We are ukactive

Mike is a well established and respected management consultant with 13 years of CEO experience in the NHS, having stepped down as the Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation in September 2013. He then carried out consultancy work where he chaired the PwC Public Sector Health Board helping to improve the company's offer to the health and care sector. As part of Mike’s portfolio he has built a successful independent consulting business practice (Mike Farrar Consulting Ltd) working with clients such as Celesio, RCGP, ABPI, NHS Quest, NHS Leadership Academy, J and J, Health Foundation, Medtronic, intuitive, Pfizer, Novartis, CIPFA, Olympus, Ondine Medical, and Visionable as well as advising on equity investment and starting up a number of small companies aimed at promoting health innovations, and links with sport.

In addition to his role as Chair, Mike also Chairs the Nominations Committee, is member of the Remuneration Committee, is the Board Champion for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and Lead Board Director for Welfare & Safety.

Katy Cox is a freelance management consultant, working with both public sector and commercial organisations across a wide range of strategic projects, specialising in developing business cases and strategies, advising organisations undertaking mergers and acquisitions, and undertaking governance reviews.

Katy chairs the Finance & General Purpose Committee, and is members of the Remuneration Committee

Mark Sesnan is the Managing Director of the leading leisure charitable social enterprise GLL, founded in 1993. Mark has extensive experience in leisure management, having worked for many years at a senior level in local government and the leisure trust sector.

He is Secretary of Community Leisure UK and Co-Chair of the London Social Enterprise Leaders Business Club. Mark has enjoyed 40 years in the leisure industry, working at every level, from poolside to Managing Director.

Huw has been CEO of ukactive since July 2019, following three years as Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Research. During his ukactive career, Huw has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s strategy and business plan, as well as leading its engagement with government and wider stakeholders.

In 2017, Huw was named Leisure Sector Champion for the Department of Work & Pensions disability taskforce, aiming to ensure that the work of the sector in the disability space is aligned to the DWP’s objectives. Previously, Huw was the Public Affairs lead at British Tennis, working across both the Lawn Tennis Association and The Tennis Foundation. He has also worked for both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Olympic Delivery Authority during the delivery of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In 2014 Professor Greg Whyte was awarded an OBE for his services to Sport, Sport Science & Charity, and was voted as one of the Top 10 Science Communicators in the UK by the British Science Council.

Greg is an Olympian in modern pentathlon, and is a European and World Championship medalist. He is an expert in the field of sports and exercise science. Graduating from Brunel University, he furthered his studies with an MSc in human performance in the USA and completed his PhD at St. Georges Hospital Medical School, London. Greg is currently a Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moore’s University and Director of Performance at the Centre for Health and Human Performance at 76 Harley Street, London.

Greg's former roles include Director of Research for the British Olympic Association and Director of Science & Research for the English Institute of Sport.

Greg is the preeminent authority on Exercise Physiology and Sports and Exercise Performance in the UK. An internationally recognised expert in the field, Greg has extensive professional experience assessing, treating and improving the performance of patients, sporting enthusiasts and athletes ranging from cancer sufferers to celebrities attempting their first mountain summit to Gold medal seeking Olympians.

Greg is well-known for his charity work including his involvement in Comic Relief (Sport relief) and, as a result of his work, Greg has helped raise over £45million for charity.

Victoria O’Byrne is a seasoned communications and corporate affairs director, specialising in reputation management for high-profile individuals, organisations and campaigns. She has worked in executive roles in both the commercial and public sectors, and recently held the position of Communications Secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Straight out of College, Dave founded Mosaic in 1987, with fellow graduate and close friend, Steve Taylor.
Together, they grew the business from a one site, three staff operation into a multi-site contract management business operating health clubs and day spas, primarily in hotels, employing over 450 staff and with an annual turnover in excess of £10million.
Having sold out to a PLC in 2001, the pair bought the business back three years later and developed the Imagine spa concept to support the health club offering.
In 2011, Mosaic acquired it’s first freehold stand alone health club and day spa when it bought The Shrewsbury Club out of administration. Since then, the business has gone on to add two more freehold clubs; Holmer Park in Hereford and Riverhills in Ipswich.
Dave has always been passionate about the industry and was on the Board of UK Active, when it was known as the Fitness Industry Association, for seven years before serving as Chair for two years from 1999- 2001. He was the driving force behind a number of industry initiatives including the introduction of the industry’s Code of Practice and Register of Exercise Professionals.
He re-joined UK Active’s Membership Council in 2015 and is currently Chair of that group.
Dave is also on the Board of the Marches LEP, based in the West Midlands, and is the Small Business Champion for the region. Dave authored a book called “More to Gain Than Just to Game” which shares seven stories about the life lessons sport teaches us and was shortlisted in the Telegraph Sports Book of the Year Awards 2020.

