Executive Director & Co-Founder
Lerina Bright is Executive Director and Co-Founder of Mission 89, the only organisation in the world exclusively dedicated to combating human trafficking in, through, and around sport. Lerina’s path to founding Mission 89 began when she encountered the largely invisible world of sport trafficking, in which young athletes are moved across borders under false pretences, abandoned in unfamiliar countries, left without legal or financial protection. Having served in CONCACAF, the Bahrain Olympic Committee, and the International Canoe Federation, she brings 15 years of experience and institutional knowledge to Mission 89’s research, education, and advocacy work. She holds an MA in Sport Administration from the AISTS in Lausanne and a BA in International Studies and Economics from the University of Miami. Lerina serves on the Council of Europe EPAS Safe Sport Commission and is a member of INTERPOL’s Human Trafficking Expert Group.
Co-Founder
Thomas Kurth is Co-Founder of Mission 89 and currently serves as Secretary General of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the IOC-recognised international federation for powerboat and water motor sports. He previously served as Competitions Director at UEFA, where he played a central role in transforming the European Cup into the UEFA Champions League, and subsequently as General Manager of G-14. His governance expertise and global network have been instrumental in establishing Mission 89’s credibility and reach.
Co-Founder
Yann Coelenbier is Co-Founder of Mission 89 and a sport development specialist with over two decades of experience using sport as a vehicle for social change and sustainable development. He served as Managing Director of Peace and Sport from 2007 to 2014, and subsequently founded YSEO Consulting, working with governments primarily on the African continent. He met Co-Founder Lerina Bright through the Olympic Truce Academy in 2007, leading naturally to the co-founding of Mission 89 in 2017.
Board Member (Switzerland)
Fabien Aepli is a Mission 89 Board Member and Co-Founder of MANGEAT, a Swiss law firm specialising in banking, finance, and corporate law. His legal expertise in financial regulation and corporate governance provides Mission 89 with essential counsel on institutional compliance and organisational development.
Board Member (Belgium)
Laurent M.J. De Boeck is a Mission 89 Board Member and former Senior Director at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), where he accumulated 28 years of expertise in migration governance, trafficking in persons, and international policy development. He has held senior IOM leadership roles across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, working directly with governments, EU institutions, and international bodies on migration management and human rights frameworks.
His deep experience in anti-trafficking policy and migration systems provides Mission 89 with essential institutional knowledge as it strengthens its research and advocacy agenda.
Board Member (United Kingdom)
Julia Govinden is a Mission 89 Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of United Through Sports, an organisation dedicated to harnessing the power of sport for social impact and inclusion. A psychologist by training, she brings expertise in athlete wellbeing, mental health, and safeguarding to her role on the Mission 89 board, where she also chairs the Patron Selection Committee.
Her work across sport development and athlete protection makes her a vital voice in Mission 89’s efforts to strengthen safeguarding systems globally.
Board Member (Grenada)
H.E. Keisha Aniya McGuire is a Mission 89 Board Member and former Ambassador of Grenada to the United Nations, where she was a recognised voice on sustainable development, gender equality, and small island developing states.
A leader at the intersection of diplomacy, international development, and multilateral policy, she brings to Mission 89’s board a deep understanding of UN processes, international advocacy, and the global frameworks that underpin child rights and human trafficking prevention.
Special Envoy for Strategic Relations (USA / South Africa)
Jaco Booyens serves as Mission 89’s Special Envoy for Strategic Relations. South African-born and a former rugby player, he is Founder of After Eden Pictures and a prominent voice in the US anti-trafficking community, advocating for awareness, policy reform, and survivor support.
He is a Member of the White House Human Trafficking Council and brings Mission 89 a distinctive network across government, faith communities, and anti-trafficking advocacy organisations in North America.
Mission 89 proudly welcomes Ashleigh Plumptre as our Official Ambassador. A professional footballer for Saudi Premier League club Al-Ittihad and the Nigeria Women’s National Team, Ashleigh’s journey from Leicester City’s Centre of Excellence to international competition exemplifies the power of safe sporting pathways. Making her senior debut for Notts County at just 16, she later played college soccer at the University of Southern California, winning a national championship before representing Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. As the face of our #NotInOurGame campaign, Ashleigh brings unique credibility and perspective to our global advocacy efforts, helping amplify our message across continents and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
“As a professional footballer who has seen the dreams and struggles of young athletes across Africa, I know firsthand how vulnerable aspiring players can be. We must create legitimate pathways to success while protecting those who dare to dream.”— Ashleigh Plumptre, Mission 89 Official Ambassador