Starting her career as a lifeguard, Tara has worked across a range of organisations and roles, giving her an exceptional knowledge of the skills and workforce needs of the sector. Having gained hands on experience within local authority leisure, various management positions followed along with senior roles at DC Leisure Management and IQL-UK Ltd.

Tara has a passion for the 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 and recognise the workforce, and enhance the careers of those working in sport, leisure and active wellbeing.

Jayde works at the intersection of inclusion, belonging and culture change in sport. She is passionate about creating accessible sporting environments in which individuals can be themselves, and through which they can thrive.

Jayde is currently project lead of the Active Autism Alliance, working with a network of partners across the sector to enhance inclusion within sport and physical activity for Autistic people. Prior to this, Jayde ran Inclusion Training and Learning at Access Sport, empowering the sport workforce to build inclusion in their own contexts. She had a particular focus on enhancing neuro-inclusion within sport, working in partnership with various National Governing Bodies to create relevant CPD for specific sport’s communities.

As a sport-obsessed child herself, through her formative years playing across recreational and competitive teams, Jayde experienced a breadth of both great and poor coaching practice. Through this, she has a first-hand understanding of the impact on children and young people, and is passionate about empowering and informing others in positions of leadership. Jayde has experience working across a number of programmes focused on enhancing experiences of various communities, including women and girls, LGBTIQ, disability and neurodivergence.

Aimee Barry is Chief Operating Officer at Les Mills UK, part of the world’s leading group training brand. At the heart of her role is a simple focus - helping clubs, trainers, and teams succeed so more people can experience the power of group training.

She leads the growth and evolution of the UK business, with a clear ambition to bring 3,000 new trainers into the industry each year. For Aimee, it isn’t just about scale, it’s about building a stronger, more sustainable fitness ecosystem and investing in the next generation of leaders.

Aimee believes the fitness industry is, first and foremost, a people business. She is known for her emphasis on connection, collaboration, and creating environments where individuals and teams can do their best work.

Alongside her operational leadership, Aimee is a committed advocate for women’s health and greater representation in leadership. She is passionate about using her platform to open doors, challenge norms, and support diverse voices in a fast-moving industry.

Gillian Reeves is the Head of Group Exercise at Third Space, London's leading collection of luxury health clubs, bringing over 25 years of experience in fitness leadership, programme development and instructor education. With a background spanning studio ownership, multi‑site operations and national journalism, she is recognised for elevating group exercise standards and driving innovation across the industry.

Libby Day is Group Exercise Product Manager at David Lloyd Clubs, where she is responsible for shaping and delivering the group exercise experience across the UK and Europe.

With over 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry, she has held roles at Virgin Active and PureGym, working across large-scale programming, product development and club operations. She has also worked with Les Mills UK as Trainer Manager in the Middle East, and as an international trainer, presenter and IQA assessor.

She brings experience in developing and delivering large-scale group exercise products and driving innovation across club operations.

Dr Marlize De Vivo is an internationally recognised expert in perinatal physical activity and women’s health. With a background in clinical exercise, sport science and rehabilitation, she works to improve how women are supported to be active before, during and after pregnancy.

Her contribution to the UK Chief Medical Officers’ Physical Activity Guidelines provided the foundation for much of the work that followed, including translating pregnancy and postnatal physical activity guidance into professional education, sector standards, screening tools and service models.

She is CEO and Co-Founder of the Active Pregnancy Foundation, which turns evidence and lived experience into resources, training and partnerships that help remove barriers to activity across the childbearing years. She is also leading the development of a UK perinatal exercise specialism, designed to strengthen workforce capability and raise standards for professionals supporting women.

Marlize is Principal Research Fellow at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, and Director of the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine in Sheffield, a London 2012 Olympic legacy programme established to improve health and wellbeing through sport, exercise and physical activity.

At Elevate, Marlize will focus on why supporting women through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood matters for the future of fitness, leisure, sport and public health.

