The sport and digital industries have a diversity problem - the organisations working behind the scenes are often unrepresentative of the audiences or athletes they serve.

So how can we as an industry do better? It's a question we have asked ourselves a lot at LiveWire Sport, which is why we have teamed up with Channel 4 for an evening of frank and honest conversation on genuine diversity in the industry - and why it needs to happen now.

In addition to wider networking opportunities, the evening will consist of three on-stage discussions:

Breaking the class ceiling – eliminating the industry’s socioeconomic barriers to entry.
Who took the social out of social media? – why do 'fans' send abuse online, and how does it impact us as human beings?
Diversity in Focus – we hear from Channel 4 on how they embraced diversity, and the commercial value that a more inclusive approach can provide.

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Ayo Akinwolere, speakers so far confirmed include: Joel Beya, Founder of Cheeky Sport; Sehrish Mumtaz, Brand and Channel Manager at EFL; Yasir Mirza, Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Channel 4; Dr Louise Ashley, Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway University of London; Laura Williamson, Senior Editor at The Athletic; Dr Phil Hopley, Sports Psychologist; Pranav Soneji, Director & Co-Founder at LiveWire Sport; Andy Stevenson, Series Producer at Whisper; Zhe Ji, Director, Red Lantern, and Samantha Cannons, Senior Researcher at Channel 4.

Pranav Soneji, Director & Co-Founder at LiveWire Sport, said: "Not much has changed in the 20 years since I began my career in sport and digital - our industry does not represent the diverse audiences it serves. It's a societal problem that requires asking difficult questions that need to be addressed to make changes, starting with our own agency. We’re delighted that Channel 4 have joined us for these important first steps in our journey to becoming a more socially-minded and inclusive agency, and industry as a whole.”

Yasir Mirza, Head of Inclusion & Diversity at Channel 4, added: “Diversity has always been central to Channel 4, it’s at the heart of everything we do. And although we’re often cited as the industry leader on inclusion and diversity, we’re well aware that there is still so much more to do. An industry or business which is genuinely inclusive and diverse is going to be more commercially successful and more creative, so it’s vital we explore best practice and learn from each other how to make genuine change.”

The evening’s host, award-winning broadcaster, Ayo Akinwolere, added: “No industry is perfect when it comes to diversity and inclusion, but there’s certainly plenty of room for improvement. I’ve always encouraged open dialogue and debate as I feel that’s the best way to bring change, within a judgement-free space for people to ask those difficult, and sometimes uncomfortable, questions so that we can improve understanding of why a diverse and inclusive industry is good for business, and good for society. This is an incredibly important conversation to be had, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

LiveWire Sport has been a long-time partner of Channel 4, working with the public service broadcaster for more than seven years on work including the Paralympic Games, and is a supporter of the Channel 4 Para Production Trainee Scheme, with two young people joining the agency on a year-long work placement.

This event is free of charge and allocated on a first come first serve basis. Please advise if you have any dietary requirements.

Why Diversity in Digital Needs to Happen Now