John Treharne is a former accountant and England squash player who’s experience in the fitness industry spans 29 years.

In 1991 John started his first gym business, Dragons Health Clubs, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997, with 22 clubs. Dragons was sold in 2000. He then lent his expertise to premium gym chain Esporta, before he concentrated on the launch of The Gym Group in 2008.

Under John’s leadership, The Gym Group pioneered the low cost gym model with contractless, 24/7 operations and online sign-up. In November 2015, The Gym Group became the first UK health and fitness group to debut on the London Stock Exchange in over 15 years. In February 2016 the business was named as a finalist and Ruban d’Honneur recipient in the 2015/16 European Business awards. John stepped down as CEO of The Gym Group in September 2018, but remains on the board as Founder Director.

Today, The Gym Group is nationwide with over 159 sites and a roll-out programme of 15-20 new gyms each year. It has had over 100 million gym visits since launch in 2008, and has a membership of over 750,000.

Dave Wright is the CEO and Creator of MYZONE, the CEO and owner of Creative Fitness Marketing and an investor in various businesses in the UK, USA and Australia. He is the current Chair of UKActive’s Supplier Council and a former Board member of the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity in the United States.
Dave’s companies work directly with over 9,000 businesses across 80 different countries which has given him the unique ability to view the global industry from a supplier, buyer and health club member’s perspective. An Antipodean with a BA in Recreation Leadership and Marketing, Dave is respected as a straight talking and energetic entrepreneur who has spent the majority of his life encouraging people to be more and stay more physically active.
Dave is a member of the ukactive Membership Council, and Chair of the ukactive Supplier Council

In 1991 John started his first gym business, Dragons Health Clubs, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997, with 22 clubs. Dragons was sold in 2000. He then lent his expertise to premium gym chain Esporta, before he concentrated on the launch of The Gym Group in 2008.

Under John’s leadership, The Gym Group pioneered the low cost gym model with contractless, 24/7 operations and online sign-up. In November 2015, The Gym Group became the first UK health and fitness group to debut on the London Stock Exchange in over 15 years. In February 2016 the business was named as a finalist and Ruban d’Honneur recipient in the 2015/16 European Business awards. John stepped down as CEO of The Gym Group in September 2018, but remains on the board as Founder Director.

Today, The Gym Group is nationwide with over 159 sites and a roll-out programme of 15-20 new gyms each year. It has had over 100 million gym visits since launch in 2008, and has a membership of over 750,000.

I have been in Public Sector leisure my whole career (over 30 years) having worked both Client and Operator sides of the business.
I am keen that the good work of the public sector as a whole is recognised, protected and invested in and I have always been a stalwart advocate of leisure trusts as a good way of providing public leisure services for the benefit of the communities we serve.

I have extensive experience of working in Partnership with Local Authorities, Sport National Governing Bodies, Olympic Organising Committees and in the Libraries sector.

UK Active is our National Voice as Operators from all the sectors and I would be pleased to support UKA through membership of the Public Sector Council ensuring that our voice is fully heard, collaborating with all parts of our industry, whilst ensuring that the distinctive nature of the public sector is protected and promoted.

In particular I have always also been concerned about the opportunities for young people in sport and ensuring that these are available to young people irrespective of family wealth. I am pleased and proud to be able to say that the GLL Sport Foundation (GSF), of which I am Chair of the Board, continues to be the biggest source of support to disadvantaged young people in sport in the UK

As the CEO of a Community Interest Company providing public sector leisure services, I would be extremely proud to become a representative on the Public Operator Council helping to bring about industry wide change in our sector. I believe in its diversity and the value it brings to population health because I understand that taking part in exercise and movement provides many untold physical and mental benefits. I am passionate about making physical activity and movement as normal as brushing your teeth, and I like to imagine a future where everyone values their own health, putting movement above everything else so they can enjoy the benefits.

With a wealth of experience as a leader in the industry I have worked in the private, charity and public sector for over 30 years, including 18 years’ experience in a director/CEO role. I feel I have the values, skills and experience to help achieve the public operator councils’ goals having worked in partnership with our local council officials for almost 20 years as well as being vice chair on the GM Active Board of Directors.