Suzanne Gabb is an influential leader in the sport, health, and leisure sectors, with over two decades of experience delivering innovation and impact across public, private, and not-for-profit environments. As Chief Operating Officer at Good Boost, Suzanne leads commercial strategy, partnerships, and operational delivery—focusing on tech-enabled solutions that improve community health, accessibility, and inclusion.

A champion of digital transformation, Suzanne is at the forefront of integrating AI-powered rehabilitation and mobile-first platforms into leisure and health services. Her work helps organisations scale their impact while supporting individuals of all abilities to move more and feel better.

Prior to Good Boost, Suzanne held senior leadership roles, including at Parkwood Leisure, where she tripled youth participation in swimming across 50 sites and led the development of grassroots initiatives tailored to community needs. She has also played a key role in shaping national policy and innovation through her involvement on industry boards, National Governing Bodies, and as a Trustee for the Royal Life Saving Society.

Suzanne brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, operational know-how, and a deep commitment to equity and impact. She is passionate about creating healthier, more inclusive communities through collaboration, innovation, and sustainable change.

Tiffeny Gould is a seasoned business consultant with over 20 years of experience in the health, fitness and leisure sector, specialising in digital transformation strategy and delivery. Tiff works with organisations to identify business challenges, define strategic priorities and implement tailored solutions that drive customer engagement, operational efficiency and commercial growth.

She has supported a wide range of clients, from global operators to suppliers, helping them navigate complex digital landscapes, optimise processes and successfully adopt emerging technologies. Prior to her current role as Consulting Director at LeisureLabs, Tiff built a strong consulting practice, delivering digital transformation across customer experience, systems integration and data-driven strategy projects.

Tiff is recognised for her collaborative approach, deep industry knowledge and ability to translate technical insights into practical business outcomes. She is passionate about helping organisations thrive in an increasingly digital and competitive marketplace.

Lisa West is Head of Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs at Women in Sport and is a passionate advocate for gender equality. Lisa has worked within Local Authorities, NGBs and as a consultant, leading change across the sport and leisure sector.

Her 18 years in the sector enable a deep understanding of the system and how it needs to change to enable women and girls to thrive as participants, volunteers, professionals and as leaders. Lisa believes whole heartedly in the power that sport and physical activity has to improve lives. Lisa is also a School Governor at her children’s primary school.

Yasmin Clarke is a Board Director of the LTA and a passionate advocate for the organisation’s mission of ‘Tennis Opened Up’, ensuring the sport is accessible, inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

A former professional tennis player and Level 5 Master Performance Coach, Yasmin has worked across elite sport, grassroots development and governance as a coach, mentor, speaker and consultant. Her experience across the sport and education sectors gives her a strong understanding of how sport can build confidence, develop life skills and open pathways for young people and underrepresented communities.

Nick has been in the leisure industry since 2001, completing a degree in leisure management and sports science in 2003. He has worked in private health clubs and leisure centres, holding various roles such as fitness instructor, duty manager, deputy centre manager, personal trainer, senior lifestyle consultant, sales manager and centre manager. Each role presented its own unique challenges. Nick has a passion for health and fitness and loves the industry. He joined the Mid Devon Leisure team in June 2016 and specialises in health, fitness and wellbeing.

Interested in sport from an early age, Duncan played international squash representing Scotland from age 14 culminating in a full International Cap aged 19. Duncan completed a BA ‘Sport in the Community’ Degree majoring in ‘Management & Scientific Analysis of High-Performance Athletes’.

In January 2000 Duncan progressed from Sports Co-ordinator at Heriot-Watt University to Director of Sport at the University of Reading before becoming Managing Director and subsequently Chief Executive of Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City. In March 2008 Duncan moved to Neath Port Talbot to take up the role of Managing Director with Celtic Community Leisure, the first Leisure Trust established in Wales in 2003. After a very successful 6 years in South Wales, Duncan was appointed to his current post as Chief Executive of Wave Active now operating 15 sites across the Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough.

Beyond operating leisure sites, Duncan has been instrumental with the development of a new Wave Active Health brand which has the Aim of empowering independent health and wellbeing, through the design and delivery of behavioural change and activity programmes and pathways that help those suffering from injury, illness and health conditions.

