Dr Jeya Wilson - Chair of the Commonwealth Sport Foundation  and globally recognised leader with a passion for fostering inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable communities

Dr Jeya Wilson, Chair of the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, is a globally recognised leader with a distinguished career spanning diverse sectors and organisations. She has held numerous high-profile roles, including CEO of Africa’s largest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CEO of the World Heart Federation, Director for Business Partnerships at the United Nations Development Programme, and Executive Director of the University of Geneva’s International MBA programme. Dr Wilson also served as the founding CEO of the Africa Initiative for Governance, a transformative private sector initiative in Nigeria, where she now contributes as a board director.

Her extensive leadership experience includes serving as Vice-Chair of Fairtrade International, Governor of Northumbria University, and an independent expert on oversight committees for the World Health Organization, International Labour Organization, and the Global Fund. She was New Zealand Honorary Consul in South Africa.

Dr Wilson’s academic achievements include earning a doctorate in international relations from the University of Oxford, where she was President of the Oxford Union. She has certificates in International Enterprise Risk Management, and in Cybersecurity  and Data Risk Management, and is the holder of  the Financial Times Non-Executive Director Advanced Professional Diploma.

Dr Wilson’s experience of having lived in Switzerland,  Germany, Nigeria, Samoa, Sri Lanka, South Africa, UK and US and now in her home country, New Zealand, highlights the Commonwealth Sport Foundation’s commitment to leveraging global expertise. Her passion for fostering inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable communities aligns with the Foundation’s mission to harness the power of sport to impact positively lives across 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

Kylie Bates – a leader who inspires and drives efforts to harness the power of sport for sustainable development worldwide

Kylie Bates is a highly accomplished leader in sport for development, bringing a wealth of experience in designing and implementing programs that use sport to drive social change, build coalitions, and influence policy. With expertise in partnership brokering, participatory design, and project management, Kylie has led groundbreaking initiatives globally, including the International Olympic Committee’s sustainable development strategy and the Australian Government's $60 million Sport for Development Program across 10 Asia-Pacific countries.

Kylie has successfully secured over $100 million in funding for transformative projects and brokered major partnerships between organizations such as Oceania Rugby and UN Women to address critical issues like gender equality and violence prevention. She has collaborated with UNICEF, World Vision, and numerous other organizations to embed sport into strategic frameworks and achieve measurable development outcomes.

An advocate for inclusive participation, Kylie has developed award-winning programs like the Pacific Sports Partnership and innovative approaches such as ChildFund’s 'Pass It Back' initiative. Her academic foundation, combined with extensive training in behavioral change, monitoring, and evaluation, ensures impactful and sustainable program delivery.

As a presenter at international forums, guest lecturer, and contributor to publications, Kylie Bates continues to inspire and lead efforts to harness the power of sport for sustainable development worldwide.

Gurpreet Bhatia - Partner at Harbans Singh & Co. Solicitors

Gurpreet Bhatia is a distinguished legal professional and community advocate, serving as a Partner at Harbans Singh & Co. Solicitors. With over 25 years of expertise in property and immigration law, Gurpreet also oversees departmental management and compliance, ensuring excellence and professionalism in legal practice.

Beyond his legal career, Gurpreet demonstrates a profound commitment to social impact and civic engagement. As a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, he represents the region in fostering community cohesion and promoting voluntary service. His leadership extends to serving as a Trustee of West Midlands Legacy and a member of the Leadership Committee for Midland Metropolitan University Hospital, contributing to heritage, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives. Gurpreet is also deputy chair of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO)

An executive member of the Sant Nirankari Mission, Gurpreet has spearheaded numerous projects, from international cultural events to environmental conservation efforts and national disaster relief. His initiatives include health and wellbeing campaigns, youth sports programs, and partnerships to promote diversity and inclusion.

A multilingual leader with a passion for collaboration, Gurpreet is also a Sandwell Business Ambassador, working closely with local businesses and the council to drive regional economic growth. His work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and the Duke of York’s Community Initiative Award.

Dr. Claire Carver-Dias - founder of CLEARDAY Corporation

Dr. Carver-Dias is a dynamic communications consultant, academic, and champion athlete whose career exemplifies the perfect blend of strategic acumen and heartfelt dedication. Known for her ability to craft compelling brand narratives, she has worked with senior executives across diverse industries, helping organistions refine their communication strategies to drive engagement, build trust, and achieve measurable outcomes.

