Hearing your voice: New members join our EDI Advisory Group

Friday 5th September 2025

Following a successful recruitment process, we are delighted to welcome three new members to the Scottish Athletics EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Advisory Group.

Richard Clark, Julie McElroy and Jack Brodie were appointed following the completion of term for Karen Millar and John Owens who stepped down from their roles just before the summer.

scottishathletics wish to warmly thank Karen and John for their commitment, support and dedication to the Group.

The Group’s remit is to provide advice and guidance on all EDI matters ensuring practical, strategic and operational support is sustained for the development and delivery of our Equality Action plan, in addition to supporting our Staff Equality Working Group and Board Members in relation to EDI.

‘After a competitive recruitment process we are delighted to announce that Julie McElroy, Jack Brodie and Richard Clark have been appointed as members of the Scottish Athletics external EDI group, ‘ said Cara Shearer, Chair of the Advisory Group.

‘All have demonstrated a clear passion for supporting under-represented groups in sport and we look forward to welcoming their wealth of experience and expertise across the EDI space.’

Richard (Ric) Clark

As a passionate fan and participant in athletics, Ric is a welfare office at Edinburgh AC and volunteers in areas such as media, event organisation and home baking. He started running as a 15-year-old and then, after playing senior rugby until he was 39, came back into the fold of athletics.

Ric is autistic and has ADHD and he has a chromosome disorder. He knows first-hand how running and sport can support and improve mental health for participants, and he wants to help make scottishathletics as open and diverse as possible.

He works in Data for Miller Homes in Edinburgh. He is a Trustee for St Andrews Children’s Society, a panel member for ScotGov’s LEAP for their bill to support people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people, as well as being a Brand ambassador for US non-profit Chromodiversity foundation.

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Julie at the 4J Senior Champs with coach Gordon Innes (photo by Bobby Gavin)

Julie McElroy

Julie McElroy is a trailblazing advocate and practitioner in Para sport, whose leadership and lived experience in disabilities continue to shape the landscape of inclusive athletics in Scotland and beyond.

A member of VP-Glasgow AC, Julie made history at the London Marathon 2024 as the first Frame Runner to take part, an achievement that exemplifies her commitment to breaking barriers and redefining possibility.

With over two decades of experience driving inclusive change, Julie has worked alongside individuals, organisations, and communities to promote accessibility, equity, and sustainable participation in sport.

Her governance expertise includes serving as a Non-Executive Director for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where she contributes strategic insight and influence on high-level decision-making around equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Julie’s role as Welfare Officer at VP-Glasgow reflects her hands-on commitment to safeguarding athlete wellbeing and dedication to inclusive environments.

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Jack Brodie

Jack is a passionate and experienced sports development professional with a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

With lived experience of disability, he brings both personal insight and professional expertise to his work, championing inclusive practice and helping to remove barriers to participation in sport.

As Club Development Manager at Scottish Squash, Jack leads on all aspects of EDI, working to build a more diverse, welcoming, and accessible squash community.

He also serves as Vice Chair of Lothian Disability Sport, where he advocates for increased representation and meaningful opportunities across all levels of disability sport.

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Tags: Cara Shearer, Equality and Diversity Advisory Group