As a values led leader, I model our organisations behaviours and values in everything I do. The organisation I lead has an ambitious strategy and outcomes aimed to help benefit our community and improve health outcomes for all. As an innovative, agile, strategic thinker I thrive in a volitive, uncertain, complex or ambiguous (VUCA) environment and will always look to achieve and deliver on outcomes and I am comfortable to take calculated risks and to be at the forefront of technology advancements if it brings real change to the communities we serve. Trailblazing, isn’t new to me and over the past 5 years my organisation has tried and tested various new technologies. In 2019 we were the first public sector operated leisure facility in England to introduce microfiltration into our pools which is now becoming an industry standard, and we are currently working on other exciting sustainability initiatives as we strive towards net zero.

I have steered our organisation to have a strong focus on EEDI, governance and sustainability, to me it just makes business sense as you approach business decisions in a very different way when focusing on these key elements.

Physical activity isn’t just part of my day job, it’s part of my life. Outside of work I have a keen interest in football, and I am a volunteer coach for an under 11’s team and I help bring the joy of movement to the next generation.

I am currently the CEO of Fusion Lifestyle, who were Established in 2000. Fusion is a registered charity created to promote the benefits of healthy lifestyles and encourage participation in sport and physical activity Fusion works in partnership with local authorities and other public sector organisations, to deliver choice and value for customers, helping them to live healthier and more active lives.

I have worked at Fusion for nearly 15 years working my way up to CEO from roles such as Head of Asset Management and Director of Operations.

With the ever-changing landscape in local government, I would be delighted to represent the public sector as a whole.

Hospitality veteran Belinda Steward joined Places Leisure, one of the UK’s largest leisure operators earlier this year, following her time as Managing Director of Derwent Facilities Management, which is also part of Places for People, the parent group of Places Leisure.
Having spent most of her career in the hospitality sector where she held various senior leadership roles, including for blue-chip hospitality brands Greene King and Wyndham Hotel Group, Belinda brings a wealth of comparable and out of sector experiences, to ultimately promote outstanding customer service throughout the 101 leisure facilities that Places Leisure manage on behalf of its local authority partners.
As a firm believer in the power of collaboration, Belinda is delighted to be the Co-Vice Chair of the ukactive Public Operators Council alongside partners, to collectively address the health of the nation and foster healthy communities where individuals can thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Sally-Anne Kurton is the Commercial Director for Serco Leisure. She joined the company in 2011 as a Contract Manager, and has progressed through various managerial roles. She is now a member of the Serco Leisure board, sitting on the company’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) since 2017.

Serco Leisure operate over 50 leisure facilities across the UK with approximately 2,400 employees. Its clients include local authorities, Sport England, WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport and the Government of Jersey. It operates local leisure centres, as well as prestige National Sports Centre such as Bisham Abbey and Lilleshall; venues where elite and community sports come together.

Sally has worked across the private and public sectors in career spanning over 25 years in the leisure sector. She is someone with a proven operational track record, successfully managing a varied range of facilities, from leisure centres to golf courses, water parks to outdoor activity centres – someone able to adapt to new challenges and bring impactful change to the teams she has overseen. Sally has been instrumental in working with local authority clients to provide the most effective solutions in challenging times through initiatives such as spend to save and added value.

Sally is Serco Leisure’s strategic lead for revenue generation and provides leadership to a team of subject matter experts, who provide the link between the operational business and centralised support.

She is a relationship builder, whether that’s with key external stakeholders or the team she oversees. Serco Leisure’s annual pulse check employee survey, Viewpoint, is testament to this, with Sally consistently achieving top percentile approval scores from the people she manages and supports.

Sally is a passionate advocate for the benefits of physical activity and an active lifestyle, and was a founder member of GM Active.

Away from work, she enjoys playing various sports in particular golf and hockey, and also spends as much time as possible walking the peaks of the Lake District with her family, friends and dog Betty.

As Everyone Active’s Group Development Director, I’ve helped lead on the development of our business which now operates more than 230+ leisure facilities on behalf of 69 local authority partners.

The breadth of my role has seen me heavily involved in all aspects of the business, and how we scale them across our portfolio. As part of the Public Operator Council, we need to look at how we scale the activity industry across the whole country to get more people active.

My experience spans more than 30 years in the leisure industry, and covers all areas of operations, including product and digital development. As our industry becomes more closely linked to the health sector, my experience and insight-driven understanding of the industry would be beneficial to the Public Operator Council.

I am passionate about the difference that physical activity and sport can make, especially for disabled people and people living with life-long conditions. As a father of a child with chronic lung disease, I have seen first hand the difference that physical activity can make to physical and mental health.

Given the opportunity, I can bring a broad set of skills and knowledge of governance, marketing, sport policy and business, partnership influencing and engagement, an international track record of delivery and a portfolio of experience that encompasses a very wide range of public, private and third sector organisations and stakeholders. This will allow me to represent UK Active and the sector in the most positive way, working closely with the rest of the Council and UK Active senior management team.

