United Kingdom - June 2024

United Kingdom - June 2024

For further information on exhibiting contact Lucy Findlay-Beale, Event Director.

Middle East - Coming Soon

Middle East - Coming Soon

For further information on exhibiting contact Lucy Findlay-Beale, Event Director

India - February 2025

India - February 2025

For further information on exhibiting contact Lucy Findlay-Beale, Event Director

Education Partner

Elevate Theatres

Sponsored by Myzone, this Conference will host the leading discussions.

This Theatre focuses on the business side of fitness, leisure and getting people active

Sponsored by LifeFitness, emphasises community engagement and health promotion

Accelerate zooms in on optimising personal performance and wellbeing

External Partners

Full Programme 2024

Thoroughly researched and independently developed, the Elevate 2024 speaker programme remains the largest live learning opportunity for the fitness industry and physical activity sector.

Contributed to by hundreds of thought-leading organisations representing public and private interests, the entire programme was free to attend

One conference theatre, four seminar theatres and five workshops hosted over 200 speakers sharing the latest insights in fitness, sports therapy and physical activity.

Wednesday 12th June 2024

Time Session title Stream
09:50
|
10:20

' TBC

Speaker

Carl Richards (Chair)

Head of Group Operations and Education

Future Fit Group

Future Fit Group

Speaker

Tim Mathias

Strategic Lead for Inclusion

ukactive

Tim joined ukactive in March 2020. As the Lead for EDI at the trade body for fitness and leisure, his remit includes developing the sector towards greater inclusivity. ukactive supports its members through standards, programmes, campaigns and interventions to deliver it’s mission of ‘more people. more active, more often’. Tim is passionate about the role of Diversity and Inclusion as a key function to deliver ‘Vision 2030’ – developing the sector to be more inclusive and engaging with 20% of the population.

Tim was previously working at Premiership Rugby. During his time at the executive body running professional rugby union in England he developed and delivered an Inclusion Strategy involving campaigns, programming and policy for each of the 9 ‘protected characteristics’. His notable work included a ‘Commitment to Accessibility’ which was shortlisted for a BT Sport Industry Award in 2018, and the ”Project Rugby’ programme which was shortlisted for a British Ethnic Diversity Sports Award and was a two-time award winner at the Sport Business Awards.

ukactive

Speaker

Catherine Edmunds

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

CIMSPA

Recently appointed EDI Sector Lead for CIMSPA, Catherine returns to the sport, fitness & physical activity sector, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience around EDI strategy, governance and implementing progressive change from her role in professional football, through working with football clubs, in an equitable manner, to achieve a more inclusive fan experience and working environment. Catherine has also previously held, a number of advisory roles within the sport, fitness and physical activity sector, which enabled organisations to carve out tangible and sustainable frameworks, into becoming more inclusive.

Catherine is a trustee for Merseyside Sport Partnership, where she is enjoying combining her passions around exercise and physical activity and equality, to create a more accessible and inclusive environment for people to participate.

CIMSPA

Speaker

Ali Jawad

Paralympic powerlifter and founder

Accessercise

Ali is a British Paralympic silver medallist, Chrons sufferer and leading advocate for the disabled community. Ali was moved from Lebanon at 6 months old to save his life. After the 2008 Paralympics, he was diagnosed with Chrons and retired from sport. Following lifesaving surgery, Ali returned to competitive sport, going on to win a career grand slam of medals, become world champion, set 2 world records and set world history.

Throughout his career Ali has battled through life and death situations, refused to give in, and never stopped battling. He is also a huge anti-doping campaigner, a PhD student, an athlete advisor to the Commonwealth Games and founder of Accessercise, the first ever fitness app for the disabled community.

Accessercise

Collaborate
09:50
|
10:20

Opening session: Re-drawing the industry: has the picture changed? Holding the industry to account…

Speaker

David Stalker

President and Group CEO

Europe Active and Myzone

Prior to joining Myzone as the CEO of Myzone EMEA David was CEO of Oxygen Freejumping, the UK largest and leading operator of world-class trampolining. Prior to that he was CEO at UKactive, wherein he oversaw the operations and administration of the organization. While at UKactive, he chaired and delivered a 5-year strategy, set out the future plans for the Fitness industry, created relationships between the industry & its key delivery partners. David has also held roles as a Director at Bladerunner Ltd, at the time UK’s largest Corporate Fitness Facility Management Company where he contributed to all aspects of the company's aggressive growth strategy, reviewing the business development division, assisting in the implementation of the marketing strategy. The business sold to Nuffield Health. Managing Director at WWH Corporation Ltd, Managing Director Harpers Fitness Clubs Ltd and Group Brand Director at Leisure Connections PLC. As a non-executive Director, He served as a member of the board of Directors of Europe Active, was Chairman of CIMSPA and is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute, he was also previously Chairman of Fit For Sport Ltd. He is currently Chairman of Marwell Zoo and a trustee of the Kenya Wildlife Trust.David has a reputation as a straight talker who has huge passion for the fitness industry, he has strong views to why and where the industry may still be going wrong, the vicious circle of selling, service, and looking after 'people' he believes is still a fundamental challenge. He believes that future success for the sector will be all about impending itself in the community which will literally save lives and be the key factor in saving the National Health Service.David was born and raised in Kenya, is a passionate Conservationist. He moved to the UK 30 years ago and has worked in the Leisure industry ever since. He is married with two grown up children.

Europe Active and Myzone

Speaker

Tara Dillon

CEO

CIMSPA


Tara Dillon was appointed as CEO of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity in January 2015. Tara began her career in Sport and Physical Activity as a lifeguard in her local centre back in 1987, whilst studying. Having gained hands on experience within local authority leisure, various management positions followed until in March 2001, she was appointed as Contracts Manager at DC Leisure Management.      

After 6 years with DCLM, Tara accepted the role of Executive Director of IQL-UK Ltd where she remained until her CIMSPA appointment.

Tara has a passion for the Sport and Physical Activity sector which drives her to constantly aim for improvements across the industry. Tara is at the forefront of CIMSPA’s work, delivering initiatives that professionalise the workforce and enhance the career prospects of those working in sport, leisure and

CIMSPA

Speaker

Huw Edwards

CEO

ukactive

Huw is the CEO of ukactive, the not-for-profit health body which represents the physical activity sector and has a mission to get More People, More Active, More Often. He took the role in 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 ukactive’s strategy and business plan, as well as leading the organisation’s 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.

ukactive

Debate
09:50
|
10:20

Sleepers to keepers – changing the inactive and disinterested to active customers

Speaker

Julie Allen

Business Development Director

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Generate
09:50
|
10:20

Fitlosophy, a new approach to changing clients’ lives: applying the school of philosophy and field of psychology for long-term behaviour change

Speaker

Sophie Thomas

Movement Coach, Psychological Researcher & Published Author

fitlosophy coaching

fitlosophy coaching

Accelerate
10:30
|
11:00

Fine tuning your organisation’s health – why prevention is better than intervention

Speaker

Peter Webb

Director and CEO

TLRfitness & Nuforma Pilates

Having spent 25 years in the fitness industry, ending in the role of Vice–President of EMEA , for a leading global manufacturer and supplier, Peter decided to make a career change after experiencing the ill effects of ‘Corporate burnout’ in late 2019.

He decided to focus on understanding the development of resilience, effective leadership strategies and positive work cultures, to make sense of why it firstly happened to himself, but how to prevent this occurring to others and within organisations.

The strong link between his passion and knowledge gained from business and personal experience continues to drive the focus on results and change.