As the founder of CLEARDAY Corporation, Dr. Carver-Dias has delivered tailored consulting solutions for globally recognized clients, including Mercedes-Benz, KPMG, Louis Vuitton, and RBC. Her expertise extends to guiding C-suite leaders in articulating brand value propositions and navigating organizational change. Dr. Carver-Dias has also earned accolades as an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga, where her innovative course on communication skills consistently places her among the top-rated educators.

Her leadership journey extends beyond corporate consulting into impactful roles with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Sport Canada, and various charitable boards. She has spearheaded initiatives such as mentoring Olympians, securing sponsorships, and fostering athlete-centric programs, demonstrating her commitment to empowering others.

Dr. Carver-Dias’s accomplishments as a world-class athlete include earning an Olympic bronze medal, double gold at the Commonwealth Games, and induction into the Canada Games and Mississauga Sports Halls of Fame. These achievements reflect her discipline, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of excellence, traits she brings to every facet of her professional and volunteer work.

Among her numerous accolades are the University of Toronto Distinguished Alumni Award, Canadian Athlete Leadership in Sport Award, and KPMG US Culture Champion honor.

Adrian Lismore - Vice President and the Chair of the Finance, Legal, and Administration Commission at the Global Esports Federation (GEF).

Adrian Lismore is a visionary leader in esports, technology, and sustainability, serving as a Vice President and the Chair of the Finance, Legal, and Administration Commission at the Global Esports Federation (GEF) and as a Trustee for the Commonwealth Sport Foundation.

Adrian’s illustrious career began with a foundation in finance, earning a BA in Accounting and a Fellowship from the Chartered Accountants of Ireland. He transitioned from accounting to a 30-year tenure on Wall Street, holding leadership roles with international investment banks in New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Sydney. He later served as Global Chief Commercial Officer at BP Plc, focusing on renewable and clean technologies.

In 2017, Adrian founded an investment fund in The Bahamas with a focus on clean energy, climate, sports, and technology. This venture paved the way for his founding role at GEF in 2019, where he has forged landmark partnerships with industry giants like Tencent, Amazon, Savvy Games. Responding to a grass roots community concern over climate change he partnered with several UNESCO lead initiatives such as “Gaming for Impact” and “Fit For Life”, where he harnessed gaming for environmental and social change using technology platforms.

Adrian is a minority owner of Peterborough United Football Club and as a leader in the crossover between gaming, esports, and sustainability by investing in and early promotion of  'Active Esports' with technology platforms like Refract Tech Pte, health/education focused platforms like FitGmr and climate focused technology games for good with partners like Heroic City Games.  He is a champion of global philanthropic efforts, working with organizations such as WAVEGlobal on ocean conservation and addressing global challenges through gaming and education. Resident in The Bahamas, he founded the charity OneAbaco to respond to the widespread damage and loss of life from Hurricane Dorian in 2019.

Adrian continues to speak on global stages, including the UN General Assembly and UNESCO conferences, at several youth focused Commonwealth Nations and Olympic forums and is a passionate advocate for using esports as a tool for positive impact across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Dr Susie Mitchell -  Programme Manager, Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, University of Glasgow.

Susie came to Glasgow in 1996 to undertake a PhD in cancer research at the University of Glasgow’s Beatson Institute for Cancer Research where she was awarded the John Paul Award for research excellence. She would then become an R&D manager within the NHS, a public policy practitioner (specialising in health and equality) for local and national government, and Accessibility and Inclusion lead for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

For over a decade, Susie was Programme Director for Glasgow City of Science and Innovation – a regional innovation partnership focussed on positioning and strengthening Glasgow City Region (GCR) as a distinctive and thriving place for innovation-enabled growth. In this role, she co-authored GCR’s £33M Innovation Accelerator Plan and was one of three selected regional assessors tasked with shortlisting the final projects.

In 2024, she became Programme Manager of the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District, anchored by the University of Glasgow.  Susie is a champion of diversity in STEM and in 2016 was recognised by Equate Scotland as a Leading Woman of Scotland for her contributions to STEM, equality, and Scotland’s advancement. She is an active Non-Exec on a range of Boards and is Chair of the Glasgow Jazz Festival – Glasgow’s longest running music festival. Outside work she is a session musician and a presenter and contributor for the BBC.