With over 25 years of experience in the Leisure industry, Jo’s knowledge spans operations, health and safety, qualification creation and delivery, and lifeguarding. Having spent over eight years managing operations across over 70 swimming pools with several thousand lifeguards, Jo can relate to industry demands and requirements.

Jo is regarded as an expert in lifeguarding and is valued worldwide for her contribution and dedication to making swimming pools places where people can enjoy water safely. She represents RLSS UK on several working groups for the British Standards Institute and industry committees. Her knowledge and research on lifeguarding and swimming pool designs have been drawn on and presented worldwide.

Jo joined the RLSS UK in 2015 and now holds the position of Commercial Director.

Jo’s experience, knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm ensure that RLSS UK remains at the forefront of vocational and non-vocational qualifications for the Leisure industry and that the industry is provided with ongoing support and development as it evolves.

Ian started his career in the Leisure industry in the early 1990s, progressing to running facilities such as public pools, hotel leisure clubs, 50-metre swimming pools, water parks, and finally, a National Stadium.

After leaving facility management in 2009, he became a registered Chartered Health and Safety Practitioner in sports and leisure.

He gained valuable insight into all aspects of the industry, as well as extensive knowledge and expertise across the sector. He is particularly interested in swimming pools, plant rooms, and the lifeguarding and supervision of swimming pools and open water.

In recent years, he has been involved in several publications in the UK and course development for several awarding bodies in the UK and Commonwealth.

He is also the co-author and editor of several pool plant manuals and publications. Now, working on plant room specifications for several large operators for new builds, refurbishment work, and problem-solving for pools, his work has taken him all over the world, including pools in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.

Ian is passionate about the safe supervision of swimming pools, open water, and drowning prevention.

With over 25 years of experience in the Leisure industry, Jo’s knowledge spans operations, health and safety, qualification creation and delivery, and lifeguarding. Having spent over eight years managing operations across over 70 swimming pools with several thousand lifeguards, Jo can relate to industry demands and requirements.

Jo is regarded as an expert in lifeguarding and is valued worldwide for her contribution and dedication to making swimming pools places where people can enjoy water safely. She represents RLSS UK on several working groups for the British Standards Institute and industry committees. Her knowledge and research on lifeguarding and swimming pool designs have been drawn on and presented worldwide.

Jo joined the RLSS UK in 2015 and now holds the position of Commercial Director.

Jo’s experience, knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm ensure that RLSS UK remains at the forefront of vocational and non-vocational qualifications for the Leisure industry and that the industry is provided with ongoing support and development as it evolves.

Richard is Swim England’s Head of facilities, he is a vastly experienced expert in swimming pool operation and design. He began his career operationally managing facilities, following that he spent 5 years as a pool plant technical manager for a training organisation, leading on the training of over 3,000 operators a year. He has been with Swim England facilities for over 3 years now providing advice and consultancy ensuring that new built facilities and refurbishments are fit for purpose and sustainable for the future. Richard has been a member of the PWTAG technical committee for over 8 years and has recently become a PWTAG director, he is also a representative of the British Standards working group for European standards of swimming pools. Furthermore, he has worked closely with the HSE on numerous projects, Richard has delivered seminars on swimming pool design and operations at various conferences across the globe including; splash international in Singapore, the World Aquatic Heath Conference (WAHC) in Phoenix Arizona and various exhibitions and conferences within the UK and Europe.

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.

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

David specialises in assisting organisations, to understand that how through an excellent customer experience they can generate referrals, retain customers for longer and enhance the team experience. He also leads on the delivery of active-net.

David was a member elected Trustee of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, he chaired CIMSPA’s Audit and Probity Committee for 9 years, is a Non-Executive Director of LeisureSK, is a member of ukactive’s Membership Council and a member of Leicestershire and Rutland Sport (Active Partnership) Business, Audit and Oversight Group.

With over 25 years of experience in the Leisure industry, Jo’s knowledge spans operations, health and safety, qualification creation and delivery, and lifeguarding. Having spent over eight years managing operations across over 70 swimming pools with several thousand lifeguards, Jo can relate to industry demands and requirements.

Jo is regarded as an expert in lifeguarding and is valued worldwide for her contribution and dedication to making swimming pools places where people can enjoy water safely. She represents RLSS UK on several working groups for the British Standards Institute and industry committees. Her knowledge and research on lifeguarding and swimming pool designs have been drawn on and presented worldwide.