TLRfitness & Nuforma Pilates

Speaker

Matthew Walters

Founder

MCW-Consulting

MCW-Consulting

Generate
10:30
|
11:00

Answers about adaptogens: nature’s natural stress-lowering herbs and how they can help you adapt to modern life’s hustle and bustle.

Speaker

Dr Dean St Mart

Product Manager, Formulator

Supplement Needs and SN Education

A fitness industry renowned Pharmacologist and leading Educator, Dr Dean's popularity has grown for his no-nonsense approach when it comes to Performance Enhancing Drug (PED) safety and health management through direct science.

He holds a Double 1st Class Honours degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the National University of Ireland Maynooth where he finished top of the university, and holds a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry and Fluorescence Spectroscopy.

He is an Author for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM); as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Dietary Supplements and PEDs within their Bodybuilding and Physique Coach Qualification Curriculum.

His interests lie in Performance Enhancing Drug pharmacology, novel drug design, health and sports dietary supplementation, and applying Functional Medicine to athletes to improve their health. His love of Functional Medicine is what led to the creation of the Dr Dean supplement range within the Supplement Needs brand; in order to provide a one-stop shop for consumers to purchase products that are dosed efficaciously backed by clinical research, all fully transparent, and without any hidden proprietary blends.

Supplement Needs and SN Education

Accelerate
11:00
|
11:40

Kickstarting your workplace mental health strategy: three actions to take now An interactive session on how to operationalise workplace mental health.

Speaker

Lindsey Simpson

Workplace Health & Wellbeing Specialist

Debate
11:10
|
11:50

Pools aren’t just for swimming – creating innovative income streams in the water

Speaker

Suzanne Gabb

Chief Operating Officer

Good Boost

Good Boost

Speaker

John Wilkes

Manager

Airspace Solutions

Airspace Solutions

Generate
11:10
|
11:40

The application of biomechanics to improve HYROX performance

Speaker

Dr Philip Graham-Smith

Reader, Biomechanics and Innovation

Manchester Metropolitan University

Dr Philip Graham-Smith has a long and established career as a biomechanist working in academia, professional sport and industry. He is undoubtedly best known as the co-founder of ForceDecks but has worked concurrently as an academic and an applied sports biomechanist for over 30 years. He provided biomechanical support to UK Athletics for 21 years prior to leaving for Qatar in 2013 where he was Head of Biomechanics and Innovation at Aspire Academy for 10 years.

In the 4 years leading to the London Olympics Phil was consultant Head of Biomechanics at the English Institute of Sport. He held various management positions in academia at Liverpool JMU and the University of Salford prior to leaving for Qatar, and in November 2023 he returned to the UK to take up the role of Reader in Biomechanics & Innovation at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Phil is a Fellow and accredited member of BASES, a Chartered Scientist, an ISPAS Level 5 Accredited Performance Analyst, and a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (NSCA).

Manchester Metropolitan University

Accelerate
11:15
|
11:50

The power behind the pause – and how to harness it How fitness and leisure can support women in the menopause and build a new, loyal customer base

Speaker

Tanya Martin

Head of Insight & Innovation

Women in Sport

Tanya is Head of Insight and Innovation at Women in Sport, a UK charity with a 40-year record of success in securing change, based on its deep understanding of the needs and aspirations of women and girls and breaking down stubborn gender inequalities within the sports sector and beyond. Tanya leads the charity’s influential body of research to understand the impact of significant life-stages on women and girls’ sport and exercise journey. She passionately believes in the power of sport to transform lives and that women and girls should not be denied the joy and freedom sport and exercise offers. Using deep insights into their wider lives, she drives solutions that can create lasting change for women and girls in sport and society. Prior to her role at Women in Sport, Tanya worked in higher education as a Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology and is currently an Associate Lecturer at The Open University.

Women in Sport

Speaker

Christien Bird

Co-Founder

Menopause Movement And Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

Menopause Movement And Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

Collaborate
11:50
|
12:30

The Game Changers Podcast with Sue Anstiss, CEO, Fearless Women

Speaker

Sue Anstiss MBE

CEO

Fearless Women

Sue established fearless women in 2020. A company with a powerful ambition to drive positive change for women’s sport.Sue’s worked in sports marketing and sports PR for over 30 years, delivering highly successful campaigns to get more women and girls taking part in sport and physical activity. Her clients have included sports governing bodies and organisations, teams, charities, major events and brands.A founding Trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust, in 2018 Sue received an MBE for her services to grassroots and women’s sport.Sue’s hugely successful podcast, The Game Changers features trailblazing women in sport. Guests include high profile elite athletes and women in some of the most influential roles in global sport. Sue’s book Game On: the unstoppable rise of women’s sport will be published in 2021.

Fearless Women

Speaker

Tara Dillon

CEO

CIMSPA


Tara Dillon was appointed as CEO of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity in January 2015. Tara began her career in Sport and Physical Activity as a lifeguard in her local centre back in 1987, whilst studying. Having gained hands on experience within local authority leisure, various management positions followed until in March 2001, she was appointed as Contracts Manager at DC Leisure Management.      

After 6 years with DCLM, Tara accepted the role of Executive Director of IQL-UK Ltd where she remained until her CIMSPA appointment.

Tara has a passion for the Sport and Physical Activity sector which drives her to constantly aim for improvements across the industry. Tara is at the forefront of CIMSPA’s work, delivering initiatives that professionalise the workforce and enhance the career prospects of those working in sport, leisure and

CIMSPA

Debate
12:00
|
12:40

Unlocking the potential for Britain’s health and wellbeing: is health coaching a key?

Speaker

Dimple Devadas

GP, Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Psychological Health coach

Dr Dimple Devadas is a London based GP, Lifestyle Medicine Physician and Psychological Health coach.

Dimple is passionate about sport and volunteering and was selected to be part of the London 2012 Olympic, Paralympic Games medical team and London 2012 Gamesmaker. She is a former tennis line judge and is currently undertaking further training in physical activity with a leading U.K. training academy.

Her work and projects are inspired by and explores Health in a broader, integrated and holistic context to include the person within their family, social & work networks, technology and community. An award winning creative, she incorporates multimedia arts with behaviour change coaching and reflective creative enquiry with health education.

Dimple is also a NHS Social Prescribing Champion - NHS England and Improvement & National Academy for Social Prescribing 2022-2023

Speaker

Innes Kerr

Director of Business Innovation and Growth

UKIHCA

UKIHCA

Speaker

Izabella Natrins

CEO

UKIHCA

Izabella continues to build the very first, pioneering professional body for Health Coaching in the world. Standing for professionalism, community and enterprise she is committed to spreading the word that skilled, professional health coaches are not only changing lives, but that a health coaching approach transforms health professionals’ practice and will transform healthcare delivery systems– nationally and globally.

As a former Health Research Psychologist and a qualified Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine Health Coach, Izabella takes a whole-health perspective on the bio-psycho-emotional-social-spiritual-environmental influences that make up an individual’s unique lived experience.

With over 30 years’ experience in the health, wellness and executive management space, her roles have included: Health Research Psychologist in Public Health Medicine, NHS/Department of Health Programme Manager and Managing Director of a Management & Organisational Development Consultancy. She is the author of THE REAL FOOD SOLUTION in support of the British Association of Holistic Medicine and Healthcare’s (BHMA) Real Food Campaign UK.

