The Game Changers

Sue Campbell – The power of authentic leadership

“When I first walked into the FA, I felt completely out of place - like an alien at someone else’s party. The culture was so unfamiliar that I doubted whether I belonged at all. But by finding allies and quietly building a team who believed in change, I realised I could make an impact.” Baroness Sue Campbell is one of the most influential leaders in British sport, a woman whose entire career has been driven by a single mission: to use sport to change lives. Recorded live at the Leaders in Sport 2025 Summit, this conversation revisits her extraordinary impact at the FA, her pivotal role in the Lionesses’ Euro 2022 triumph and her new chapter chairing England Netball. She talks openly about resilience rooted in moral purpose and the power of authentic leadership. We explore how staying focused on her mission, and not personal ego, has carried her through moments of doubt, sexism and deep personal challenge. Sue speaks movingly about the Lionesses’ journey, working with Sarina Wiegman and the unforgettable night at Wembley when years of pressure and self-doubt melted into joy.  But she also warns of the current “illusion” of success in women’s sport, urging urgent investment in the ‘missing middle’ - the semi-professional pathways that must be strengthened if young women are truly to build sustainable careers in sport. Now leading England Netball, Sue shares her passion for growing the sport’s profile and protecting the unique culture that makes women’s sport so special - community, safety, authenticity and connection. Her message for future leaders is clear and compelling: stay authentic, find your purpose, learn relentlessly and never underestimate the power of one determined individual to change the world. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers [https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers] Hosted by Sue Anstiss [https://twitter.com/sueanstiss]Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women production

Kat Craig: Power, ethics and building fairer futures in sport

“We’re at an inflection point - fans, sponsors and the next generation are demanding better. Sport has to decide what future it wants.” On today’s must listen episode of The Game Changers podcast, pioneering human rights lawyer and Athlead CEO Kat Craig explores how sport can change the world, yet why it too often simply replicates its worst injustices.  Kat offers a compelling blueprint from a world-leading voice: how to move from statements to structure and build safer, fairer sport for everyone. Driven by what she calls an “allergic reaction to injustice”, Kat charts her path from frontline human rights legal work to a decade inside the sports system, and explains why she founded AthLead, to turn athlete voice, sport-for-good strategy and rights-based governance into meaningful, lasting culture change. Kat doesn’t shy away from hard truths. Sport’s centralised power and insularity, she argues, create blind spots that silence those most harmed by discrimination and abuse. We also dive into athlete activism in a polarised era where authenticity matters more than ever, and why better gender balance has the potential to transform sport at every level. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers [https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers] Hosted by Sue Anstiss [https://twitter.com/sueanstiss]Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women production

Ramla Ali: Fighting for change

Ramla Ali: Fighting for Change “I carried the hopes of a nation into the ring - but also the dreams of every young girl who’d been told no.” Boxer, Olympian, model and UNICEF UK ambassador Ramla Ali shares her extraordinary journey from fleeing conflict in Somalia to making history in the boxing ring. The first Somali, male or female, to compete for a world title, Ramla’s story is one of resilience, representation and the relentless pursuit of change. In this conversation with Sue Anstiss, Ramla reflects on a recent visit to the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya where she witnessed both the devastating impact of aid cuts and the extraordinary hope of young women determined to build a better future. She speaks openly about her own family’s escape from Somalia, the courage of her parents and the sacrifices that shaped her life in the UK. Ramla reveals how she discovered boxing almost by accident, keeping her training secret from her family until they came to embrace her achievements with pride. She discusses what it meant to walk into the Olympic arena carrying Somalia’s flag and the trail she’s blazed for others to follow. Ramla talks proudly of the power of Sisters Club, the organisation she founded to give women and girls safe access to sport. From walking into a Boxercise class as a teenager to being the subject of an upcoming Hollywood film, Ramla has consistently challenged stereotypes and redefined what’s possible. Whether in the ring, in fashion, or in refugee camps, Ramla uses her platform to inspire change and to call for dignity, opportunity and equality for all. This is the story of a fighter whose greatest victories extend far beyond sport. **** Ramla Ali is a UNICEF UK Ambassador. Join UNICEF UK and write to your MP today to prioritise children in the UK aid budget here [https://act.unicef.org.uk/page/166888/action/1]. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers [https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers] Hosted by Sue Anstiss [https://twitter.com/sueanstiss]Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women production

Melanie Barratt: Breaking barriers in open water

Paralympic champion turned open-water pioneer Melanie Barratt shares her extraordinary story of resilience, courage and reinvention. Born with severe visual impairment, Melanie rose to the top of British swimming before stepping away from elite competition to explore new challenges.  In 2024, Melanie made history as the first blind woman to swim the English Channel solo - an achievement she says means even more to her than her Paralympic gold medals. In this powerful conversation with Sue Anstiss, Melanie reflects on the joy of discovering water as a child, the pressures and triumphs of Atlanta and Sydney and why she walked away at the height of her career. She explains how open water swimming became her “happy place,” and why conquering the Channel was truly life-changing. Melanie also talks about “blind pride,” her golden prosthetic eye and the importance of representation, as well as her current mission to make open water events more accessible for swimmers with disabilities. Her story is one of breaking barriers, redefining limits and finding empowerment in nature. A conversation that will inspire us all to believe we can overcome fear and dive headfirst into whatever challenge calls us next. Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers [https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers] Hosted by Sue Anstiss [https://twitter.com/sueanstiss]Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women production

Giselle Mather: Coaching with courage and changing the game

Why are we still telling female rugby coaches they are ‘not ready’ to coach at the highest levels of the women’s game, when we then say to male players ‘you can go straight into professional coaching when you come off the field’?  This is just one of the thought-provoking questions Giselle Mather tackles on today’s episode of The Game Changers podcast. Giselle is one of the most influential and pioneering figures in rugby. A former England international and World Cup winner, Giselle's extraordinary coaching career has seen her consistently break new ground in the sport.   Giselle was the first woman to earn the RFU’s Level 4 coaching qualification and has gone on to lead at the very highest levels of both the men’s and women’s professional game.  In this candid conversation, Giselle relives the raw early years of the women’s game, from the first Women’s World Cup in 1991 to lifting the trophy in 1994, and explains how those experiences forged a coaching philosophy that puts the human before the athlete. Combining elite coaching with a busy family life as a mother of three, Giselle has coached at Wasps, London Irish, Teddington, Ealing Trailfinders and internationally as a coach for England Women and Head Coach for Team GB Women’s Rugby 7s, along with the inaugural Women’s Barbarians. Giselle shares how she’s earned respect in men’s environments, the principles that underpin her sessions and the leadership needed to build diverse staff teams where every player can connect and thrive.  We talk about how visibility is the fastest route to equality for women’s rugby, why elite athletes deserve the very best qualified coaches and how blunt gender quotas in coaching can backfire. Renowned for her vision, passion and commitment to developing people, Giselle has inspired players and coaches across generations. She’s an extraordinary leader on and off the pitch.   Next week's guest is Somali professional boxer, model and campaign activist - Ramla Ali Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award. Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers [https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers] Hosted by Sue Anstiss [https://twitter.com/sueanstiss]Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media A Fearless Women production