Members' Committee

Iftkhar Ahmed – Chair

Iftkhar was appointed as Chair of the Members’ Committee in 2022 having served on the Committee since 2019. His current and second term of office runs until 2025, eligible for one further term.

Iftkhar is a Solicitor and Partner at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP where he leads the major corporates group. He has been involved in some of the significant developments in Birmingham, including the Grand Hotel and HSBC’s HQ at Arena Central.

Committees: Board, Members (Chair), Nominations, Masterplan

Courtney Rowlands

Courtney was elected to the Member’s Committee in 2019 and was appointed to the Board in 2022. Her current and second term of office runs until 2025, eligible for one further term.

Courtney is an Operations Manager in Trade Finance at Lloyds Banking Group, and she has previous experience in independent retail and as a recruitment consultant.

Having grown up in the United States, Courtney was gripped by cricket during the 1993 Ashes series whilst she was studying at the University of St Andrews. She moved to Birmingham in 2011 and immediately became a Warwickshire Member, having been a member at Trent Bridge since 2005.

Committees: Board, Members, Remuneration

Asif Din

Asif was re-elected to Members’ Committee in 2022 and current term ends in 2025, eligible for one further term.

First elected to former General Committee 2001, Asif is a former member of Cricket Committee in 2018. The Bears legend enjoyed a long and successful playing career with the Club, from 1981 to 1995. In total he scored over 6,500 first-class runs and was part of the famous treble winning side in 1994.

He is a Life Member at Warwickshire. Away from cricket, he is a Business Development Manager.

Committees: Members, Cricket Audit, Heritage Group

Marina Dorward

Marina was elected to the Members’ Committee in 2019 and current term ends in 2025, eligible for one further term.

Marina is a Senior HR Manager at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, specialist in organisational development projects and training/coaching with a focus on staff health and well-being.

Marina is currently Chair of the Morris Centre, a not for profit private leisure centre for NHS staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Marina started watching cricket at Edgbaston as a Junior Bear Member and joined the Committee to ensure that Members’ views are reflected in the Club’s decision making.

Committees: Members, Heritage Group

Lachlan Smith

Lachlan was elected to Members’ Committee in 2022 and current term ends in 2025, eligible for two further terms.

Lachlan is Chair of Birmingham Unicorns Cricket Club, only the second-ever fully inclusive LGBTQ+ cricket club in the world.

He served as Club Secretary at Weoley Hill before starting the Unicorns in 2020. Lachlan is passionate about inclusivity and diversity in cricket, and this extends to his professional life where he is Director of Cloud Chamber, a research and evaluation consultancy that works with the charitable and higher education sectors.

He has worked in the civil service, higher education, local and state governments in the UK and Australia as well as serving as Vice-Chair of Birmingham LGBT, the largest LGBT charity in the Midlands, during a time of significant expansion and growth.

Committees: Members

Ibrar Hussain

Ibrar was elected to the Members’ Committee in 2022 and current term ends in 2025, eligible for two further terms.

Ibrar has worked in Health and Social Care management for several years working with Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Difficulties. Ibrar has a degree in International Relations and a Masters in International Conflict, Security and Development. Alongside his career, Ibrar is still working in academia by undertaking a PhD in Health and Social Care at the University of Birmingham with his focus on bringing professionals together to improve practice in Integrated Care and has sat on the Graduate Research Board and a number of committees.

Ibrar has grown up in inner-city Birmingham, as a cricket fanatic, and he’s committed to using his role on the Members’ Committee to help the Club build closer relationships with the local community. Ibrar is passionate about inclusion, participation, equality and diversity and has been involved with Sport Birmingham and the Warwickshire Access Team in the past.

Committees: Members

Elizabeth Homer

Elizabeth was elected to Members’ Committee in 2022 and current term ends in 2025, eligible for two further terms.

Elizabeth retired six years ago following a 35-year career in the NHS as a medical secretary and Paediatric Admin Manager. She is an active member of her local church, leading the children’s work and heading up the Pastoral Care team. She helps to run a Toddlers group and works with vulnerable and disadvantaged young families.

Elizabeth was introduced to Warwickshire by her late father who brought her to her first game at Edgbaston in her early teens, where she fell in love with the game and the place. That was almost 50 years ago and cricket has been a major part of her life ever since.

As someone with a lifelong disability herself, she is particularly keen to represent Members with mobility and access issues, and to help the Club in seeking to make Edgbaston as accessible as possible for everyone.

Committees: Members

Stuart Brereton

Stuart was elected to the Members’ Committee in 2022 and current term ends in 2025, eligible for two further terms.

Stuart was born and raised in Birmingham and has had a keen interest in cricket since a young age. With his family, Stuart regularly attends Vitality Blast matches and more recently Birmingham Phoenix match days.

Professionally, Stuart’s background is in the IT sector where he has held numerous roles, he is currently a Linux System Administrator and runs his own IT company.

He’s keen to use his skills and experience to act as a voice for Members and to help grow the Membership base within the grass-roots of the game.

Committees: Members

Ian Head

Ian retired in September 2023 following 49 years continuous service within law enforcement both as a former police officer and latterly as a Senior Officer in national law enforcement organisations and agencies.

Ian has been both a member and chair of national and international forums and committees in relation to his employment activities.

Ian has been an avid cricket fan and supporter of Warwickshire from the age of 11 when he lived in Moseley, a short walk from Edgbaston and where he has spent many happy hours watching all forms of cricket.

Following his recent retirement Ian now welcomes the opportunity to give something back to the Club and plans to be a fully active and supportive committee member.

Committees: Members

Philip Astley-Morton

Philip was elected to the Member’s Committee in 2023. His current and first term of office runs until 2026, eligible for two further terms.

He is a Chartered Certified Accountant specialising in company turnaround, gaining genuine satisfaction from being able to help rescue struggling businesses.

Philip is a life-long cricket fan and a regular attendee at Edgbaston since relocating to the area in 2007. He is a supporter of all forms of the game and when not following the Bears, he can be found at village cricket grounds watching his son play. Philip recognises the challenges faced by the game in attracting a new audience and is passionate about sharing his love for cricket with new generations.

Committees: Members

If you have any questions for the Members’ Committee, please email memberscommittee@edgbaston.com.