UKIHCA

Speaker

Dr Joanna Fleming

Leamington Primary Care Network and UK and International Health Coaching Association

NHS Health and Wellbeing

Jo is passionate about helping people reach their full potential with health and wellbeing being at the heart of this. Physical activity forms one of the main cornerstones of her own life and she recognises the huge significance it has to living a healthy and happy life.

From her background in Sport and Exercise Sciences and Health Promotion, Jo was a former Research Fellow at Southampton, Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities. She gained a PhD from Warwick University, while working in the Division of Health Sciences, and later worked in the Unit of Academic Primary Care, where she served as Assistant Professor. In 2022 she gained a Level 5 Diploma in Integrated Health and Nutrition Coaching, and is currently completing her Level 3 Personal Training qualification.

In her current role as an NHS Health and Wellbeing Coach within a personalised care team, Jo supports patients across eight GP practices within the Leamington Spa Primary Care Network, where she delivers lifestyle clinics, one-to-one health coaching, physical activity sessions involving walking, running, swimming and ‘prambling’ (buggy walking!). She also presents and writes in the area of health coaching and lifestyle behaviour change to a variety of audiences. Jo also represents the UKIHCA as both a member and Physical Activity Ambassador, where she aims to raise awareness of the huge benefits that collaborations between health coaching professionals and physical activity professionals can bring to improving public health.

NHS Health and Wellbeing

Collaborate
12:00
|
12:40

How an understanding of intrinsic biomechanics can drive retention of members

Speaker

Rachel Frances Thomson

Director

Biomechanics Education

Rachel is an expert in the fields of health, sport, fitness and education. Her special interest is biomechanics and she heads up an organisation that teaches fitness and medical professionals how to screen and provide exercise interventions to prevent and manage injury as well as improve performance. Rachel works closely with her team on all health, fitness and education projects.

Biomechanics Education

Generate
12:40
|
13:40

Future trends in fitness and wellness  - curated by LeisureDB

Speaker

David Minton

Leisure DB

After three decades David is well known for his unique fitness industry knowledge. Providing media commentary, articles, along with public speaking to spark debate within and create support for the sector at large. David and his team are recognised as the go-to for market trends, data and insight built from the annual National Fitness Audit. Passionate about Active Ageing and Climate Change David is at the forefront of new thinking on these subjects along with the new Collective Knowledge for the industry.

Leisure DB

Speaker

Sarah Watts

CEO

Alliance Leisure Ltd

Sarah Watts is Chief Executive of Alliance Leisure, the award-winning leisure development company which has developed over 250 leisure facilities since Sarah founded the company in 1999 representing an investment value of more than £370m in leisure infrastructure. Sarah’s continued ambition is to develop high quality public leisure that contributes to social and health benefits in local communities. Also appointed as chair of the ukactive Suppliers’ Council, Sarah supports the sector to thrive and plays a tangible role in encouraging growth, confidence and investment in the industry

Alliance Leisure Ltd

Speaker

Glen Thurgood

Founder

Huumans

Huumans

Speaker

Will Flint

Founder

Energym

"Male innovator of the Year”, Will Flint, is the Founder and CEO of Energym, where he's leading the charge, and rebellion, against climate change. Recently awarded “Tech Startup of the Year”, Energym is a precision-engineering, tech-for-good scale-up based in Birmingham, UK, that has developed highly efficient, patented systems and equipment that efficiently captures the energy from peoples’ exercise, converting it into clean, green (and free) sustainable energy. As a self-titled “tech-geek” with an early career in the energy efficiency industry and a love for fitness (with a Bodybuilding Pro Card) - Will has built a business that delivers products and solutions that combine all the things he is passionate about. One that’s empowering the fitness industry to create a better future for our planet.

Find out how Energym is turning Human Power: On - www.energym.io

Energym

Speaker

Andy Reed

Founder

Sports Think Tank

Andy Reed is the retired owner and Director of SajeImpact the Sports Think Tank and Loughborough University Institute for Sport Business.

Formerly the MP for Loughborough between 1997-2010, Andy has a strong association with Sport Policy having served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Sports Ministers and an adviser to various Ministers and Sports bodies during his time in Westminster.

After leaving parliament in 2010 he maintained his passion for sport. He was appointed Chair of the Sport and Recreation Alliance from 2010 to 2016 – the umbrella body for the 320 National governing bodies and associations of sport and after a spell on the Board until 2018 he is now a Vice-President. He led on sport policy and the Health agenda for the Alliance. He was awarded the Arthur Bell Trophy by the SRA for services to community sport. Prince Philip had wo it the year before and Lord Seb Coe won it the year after!

Sports Think Tank

Speaker

Kate Corfield

Head of Fitness Development

Ministry of Sound

Kate Corfield, Head of Fitness Development at Ministry of Sound has an innate passion for all things fitness, wellness, and workplace wellbeing. With a goal to make moving your body more appealing and achievable, and corporate wellbeing less boring, gym design, programming, consumer habits, and innovation lie at the forefront of how she navigates the industry.

Ministry of Sound

Debate
12:50
|
13:20

Reimagining physical activity: an occupational therapy perspective in partnership with Everyone Active.

Speaker

Lynsey Barrett

Occupational Therapist and Co-Founder

Sport for Confidence

Lyndsey has over 24 years’ experience as a qualified Occupational Therapist, registered by the Health and Care Professions Council and a member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapy. Lyndsey leads the Sport for Confidence team of therapists with innovation, inspiration and care. Lyndsey uses physical activity as a therapeutic modality to promote good health and prevent ill-health, laying the foundations for how integrated health pathways can be delivered in meaningful partnership with leisure, sport, adult social care and health.

Sport for Confidence

Speaker

Rebecca Phillips

Strategic Lead, Health and Wellbeing

Everyone Active

Becks career journey spans over two decades in the leisure industry, with a significant proportion of it with Everyone Active, who currently manage over 225 facilities in collaboration with 67 local authority partners. For the past 13 years, Becks has had the privilege of contributing to the organisation's mission and vision, particularly in my role as the Strategic Lead for Health and Wellbeing.

As Strategic Lead for Health and Wellbeing, Becks is responsible for leading the delivery of our Community Health and Wellbeing strategy, which is a key strand of our corporate plan. Together with our regional and local colleagues focusing on activity and wellbeing, the strategy aims to empower communities and individuals to embrace active daily living and lead healthier lifestyles with targeted programmes and initiatives.

Collaboration and co-design have been key to Becks approach in driving initiatives aimed at promoting health and wellbeing within our communities. Using experiences and insights, hand in hand with our valuable colleagues, stakeholders, local authorities, and community members to create a consistent approach that effectively addresses the diverse and evolving needs of our communities.

Everyone Active

Collaborate
12:50
|
13:20

Re-Wiring the DNA of fitness professionals: meet the hybrid fitness coach

Speaker

Bob Esquerre

CEO and Business Solutions Consultant

Esquerre Fitness Group

Esquerre Fitness Group

Speaker

Joanne Groves

Course Director of Education

Faster Function

Joanne Is the Course Director of Education at Faster Health and Fitness, with 29 years of experience as a fitness professional, business owner, and international speaker.

She leads a community of over 4.5k female trainers, offering a mix of workshops, interviews, and podcasts. Her unique hybrid fitness approach combines group x instruction, personal training, and coaching.

Joanne is an active member of the IDEA and CIMSPA Personal Training Committee. She mentors fitness and wellness professionals globally, ensuring personalised, best scientific evidence-based client experiences.

Faster Function

Speaker

Claire Burlison Green

Clubbercise

Clubbercise

Speaker

Allan Reid

Head of Product

Rox

A 20-year fitness and leisure management professional with expertise in fitness and operations management, regional management, group fitness and personal training working in public, private and independent fitness providers.

