Phil Walker CBE, a respected and experienced businessman and Chair of the Council at Roehampton University, has been appointed as the new Chair of ACE – as Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE transitions to a new role as Founder of the charity.
The new leadership comes as ACE celebrates its fifth birthday following another remarkable season – headlined by Davina Perrin’s magnificent Hundred century at the Kia Oval and the continued success of ACE graduates Troy Henry and Amy Wheeler.
ACE Growth and Vision
Since April 2021, ACE (which stands for African Caribbean Engagement) have engaged over 40,000 young people and in the same period, there have been 230 participants in the ACE senior academy, aiming to emulate the success of Henry and Wheeler, who have signed professional contracts with Sussex and The Blaze respectively this summer.
As well as the original programme in south London, ACE now operates in Birmingham, Bristol, Sheffield, Nottingham, Manchester and north London, running programmes in schools, community hubs and regional academies.
By 2030, ACE aim to have helped developed ten professional cricketers, have 20,000 young people annually participating in grassroots programmes, continue to accelerate the growth of Black female cricketers and create a hybrid coach framework, helping Black coaches make their mark at all levels of the game.
Rainford-Brent – who was born in Lambeth and became the first Black woman to play cricket for England, winning both the Ashes and the World Cup – founded the charity as a community programme at Surrey CCC, the club she represented throughout her playing career, in January 2020.
ACE was established as an independent nationwide organisation later that year after significant funding was received from Sport England. Rainford-Brent has continued to chair ACE for five years, as it has grown to a charity that now delivers multiple programmes across six cities as well as an elite academy.
About Phil Walker
Phil Walker CBE has 30 years of business experience with partnership roles in IBM and PA Consulting and is now Chair of Council at Roehampton University. He was Chief Operating Officer of Capgemini for six years and led global projects in both the public and private sector. As well as this, he was a founding member of the ‘Powerlist’ and led an initiative to support London pupils into the world of work. He was awarded the CBE in the 2025 honours list, for his commitment to Higher Education, and mentoring in particular.
In his formative years, Phil played cricket for Combermere school in Barbados. He is a graduate of Loughborough University and also won national honours in basketball.
Whilst handing over the Chair role, Rainford-Brent will not be leaving ACE. She will remain a trustee of the organisation, continue to perform a key leadership role and attend the ACE Board, operating under the new title of Founder.
Alongside the Chair appointment, ACE are also welcoming a new trustee to the organisation, Born Barikor.
Barikor is the founder of Our Parks, an award-winning company that offer easy, barrier free access to quality exercise in local parks all over the country. He was the winner of the Senior Leader Entrepreneur award at the 2019 Black British Business Awards and was awarded an Honorary Degree as Doctor of Science from the University of Warwick. As well as this, he is a hip hop and grime MC who played and hosted alongside the biggest urban names of today during their journey from pirate radio to mainstream success.
"Founding and chairing ACE has been one of the greatest experiences of my life but, as the charity continues to grow and hit new heights, it requires fresh impetus. Phil is a passionate, experienced and hugely successful leader and I am excited to work alongside him and the wider ACE team to continue our support for diverse talent, from grassroots to the elite, and develop the game of cricket at all levels within the Black community.
Phil Walker CBE added:
“ACE has done some important and impressive work over the last five years, and it is a great honour to come in and help to continue the charity’s growth. Cricket has always been a huge part of my life, and I fully understand the power of the game to create important social change and transform people’s lives.
“I am looking forward to working with the ACE team across the country to continue our growth, create more professional players and support diverse talent, from grassroots to the elite.”