I understand the challenges faced by large and small organisations, being a Strategic Director of a company with 4,000+ employees and £100m+ turnover, but also having set up my own limited company, growing it from nothing.

In my role as Strategic Director at Parkwood Leisure, I am responsible for our marketing team (including public relations, corporate partnerships and direct to customer marketing), business development team and health & wellbeing team, which gives me an excellent up-to-date understanding of key developments and landscape changes in the physical activity sector. Much of the work of our health & wellbeing team is delivering physical activity interventions within complex local systems across local authorities, CVSE organisations, Integrated Care Systems and private sector partners.

Having been a trustee of two charities and a school governor at two schools, I am acutely aware of the pressures on key partner sectors such as education and CVSE organisations. I was a founding trustee of Everyone Health & Leisure in Cheshire East and recently became a trustee of Together Active, the Active Partnership for Staffordshire.

I joined Parkwood Leisure from British Cycling where I spent 3 1⁄2 years overseeing the development of their capital grant programmes, operating model and business plan. Whilst there I also designed and implemented their Places to Ride investment programme.

I have worked in the industry for more than 20 years and worked with national and international clients including Sport England, UK Sport, SportScotland, Sport Wales, a number of high profile NGBs, Core Cities and local authorities

I am excited to apply to be part of the Public Operator Council as part of UKactive’s governance structure. I have significant knowledge and understanding of the public leisure sector, predominately in Scotland having worked in the industry for 25+ years.

In my current role as the Chair of the Scottish Leisure Network Group I lead on the strategic objectives of the group to ensure members are afforded the best opportunities to learn, develop and share best practice. The group has members from 31/32 local authorities in Scotland as well as a number of Universities, Colleges and independent not for profit organizations therefore hugely representative of the leisure, sport, health and well-being sector in Scotland.

My vast experience within South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Trust setting coupled with my most recent role at the University of Strathclyde enables me to provide broad and relevant perspective across local government, Trust and HEFE sectors. Additionally, contributing a Scottish perspective supports the aim of the Council to represent all regions of the UK.

I have an in-depth knowledge of the impact our industry has on communities. I bring a wealth of experience in operations, project and business development. Having worked in the challenging trust environment, balancing social and economic objectives, I have a strong understanding of the difficulties our industry faces.

I am hugely passionate about health, well-being and physical activity and the benefits it has for our nation and would be delighted to share my energy and enthusiasm to represent Public Operators with other like-minded individuals on the Council.

I am excited to apply to be part of the Public Operator Council as part of UKactive’s governance structure. I have significant knowledge and understanding of the public leisure sector, predominately in Scotland having worked in the industry for 25+ years.

In my current role as the Chair of the Scottish Leisure Network Group I lead on the strategic objectives of the group to ensure members are afforded the best opportunities to learn, develop and share best practice. The group has members from 31/32 local authorities in Scotland as well as a number of Universities, Colleges and independent not for profit organizations therefore hugely representative of the leisure, sport, health and well-being sector in Scotland.

My vast experience within South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Trust setting coupled with my most recent role at the University of Strathclyde enables me to provide broad and relevant perspective across local government, Trust and HEFE sectors. Additionally, contributing a Scottish perspective supports the aim of the Council to represent all regions of the UK.

I have an in-depth knowledge of the impact our industry has on communities. I bring a wealth of experience in operations, project and business development. Having worked in the challenging trust environment, balancing social and economic objectives, I have a strong understanding of the difficulties our industry faces.

I am hugely passionate about health, well-being and physical activity and the benefits it has for our nation and would be delighted to share my energy and enthusiasm to represent Public Operators with other like-minded individuals on the Council.

With over 27 years of experience in Business, Leisure, and Hospitality, I am currently the Managing Director of Gravesham Community Leisure Limited (GCLL), a successful and innovative provider of publicly owned leisure centres and professional consultancy services. I am an MBA graduate, and I am a Member of the Institute of Directors, with a proven track record of delivering economic sustainability and regeneration through strategic and business planning, relationship development, and complex stakeholder management.

As a LinkedIn 'Top Voice' in Leadership and Sports Management, I am passionate about developing high-performing teams and leveraging emotional intelligence to drive peak performance. My enthusiasm for health, fitness, and sport aligns perfectly with GCLL's mission to deliver a vision with a powerful focus on social impact. It's also in line with UK Active's aim to get more people, more active, more often. As a mentor, investor, and community health and wellbeing advocate, I'm committed to making a positive impact on society and would welcome the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations to drive change together

Ivan is the CEO of Freedom Leisure, one of the UK’s leading charitable not-for-profit leisure trusts that manages over 130 leisure and cultural venues across England and Wales. Ivan has worked in the leisure industry for over 35 years. He was instrumental in forming Freedom Leisure back in 2002 when working with Wealden District Council.