Duncan is also currently working with Lewes District Council to bring traditional General Practice and Primary Healthcare Services to a healthy living, leisure centre environment, offering connected healthcare provision to the heart of the local Newhaven community under one roof.

Joseph is responsible for customer and communities at GLL and works with his team across communication, marketing, memberships, product development and customer service to put customers at the heart of everything GLL does.

Before picking up his current remit, Joseph spent 15 years in various operational roles for GLL. Working across different locations throughout the UK with leisure and library teams. Progressing from General Manager through to Regional Director, Joseph has acquired extensive experience of different centres, staff, customers and clients.

Sam manages Mind’s Sport England system partnership and funding. He is responsible for projects helping the sport and physical activity sector to support people with mental health problems in physical activity. This includes programmes focused on supporting the mental health of young people, people from marginalised communities and sport sector workforce. Sam also leads Mind’s work to embed mental health across the sport sector, through developing training, collaborating with partners, and influencing key policy.

Suzanne Gabb is an influential leader in the sport, health, and leisure sectors, with over two decades of experience delivering innovation and impact across public, private, and not-for-profit environments. As Chief Operating Officer at Good Boost, Suzanne leads commercial strategy, partnerships, and operational delivery—focusing on tech-enabled solutions that improve community health, accessibility, and inclusion.

A champion of digital transformation, Suzanne is at the forefront of integrating AI-powered rehabilitation and mobile-first platforms into leisure and health services. Her work helps organisations scale their impact while supporting individuals of all abilities to move more and feel better.

Prior to Good Boost, Suzanne held senior leadership roles, including at Parkwood Leisure, where she tripled youth participation in swimming across 50 sites and led the development of grassroots initiatives tailored to community needs. She has also played a key role in shaping national policy and innovation through her involvement on industry boards, National Governing Bodies, and as a Trustee for the Royal Life Saving Society.

Suzanne brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, operational know-how, and a deep commitment to equity and impact. She is passionate about creating healthier, more inclusive communities through collaboration, innovation, and sustainable change.

Suzanne Gabb is an influential leader in the sport, health, and leisure sectors, with over two decades of experience delivering innovation and impact across public, private, and not-for-profit environments. As Chief Operating Officer at Good Boost, Suzanne leads commercial strategy, partnerships, and operational delivery—focusing on tech-enabled solutions that improve community health, accessibility, and inclusion.

A champion of digital transformation, Suzanne is at the forefront of integrating AI-powered rehabilitation and mobile-first platforms into leisure and health services. Her work helps organisations scale their impact while supporting individuals of all abilities to move more and feel better.

Prior to Good Boost, Suzanne held senior leadership roles, including at Parkwood Leisure, where she tripled youth participation in swimming across 50 sites and led the development of grassroots initiatives tailored to community needs. She has also played a key role in shaping national policy and innovation through her involvement on industry boards, National Governing Bodies, and as a Trustee for the Royal Life Saving Society.

Suzanne brings a unique blend of strategic thinking, operational know-how, and a deep commitment to equity and impact. She is passionate about creating healthier, more inclusive communities through collaboration, innovation, and sustainable change.

Joanne Bogan is an experienced Health and Wellbeing Manager at Active North Yorkshire, leading innovative approaches to improving health through physical activity and behaviour change. With a strong background in population health and local authority delivery, Joanne specialises in developing integrated models that connect communities, services and individuals.

A qualified psychotherapist, she is passionate about empowering people to take control of their own wellbeing, using health coaching approaches to support sustainable lifestyle change. Joanne has played a key role in designing and implementing system-wide approaches that bring together health coaching, community assets and physical activity opportunities to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes.

At Elevate, Joanne will share insights into the evolving model being developed at Active North Yorkshire, demonstrating how health coaching can be embedded within a wider ecosystem to create person-centred, preventative support. Her work is driven by a commitment to collaboration, innovation and making physical activity accessible to all, particularly those who would benefit most.

