorkshire SportFavourite song: Beautiful Boy - John Lennon I have been lucky to be part of West Yorkshire Sport since it's inception in 2001. I have two major roles: managing West Yorkshire Sport and leading the development of the West Yorkshire Sports Partnership. Along with developing player and coach pathways, I am also keen on creating links on behalf of sports with other sub-regional agencies such as Connexions, West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Culture and others. I also work on behalf of the chief sports officers of each local authority to look at ways of improving sports provision across West Yorkshire . If you have any comments on our work or the service we give please do not hesitate to contact me on 01484 234087 or email nigel.harrison@wysport.co.uk |
 | Dean Wilkinson - Sport Strategy ManagerFavourite sporting movie: Field of Dreams Fundamentally, my role is to lead and manage the development and implementation of key areas of work in the West Yorkshire Sports Partnership Strategy. This includes producing and implementing new policies and strategies, managing performance measurement and information systems, supporting the development of Community Sports Networks, and overseeing the strategic planning of Sports Equity, to name but a few. The role is also key to creating and maintaining effective relationships with partners, and has line management responsibility for sport development staff and budgets. For information concerning these, or any other areas of work, call me at 07976 194129 or email dean.wilkinson@wysport.co.uk |
 | Sarah Zagni - Communication and Events Officers (job share)Favourite fictional character: Huckleberry Finn This role involves organising major events such as the West Yorkshire Youth Games and the Step into Sport Conference. We are also responsible for the publicity and promotion for West Yorkshire Sport which involves producing newsletters, writing press releases and editing this website. Please contact us regarding any of these matters - Sarah - 07813 018050 or email sarah.zagni@wysport.co.uk Julian - 07976 194372 or email julian.pratt@wysport.co.uk |
 | Julian Pratt - Communication and Events Officers (job share)Would most like to meet: Alice Cooper This role involves publicity and promotion for West Yorkshire Sport which includes producing newsletters, writing press releases and editing this website and weekly bulletin email. The events side includes organising major events such as the West Yorkshire Youth Games and the Step into Sport Conference. Please contact myself or Sarah with regard to any of these matters - Julian - 07976 194372 or email julian.pratt@wysport.co.uk Sarah - 07813 018050 or email sarah.zagni@wysport.co.uk |
 | Lucy Birkenshaw - Sports Development OfficerSporting Idol: Andy Booth I am part of the strategic team at West Yorkshire Sport leading on equity projects. My role involves developing an equity strategy for the West Yorkshire Sport Partnership and leading four sub groups which are, the West Yorkshire Disability Group, Sport and Young People at Risk, Black and Ethnic Minorities and Women & Girls. I'm also leading on collecting evidence for the Equality Standard - A Framework for Sport. Another part of my role, is to support the Kirklees Community Sports Network. If you require any further information surrounding my role, please contact me on 07813 018051 or email lucy.birkenshaw@wysport.co.uk |
 | Joe Baker - Sports Development OfficerWould most like to meet: Sir Clive Woodward My role within the team is to strategically lead and co-ordinate 'performance management' across the sub-region in order to implement the WYS Strategy. This includes leading on national performance projects such as Active people and Active Places, collating and reporting of statistics against performance indicators, analysing and interpreting data, providing information to aid investment decisions, and facilitating good practice between sub-regional and local partners. Current projects include developing a framework to assist reporting and monitoring, monitoring and assessing the impact of Community Sports Coaches, cascading Active People training to local partners and mapping the distribution of clubs/facilities across the sub-region. Tel: 07855 795510 or email joe.baker@wysport.co.uk |
 | Stephen Archer - Sports Development OfficerFavourite Sporting Movie: Escape to Victory My role within the team includes being the lead officer on both Coach Education and Club Development. With regards to Coach Education I link with the Sports’ National Governing Bodies, Local Authorities (sports development and education) and Sports Coach UK to enable a strategic planning of Coach Education and Development across the region. |
 | Louise Morby - Sports Development OfficerFavourite song: Master of Puppets - Metallica My role within the team is to strategically lead and co-ordinate 'Workforce Development' across the sub-region inorder to implement the WYS Strategy. This involves developing partnerships and liaising with organisations such as Skills Active, The Learning and Skills Council, Sports Coach Uk and strategic liaison with other sub-sector structures such as Community Sport Networks, Facility Management and LA Sport Development Units. I am responsible for the management of various projects and currently managing a project funded by the Learning and Skills Council and European Social Fund that will fundamentally increase the number of people in West Yorkshire having the appropriate skills to deliver high quality sport. Other project responsibilities include Community Sports Coaches. Tel: 07970 873647 or email louise.morby@wysport.co.uk |
 | Kirsty Thornton - Sports Development OfficerFavourite sporting movie: Million Dollar Baby I joined WYS in May 2006 and my role since then has to be the lead on the Physical Education and School Sport Club Links (PESSCL) strategy. I link with the Schools and Sports Partnerships, Youth Sport Trust and the Local Education Authorities and am involved in the Step into Sport Programme and Multi Skill Club development. Please do not hesitate to contact me regarding any of my work areas on 07976 194128 or email kirsty.thornton@wysport.co.uk |
 | Rachel Firth - Business Support OfficerFavourite fictional character: Jane Eyre My role is to support the team by providing suitable administrative services. I am also usually the first person you will speak to if you contact West Yorkshire Sport. I have particular areas of responsibility for finance, health and safety, the team's continuous improvement programme and our work to achieve the next level of the Child Protection Standard. Tel: 01484 234087 or email rachel.firth@wysport.co.uk |
 | Shanwaz Ajaib (Sports Coach UK) - Coach Development OfficerMy role is to support coaches so they can progress and develop to become better coaches. I am working with a team of coaches identifying their current strengths and training needs. I am supporting them to improve in the areas they identify. The support I offer includes directing coaches towards appropriate training and coaching opportunities, identifying suitable mentors for them and producing a tailored coach action plan based on the coaches requirements. If you require any further information please see the Sports Coach UK page on this site, or you can contact me on 07980 583694 or email sajaib@sportscoachuk.org |
 | Contact us
West Yorkshire Sport Telephone : 01484 234087 |