Initially Freedom Leisure was awarded the contract to run four leisure centres on behalf of Wealden District Council and he has overseen the exponential growth of the organisation to where it is today with sound business and financial management and a philosophy embedded throughout the organisation to improve lives through leisure.

“As CEO of a genuine not-for-profit leisure trust it is more important than ever that we have a collective voice and we use this power to influence and inform policy nationally and promote the benefits of public leisure sector so we continue to have a real impact on the health and wellbeing of the community we serve and the value we bring to society, the economy and the environment."

I have been Director of Business Development for Brimhams Active, a Local Authority Trading Company, owned by North Yorkshire Council, for 2 years. As an Exec Board Director I am responsible for the governance and growth of the organisation with particular responsibility for strategy, business plan and financial and risk management to ensure effective and efficient running of the company. Following a short break from the leisure industry as Head of Commercial at an northern based DMO, I have worked closely with Harrogate Borough Council and more recently following and LGR process, North Yorkshire Council, to further the strategic aspirations of the service. Collaborating with public sector partners across the council and other strategic stakeholders, I have successfully launched 2 new capital projects, achieving latent demand targets within year 1 of opening. I am particularly proud of the cultural developments made within in the business and the strengthened relationships with local health partners and our sector incumbents who have supported Brimhams Active in achieving financial and social success within such a short space of time.

Prior to my role at Brimhams Active I have worked across the industry, most notably within the National Governing Body for swimming, supporting the financial sustainability of the business as they transition in to a new strategic plan.

I have built my career on a love of swimming and a passion for the sector. I love the dynamic and fast paced nature of the environment and enjoy challenging the status quo to inform proactive change. As a values based leader, I recognise that we a are a people first industry and as such aim to model and lead with compassion and understanding, knowing that success is built on shared objectives and a commitment to doing the right thing.

As we are on the cusp of systematic change in the industry I would be delighted to work with other like minded individuals to support this movement for integrated change and ultimately a healthy nation.

As the Chief Executive of Mytime Active, a charitable leisure trust, Jason brings over 25 years of experience in various sectors, including leisure, health, golf, and culture. His extensive background in both the private and public sectors has provided him with a unique perspective on the importance of leisure services in enhancing people's well-being.

Under Jason's leadership, Mytime Active has undertaken groundbreaking initiatives aimed at improving community health and wellness. One notable example is the implementation of a measurement strategy to assess the impact of leisure services on individuals' well-being. This innovative approach demonstrates Jason's commitment to evidence-based practices and ensuring that Mytime Active's efforts yield tangible benefits for the community.

Moreover, Jason's passion for enhancing public health is evident in the strategic partnerships and programs he has spearheaded. Collaborations with local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) have led to the establishment of MSK Hubs and cardiac programs such as HeartSmart and FreshStart. Additionally, Mytime Active's integration with hospital teams to deliver cardiac phase 3 rehabilitation highlights Mytime Active’s dedication to bridging the gap between healthcare and leisure services.

Victoria O’Byrne is a seasoned communications and corporate affairs director, specialising in reputation management for high-profile individuals, organisations and campaigns. She has worked in executive roles in both the commercial and public sectors, and recently held the position of Communications Secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Straight out of College, Dave founded Mosaic in 1987, with fellow graduate and close friend, Steve Taylor.
Together, they grew the business from a one site, three staff operation into a multi-site contract management business operating health clubs and day spas, primarily in hotels, employing over 450 staff and with an annual turnover in excess of £10million.
Having sold out to a PLC in 2001, the pair bought the business back three years later and developed the Imagine spa concept to support the health club offering.
In 2011, Mosaic acquired it’s first freehold stand alone health club and day spa when it bought The Shrewsbury Club out of administration. Since then, the business has gone on to add two more freehold clubs; Holmer Park in Hereford and Riverhills in Ipswich.
Dave has always been passionate about the industry and was on the Board of UK Active, when it was known as the Fitness Industry Association, for seven years before serving as Chair for two years from 1999- 2001. He was the driving force behind a number of industry initiatives including the introduction of the industry’s Code of Practice and Register of Exercise Professionals.
He re-joined UK Active’s Membership Council in 2015 and is currently Chair of that group.
Dave is also on the Board of the Marches LEP, based in the West Midlands, and is the Small Business Champion for the region. Dave authored a book called “More to Gain Than Just to Game” which shares seven stories about the life lessons sport teaches us and was shortlisted in the Telegraph Sports Book of the Year Awards 2020.

