Leading the Delivery of Safer Sport Worldwide
The SSI Management Team is responsible for translating strategy into action — coordinating research, standards, partnerships, programmes, and global collaboration to strengthen safeguarding systems across sport.
Meet the SSI Management Team
SSI is based in the United Kingdom, functioning as a charitable organisation under the strategic leadership of the SSI International Trustee Board.
The management team look after the charity’s day to day operations, delivering key projects and strategic priorities, and ensuring effective implementation of the charity’s mission.
Neal Anderson, CEO
Neal Anderson is the Chief Executive Officer of Safe Sport International (SSI) with over 25 years of experience safeguarding the wellbeing and mental health of individuals involved in sports and outdoor activities. He is committed to developing robust safe sport standards and guidance, with significant experience in professional standards development across outdoor and adventure sports, leadership training & development, and applied research in therapeutic use of nature and outdoor sports and activities.
Neal is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, Associate Lecturer with Cumbria University, community sports coach, and holds a Masters in Sports Management from Loughborough University. He represents SSI on advisory groups of the International Safeguards for Children in Sport, the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, and the Global Observatory for Gender Equality in Sport.
Aisha Nazia, Projects & Resources Lead
Aisha Nazia is a global sports marketing and impact strategist passionate about using sport as a force for good. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and a FIFA Master graduate, She has led work across global sporting stages including the FIFA Tournaments, Formula 1, Dakar Rally, and NBA Games. Aisha brings deep expertise in strategic comms, storytelling, and purpose-driven initiatives, with sustainability and equity at the heart of her work.
From the non-profit and social impact space, she has led projects with Street Child United, Football For Future, The Thirteenth Foundation, Mission Eleven Million, READY Sport Global and the World Freestyle Football Association, and is an active member of the Sport Impact Group, advancing sport’s role in systems-level social change.
She now joins Safe Sport International as the Projects & Resources Lead, committed to getting things done with clarity, care, and impact.
Nicola Bellas
An experienced Senior Executive Assistant and Business Coordinator. Nicola has a robust foundation of operational, financial, and project leadership skills combined with an analytical eye and a considered approach, Nicola supports SSI’s business operations. Nicola’s rich knowledge base and practical skillset, having supported businesses over 20 years, brings to SSI a unique ability to seamlessly juggle complex and demanding delivery. Her impressive skill set and ‘can do’ approach makes her the ultimate ally to everyone involved with SSI. Nicola’s strengths lie in building strong virtual relationships with the global team she supports, she is passionate about making a tangible difference to their hectic days.
Accountants
James Cowper Kreston is a leading firm of accountants and business advisers, with offices in Newbury, Oxford, London, Reading and Southampton. The firm has a client base of over 5,000 businesses and private individuals. James Cowper Kreston delivers focused, innovative advice to a diverse range of businesses, ranging from start-up ventures to blue chip plcs. It also provides private client tax services to individuals.
James Cowper Kreston is a member of Kreston Global, the global network of independent accountants and business advisers, giving its clients access to advisers across the globe. James Cowper Kreston is ideally placed to provide informed local, national and international advice.
Legal Services (pro-bono)
Bird & Bird is a global law firm with over 1600 lawyers in 33 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific and North America.
Bird & Bird’s market-leading International Sports Group includes a number of safeguarding specialists who advise national and international clients in relation to matters such as the development of safeguarding policies and safeguarding regulations, safeguarding information sharing, the conduct of safeguarding investigations, and the conduct and presentation of safeguarding cases. Aside from its work for its clients, the firm’s safeguarding practice frequently produces educational material in respect of safeguarding, including a podcast series (Safeguarding: What Sport Needs to Know) and the ‘Bird & Bird Guide to Safeguarding Regulation in Sport’.
The firm is a long-standing and proud supporter of SSI, and provides pro bono legal advice to SSI across a number of areas of its practice areas
Marketing
Ian Ireland, director @Ireland:, is digital consultant and marketing expert with over 25 years experience delivering award winning marketing strategies across brand, adverting and digital. He has worked in some of the leading marketing agencies in the north of England, including most recently as client services director at Fat Media. He went on to form his own marketing and digital consultancy, Ireland:, which aims to help ambitious SME’s and growth focused organisations improve their marketing strategy and digital brand.
With a passion for sport and expertise from working with the likes of UK Coaching, Premier League clubs and the SRU, Ian now acts as lead marketing and digital consultant for SSI, developing various marketing strategies to promote the brand and managing our website & other digital channels. Originally from Newcastle, Ian is an avid Toon fan and also really enjoys open water swimming in Cumbria where he now lives with his wife Joanna and 3 children.