Dawn Aberdeen, CEO stated "we are delighted to welcome Rachel onto our Board of Directors.  She has a wealth of experience and knowledge that will assist us to strengthen all aspects of Cornwall FA business and assist our football community to ensure that we are inclusive in all aspects of the game truly embedding the ‘for one and all’ that we believe in".  

Rachel is an experienced Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) professional, currently leading the I&D agenda for the House of Lords. Driving forward significant culture change within the House of Lords for both its employees, the public and the House's Members. Beginning with a blank page, in 2016 she began by making the economic case for inclusion to senior stakeholders with the same informed zeal as the compelling social case. Key parts of her current role involve providing strong corporate leadership, championing inclusion and diversity internally and sharing best practice externally, whilst influencing and changing the culture of the organisation. As the leading source of expertise about I&D within the House of Lords Administration and owner of the comprehensive ‘Focus on Inclusion Strategy’, her role is to identify potential issues, risks and develop effective interventions and creative initiatives. Since 2016 Rachel has lead the House of Lords to achieve the following accolades: Disability Confident Leadership Status, Ranked 15th in the UK’s Top 50 Inclusive Employers, Achieved Gold status in the Inclusive Employers Index, recognised as the Highest new entry to Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index (64th) and Placed 47th in the UK Social Mobility Foundation’s employers Index.  Rachel was also shortlisted for Inclusive Companies, Head of Inclusion and Diversity of the year award in 2019. 

Previously, Rachel worked in the financial services arm of EY (Ernst and Young), delivering projects such as the firm's first Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic development and retention programme and social mobility outreach schemes. Rachel started her career in inclusion in a consultancy role at Inclusive Employers advising private, public and third sector organisations such as the Royal Navy, Macmillan Cancer and the Co-op designing various initiatives and culture change projects. 

Rachel is an avid football fan experiencing the highs and more frequently the lows that come with following Preston North End, whilst occasionally dusting off her own boots at St Agnes Women’s FC .

Rachel added, “I am really keen to meet everyone and get started in this exciting role. I plan to make full use of my skills, experience and network of contacts. I am extremely passionate about sport, but specifically football, not just in terms of being a fan of the game but recognising the unique opportunity sport has to reach communities and affect good social change. Everyone should feel welcome and able to participate in our football community and I look forward to helping make a difference in Cornwall”.