With a passion for group exercise and creating new classes, developing instructors and trainers to deliver incredible fitness experiences to help people of Brighton and Hove become fitter and stronger!

Rox

Generate
13:30
|
14:15

Spaces and places for teenage girls: how Places Leisure, London Sport and Women in Sport are tackling the barriers to exercise faced by teenage girls

Speaker

Lisa West

Head of Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs

Women in Sport

Women in Sport

Speaker

Sarah Roberts

Head of Fitness

Places for People Leisure

Since starting in the industry in 1996 as a group exercise instructor then onto PT, Fitness Manager, NVQ Trainer & since 2010 Head of Fitness, Sarah has seen a lot of changes! She enjoys being part of a dynamic & forward-thinking senior team within Places Leisure focusing on community, health, fitness, innovation, partnership working & inclusion. The Big Sister Project and This Girl Can initiatives have positively impacted Places Leisure and changed our operating model for the better, for good.

Sarah truly believes that community-based, accessible activity for all is the perfect approach to improve the health of the nation.

Places for People Leisure

Speaker

Natasha Hood

Active Environments Manager

London Sport

London Sport

Collaborate
13:30
|
14:00

Blazing a trail for employer-led skills development for the sport and physical activity workforce: maximising impact, tailoring training, growing partnerships

Speaker

Clare Dunn

Associate Director, Business Engagement

CIMSPA

Clare is an experienced senior executive in the sport and physical activity field with 15+ years of expertise, including her previous role as Customer Engagement Manager for RLSS UK, Clare leads a team of seventeen professionals. Clare’s focus is to develop and implement a national strategy that makes a meaningful impact at a hyper-local level. Engaging with over 20,000 members and 500 partners, including influential leisure operators and governing bodies, Clare's work supports and empowers the sector's employees and volunteers, contributing to CIMSPA's vision of a respected and regulated industry.

CIMSPA

Speaker

Natasha Eason

Associate Director, Training Academy

CIMSPA

Natasha, an experienced professional in the field of Further Education has over a decade of hands-on experience, she has developed an extensive knowledge of qualification design, development, and assessment. Natasha is passionate about cultivating the growth of the next generation of learners through fit for purpose high-quality teaching, learning, and assessment methods. She is dedicated to driving the sector forward by implementing employer-led professional standards that will contribute to its advancement.

CIMSPA

Speaker

Tara Dillon

CEO

CIMSPA


Tara Dillon was appointed as CEO of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity in January 2015. Tara began her career in Sport and Physical Activity as a lifeguard in her local centre back in 1987, whilst studying. Having gained hands on experience within local authority leisure, various management positions followed until in March 2001, she was appointed as Contracts Manager at DC Leisure Management.      

After 6 years with DCLM, Tara accepted the role of Executive Director of IQL-UK Ltd where she remained until her CIMSPA appointment.

Tara has a passion for the Sport and Physical Activity sector which drives her to constantly aim for improvements across the industry. Tara is at the forefront of CIMSPA’s work, delivering initiatives that professionalise the workforce and enhance the career prospects of those working in sport, leisure and

CIMSPA

Generate
13:50
|
14:30

Building a business case for investing in female health Minding the knowledge gap: How a lack of understanding of female bodies has caused issues in fitness - and what we can do about it. 

Speaker

Baz Moffat

CEO

The Well HQ 

Former Team GB rower Baz Moffat retired from the sport to launch a successful international consulting and coaching business. A prominent voice in the women’s health movement, Baz specialises in the pelvic floor - a pivotal yet vastly under appreciated nucleus in the female body.

Expertise includes:

○ Pelvic floor
○ Prolapse
○ Urinary stress incontinence
○ Being active during the menopause
○ Constipation: bowel and bladder health
○ Being an elite female athlete (but not being trained as a woman)
○ Post-natal women returning to exercise Qualifications

○ BSc Sports Science (First Class) University of Birmingham
○ MSc – Health Related Behaviour Change, University of Bristol
○ Personal Trainer
○ GB Rowing Team, 2005-2008
○ Coached 100s of women around the world to help them in pelvic health
○ Holistic Core Restore Coach, 2016 – 2020

The Well HQ 

Speaker

Ruth Jackson

Chief People Officer

The Gym Group

The Gym Group

Debate
14:10
|
14:50

Enter the Robots:  The future of fitness with AI.

Speaker

Becca Douglas

Co-Founder and CMO

brandXchange

brandXchange

Speaker

Ollie Bell

Co-founder & CEO

Roster

Roster

Speaker

Pete Heneghan

Founder and former Head of Digital for UK Government 

The Future Communicator

The Future Communicator

Speaker

Ian Mullane

CEO

Keepme 

Keepme 

Speaker

Kevin Yates

COO

Snap Fitness 24/7

.

Snap Fitness 24/7

Speaker

Ty Menzies

Global CEO

Lift Brands

Lift Brands

Speaker

Nikki Phillips

Director of Digital Transformation and IT

British Triathlon

British Triathlon

Generate
14:20
|
15:00

Healthseekers- changing motivations for exercising and how to build different communities

Speaker

Guy Griffiths

Fitness Industry Retention Consultant

GG Fit

A leading authority on member retention, Guy is on a mission to help more people to be healthier and happier by spreading the word on member-retention initiatives that work.

Since founding GGFit in 2008, Guy has worked with independent clubs, national chains, and low-cost operators. Projects range from data analysis to building retention policies and processes, running coaching workshops and sending member communications. Mystery joining, recruitment, customer feedback and e-learning all complement the core offering.

Guy’s systems background means he can help people understand complex processes and programmes. He also knows what makes people tick, having trained, and practiced as a successful life coach.

GG Fit

Collaborate
14:40
|
15:20

Developing active futures for children and young people

Speaker

Craig Jones

Chair, Co-designer and Chief Operating Officer

ukactive, Children and Young People in Leisure Facilities Guidance and Junior Adventures Group

Craig Jones is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of dedicated work in the education sector and sports, health, and fitness industry. Throughout his career, he has focused on creating positive impacts on children and young people. Craig possesses a diverse skill set and has successfully implemented various children and family strategies, including financial and operating models, product development, training and development programmes, health and safety protocols, compliance measures, and full stakeholder engagement.

In the education sector, Craig has played a pivotal role in developing and executing effective strategies to enhance the learning experiences of children and young people. His expertise lies in creating innovative programmes that cater to the unique needs of participants, ensuring their holistic development and success.

Moreover, Craig's extensive background in the sports, health, and fitness industry has allowed him to make significant contributions to promoting active and healthy lifestyles among children and young people. He has been instrumental in designing and implementing programmes that encourage physical activity, foster well-being, and instil lifelong habits of health and wellness.

With a strong focus on training and development, Craig has been committed to empowering individuals within the education and sports industries. He has successfully created and delivered training programmes that equip professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality care and support to children and young people.

His wealth of experience, coupled with his passion for making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people, has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and influential figure in the field. His commitment to creating sustainable strategies and fostering collaboration with stakeholders underscores his mission to create a better future for the next generation.

ukactive, Children and Young People in Leisure Facilities Guidance and Junior Adventures Group

Speaker

Eugene Minogue

CEO

Play England

20+yrs with & Head of Physical Activity, Leisure & Sport (PALS) at @CityWestminster. CEO of @ParkourUK& @ParkourEarth.