Dr Emily Peckham is a Senior Research Fellow and Chief Investigator for the NIHR-funded SPACES and Co-SPACES studies, exploring how physical activity can support people experiencing severe mental ill health and reduce health inequalities. Emily is from Bangor university

Gareth Jones is a Research Fellow at Sheffield Hallam University specialising in physical activity, behaviour change and whole systems approaches to health and wellbeing.

Gareth's research has a focus on mental health and supporting those with severe mental illness.

Liz Fletcher is an Occupational Therapist and national strategic lead at Sport for Confidence, focusing on physical activity, population health and reducing inequalities through community and systems-based approaches.

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.

Marina is an advisor on disability inclusion in sport and marketing. She works with advertising agencies, brands, sports organisations, and fitness operators to create more authentic, accessible, and commercially relevant approaches to disability inclusion.

With more than 15 years of marketing experience and lived experience as a disability sport athlete, Marina became a leading advocate for inclusive sport and disability representation following a spinal cord injury in 2020.

Her current projects include delivering disability sport and inclusion work at MATTA, conducting global research into inclusive fitness environments through The Churchill Fellowship, and supporting the sports charity Regain.

Marina’s work includes marketing strategy and execution, inclusive communications workshops, keynote speaking, thought leadership content, and accessibility audits for gyms and sports venues.

More information: disabilityinsport.com

Paula is a HCPC-registered sport and exercise psychologist specialising in weight-related behaviours. She has 21+ years experience of supporting others to lead healthier lives, and provides psychological therapy supporting clients with disordered eating, exercise problems and sustainable weight management. She's previously worked with Mind charity to raise awareness around over-exercising, and is a strong advocate for promoting a healthy mindset for exercise and movement. She's an expert in motivation and has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers, co-edited the Applied Sport and Exercise Practitioner book, and has recently started a YouTube channel (@DrPaulaWatson) to share psychological tips about eating, exercise and weight.

Ian is Group Aquatic and Activity Manager for Everyone Active. He has over 30 years’ experience in the aquatics industry where he has been a full-time swimming coach and teacher. His role includes overseeing aquatics, sport & activity, and health and wellbeing across the business. He is chair of the Workforce sub-group of the Swimming Alliance.

Michael has worked within the Sport and Leisure industry over the last 20 years, working across a multiple of roles starting off as a Community Sports Coach for Positive Futures working with some of the most disadvantaged communities in Sutton. Now working as the Strategic Lead for Sport and Activity for Everyone Active Michaels role is to ensure that the Sports and Activity strategy is delivered across all the Contracts that Everyone Active work in, ensuring that opportunities to be active are available for all of our communities.

Lauren is a passionate advocate for getting young people moving and making sure they feel seen, heard, and included in the world of health and fitness. As Head of Health and Wellbeing with over 10 years of experience in the Wellbeing and Leisure sectors, she brings a unique blend of strategic insight and genuine care for community wellbeing.

Her work goes beyond gym refurbishments and business development, though she’s led many successful projects in those areas. What drives Lauren is the opportunity to reshape how we design fitness spaces and programs to truly engage young people, meet them where they are, and spark a lifelong love of movement. She’s developed a wide range of innovative class concepts with youth at the heart, rooted in the belief that healthy habits start early, and that access, fun, and belonging are key.

Lauren is committed to reducing health inequalities and believes every young person deserves access to safe, supportive, and inspiring spaces to be active, regardless of their background or circumstance. Her approach centres inclusion, and she’s currently focused on adapting a referral program to include GLP-1 support while also reaching underserved communities through initiatives like NHS Health Checks, wellbeing seminars, and post-menopausal heart health programs.

When Lauren speaks on panels, she brings not just expertise but a deep passion for creating a more inclusive, energetic, and youth-friendly fitness culture. Her goal is to help reimagine what physical activity looks like for young people today and ensure they have every opportunity to move, thrive, and feel part of something bigger.

Sam Pearce is the Club Development Manager at Lifestyle Fitness, an organisation dedicated to getting communities and young people active. Lifestyle Fitness partners with over 20 secondary schools and FE colleges across the UK, serving as their well-being partner to enhance community impact and increase accessibility to fitness for young people.

