Roopa Vyas

Celebrating Recognition and Representation at the Senedd – EMWWAA Finalists’ Gathering

Yesterday I had the honour of joining fellow finalists of the Ethnic Minority Welsh Women Achievement Association (EMWWAA) Awards for a celebration event at the Senedd — and to be honest, I’m still taking it all in.

The afternoon was hosted by the inspiring Professor Meena Upadhyaya and Vaughan Gething MS, who both spoke with real warmth and conviction about the importance of visibility, opportunity, and recognition for ethnic minority women in Wales. Their words struck a chord — not just because of the platforms they hold, but because of how sincerely they acknowledged the value of our lived experiences and contributions.

I was nominated in the Sports, Arts and Culture category, for my work championing gender equality and South Asian representation in football. Through my roles with Her Game Too, the FAW, and media platforms like BBC Sport, I’ve tried to use whatever space I’ve had — whether on-screen or behind the scenes — to challenge the idea that football isn’t a place for people like us. That work can sometimes feel uphill but yesterday was a reminder that it matters. That it’s being seen.

It also made me reflect on just how far this journey has already taken me. Just a few days ago, I was in Switzerland, representing Wales at a Hackathon focused on gender equality in football across Europe with Ashoka UK & Ireland. We spent the day surrounded by people from Wales and Switzerland, sharing ideas, challenging norms, and pushing each other to think bolder. It was intense, inspiring, and one of those rare moments where you can almost feel the shift happening around you.

Standing in the Senedd yesterday, alongside so many trailblazing women, it all felt connected. Local and global. Personal and political. Whether it’s challenging organisations on their stance on trans inclusion, supporting young South Asian women into sport, or sitting in front of leaders in sport with uncomfortable truths —  it all stems from the same place: wanting to make the game fairer, safer, and more representative.

It was powerful being in that space. To be surrounded by women from so many different fields — education, health, activism, sport, and the arts — all breaking ground in their own way. Many of us had never met before, and yet there was an immediate sense of shared pride and purpose. We weren’t just celebrating individual achievements — we were recognising what’s possible when barriers are challenged and voices are heard.

The networking was just as valuable as the speeches — so many meaningful conversations, unexpected overlaps, and new connections formed. These moments are hard to measure but easy to feel: that quiet knowing that you’re not alone in the work you’re doing, and that collaboration could take it even further.

Personally, it meant a lot to be seen in that room as someone working to drive change through sport and community engagement. Conversations on representation often focus on national narratives, but this event was a reminder that change starts close to home — and that Wales is full of women quietly (and not-so-quietly) shifting the dial in their own communities.

A huge thank you to EMWWAA for creating a platform where our stories can be shared and celebrated — not just once every awards cycle, but through a growing community that lifts each other up.

Here’s to continuing the work, continuing the conversations, and continuing to show up.

Roopa Vyas

Chief Operating Officer, Her Game Too

Founder, Her Game Too Cymru