Play England

Speaker

Alison Turicck

Open Doors and Nike Partnership Manager

ukactive

ukactive

Speaker

Jo Moss

Strategic Lead

Sport England Children and Young People

Sport England Children and Young People

Debate
15:00
|
15:40

Gen Z are the generational cohort who are most likely to ask for their money back, do you have a Gen Z strategy to keep them happy?

Speaker

Chloe Kinch

Proinsight

Director of Client Success

Director of Client Success

Speaker

Marina Thomas

Managing Director

Marina Solutions Ltd

Marina Solutions Ltd

Speaker

Jo Weelen

XN

XN

Generate
15:10
|
15:40

The transformative power of togetherness – building community fitness in businesses

Speaker

Dan Fallon

Director, Resonate Wellness and Founder, Wholeman Mission

Director, Resonate Wellness and Founder, Wholeman Mission

Speaker

Ben Lanigan

Division Vice President, Sales Development and Commercial Operations ES

ADP

Accomplished Senior Executive adept in Sales & Business Process Improvement, showcasing a rich background spanning the realms of technology, human resources, and nuclear industries.

Demonstrates expertise in Sales, Operations Management, Coaching, Lean Management, Six Sigma, Strategic Business Planning, and leveraging Automation Technology such as RPA to drive transformative change.

Passionate about fostering employee well-being as a cornerstone for talent retention.

ADP

Collaborate
15:30
|
16:10

Preparing for the pivot

Speaker

Andy King

Director

Miova

Miova

Speaker

Jon Keating

Head of Business Operations

GM Active

GM Active

Speaker

Duncan Wood-Allan

Founder and Managing Director

SLC

SLC

Speaker

Rhys Jones

Plymouth Active

Plymouth Active

Debate
15:45
|
16:25

Rehabilitation in the Community Supporting our health system and local communities with rehabilitation and long term-health condition pathways – what is the opportunity for community leisure?

Speaker

Jon Hymus

Managing Director

Innerva

Innerva

Speaker

Liz Murray

Partnerships Development Manager

Valley Leisure

Liz holds a degree in Sport and Exercise Science and has gained nationally recognised qualifications in Exercise Referral, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Falls Prevention and Exercise after Stroke. At the heart of Liz’s work lies her interest and passion in the use of exercise and physical activity for the benefit of physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. Through a diverse career spanning 20 years in the private, public and third sector, Liz has developed extensive experience working with less able, deconditioned and unwell populations to improve their health and wellbeing; working in collaboration and partnership with likeminded organisations to facilitate physical activity opportunities; facility and operational management through the development and implementation of Valley Leisure’s ‘I Can Therapy Centres’ and; volunteering having designed and implemented a new volunteering package for the charity. Partnership working provides the foundation for all Liz’s work with the philosophy that greater benefits can be achieved if ‘we work together’ rather than in isolation. Liz is a self-confessed coffee addict; she lives in Andover, Hampshire with husband, John, a Group Technician for BMW, their two children, Isabelle, age 9 and Will, age 7 plus two black Labradors, Benson and Rex. In her spare time she loves weight training and likes nothing more than to be with her family at the beach!

Valley Leisure

Speaker

Duncan Kerr

Chief Executive Officer

Wave Active

Wave Active

Speaker

Jon Keating

Head of Business Operations

GM Active

GM Active

Speaker

Dr. Andy Kerr

Senior Lecturer, Biomechanical Engineering

University of Strathclyde

University of Strathclyde

Collaborate
15:50
|
16:30

How crypto, bitcoin and blockchain are affecting fitness and leisure businesses

Speaker

Becca Douglas

Co-Founder and CMO

brandXchange

brandXchange

Speaker

Ollie Bell

Co-founder & CEO

Roster

Roster

Generate

Thursday 13th June 2024

Time Session title Stream
09:50
|
10:20

The power of sport and exercise to change lives and inspire peace

Speaker

Cohort of young people from Fight for Peace Academy

North Woolwich

North Woolwich

Collaborate
09:50
|
10:20

Obesity is not a choice… What the fitness industry needs to know about living in a bigger body

Speaker

Tanya Hall

UK Tenders & Partners Manager

E-Gym

Having worked for many years for both the operator and supplier world within the fitness industry I have learnt the best of both sides through my previous roles.

From public sector leisure management to now supporting public sector in my role as Tender and Partners Manager for EGYM, I feel grateful to be able to give back my knowledge and support in helping public leisure facilities achieve the best customer experience they can to support their members success.

E-Gym

Speaker

Dr Giles Yeo

Scientific Director of Genomics and Transcriptomics Core

University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

Speaker

Sarah Le Brocq

Director

All about Obesity

Sarah Le Brocq is the Founder and Director of All About Obesity, a not for profit obesity organisation that launched in 2022. All About Obesity strives to be the leading obesity organisation for advancing obesity research, supporting, and driving public education, a trusted resource for people living with obesity, healthcare professionals and policymakers and a support platform for people living with obesity.

Sarah has a unique skillset of living with obesity, a background in science, 16 years’ experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry, alongside the NHS and 6 years’ experience of being in the charity sector.

Sarah is known as a Thought Leader in the Obesity space, has a wide network of relationships with key obesity stakeholders. She is also well known in the media and is regularly called upon to give her thoughts and expertise around current Obesity affairs.

She sits on the strategic council for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity, a stakeholder in NHSE’s new National Obesity Audit, a lay member on the NICE Weight Management Committee, the Digital weight management technologies for specialist weight management services and a representative on the OHA Healthy Weight Strategy, lived experience group.

She has also co-authored a number of published academic papers in scientific journals.

All about Obesity

Debate
09:50
|
10:20

Social media / social responsibility? – does it do more harm than good and how do you build responsible content?

Speaker

Oliver Patrick

Co-Founder, Wellbeing Director and Clinical Director

Future Practice, Lotus Health and Pillar Health

Oliver Patrick is a Physiologist and leading expert in lifestyle management. He speaks widely on the application of contemporary wellbeing strategies and consults to businesses and individuals globally. Oliver was Head of Physiology at Nuffield Hospitals where he co-founded and led the largest team of applied physiologists, wellbeing advisors and nutritionists in the UK. In 2009 Oliver co-founded Viavi on London’s Harley St, to deliver the most advanced health assessment and health evaluation service available globally. In his clinical role at Viavi, Oliver worked alongside each key discipline of medicine to drive accelerated health outcomes in his clients.

Alongside advanced health assessments Oliver co-founded the first Lifestyle medicine gym in Oxford, tailoring exercise and lifestyle advice to the non-exercise market. Latterly Oliver runs a corporate wellbeing consultancy service, is Clinical Director for Pillar Wellbeing, and has founded Future Practice, an industry specific education platform to drive practical coaching skills in the broader undervalued areas of lifestyle (beyond movement and nutrition) particularly stress, sleep, environmental toxicity and mindset.

Future Practice, Lotus Health and Pillar Health

Speaker

Annette Wade-Clarke

CIMSPA

Director of Marketing and Communications

Director of Marketing and Communications

Generate
10:30
|
11:05

Harnessing data to drive better customer experiences

Speaker

Julie Allen

Business Development Director

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Generate
10:50
|
11:50

How can we make the UK the most active – and healthy – nation in Europe?

Speaker

Colin Huffen

Associate Director Policy and Professional Services

CIMSPA

Colin brings extensive experience and expertise to his role at CIMSPA. Throughout his career, he has dedicated himself to the field of education in the sport and physical activity sector. Previously, Colin has made valuable contributions to various organisations including AoC Sport, UK Coaching, Skills Active, British Swimming, Loughborough College, and West Nottinghamshire College. His work at these institutions has shaped his deep understanding of the industry and strengthened his ability to make meaningful contributions in his current position at CIMSPA.

