A former football referee who has worked for four decades to advance gender equality in sport is the new president of the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce.
Janie Frampton began her career as a grassroots referee and went on to become just the second woman to officiate in the men's professional game in England.
She is co-founder of Team You, a social enterprise which supports the development of children and young people from underrepresented groups nationally and internationally.
It provides opportunities for young people to make positive life choices and guide them away from negative anti-social behaviours.
Originally from Dorset, she also co-founded Ref Support º£½ÇÊÓƵ which is a charity dedicated to the development and advocacy for football referees.
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She works with major sports governing bodies, as well as being vice-president of the International Federation for Sports Officials, a patron of the Muslim Women's Network in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and an ambassador for Women in Football.
In January, she received an OBE in the New Year Honours for her services to equality for women in sport.
The global chamber is a division of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and works with its member businesses which are wishing to develop bilateral trade opportunities.
Ms Frampton said: "I am inspired and energised to lead the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber into this new era of potential global collaboration.
"I look forward to working with you as we continue building a prosperous, sustainable, and interconnected world."
Her appointment was confirmed at the joint AGMs of the Greater Birmingham Global and Transatlantic Chambers of Commerce.
She succeeds Mark Smith who took over as president in 2022 and oversaw its evolution from the Commonwealth Chamber to the Global Chamber.
He said: "As my term as president ends, I'm delighted to have supported the chamber and its members in creating new relationships in Australia, Mexico, Pakistan and Turkey as well as consolidating well-established opportunities in existing markets such as Germany and Jamaica.
"Looking forward, the future of the global chamber under incoming president Janie and head of international divisions Jayne Hume will be bright."
Amina Hussain, the group chief executive of accountancy and business advisory firm SME Outsourcing, becomes a vice-president, joining fellow vice-president Adam Parker who is senior aviation manager at Birmingham Airport.
Robert Lawry (Rohlig), Felix Peter-Thomas (Santander), Fajli Bibi (Global Centre of Excellence in Sustainability) and Gerard Davies (Contended) have been elected to the chamber's committee.
