our governance
At BADU COMMUNITY C.I.C. we are committed to upholding the highest standards of governance and transparency, particularly as a recipient of public funding through Sport England. As part of our commitment, we adhere to the Code for Sports Governance, which sets out essential principles across structure, people, communication, standards and conduct, and policies and processes. In line with the Code’s requirements, we strive to ensure that our governance practices are robust, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse communities we serve. We are fully committed to ensuring compliance with all aspects of the Sport England Code and have made significant progress in establishing a strong governance framework.
Since starting our governance process in September 2024, we are in the early stages of building out our Board of Directors, with a strong focus on inclusivity, equity, and creating an environment where all voices are heard and valued. This is central to our approach, as we work to create a governance structure that not only operates effectively but also provides opportunities for those whose perspectives are often underrepresented and or silenced.
Our governance framework is guided by The Badu Way, a philosophy focused on empowering individuals for lifelong success by equipping them with the necessary tools to overcome and challenge systemic barriers. This philosophy is grounded in a growth mindset and the belief in bridging the “dream deficit” — the idea that many individuals, particularly from underserved communities, lack access to the networks, opportunities, and resources that others often take for granted. Through this lens, we are committed to building a governance process that reflects our mission and values, ensuring that the leadership structure is as inclusive, transparent, and impactful as the work we do on the ground. In the coming months, we will continue to build our governance capacity and ensure our processes align with Sport England’s Code.
board of directors
Our Board of Directors is in its initial stages of development, and we are excited to introduce our current Board members, whose bios are available below. As our governance process evolves, we will continue to grow the Board to best reflect the diverse backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives of the community we serve. We believe that governance is a process of continuous reflection and growth, and we look forward to sharing our progress and upcoming steps as we build a truly inclusive, equitable and impactful governance structure.
Nana Badu - Chief Executive
Nana Badu is the Founder and CEO of BADU. He is a thought leader, motivational speaker, and recipient of numerous accolades, including an honorary doctorate from Loughborough University and a British Empire Medal. Nana’s background as a professional footballer and PE teacher has shaped his passion for empowering young people and communities through sports and physical activity, mentoring and workforce development as well as placemaking. Beyond BADU, he is also a director at ALP, a company focused on renewable energy technologies and green skills development through solar-powered batteries. Nana is currently working on expanding the BADU way globally, with a focus on Africa and other regions, to promote sports as a vehicle for sustainable social cohesion and development.
JOSHUA WARBURTON - COO & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Joshua Warburton has a strong academic background in sports psychology, which laid the foundation for his career in the sports industry. Starting as a volunteer at BADU, he quickly
became a practitioner and has since risen to the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO), where he manages the day-to-day operations of the organisation. Josh plays a pivotal role in coordinating new partnerships between schools and has been instrumental in creating BADU's sports curriculum. He has also played a key role in the conception of various leadership programmes, including Level Up, which focuses on empowering young women from global majority heritage backgrounds by providing them with valuable insight and exposure to the wider sporting industry. In addition to his sports expertise, Joshua possesses strong financial acumen and has contributed significantly to the organisation's growth and development.
Oladipupo Ajayi - Interim Chair & Non-Executive Director
Founder & Chief Executive at Blacklight Consultancy
Ladi Ajayi brings over 10 years of experience in public service, having worked as a Manager of Sports and Physical Activity at Hackney Council under the Leisure and Green Spaces department. His career has been shaped by his own experiences in the care system in East London, and his passion for community engagement and sports. Ladi is also a former professional sailing athlete and has served on multiple boards, contributing to various research initiatives. Currently, he is the Head of Sport at AKD Solutions, an organisational change consultancy. AKD Solutions champions workplace Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DIAB) culture, initiatives, and policies, empowering organisations to build more inclusive and equitable environments. Ladi brings extensive expertise in developing DIAB strategies, driving transformation through innovative thinking that promotes fairness, justice, and leadership. He is committed to creating positive social impact by leveraging sports and organisational change to champion these values.
Vivienne tong - interim chair of the nominations committee | non-executive director
Management Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Vivienne Tong has worked as a Management Consultant in the Public Sector for 15+ years, and has a background in Economics, Health/Life Sciences, and the wider Public Sector. She helps organisations through delivering big, technology-enabled change that remains focused on people. Her work focuses on building-up leaders, growing new skills, and adaptability. She is vocal about compassionate leadership and amplifying the voices of women and global majority heritage backgrounds. Viv is also a coach-in-practice, and is currently working towards a degree in Coaching Psychology; deepening her practice in driving positive, impactful leadership.
thandi nhlapo | Non-Executive Director
Governance Specialist | Strategic Procurement Leader
Thandi Nhlapo brings 20+ years of leadership in procurement, audit, ethics, and governance across Africa and Europe. She has held senior roles at TotalEnergies, MTN, BP, Edcon, and Coriant, leading billion-dollar procurement portfolios and delivering measurable savings through strategic sourcing and transformation. She has overseen audit and ethics functions across multiple subsidiaries, embedding SOX-aligned controls and driving compliance strategies that strengthen ethical culture. As a Director and Non-Executive Director—including at Ericsson South Africa—she has contributed to corporate strategy, remuneration, and governance committees, including Ethics, Procurement, and Employment Equity helping shape long-term strategic direction and operational transparency. A champion of inclusive growth, Thandi has developed economic inclusion programmes that unlock access to funding and business opportunities for small enterprises owned by historically disadvantaged individuals, fuelling inclusive economic development, with the ripple effects of these initiatives positively reaching communities, including rural areas. She is also co-founder and former Chair of the Career-Space Black Women Trust, which has mentored, funded, and supported students across South Africa. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ethics, inclusion, and building future-focused organisations that deliver meaningful impact.
Donald mbeutcha | Non-Executive Director
Chief Executive at Every Future Foundation
Donald Mbeutcha is an executive leader with over 15 years in the UK’s fintech industry, driving mass adoption across startups and publicly listed firms, and a dedicated social justice advocate. As Interim CEO of Every Future Foundation, he leverages his transformative work at the Stephen Lawrence Foundation to champion youth-focused educational initiatives, believing that dismantling racism begins in the classroom. Previously, he led strategic partnerships at World Vision UK to expand child sponsorship and community training across sub-Saharan Africa, and as Commercial Director of the Best of Africa Awards, secured pan-African sponsorships that boosted revenues. A seasoned public speaker, Trustee for Beyond Equality and previous Trustee of the Race Equality Foundation, Donald combines commercial acumen with deep community engagement to empower the next generation of African and diasporic leaders.
Habib Patel | Non-Executive Director
Strategy and Creative Director at Discover Brand Creation Limited
Habib Patel is an experienced brand and creative strategist with over 20 years in senior roles at leading global agencies including Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, Coley Porter Bell and Landor. Now Creative Director at Discover Brand Creation, he leads strategic and design direction for clients across sectors—including American Express, Tetra Pak, Ford, GSK, Lucozade, Dove, Unilever, Sensodyne, Coca-Cola, Walkers, Visa, Orange, MontBlanc, and BADU—delivering work that spans global brands to organisations making impact at community level. With a strong foundation in brand identity, user-centred digital design and inclusive marketing, Habib’s approach combines creative vision with strategic thinking to build meaningful, high-impact brands. He is also an Associate Lecturer in Brand & Marketing at the University of the Arts London (London College of Fashion), where he mentors degree and master’s students in fashion enterprise and marketing. Passionate about social impact, Habib plays an active role in community organising—facilitating intergenerational projects, charitable hikes, and local events that connect and uplift.