CIMSPA

Speaker

Dr Davina Deniszczyc

Nuffield Health

Dr Davina Deniszczyc joined Nuffield Health as London Clinical Lead GP in 2010. During her time with organisation, Davina has worked as Professional Head of Physicians, Wellbeing Medical Director, Charity and Market Development Director and most recently Charity and Medical Director. Having graduated from the University of Manchester in 2003, Davina trained as a GP and in 2007 she gained membership to the Royal College of General Practitioners.

During her time as a GP, Davina identified a lack of resources and the inadequate focus on preventative medicine in the NHS. In an attempt to tackle this, she set up independent Wellness Clinics within some of her GP surgeries. Now in her role, Davina is responsible for developing activities focused on improving health and wellbeing right across the spectrum from prevention through to cure, providing significant and measurable health and wellbeing benefits to more people. Davina also continues her work as a GP once a week.

Nuffield Health

Speaker

Jon Keating

Head of Business Operations

GM Active

GM Active

Speaker

Dr Glenda Rivoallan

Author, Speaker, Resilience Coach 

Glenda is the Founder of We Talk Wellbeing, a company who specialises in corporate wellbeing with a focus on resilience. Glenda is an accomplished author in the wellbeing space, with her 3rd book Resilient as Fudge becoming an amazon best seller in 8 categories since its launch in October 2023.

Glenda specializes in developing resilient habits, building vision, unshakeable self- belief and entrepreneurial spirit. Working to silence your inner critic, allow wisdom to take over and find inner peace.

Glenda is passionate about supporting people in enhancing their resilient mindset, skillset and toolset for thriving in life and work. Glenda guides participants in tapping into their professional skills, personal experiences and innate gifts to dive deep and unleash the power within.

Glenda holds a First Class Honours Degree in Physical Education, a Masters in Sports Science and a Doctorate after studying the link between resilience and mindfulness in entrepreneurs.

With a background in education as a previous vice principal and in entrepreneurship founding multiple successful wellbeing brands, Glenda understands the demands we face in high-pressure fast moving business environments.

Glenda’s fun approach based on the power of storytelling & imagery with roots in positive psychology and behavioural change, makes her Resilient as Fudge webinar both memorable and actionable, oh and sticky!

Debate
11:15
|
11:55

MSK HUB

Speaker

Susanne Gabb

Good Boost

Good Boost

Collaborate
11:15
|
11:50

Solving the perennial people problem: how to attract, recruit, train and keep the best workforce in the business.

Speaker

Lawrence Everest

Love Recruitment

Love Recruitment

Speaker

Eve Sukhnandan

Global Chief People Officer

PureGym

PureGym

Speaker

Catherine Fermer

Operations Director

The Gym Group

The Gym Group

Speaker

Craig Jones

Chair, Co-designer and Chief Operating Officer

ukactive, Children and Young People in Leisure Facilities Guidance and Junior Adventures Group

Craig Jones is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of dedicated work in the education sector and sports, health, and fitness industry. Throughout his career, he has focused on creating positive impacts on children and young people. Craig possesses a diverse skill set and has successfully implemented various children and family strategies, including financial and operating models, product development, training and development programmes, health and safety protocols, compliance measures, and full stakeholder engagement.

In the education sector, Craig has played a pivotal role in developing and executing effective strategies to enhance the learning experiences of children and young people. His expertise lies in creating innovative programmes that cater to the unique needs of participants, ensuring their holistic development and success.

Moreover, Craig's extensive background in the sports, health, and fitness industry has allowed him to make significant contributions to promoting active and healthy lifestyles among children and young people. He has been instrumental in designing and implementing programmes that encourage physical activity, foster well-being, and instil lifelong habits of health and wellness.

With a strong focus on training and development, Craig has been committed to empowering individuals within the education and sports industries. He has successfully created and delivered training programmes that equip professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality care and support to children and young people.

His wealth of experience, coupled with his passion for making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people, has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and influential figure in the field. His commitment to creating sustainable strategies and fostering collaboration with stakeholders underscores his mission to create a better future for the next generation.

ukactive, Children and Young People in Leisure Facilities Guidance and Junior Adventures Group

Speaker

Madeline Cummings

Account Director

Recruitment Director

Recruitment Director

Generate
11:55
|
12:35

Why inclusive design, customer service and communications make for a better customer experience for everyone, not just some… are we making gyms for the 15% or for the 85%?

Speaker

Ali Jawad

Paralympic powerlifter and founder

Accessercise

Ali is a British Paralympic silver medallist, Chrons sufferer and leading advocate for the disabled community. Ali was moved from Lebanon at 6 months old to save his life. After the 2008 Paralympics, he was diagnosed with Chrons and retired from sport. Following lifesaving surgery, Ali returned to competitive sport, going on to win a career grand slam of medals, become world champion, set 2 world records and set world history.

Throughout his career Ali has battled through life and death situations, refused to give in, and never stopped battling. He is also a huge anti-doping campaigner, a PhD student, an athlete advisor to the Commonwealth Games and founder of Accessercise, the first ever fitness app for the disabled community.

Accessercise

Speaker

Benn Klewpatinond

Founder and CEO

Inond

Inond

Speaker

Jamie Hooper

Co-founder

Include Summit (Chair)

Include Summit (Chair)

Debate
11:55
|
12:35

Evolutionary gym design: crafting spaces for the modern fitness customer

Speaker

Paul Woodford

Strategic Engagement Director

Alliance Leisure

Paul Woodford is one of the leisure sectors top consultants, proven in Brand Development, Sales & Marketing and Customer Service Excellence. Paul has over 25 years leisure and hospitality experience. As a trainer and mentor Paul is known as one of the leisure sectors most motivating and impactful trainers, initiating positive change in all he works with.

Alliance Leisure

Speaker

Mark Johnson

Managing Director

Johnson Reed

Johnson Reed

Speaker

Alan Davidson

Head of Sales

Jigsaw Fitness

Jigsaw Fitness

Speaker

Jamie Cartwright

Co-Owner

Hatton Boxing

Hatton Boxing

Speaker

Nichola McLachan

Health and Fitness Development Manager

North Lanarkshire Leisure

North Lanarkshire Leisure

Generate
12:00
|
12:40

Round table: What is sustainability anyway? Question-time style session debating questions around sustainability, climate change and the drive to net-zero.

Speaker

James Foley

Commercial Director

Alliance Leisure

James is a Commercial Director with over 20 years of senior management experience in the leisure industry and has directly led the delivery and launch of over £180 million new leisure projects. Having worked in the Private, Local Authority and Leisure Trust sectors, James also has considerable commercial experience as a Director with MBA credentials and has successfully consulted for a variety of local authorities and leisure trusts including the launch planning for an Olympic legacy facility.

Alliance Leisure

Speaker

Duncan Anderson

CEO

South Downs Leisure 

South Downs Leisure 

Speaker

Keith Ashton

CEO

Space and Place (Chair)

Keith is the CEO of SPACE & PLACE, Europe’s leading architects in sport, leisure, and entertainment. He’s proud to be the present leader of, what he describes as, the awesome S&P team, who for over 40 years have successfully delivered some of the most innovative and pioneering projects for the UK’s sport and leisure market. Every year over 100 million people use S&P buildings and he’s equally animated whether talking about S&P’s tiniest community sports clubs, their 2012 London Aquatic Centre with Zaha Hadid, or S&P’s, and the world’s, most energy efficient sports and centre for Exeter City, which is the first and only facility in the UK to receive Passivhaus Certification.

