Driving change: Tahir Akram’s real-life leadership story

Yorkshire Sport Foundation's Development Manager for Bradford, Tahir Akram, has been featured in a Sport England leadership story, offering an honest and inspiring reflection on his personal and professional journey.

Sport England - Leading the Movement is supporting sector leaders to confidently and successfully drive the change needed to tackle inequalities in sport and physical activity and achieve the ambitions of Uniting the Movement. 

Find out more about Leading the Movement

The article explores Tahir's experiences as a leader, highlighting how his background, lived experience and commitment to inclusivity have helped shape his approach to creating opportunities for others through sport and physical activity.

Sport England's leadership stories are designed to provide valuable insight into the realities of leadership, sharing the challenges individuals have faced, the strategies they have used to overcome barriers, and the lessons they have learned along the way. Through these authentic accounts, other leaders can gain practical advice, fresh perspectives and inspiration for their own work.

Tahir's story particularly emphasises the importance of bridging cultures, embracing diversity and using personal experiences to drive positive change. His journey demonstrates how inclusive leadership can help break down barriers and create more accessible opportunities within communities.

By sharing both challenges and successes, the feature offers a powerful example of how personal stories can inspire action and encourage wider conversations about representation, equality and inclusion across the sport and physical activity sector.

Yorkshire Sport Foundation welcomed the recognition, thanking Tahir for sharing his experiences and for the lasting impact he continues to make across Bradford and beyond.

Sport England's leadership series aims to raise awareness of common challenges, showcase effective approaches, and spark discussion among leaders working in similar contexts. Through stories like Tahir's, the organisation hopes to inspire others to learn from real-world experiences and strengthen their own leadership journeys.

Read Tahir Akram's full leadership story on the Sport England website:

Leadership story