Dame Carol Black, DBE, FRCP, BSD is Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge. From 2006 to 2016, she advised the British Government on the relationship between work and health. She is a medical practitioner and an expert on the disease scleroderma. Carol retired from full-time hospital work to become the President of the Royal College of Physicians in 2002.

In 2006, the government led by Tony Blair made Carol its national director for health and work and asked her to promote its policies across Whitehall, especially within the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions. In March 2008, she authored Working for a healthier tomorrow, a report which focused on the impact of sickness absence on the health of the working-age population and on the economy.

She was made a CBE in 2002 in recognition of her research work on scleroderma. Carol was upgraded to DBE in 2005 while she was President of the Royal College of Physicians. She was made an honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Bristol in 2003.
“Carol chairs ukactive’s Remuneration Committee, and is a member of the Nominations Committee

John Treharne is a former accountant and England squash player who’s experience in the fitness industry spans 29 years.

In 1991 John started his first gym business, Dragons Health Clubs, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997, with 22 clubs. Dragons was sold in 2000. He then lent his expertise to premium gym chain Esporta, before he concentrated on the launch of The Gym Group in 2008.

Under John’s leadership, The Gym Group pioneered the low cost gym model with contractless, 24/7 operations and online sign-up. In November 2015, The Gym Group became the first UK health and fitness group to debut on the London Stock Exchange in over 15 years. In February 2016 the business was named as a finalist and Ruban d’Honneur recipient in the 2015/16 European Business awards. John stepped down as CEO of The Gym Group in September 2018, but remains on the board as Founder Director.

Today, The Gym Group is nationwide with over 159 sites and a roll-out programme of 15-20 new gyms each year. It has had over 100 million gym visits since launch in 2008, and has a membership of over 750,000.

Sarah Watts is the Chair of the supplier Council

Jonathan is vice chair of the supplier council. He represents the fitness/business tech provider category

Matt Pengelly has over 30 years’ experience within the health and fitness industry, in which he has built up a wealth of knowledge, a respected rapport and a strong base of contacts. He has been Managing Director of Matrix Fitness UK for seven years, and during this time has celebrated the company becoming the fastest growing commercial equipment supplier in the world, whilst supporting operators such as; PureGym, The Gym Group, JD Gyms, Planet Fitness, BasicFit and Snap Fitness to name a few.

Matt spent the first 10 years of his career in an operator role for Holmes Place Health Clubs where he was responsible for opening and managing clubs across the UK, Europe and North America allowing him to fully understand the needs and challenges of operators first-hand.

Having been a Managing Director of multiple global equipment suppliers, Matt understands the complexities of managing direct subsidiaries and distribution partners and the effects this can have on supporting direct customers. He has a wealth of skills, expertise and experience, knowing what it takes to overcome the various challenges faced by suppliers of fitness equipment in an everchanging industry.

He is a strategic leader with the experience necessary to overcome challenges, build upon momentum, maximise opportunities and elevate companies to the next level of success. He is passionate about not only providing the best possible fitness equipment to the market, but also to pioneer leading customer service and personalised experiences so that more and more people are encouraged into fitness and activity in order to help promote healthier, happier lifestyles for the long-term, aligning perfectly with ukactive’s mission to increase physical activity and the health of the nation. Matt also recognises the positive impact of a mentally-healthy workforce too, that’s why, in partnership with MH1, Matrix has invested in mental health training for key staff to recognise issues and signpost employees to seek help.

Matt’s industry expertise, coupled with a shared passion for driving change makes him the ideal candidate to represent ukactive’s suppliers.

Dave is passionate about the health & fitness industry having built a career in the industry spanning close to 20 years. Having worked on both operator and supplier sides, Dave brings deep domain experience and a real understanding of what makes the fitness industry tick and how it is evolving.

Dave’s career spans roles at David Lloyd Leisure, Matrix Fitness, Les Mills UK, ukactive, and Xplor Technologies. Joining in 2021, Dave now holds a Commercial Director role with a focus on Xplor Gym.

Xplor Technologies employs over 300 people in the UK and offers a range of software and payments solutions for both private and public sector operators. These software solutions for UK operators include Xplor Gym and Legend by Xplor. Both are all-in-one membership management software platforms with embedded payments, designed to help operators of all sizes to delight consumers, operate efficiently, and grow profitably.

Dave embodies Xplor Technologies’ philosophy of moving with purpose, by keeping pace and continuously improving to drive better outcomes, faster for customers.

Dave brings an exceptional level of experience working with operators across all sectors of the industry, as well as with a broad range of suppliers. As a result, he is acutely aware of the current challenges and opportunities that the sector faces.