Keith is a regular contributor to local government on the development and funding of community sport and improved activity levels, and works with International Federations and NGBs on outstanding contemporary strategies to get more people engaged in improving physical and mental wellness.

He is known throughout the sector for his creativity and thought leadership and challenges everyone to do better, whether it is on big issues like climate crisis action, or on the smallest construction detail in one of S&P’s buildings

Keith has Previously held roles at the Royal Household, the board of Swim England, and has chaired BISL’s sport sector. He’s currently a Non-Executive Director of British Swimming and is passionate about GB Olympic and Paralympic success.

Space and Place (Chair)

Debate
12:05
|
12:45

Men’s mental health: why we need to move more, talk more and connect more

Speaker

Dan Fallon

Director, Resonate Wellness and Founder, Wholeman Mission

Director, Resonate Wellness and Founder, Wholeman Mission

Speaker

Aaron Ridley

CEO & Co-Founder

Tribox

Tribox

Collaborate
12:45
|
13:15

Winning new members: Top trends, plus, the tactics you need to succeed Join Xplor Gym and an expert panel to discover the latest new joiner trends from across the UK.

Generate
12:55
|
13:35

Proving the good we do: how does the fitness industry prove its worth?

Speaker

David Minton

Leisure DB

After three decades David is well known for his unique fitness industry knowledge. Providing media commentary, articles, along with public speaking to spark debate within and create support for the sector at large. David and his team are recognised as the go-to for market trends, data and insight built from the annual National Fitness Audit. Passionate about Active Ageing and Climate Change David is at the forefront of new thinking on these subjects along with the new Collective Knowledge for the industry.

Leisure DB

Speaker

John Oxley

COO

Places Leisure

Places Leisure

Speaker

Keith Burnet

Co-Founder

Alchemist and Adventurer

Alchemist and Adventurer

Speaker

Will Lowe

Chief Data and Analytics Officer

Transform UK

Transform UK

Speaker

Tilley Harris

Co-founder and Head of Business Development,

AKOU

AKOU

Collaborate
13:25
|
14:05

The teen twilight zone - how do teenagers stay active when they are not on a sports team?  

Speaker

Craig Jones

Chair, Co-designer and Chief Operating Officer

ukactive, Children and Young People in Leisure Facilities Guidance and Junior Adventures Group

Craig Jones is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of dedicated work in the education sector and sports, health, and fitness industry. Throughout his career, he has focused on creating positive impacts on children and young people. Craig possesses a diverse skill set and has successfully implemented various children and family strategies, including financial and operating models, product development, training and development programmes, health and safety protocols, compliance measures, and full stakeholder engagement.

In the education sector, Craig has played a pivotal role in developing and executing effective strategies to enhance the learning experiences of children and young people. His expertise lies in creating innovative programmes that cater to the unique needs of participants, ensuring their holistic development and success.

Moreover, Craig's extensive background in the sports, health, and fitness industry has allowed him to make significant contributions to promoting active and healthy lifestyles among children and young people. He has been instrumental in designing and implementing programmes that encourage physical activity, foster well-being, and instil lifelong habits of health and wellness.

With a strong focus on training and development, Craig has been committed to empowering individuals within the education and sports industries. He has successfully created and delivered training programmes that equip professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide quality care and support to children and young people.

His wealth of experience, coupled with his passion for making a positive difference in the lives of children and young people, has earned him a reputation as a dedicated and influential figure in the field. His commitment to creating sustainable strategies and fostering collaboration with stakeholders underscores his mission to create a better future for the next generation.

ukactive, Children and Young People in Leisure Facilities Guidance and Junior Adventures Group

Speaker

Justine Davies

Born2Move Lead

Les Mills International

Les Mills International

Speaker

Michelle Dand

Product and Programme Manager

David Lloyd

Michelle is Product and Programme Manager at David Lloyd Clubs where she is responsible for creating the strategic direction for the health & fitness proposition, ensuring innovative, engaging and leading edge experiences are developed for all members With over 26 years in the Health & Fitness sector Michelle has worked in a variety of roles from PT to GM in organisations such as Holmes Place, Everyone Active and Fit Pro. Michelle is a Triathlon/Cycle coach as well as personally training and participating regularly in a variety of events such as Spartans and amateur cycle races ensuring that she remains close to the members, sharing their goals and experiences.

David Lloyd

Speaker

Hannah Mittoo

Director

The Academy Programme

The Academy Programme

Generate
13:40
|
14:20

What does leadership in the activity and wellbeing industry look like?

Speaker

Elaine Briggs (Chair)

FFG

FFG

Speaker

John Oxley

COO

Places Leisure

Places Leisure

Speaker

Victoria Goodwin-Barlow

Belgravia Leisure

Belgravia Leisure

Speaker

Leila Bendrimia

GLL

GLL

Speaker

Jack Murphy

Prehab4Cancer

Prehab4Cancer

Debate
13:45
|
14:20

Moving Communities service – measuring public leisure’s contribution to active communities.

Speaker

Julie Allen

Business Development Director

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Collaborate
14:15
|
14:55

Technology and fitness

Speaker

Ian Mullane

CEO

Keepme 

Keepme 

Generate
14:20
|
15:10

Beyond the gym; building strength and friendships under an open sky in development and creating long-term physical activity habits through more that just ‘exercise’…

Speaker

Gill Erskine

Co-Founder and Director

Wildstrong

Gill is the co-founder and Director of WildStrong. Before starting WildStrong, Gill founded, scaled and sold a food production business and prior to that she was Managing Director of a locally grown baby food company in Sierra Leone.

Gill holds a Masters in Environmental Politics from King's College London and during her early career worked in communications for environmental NGOs in Brussels the London.

Gill was brought up mostly outdoors in the east neuk of Fife. A natural community builder, Gill started WildStrong as she wanted to create space for people to spend more time outdoors and meet others who lived very locally.

She has always been a mover rather than an exerciser and wanted to create a space for those that will never go to a gym but do want to move more and get stronger.

In 2023, Gill was recognised as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign.

Wildstrong

Speaker

Andrew Telfer MPH

Head Coach

Wildstrong

Andrew is a public health professional and is passionate about health promotion and creating achievable exercise for longevity.

Andrew holds a Master in Public Health and has over 15 year’s experience of strength & conditioning coaching, personal training and course development.

“I think the fitness industry took a wrong turn when it adopted a top down model of fitness education. I also feel there is too much emphasis on working out alone and the collection of arbitrary data. WildStrong is the opportunity to embed movement in a community setting, with tangible benefits, creating a peer-lead, distributed model of health practice.”

Additional info:

  • Masters in Public Health
  • As a trainer worked with both professional athletes and general population.
  • Over 10 years as a CrossFit coach, Olympic weightlifting, and competitive fitness.
  • Co-founded WildStrong in 2021 to bridge the gap between public health and local, community-based physical activity.
  • Believes that the key to health and longevity lies in building community-based cross connections.

Wildstrong

Speaker

Rick Jenner

CEO

Park Play

Rick is CEO of ParkPlay, a health and wellbeing charity with a mission to build happier, healthier communities nationwide through the life-changing power of play. Before joining ParkPlay at its inception in early 2020 Rick was Strategy Director at sports marketing and mass participation agency Limelight Sports, working with clients such as Team GB and Fitbit. Rick started his career working at a number of well-known media and telecoms brands in marketing and strategy, including The Times, ITV and Virgin Media, before following his passion into sport and health.

