Premier League official revealed as keynote speaker at East Midlands Leadership Awards

A top Premier League official has been revealed as the guest speaker at this year’s East Midlands Leadership Awards.

Akil Howson will address the audience at the event, to be held on Thursday March 14 at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham, which will celebrate the cream of business leadership talent in the region.

Akil was being promoted to Select Group 1 of officials last July and is a regular assistant referee at Premier League games this season.

He is among 14 officials from PGMOL’s Development Group, which was formed last summer, who began the new campaign at least one level above where they started last season.

The Development Group of officials with high potential was formed as part of the implementation of the Elite Referee Development Plan (ERDP) last summer, with 30 per cent of the 28 referees and assistant referees in the group being Black, Asian or Mixed Heritage.

Sam Metcalf, Midlands editor at TheBusinessDesk.com, said: “Akil’s journey is truly inspirational – he is a truly groundbreaking individual and I’m delighted he’s agreed to join us to tell his story at the East Midlands Leadership Awards in March.”

To find out more about the East Midlands Leadership Awards – and to book your tickets – click here.