Our People

Philip is the Honorary Vice President of Deaf Sports First, having previously been a founding director and the first Chair.

He was born deaf in Manchester and was lucky enough to get support through the local world-renowned Department of Audiology and Education of the Deaf at Manchester University. This was under the guidance of Professor Sir Alexander Ewing in the mid 1950’s. The support he received from that Department enabled him to succeed in getting a place at Mary Hare Grammar School for the Deaf, achieving academic success from which he had a rewarding career in local Government offering 35 years of public service. He was a Lead Officer in Environmental Health and a member of many specialist groups both regionally and nationally. He was also Trustee, for nearly 20 years, (being Chair for 10 years) of Deafness Support Network (formerly Cheshire Deaf Society), a regional charity that provides a number of services to D/deaf people and their families in Cheshire.

Henry has been involved in grassroot deaf sport for many years, having played for Derby Deaf Football team and Black Country Deaf football team. He was a treasurer and Chairperson for Black Country Deaf football team. Henry has represented England Deaf rugby. He had coached rugby to deaf children. He is a trainer for Royal Association for Deaf people and have been working in the deaf field for over 20 years and have been involved in many work to improve access for deaf people. He has been involved in regional Council groups, NHS groups, Police Equality groups, and lots of other groups to ensure that deaf people’s voice are heard.

Henry joined team in the summer of 2023 and he his passion is to ensure that deaf people have access to sport and appreciate the value of Deaf Sports First role to make it possible.

One of the founding Directors of Deaf Sports First

Ken is now the Director of the Deafax Research and Development Unit which is based at the Institute of Education, University of Reading. He was awarded a Sports scholarship to Millfield School and has studied at Loughborough, Surrey and London Universities. He has been challenged by a variety of roles; as a top class sportsman, Royal Marine Commando, parent of a deaf daughter, teacher of English, History and Physical Education, teacher-lecturer in deaf education, advisory lecturer in special needs and as a charitable/social entrepreneur. He has been responsible for helping to set up 10 charities/companies limited by guarantee including Decibels & Deaf Aspirations. For his contribution to preventative medicine and healthcare, he was elected in 2007 as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine. In 2009 he was awarded an Honorary Degree from Loughborough University as part of their Centenary Celebrations and recently he was made a “Distinguished Old Millfieldian”.By helping to set up Deaf Sports First, Ken hopes to “make a significant difference” to the lives of deaf & hearing sportswomen/men in the UK and worldwide.

Full Time Strategy Director for Plan International. Adviser to Deaf Sports First

Riccardo has been skilfully developing and leading the implementation of a strategy to shape future business & digital opportunities for Deaf Sports First. He will be continuing to develop a comprehensive business plan comprising both transactional & transformational elements to ensure stakeholder buy-in and establish a robust & transparent governance model.

Riccardo has over 15 years of experience in a blue chip environment, providing a broad, strong foundation of best practice solutions to tackle operational challenges. Riccardo works with a strong sense of urgency to achieve quality results, quickly. Outside of work, Riccardo loves to explore and discover new things. His camera follows him wherever he goes and his computer boasts a decade of photos of architecture, people and cultures.