Former referee named Global Chamber President
A former football referee, who has spent four decades advancing gender equality in sport, has been appointed the new president of the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce.
Janie Frampton succeeds Mark Smith who took over as president in 2022 and oversaw its evolution from the Commonwealth Chamber to the Global Chamber.
Frampton began her career officiating at the grassroots level and went on to become only the second woman to referee in the men’s professional football league in England.
She is also the co-founder of Team You, a social enterprise focused on supporting the development of children and young people from underrepresented groups, both nationally and internationally.
The organisation provides opportunities for youth to make positive life choices and steer away from anti-social behaviour.
Frampton co-founded Ref Support UK, a groundbreaking charity dedicated to supporting and advocating for football referees.
Her influence extends beyond football; she works with major sports governing bodies, serves as vice-president of the International Federation for Sports Officials, is a patron of the Muslim Women’s Network UK, and is an ambassador for Women in Football.
In recognition of her work advancing gender equality in sport, Janie was awarded an OBE in the 2024 New Year Honours.
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.”
Smith 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 Frampton and head of international divisions Jayne Hume will be bright. The combination of Janie’s extensive international connections and Jayne’s broad experience in meeting members’ needs will ensure that the Global Chamber will thrive and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce will continue to support members’ international aspirations.”
