The London Youth Games Foundation is delighted to welcome new members to its team: Ali Speechly as Head of Sport and Jean-Pierre Murungi as Sports Development and Delivery Officer. With their extensive experience and shared passion for sport and community development, their roles will help to further our mission of creating life changing opportunities for young Londoners through the power of sport.

Ali Speechly joins the team as Head of Sport, responsible for leading the sports team in the delivery of sports programmes, events and competitions of the highest quality. Ali brings experience from her civil service career – spanning youth justice, policing, and counter-terrorism – with a passion for using sport for personal and social change. She has extensive experience in football as a coach, coach developer, and board member, actively contributing to grassroots, community, and academy programmes. Her volunteer work includes major events such as the London 2012 Olympics, UEFA Euros, and NFL London games. As Director of Women’s Football at Camden and Islington United FC and a co-founder of a podcast to promote diversity in football coaching, Ali champions the importance of visibility and representation in sport and wider society.

Jean-Pierre Murungi has joined the charity as Sports Development and Delivery Officer, responsible for the development and delivery of the sports programme to deliver competitions of the highest quality. Jean-Pierre brings experience in delivering impactful sports programmes, developing young players as Head of Football at AFC Bermondsey and Sports Development Officer at St Michael’s Catholic College.

CEO Andy Dalby-Welsh said: “Investing in our team is vital as we approach the 50th anniversary of the London Youth Games. Ali and Jean-Pierre bring a wealth of experience and energy that will enhance our ability to deliver high-quality programmes and events. Together, we’ll continue to honour the legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth II, ensuring young Londoners, particularly those that need us the most, have opportunities to thrive.”

COO Katie Berry added: “We are delighted to welcome Ali and Jean-Pierre to LYG. Their experience and proven track records in community sport and youth development will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and grow. We are confident that their contributions will help us achieve our mission of creating more life-changing opportunities for young people.”