Jo joined the RLSS UK in 2015 and now holds the position of Commercial Director.

Jo’s experience, knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm ensure that RLSS UK remains at the forefront of vocational and non-vocational qualifications for the Leisure industry and that the industry is provided with ongoing support and development as it evolves.

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

David studied Sport Science at college and Sport Studies at university. In late 2003 he started his own Personal Training business and fell into Education and Training because he could not grow his business because he could not find anyone with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to employ.

In 2004, whilst still running his Personal Training business, David worked at a college developing sport and physical activity qualifications and training whilst working with employers for the next 6 years. Fusing both education and physical activity work within the Sport and Leisure sector and understanding the needs of employer and the importance of workforce development.

In January 2010, David took a role as a Senior Manager for commercial development at a large college and in late 2012 he felt it was time again to go back to starting another business and joined a Learning Foundation, whose mission was to completely focus on employer led skills training. In August 2013, David founded Creative Sport & Leisure Ltd adopting a GTA model and became the Managing Director and in July 2017 became the 100% shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of the company.

David created the CSL Group which is a collection of businesses that draws upon their own specialisms within their market and come together to complement one another. This enables the group to function in a cost effective and sustainable way by drawing upon individual expertise and strengths as and when required to ensure an efficient and professional service is delivered to its common but wide ranging of customers, employers, stakeholders and learners. The group has a direct focus on sport, physical activity, education and skills sectors

David is also a Chief Officer and Founding Director of the Essex Provider Network, which represents Colleges and Training Providers throughout Greater Essex. He works on behalf of the provider network to lobby at national level including central Government to give a voice to Essex Training providers.

David also became a partnership Governor of a local school in 2014 and then spent a lot of his time at the school focusing on funding and finance and then subsequently became the Chair of Finance and then Chair of Governors. In 2017, David became the Chair of Trust and took the legal responsibility for the school.

In 2021 David become approved by the Secretary of State for Education as the founding proprietor of a newly approved DfE Independent Special School for Social Emotional Mental Health and Autism Spectrum Disorder for Boys aged 12-16yrs. The school focuses on a sports curriculum for social change. David and his wife also have a huge passion for supporting Mental Health and working in communities to drive positive wellbeing through B mindful a company founded by his wife.

Through the exposure to physical activity and sport from a young age, David has been able to use the skills learnt from being part of a team and leading teams in a sporting and physical activity context and uses these transferrable skills in business through his management and leadership styles. He strongly believes ‘The team is greater than the individual’ and working in partnership is a key driver to success.

When not working, you’ll find David enjoying spending time with his family, travelling, walking his dogs, playing football, volunteering by supporting others in the community and by giving back his knowledge and experience. He can be found generally outside either in the garden or building something usually with the kids!

With over 25 years of experience in the Leisure industry, Jo’s knowledge spans operations, health and safety, qualification creation and delivery, and lifeguarding. Having spent over eight years managing operations across over 70 swimming pools with several thousand lifeguards, Jo can relate to industry demands and requirements.

Jo is regarded as an expert in lifeguarding and is valued worldwide for her contribution and dedication to making swimming pools places where people can enjoy water safely. She represents RLSS UK on several working groups for the British Standards Institute and industry committees. Her knowledge and research on lifeguarding and swimming pool designs have been drawn on and presented worldwide.

Jo joined the RLSS UK in 2015 and now holds the position of Commercial Director.

Jo’s experience, knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm ensure that RLSS UK remains at the forefront of vocational and non-vocational qualifications for the Leisure industry and that the industry is provided with ongoing support and development as it evolves.

Richard is Swim England’s Head of facilities, he is a vastly experienced expert in swimming pool operation and design. He began his career operationally managing facilities, following that he spent 5 years as a pool plant technical manager for a training organisation, leading on the training of over 3,000 operators a year. He has been with Swim England facilities for over 3 years now providing advice and consultancy ensuring that new built facilities and refurbishments are fit for purpose and sustainable for the future. Richard has been a member of the PWTAG technical committee for over 8 years and has recently become a PWTAG director, he is also a representative of the British Standards working group for European standards of swimming pools. Furthermore, he has worked closely with the HSE on numerous projects, Richard has delivered seminars on swimming pool design and operations at various conferences across the globe including; splash international in Singapore, the World Aquatic Heath Conference (WAHC) in Phoenix Arizona and various exhibitions and conferences within the UK and Europe.