Lachlan Smith

Background

About Lachlan Smith

Director of Cloud Chamber and Chair and founder of Birmingham Unicorns Cricket Club, an LGBTQ+-focused inclusive cricket club in Birmingham. We are only the second such club in the world. Creating a space for LGBTQ+ players and supporters to engage with cricket has provided the foundation of the club. I currently work to improve cricket, and international research in Higher Education are environments that everyone can enjoy and thrive within. I bring extensive experience to both sectors and exchange learning between the two. Within cricket, my focus is on LGBTQ+ communities. Working alongside key stakeholders, including county clubs, Stonewall, national and regional LGBTQ+ charities and sports governing bodies, I work to make cricket a more community-focused and inclusive experience. The benefits of this are profound and include- enabling people to find a home in sport - improving mental and physical health alongside confidence - enabling people to try cricket for the first time, whether they are from the LGBTQ+ community or are Allies - give people the space to tell their own stories helping to educate, support and grow the game - working with a range of stakeholders to grow the sport and breakdown barriers and misconceptions/myths about the LGBTQ+ community - Support people to become part of a club, create friendships and win games of cricket! Within Higher Education, I work with researchers, universities and funders to make sure everyone can thrive in research environments. If we want to tackle the world's challenges, we need the best people to be doing research, and this can only happen through establishing effective and inclusive environments. I work by understanding the challenges and context of international research partnerships to support researchers and administrators/management to create the right environment for quality research to thrive. Through training, podcasting and consultancy, research environments are becoming better places as they embrace equality, diversity and inclusion. Get in touch if you'd like to know more about what I am doing and how you can be involved.