Emily Wilkins

Job role: People & Leadership Lead

In the People & Leadership team, we focus on how changes within volunteering, the workforce, and leadership can help make being active easier. The barriers stopping people from being more active are complex and everyone has a role to play in helping remove those barriers for others.

One area we’re focusing on is how we can change the way volunteering looks, feels and is spoken about in sport, physical activity and movement. We’re also focusing on inequalities. We know that people from marginalised communities face additional barriers when they’re trying to get active. We want to better understand those unique barriers before working with marginalised communities to help remove those barriers together.

Date joined: November 2024

Pronouns: they/them

Professional Background:

Before joining GM Moving, I spent two years working at LGBT Foundation. Here, I worked in policy and research, mainly focusing on protecting and promoting trans rights. I also managed the Mayor of GM’s LGBTQ+ advisory panel. During my last six months at LGBT Foundation, I moved into a training role, educating others on all things LGBTQ+.

I moved to Manchester from my hometown of Bristol in 2021, after getting a Geography degree from the University of Oxford. Sport, physical activity and movement has always been a huge part of my life with some of my happiest memories on a sports pitch. I feel really lucky to be able to spread this joy  through my role here at GM Moving.

Fun fact: I’ve hit Princess Anne with a tennis ball!