With over 10 years of experience in the fitness industry, Sam has worked both in secondary school settings and with children's activity camp providers to deliver practical training for young people of all ages. He currently leads the development and growth of Lifestyle Fitness's CYP (Children and Young People) programme across all clubs, with the goal of introducing more children to exercise and bridging the gap between opportunities for children and young people to increase engagement.

Sarah Watt 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.

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.

Adrian Turner, Director of Developments at ReCreation, leads the delivery of innovative, affordable leisure and aquatic facilities for local authorities and operators across the UK. As co-founder, he plays a key role in shaping projects that combine elite sporting insight with practical development expertise to create community-focused spaces that improve access to swimming, movement and wellbeing, while simultaneously maintaining a commitment to affordability, sustainability and functionality.

A two-time Commonwealth Games medallist and former Olympian, Adrian represented Great Britain at the 2004 and 2002 Olympic Games. Following his swimming career, he co-founded Total Swimming and went on to help build a group of purpose-led businesses focused on widening participation in sport, specifically swimming. Adrian brings a perspective shaped by elite performance, resilience and hands-on experience of developing facilities that respond to the real needs of communities and operators.

Robyn Drummond is a health and wellbeing coach, speaker, and founder of her an online fitness and wellbeing community focused on helping people build realistic, sustainable habits without the overwhelm often associated with modern fitness culture.

Known for her no-nonsense and relatable approach, Robyn is passionate about simplifying health and making wellbeing feel more accessible, achievable, and supportive for everyday people. Alongside online coaching and community work, she regularly delivers talks within schools and organisations on topics including confidence, social media, health misinformation, mindset, and sustainable wellbeing habits.

Robyn is also an Active IQ ambassador, involved in national wellbeing campaigns including their “Trust Your Trainer” initiative, helping raise awareness around misinformation within the health and fitness industry.

Through her work, Robyn aims to empower people to move away from extremes and build healthier relationships with fitness, wellbeing, and themselves.

Charlotte is an award-winning psychotherapist, educator and speaker whose work sits at the intersection of psychology, consciousness and human performance. With a clinical background spanning both mental health and the fitness industry, she brings a rare dual lens to the conversation about why people struggle to engage - and stay engaged - with physical activity.

Charlotte's work centres on Psychological Longevity™: the idea that sustaining wellbeing over time requires us to understand how our inner psychological world directly shapes our biology, behaviour and capacity for change. She works with organisations including the BBC, NHS and Tesco Bank, helping leaders and teams build the psychological conditions that make lasting behavioural change possible.

For Charlotte, the gap between knowing physical activity helps and actually doing it is rarely about information. It's about identity, safety, shame and the stories we carry. Bridging the brain and the body and creating environments where the whole person feels seen is not a nice-to-have - it's the missing piece.

She brings to this panel the psychology behind engagement, retention and what it truly means to make physical activity accessible for people living with, or without, mental health conditions

Becky is a trustee and senior tutor of theMovement Charity, an organisation that exists to restore every woman’s right to exercise. TheMovement provides free, trauma informed exercise sessions in partnership with charities supporting women who have experienced homelessness, domestic violence, sexual exploitation and correlated disadvantage. Becky uses her experience with the charity in her day to day job as a personal trainer. As part of her role with theMovement, Becky delivers a CPD course focussed on equipping all fitness professionals with the knowledge and training to be more trauma informed in their practice.

Dr Lou Atkinson is a behavioural scientist, applied researcher, educator and exercise professional, with a career spanning over 25 years across Public Health, Fitness, Academia, and MedTech. Her research and practice focus on the psychosocial determinants of health behaviours and developing interventions to reduce disease burden and address health inequalities. She has dedicated her career to building, disseminating and applying the scientific and translational evidence needed to create real-world change in physical activity, obesity, chronic conditions and women's health. Lou co-founded RISE, a non-profit which conducts research to explore the real experience of people working in the fitness industry, with the ambition for fitness to become a world leading sector in diversity, equality and inclusion.