Park Play

Speaker

Katherine Knight

Director

Intelligent Health

Katherine has over twenty-five years’ experience in sport and physical activity and is passionate about making a positive impact at scale. She began at The Football Association in the nineties as part of a small team working on women’s football. She built the first ever Marketing and Communication strategy which helped it become the top female participation sport in England, second team participation sport (to men’s football) and even shifted cultural norms for women. It was mission led, put the athletes at the centre and made transformative change.

For the last 10 years she has been a Director at Intelligent Health, founded by Dr William Bird MBE, where the focus is on tackling inequalities, ill health and climate change through building active communities. Katherine has guided the growth of a mass participation game called Beat the Street that encourages people to improve their health through small changes to daily behaviour – through walking, wheeling and cycling. Typically 10% of a place takes part, with the largest game in Sheffield attracting 60,000 participants – adults and children. Using social marketing and trusted behaviour change techniques it’s become one of the most effective mass behaviour change programmes in public health.

Katherine has led Beat the Street’s national work with Sport England since 2017, building it into a programme that has been taken across England and is now recognised as a transformational tool for places. The programme combines community engagement, behavioural science, data insight, project management and marketing expertise. It all sits on digital platform that allows delivery at scale and leverages innovative technology and gamification.

Beat the Street works like a high-profile mass sports event hosted in a place, but for residents themselves to take part, turning where they live and work into a playground and allowing them to enjoy spending time together whatever their age or ability. It works because it’s easy, accessible simple and timely but most of all it’s fun. For places and partners, it provides access to valuable data that can drive insight for health and the wider system to deliver population level change.

Beat the Street has worked in over 170 places and with 1.8 million participants. Typically, 87% register and of these, 53% are adults and 47% children. With Sport England there have been 57 places and over 730,000 participants. Tackling inequality sits at the heart and data shows a third have joined from IMD 1-2 populations, 71% of adult participants are women, 19% have a disability or long-term condition, and there is over-representation or mirrored Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse groups compared to local data sets. There is an on average an 8% decrease in inactivity for adults following the game phase.

In her spare time, Katherine is Chair of Rounders England and although she has retired from playing football she still loves heading out for walks with her family and friends.

Intelligent Health

Collaborate
14:30
|
15:10

What do over-represented populations need to know? Developing allyship in fitness

Speaker

Jamie Hooper

Co-founder

Include Summit (Chair)

Include Summit (Chair)

Speaker

Tim Mathias

Strategic Lead for Inclusion

ukactive

Tim joined ukactive in March 2020. As the Lead for EDI at the trade body for fitness and leisure, his remit includes developing the sector towards greater inclusivity. ukactive supports its members through standards, programmes, campaigns and interventions to deliver it’s mission of ‘more people. more active, more often’. Tim is passionate about the role of Diversity and Inclusion as a key function to deliver ‘Vision 2030’ – developing the sector to be more inclusive and engaging with 20% of the population.

Tim was previously working at Premiership Rugby. During his time at the executive body running professional rugby union in England he developed and delivered an Inclusion Strategy involving campaigns, programming and policy for each of the 9 ‘protected characteristics’. His notable work included a ‘Commitment to Accessibility’ which was shortlisted for a BT Sport Industry Award in 2018, and the ”Project Rugby’ programme which was shortlisted for a British Ethnic Diversity Sports Award and was a two-time award winner at the Sport Business Awards.

ukactive

Debate
15:05
|
15:45

Leading the transition to Net Zero and sustainable operations

Speaker

Matthew Hoffman

Commercial Director

Service Sport

Service Sport

Speaker

Neil Bland

Managing Director

Leisure Energy

Leisure Energy

Speaker

Tom Gozna

Director

Big Wave Marketing

Big Wave Marketing

Speaker

Keith Ashton

CEO

Space and Place (Chair)

Keith is the CEO of SPACE & PLACE, Europe’s leading architects in sport, leisure, and entertainment. He’s proud to be the present leader of, what he describes as, the awesome S&P team, who for over 40 years have successfully delivered some of the most innovative and pioneering projects for the UK’s sport and leisure market. Every year over 100 million people use S&P buildings and he’s equally animated whether talking about S&P’s tiniest community sports clubs, their 2012 London Aquatic Centre with Zaha Hadid, or S&P’s, and the world’s, most energy efficient sports and centre for Exeter City, which is the first and only facility in the UK to receive Passivhaus Certification.

Keith is a regular contributor to local government on the development and funding of community sport and improved activity levels, and works with International Federations and NGBs on outstanding contemporary strategies to get more people engaged in improving physical and mental wellness.

He is known throughout the sector for his creativity and thought leadership and challenges everyone to do better, whether it is on big issues like climate crisis action, or on the smallest construction detail in one of S&P’s buildings

Keith has Previously held roles at the Royal Household, the board of Swim England, and has chaired BISL’s sport sector. He’s currently a Non-Executive Director of British Swimming and is passionate about GB Olympic and Paralympic success.

Space and Place (Chair)

Generate
15:20
|
16:00

Leading in a complex world – seeing and doing things differently

Speaker

Ken Masser

Founder and Director

Miova

Miova

Collaborate
15:20
|
16:00

Omnichannel fitness / Hybrid world: how fitness has adapted to a new way of living, working, learning and staying healthy

Speaker

Ian McCaig

Fiit TV

Fiit TV

Speaker

Julie Allen

Business Development Director

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Leisure-net / active-net / Active Insight

Speaker

Rachael Hurton

Founder and Director

Synergy Dance

Synergy Dance

Speaker

Sarah Roberts

Head of Fitness

Places for People Leisure

Since starting in the industry in 1996 as a group exercise instructor then onto PT, Fitness Manager, NVQ Trainer & since 2010 Head of Fitness, Sarah has seen a lot of changes! She enjoys being part of a dynamic & forward-thinking senior team within Places Leisure focusing on community, health, fitness, innovation, partnership working & inclusion. The Big Sister Project and This Girl Can initiatives have positively impacted Places Leisure and changed our operating model for the better, for good.

Sarah truly believes that community-based, accessible activity for all is the perfect approach to improve the health of the nation.

Places for People Leisure

Debate
15:55
|
16:30

PT 4.0

Speaker

Paul Swainson (Chair)

Education Project Specialist

Future Fit Training

Paul brings two decades of experience to his role at Future Fit, as a personal trainer, PT manager, consultant and educator. He has created a successful PT business as well as working for some of the leading brands in the fitness industry. As Education Project Specialist at Future Fit, Paul is now involved in the development of bespoke training products that support fitness, health and wellness professionals. Paul is also a writer and presenter and uses these platforms to campaign for improvement of training standards across the industry.

Future Fit Training

Speaker

Mark Laws

PT Development Coach

Future Fit

Mark Laws is the PT Development Coach at Future Fit, helping to develop courses from the perspective of a master PT. Mark qualified from Future Fit as a Level 3 Personal Trainer in 2006 and has since worked in the fitness industry in various high-profile positions. Mark was the first non-American to be certified in America by the Kettlebell world champion. His Kettlebell work led to many professional partnerships, including working with Sheffield United, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and the Chinese Olympic Squad at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Mark is an accomplished coach, presenter, educator, and regular magazine columnist.

Future Fit

Speaker

Martyn Oakey

HEAD OF FITNESS

Everlast

Everlast

Generate

All Enquiries

 

For all enquiries please contact us at: info@elevatearena.com