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Ebony Rainford-Brent is an award-winning broadcaster, Director of Programmes at the ACE Programme Charity, and former England cricketer. She is a highly respected speaker, sharing her experiences on leadership, breaking barriers, high performance, and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities. As a regular pundit and commentator on Sky Sports, BBC Sport, and Channel 4, Ebony’s influence extends well beyond the cricket pitch. Her ability to connect with audiences stems from her personal journey in sport and her continued efforts to increase access and representation in cricket through her work with the ACE Programme Charity.
Ebony’s career began as a talented young cricketer for Surrey, making her debut for the county in 2001. She overcame a serious back injury early in her career, returning to play professionally and eventually captaining Surrey Women. In 2007, she made history as the first Black woman to play for the England Women’s Cricket Team. Ebony was part of the England squad that won multiple titles, including the ICC Women’s World Cup, the ICC Women’s World Twenty20, and several Ashes series victories. Following her retirement from cricket in 2011, she moved into broadcasting and leadership roles, including her appointment as Director of Women’s Cricket at Surrey County Cricket Club in 2017.
More recently, Ebony has focused on championing access and inclusion within cricket. In 2020, she founded the ACE (African-Caribbean Engagement) Programme, which later became an independent charity. As Director of Programmes, she has expanded ACE’s reach to multiple regions, helping to create pathways for young Black cricketers. Her work has been widely recognised, earning her an MBE in 2023 for services to cricket and charity. Ebony was also named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 2021, a testament to her impact both on and off the field.
Organisations invite Ebony to speak because of her powerful story of resilience, leadership, and creating change. She draws on her personal experiences of overcoming adversity, making history in cricket, and driving social impact to inspire audiences. Whether discussing building inclusive cultures, navigating high-performance environments, or breaking through barriers, Ebony delivers engaging, thought-provoking talks that resonate with a wide range of audiences.
Ebony Rainford-Brent is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Truly inspirational.”
“The dinner was a great success and Ebony’s ‘after dinner talk’ was excellent and I think that everyone attending must have been motivated by her enthusiasm for the game, and the way we can overcome problems as they crop up in life. She was so good in greeting and congratulating the players as they came forward for their trophies, and the two ladies (one the women’s captain) who attended from my own club were thrilled to be able to chat with her, she was such an encouragement to them, and her ability to hold the audience and to interact with them was a joy to see.”
The BAME Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for Black, Asian and minority ethnic speakers since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars.
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