DR RIMLA Akhtar MBE has been appointed as a non executive director of a reshaped / new-look Rugby Football League (RFL) Board.

Akhtar is highly regarded for her work in leadership and governance in sport as well as her role as an inclusion and diversity specialist. She was elected as the first Muslim and Asian woman on the FA Council in 2014 and was ranked 14th in the 2018 Forbes global list of The Most Powerful Women in Sport. 

She is a council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and has she has almost two decades of experience in the sports industry across the UK, Middle East and Asia. She is a Board member of the Sports Ground Safety Authority and is also a UEFA Match Delegate. Rimla was formerly on the board of Kick it Out.

On the field, she captained the British Muslim Women’s Futsal team. 

On her new appointment she said: “This is an exciting time to become a member of the RFL Board.  Whether it’s the World Cup in 2021 and its legacy, the huge potential for growth in the women’s game, or the way that this sport reaches communities that other sports do not, there are so many opportunities to grow the game from grassroots through to professional. 

Having followed rugby league for a number of years and now having had the opportunity to meet those who have dedicated much of their lives to the game, I’m honoured and cannot wait to help shape the future for this sport that is loved by everyone who engages with it.”