Helena Mahmood

Results-driven PhD researcher specialising in talent identification and development in girl's football, with a particular focus on increasing diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility of the Football Association's (FA) girls' talent pathway. I combine strong analytic skills and rigorous research methods to translate evidence-based findings into practice. Passionate about improving access and representation, I am deeply committed to creating equitable, diverse, and inclusive environments through challenging structural biases and systemic inequalities.

Combining robust qualitative and quantitative methodologies with real-world implications, I bring strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills to both research and high-performance environments.

Women's Talent Pathway PhD Scientist - The English FA

(2023-06)

• Established relationships with key stakeholders across the wider football network, including the Premier League Charitable Trust, EFL in the Community, and various ETC Managers and Player Development Leads.
• Project management skills demonstrated through leading various data-driven projects.
• Member of ETC Steering Group which meet on a bi-monthly basis to advise on strategic decisions about the future of the girls' talent pathway.
• Member of the Women's Talent Pathway Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group alongside other internal and external stakeholders involved with women and girls' football, with the aim of creating more equitable and diverse environments.

Academic Tutor/Research Assistant - University of the West of Scotland

(2023-06)

• Delivering lecturers and seminars/tutorials to first-year students on different modules (socio-cultural factors of sport and exercise; mental health and psycho-social factors of sport and exercise).
• Knowledge share with UWS School of Health and Life Sciences faculty on projects at the FA specific to increasing diversity and inclusion within female football (players and coaching).
• Marking written assignments, presentations, and offering group feedback during tutorials.
• Assisted in cardiac screening with Celtic Women FC ahead of the 2023/24 season, including physical examinations (blood pressure, anthropometric measures), Electrocardiograms (ECG) and Echocardiograms.

PhD - Sport-related studies - University of the West of Scotland (2023-06)

MSc - Sport & Exercise Psychology - Sheffield Hallam University (2021 - 2022)

BSc (Hons) - Sport & Exercise Science - Sheffield Hallam University (2021)