In joining the ukactive Suppliers Council, Dave will represent suppliers across this category and provide support, engagement and constructive challenge for our collective mission to get more people more active.

Craig Cocking was appointed UK Managing Director for global fitness equipment supplier, Life Fitness, in December 2020. During that time, Craig has led the UK business through a strong post-COVID recovery, driving growth in revenue to surpass pre-pandemic levels, as well as customer acquisition and retention, and user engagement.

Since joining Life Fitness in 2007, Craig has been promoted through various senior roles, including UK Sales Director prior to his current position, and as part of the UK Management Team, where he has been instrumental in leading the UK business. Prior to joining Life Fitness, Craig worked in education and was formerly Head of Sport at Doncaster College.

I am the CEO of Love Recruitment, the recruitment specialist for the fitness and leisure sectors and also of Love Care Recruitment, the recruitment specialist for the childcare industry which includes sports, activities and wraparound care.
I am standing for the Supplier Council of UK Active representing the Professional Business Services category.

I have worked in the fitness industry for over 20 years, firstly within the fitness sector before moving into recruitment. I love the industry and see this as an opportunity to make a real difference, bringing as many of my relationships together as I can to effect real progress.

Short description

Love Recruitment is the specialist recruitment provider for the fitness and leisure industries. For the last 9 years we have forged some wonderful relationships and close friendships across the fitness, leisure, suppliers, children’s activities sectors as well as complimentary operations like trampoline parks, go karting, golf courses and activity parks. We recruit for around 100 companies in these sectors and in the last 9 years have found over 2000 people their next great opportunity.

We are well connected to the leadership in the areas, most of whom are members of UK Active and either work closely with or have recruited alongside many of their employees. The relationships are with senior leadership teams, within clubs and centres, suppliers and senior HR and People specialists. This gives us a platform and community to really understand some of the challenges involved in recruitment and people we have in our sector.

In addition to 9 years of building workforce expertise from entry level to c-suite recruitment, we also consult and help guide our clients and candidates to recruit and develop better. To complement this, we launched the Love Your Career Podcast in 2022 to give even more help in these areas from some of very best industry leadership. In addition, we have also conducted 2 Pulse Surveys and 2 PT Surveys in our sector. We believe these actions have really helped to professionalise and raise the bar of recruitment and people related factors in our sector and would carry this on even further within this council.

Great recruitment, and its continued development, can only be great for the sector in bringing in and retaining more quality people and teams. The more quality we have, the more we will attract to work in it, the more people will be active, more often. We can also use our insights and expertise to support the growth and development of the sector through these people and help to inform UK active of the recruitment landscape for which we are uniquely placed.

Service and Delivery is at the centre of how we work, always being a pleasure to deal with and delivering the right people and teams to our clients. That’s why we believe our NPS score of over 9, Google Review scores of 4.7 average and retention stats are as high as they are.

In this role, we would truly be there to benefit the category we are representing, utilising the relationships in operations, support, training, development, and strategy to maximise the Professional Business Services category.

I started working in the leisure industry in 1996 as a 16-year-old work experience student filling the vending machines and mopping the floors. During and after University, I worked for DC Leisure in various operational and marketing roles, before being one of the founders of Bigwave Marketing in 2007. The team at Bigwave consistently produce amazing work for our clients, encouraging people throughout the UK to keep active and I am proud of the positive impact this has.

I am passionate about our industry and playing a part in improving the health and wellbeing of our communities. My role sees me act as the strategic lead with our clients and partners across the leisure and culture sector meaning I not only work within an agency background but also directly within the marketing teams of ukactive members. This enables me to understand the challenges from more than one perspective and I love helping to face these head on with new ideas and ways to engage our communities through all phases of marketing and communications.

Being an active part of our industry is important to me. Strategic partnerships with industry leading organisations such as Community Leisure UK (CLUK) and Chief Leisure Officers Association (CLOA) enables me to engage and meet with member operators regularly, whilst also being a familiar face at events from partners such as W3Fit, Active Net, Elevate and ukactive.

I am excited to have the opportunity to work within an industry that shares a common goal of improving the health of our nation and as a team we pride ourselves on the impact our shared work can have. I would be honoured to be elected to the supplier council and support with ukactive’s Vision 2030 strategy. Working together, we can all make a difference

Starting her career selling memberships in her local leisure centre, Chloe understands what is required to set consumers on their journey to achieve a more active lifestyle.

For the last 7 years, Chloe has supported the vast majority of operators to help them improve their customer journey by delivering consumer insights through mystery shopping.

