James Child

Official Feedback from In-person & Virtual Events

Feedback from In-Person Events:

"To mark Pride Month, Pitch Marketing Group had the pleasure of hosting an inspirational session led by James Child, the first openly gay rugby league referee. James shared his journey with us, delving into his remarkable career and the personal experiences that have shaped him into the trailblazer he is today. James's story is nothing short of inspiring. He spoke candidly about the challenges he faced both on and off the field, providing an honest and heartfelt account of his experiences in an industry that has not always been welcoming to LGBTQ+ individuals. His resilience and dedication to staying true to himself despite the obstacles were truly motivating. His genuine and engaging storytelling made us reflect on our own experiences and encouraged us to think more deeply about inclusivity and acceptance in our personal and professional lives. His passion for creating a more inclusive and diverse environment resonated with everyone in the room. Thank you, James, for being a role model, reminding us of how we can all be allies, and empowering us to embrace our true identities." - Pitch Marketing Group

"James' presentation was not only insightful but also deeply personal, sharing his journey as a former professional rugby league referee and his experiences with coming out, facing challenges, and advocating for mental resilience and LGBTQ rights. His story is a testament to the power of living authentically and the importance of inclusivity and support in both personal and professional settings. James' courage to share his experiences with us and the positive impact of his advocacy work made him a remarkable role model and an inspiration to many." - Shiongi BV

"The National Crime Agency marked the start of LGBT History Month on 1 February with a talk to officers from James. The NCA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture in which individuals can be themselves and give of their best and it was a pleasure to listen to James' insight on decision-making, resilience, leadership and the power of role models and allyship which all resonated with officers." - Gareth Jones, National Crime Agency

"James co-ordinated and spoke at a team event which was overwhelmingly well received and generated a lot of reflection from the attendees. James speaks clearly and powerfully about his lived experience, not shying away from the challenging experiences in his professional career but also celebrating the positives in an accessible and engaging way. Genuinely fascinating, thoughtful and wonderful." - Kat, LGBT+ Staff Network Chair, Leeds City Council

"In an engaging and interactive presentation to our members, James touched upon all aspects about being an elite level match official and talked through a wide variety of thought-provoking situations both on and off the field of play. It was fascinating to hear James review and explain his rationale for some crucial season-defining decisions from games he had been involved in as well as how he dealt with abuse from fans on social media platforms in the aftermath of matches. James’s experience of working alongside video assistant referees was of particular interest to our members and very revealing to see how the role of this additional official in rugby differs to how it is performed in football. Such was the impact made by James, he was voted Speaker of the Year in 2022." - Richard, Chairman, Rochdale Referees Association

"James was a very insightful and knowledgeable speaker. He was able to put people at ease and clearly address the key aims of the session in a thoughtful and warm way." - Simon, Director, eCoach

“James gave a valuable insight into the mindset and challenges faced by referees in professional sport.  He offered powerful personal experience of standing up to critics at the same time as learning from mistakes.  His account of his experience as an openly gay man working in professional sport was inspirational.” - Leo, Headmaster, Shrewsbury School

"James connected naturally with his audience to deliver a wide-ranging talk covering what it takes to become a professional referee.  He spoke about the challenges and sacrifices required, the highs and lows of performance and how to develop from setbacks, the personal and professional goal-setting along the way to reaching and maintaining an elite level of performance for over a decade.  He concluded with an inspirationally honest and thought-provoking focus on his story of coming out professionally within Rugby League.  James answered questions with balance and care, and gave generously of his time to speak with pupils after the formal end of the event." - Stuart, Head of Partnership & Community Engagement, Shrewsbury School

“James was an excellent and professional speaker who was able to make his audience feel at ease right from the start. The talk James gave was well thought-out and helped break down many LGBTQ+ issues into easy to follow topics of discussion (particularly with regards to how far LGBTQ+ rights have come and how much remains to be done. On top of this, the life experience James shared was also very touching to hear. James’ presentation style was accessible and educational, and we have received very positive feedback with regards to James as a speaker. Of particular note, many attendees praised James’ passion and candidness throughout the presentation, as well as his openness to answering any questions they had. We would very much recommend James as a speaker to others and thank him for providing such an educational, powerful and memorable talk.” - Travis, Loss Prevention Executive, Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Limited