We are delighted to announce that, on International Women’s Day 2024, one of the most prominent women working in the field of sports inclusion has been appointed to the CAFE Board of Trustees.

Joana Cal is the Director of Operations at Integrated Dreams – a non-profit organisation working to promote disability inclusion in non-playing aspects of the sports industry.

With Integrated Dreams, and its trailblazing Football For All Leadership Programme, Joana has supported disabled people to find employment across all levels of the game through developing employability skills, raising understanding of entrepreneurship and creating strong peer networks.

Joana is also heavily involved in Integrated Dreams’ Innovating For Inclusion Bootcamp, and the ADAPT and THRIVE Leadership Programme.

Prior to her role at Integrated Dreams, Joana had over ten years of experience as a lawyer in Europe and Asia, and was the Founder and Manager of the Macau Touch Rugby League. She is an AISTS graduate, with a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) degree in Sports Management and Technology.

Speaking on joining the CAFE Board of Trustees, Joana said, “It was a great honour to be invited to join the CAFE Board at this very exciting time for the organisation. I have worked closely with CAFE and the team for a number of years, and have seen first-hand the transformative impact that access to sport can have for many disabled people. I look forward to supporting CAFE in any way that I can as we continue to work towards our shared goal – an industry that welcomes and represents disabled people in an accessible and inclusive environment”.

Welcoming Joana to the Board of Trustees, our Chairman, Mark Flewitt, added, “Joana brings unique experience and an incredible network to CAFE, and we are thrilled that she will be working even closer with us going forwards. She is a true champion in this sector, and we have no doubt whatsoever that she will play a key role alongside us in shaping the future of accessibility in the sports industry”.

Find out more about Joana and the CAFE Board of Trustees.

Picture of Joana Cal with the text: Welcome Joana Cal, Director and Trustee


Published 8/3/2024