Alongside providing insights to operators, Chloe has also worked on a variety of research projects for suppliers to help them better their offering, as well as partnering with suppliers to create bespoke solutions for operators.

Whilst no gym is complete without equipment, Chloe strongly believes that it’s the ‘sense of belonging’ that will keep customers returning to their local facilities and is therefore committed to being the voice for the suppliers who deliver professional services that provide data and analytics to drive CX.

With experience in delivering B2C and B2B research projects inside and outside of the sector, Chloe will bring extensive knowledge to represent the supplier council.

At LeisureLabs, our entire business is built on strong partnerships with other digital platforms in the space. We focus on helping fitness brands to secure their digital future and get the most of our their existing technology systems. As such, I believe that I am uniquely placed to represent and advocate for the diverse range of technology and digital providers within the industry.

With revenues in excess of £1.5m and a team of over 35 digital experts, LeisureLabs work with operators across the public and private sectors including full service and low cost brands, boutiques and local authority trusts. Our clients include David Lloyd Clubs, The Gym Group, Psycle, South Downs Leisure and Abbeycroft Leisure. We also work with consumer-facing digital platforms including Endurance Zone, Move Technologies and TrueCoach.

I have dedicated my career to the advancement of the fitness and physical activity sector through the use of technology, and would be privileged to serve as an advocate of ukactive in this role.

Steve Scales is a prime candidate for the ukactive Suppliers Council, bringing over 20 years of diverse leadership experience within the health and fitness industry across Supply, Public and Private operations.

As General Manager for Gladstone Software, the leading provider of management software in the UK, we oversee key innovations to enable service users to access over 3,500 facilities across the United Kingdom.

Previously to Gladstone, Steve played a significant role at ukactive, particularly during challenging times such as the pandemic, Brexit, and the energy crisis, underscores his strategic expertise and commitment to the sector. During these periods, Steve's collaboration with key suppliers, including Gladstone Software—a leader in providing leisure management solutions to over 500 operators—highlighted his ability to forge essential partnerships that drive technological adoption and sector growth. His profound industry knowledge, coupled with his strategic and operational expertise, makes him an ideal representative for suppliers, perfectly aligning with ukactive's mission to increase national health through physical activity.

Steve's nomination to the council will bring a blend of insight, experience, and dedication vital for advancing the sector and the broader ecosystem on the ukactive Supplier Council.

Dawn is the co-founder of Action Group, the UK’s leading full-service PR and communications agency specialising in health, fitness and wellness.

Having worked in the industry for over 25 years, both within clubs and in communications, Dawn has built a large network of like-minded brands and individuals. A strong believer in the power of partnership and collaboration, she is passionate about uniting and mobilising this network towards a common purpose: finding new ways to encourage physical activity in people of all ages and abilities.

Dawn is one of the founding members of RISE - the UK women in fitness organisation that campaigns to ensure equality within the industry and sits on the Advisory Board for Industry event Perform X.

Having worked with brands, suppliers and operators across the board, Dawn has a wide breadth of understanding of the needs of the sector and is committed to supporting ukactive and its members to ensure the requirements of all stakeholders are represented.

As Chief Education & Partnerships Officer at Future Fit Group and Managing Director at Future Active Workforce CIC, Elaine Briggs brings over twenty-five years of experience in education, working to forge meaningful partnerships that support the vital role the physical activity sector plays in the health of the nation.
Elaine began her career in the fitness industry as a lifeguard, swimming teacher and aerobics instructor, which led her to recognise that her passion and talent lies in educating and inspiring others. She has since worked across several sectors, training providers and awarding organisations but is best known for her long history of working with award-winning training provider Future Fit.

Elaine is recognised as a leading voice within the industry, steering and contributing to the future direction of the health and fitness sector. With a career built upon vocational training, Elaine is incredibly passionate about the value of utilising education to raise professional standards for the physical activity workforce.

Jonathan is vice chair of the supplier council. He represents the fitness/business tech provider category

I'm Steve, co-founder of Code Fitness.
From working in accounts to changing careers and finding my passion in fitness, I became a part-time gym instructor. This developed further to being a personal trainer, including training some top-level footballers. Then in 2018, buying land and building our own gym.
I will speak my mind and I want to make a difference.
My gym: Code Fitness started in 2013, in Newark, Nottinghamshire. We have a team of 12 (2 owners, 7 personal trainers, 3 gym instructors and . We have developed and systemised the gym, so it now runs itself (about 95% of the time).
I created the HyroxWorkouts Instagram page to help more people with their training and monetise it through 8-Week training plans.
I'm passionate about helping more people be more active, live healthier and happier lives.

Jonathan is vice chair of the supplier council. He represents the fitness/business tech provider category