The Basketball England Advisory Groups were formed in 2018 across coaching, officiating and competitions.
With a remit to drive forward Basketball England's priorities and strengthen the relationship between the National Governing Body and those within the sport, including members, clubs, stakeholders, regions and more, the three advisory groups meet periodically throughout the year.
Members of each group are recruited due to their expertise and experience in one or more of the following areas:
International or elite basketball
National competitions, such as the NBL, EABL/WEABL or similar
Female specific clubs, programmes or bodies
Grassroots organisations and clubs, including local leagues and regional basketball.
Coach and player development at all levels.
Groups will on occasion also meet together in a combined capacity if a matter arises that crosses over between the remits of more than one group.
Officiating Advisory Group
The group is led by:
Simon Unsworth - Basketball England's Delivery Manager - Officiating
Shaun Williams - Basketball England's Officials and Volunteers Co-Ordinator
Kate Unsworth - England's National Instructor
Neil Wilkinson - Great Britain's National FIBA Instructor
Advisory Group Members
Alex Callender - International Table Official, International Statistician, Regional Referee
Vanessa Ellis - Team England Senior Women's Assistant Coach
Matt Guymon - Head of DiSE and Men's basketball (Itchen College), head coach Team Solent Kestrels
Ian Lester - National Referee, South Region Referee Coordinator
Alison Muir - FIBA Commissioner, Referee & Table Official coach, National Table Official
Mark Patton - FIBA Commissioner, Table Official & instructor, National Referee & Table Official coach
Alan Richardson - EuroLeague Referee coach instructor
Richard Stokes - Former EuroLeague Senior Director of Officiating
Janine Timms - International Technical Official & Commissioner (IWBF), International Table Official, National Table Official coach
Neil Wilkinson - FIBA Referee instructor, National referee, coach & instructor
Kate Unsworth - England's National Instructor, FIBA Referee instructor & National Referee
By including people involved in both officiating and coaching, who are involved and have experience at different levels of the game, the group is able to bring together a wide range of expertise with a remit of push officiating forward across the country.
A Basketball England Board member also sits on each Advisory Group. For Officiating, this is Matt Newby.