Kim Gray is a trauma-informed fitness educator, speaker, and creator of a CIMSPA-endorsed Trauma-Informed Fitness course. She is on a mission to make trauma-informed practice the standard within the fitness industry.

Kim believes that every person's relationship with movement is shaped by life experience, mental health, and the nervous system. While the fitness industry has traditionally focused on physical transformation, she advocates for a more human-centred approach—one that recognises that lasting change begins with understanding the person behind the programme.

Drawing on neuroscience, trauma-informed principles, and breathwork, Kim teaches fitness professionals how to recognise when a client is ready to be challenged and when their nervous system may be signalling a need for support, regulation, or recovery instead. Understanding this difference can transform the coaching relationship, creating deeper trust, stronger client engagement, and improved retention.

Through her work, Kim equips gyms, health clubs, personal trainers, and coaches with practical tools to create environments where clients feel safe, seen, and supported. Her approach helps professionals stand out in an increasingly crowded industry by building meaningful connections that extend beyond sets, reps, and physical results.

At the Elevate Exhibition, Kim will explore the connection between trauma, breathwork, nervous system regulation, and exercise, showing why the future of fitness must be 'Rooted in Compassion and Backed by Science.

Dr. Akusile (Aku) Makawa is a Research Associate at Loughborough University, whose PhD explored trauma-informed physical activity (TIPA). With the support of Mind and ASICS, Aku's research explored what it means to be trauma-informed in physical activity, as well as which aspects of programme design and delivery are especially important in creating TIPA interventions. His research has conceptualised and developed TIPA, so that those affected by trauma and from underserved communities can access the physical, mental and social benefits of physical activity. Aku’s research has been published with a summary report also produced by Mind earlier this year. Along with an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Aku also worked on the Active Wellbeing Programme (delivered by Enable Leisure & Culture, in partnership with Mind), to support adults with severe mental illness become - and remain - more physically active in their community. Aku also has experience of delivering physical activity to young children, both through extra-curricular provision and physical education provision.

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.

Julie Allen or Jules as most know her, is driven and dedicated to improving the customer experience. With 20 years’ industry experience in both operations and as a supplier, Jules passion for creating meaningful and memorable experiences that lead to healthier and happier communities is at the heart of everything she does.

Prior to joining Active Insight as Business Development Director, Jules started her career as a receptionist before progressing in various roles including Sales and Marketing before moving onto Front of House and Customer Service Manager. With a desire to support a range of operators develop and drive their customer experience strategy, Jules joined TRP (now Fitronics). This combined experience of operations and consultancy has shaped Jules’ approach and commitment to sharing insight and customer experience knowledge to drive change within the industry. A Spin and Zumba instructor – you’ll find Jules in a group exercise studio somewhere!

Tim joined ukactive, the trade body for fitness and leisure, in March 2020. As the Lead for EDI, his role at ukactive is to support the industry’s growth and ensure the sector can provide services that are accessible to all members of society, and ensuring that our services and provisions are equally accessed, enjoyed and participated in by all so that the benefits of physical activity are felt across the entire population.

Historical and current ukactive inclusion work has focussed on specific reports, insight, programming or campaigns – for example older adults, children and young people, disability, women and girls (participation, and safety)​, transgender and single sex provision. To complement this portfolio of assistance for the ukactive membership and encourage a more strategic approach to EDI, Tim developed and launched a self-assessment toolkit. This is open to organisations from across the sector and involves answering 40 questions focused on current practices relating to equality, diversity and inclusion. After completing the assessment (which takes about 15-20 minutes), facilities, providers, and suppliers receive an instant score to show how inclusive they are and signposted to recommendations to help improve EDI practices.

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 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.

Chris leads the Gym and Fitness space for EZ Loyalty (formerly Endurance Zone) helping roll out with clients like F45, Virgin Active, Snap Fitness and Thirdspace.

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.

Dave Wright is the Founder of Myzone, the CEO and owner of Creative Fitness Marketing and the co-owner of the Voyage Fitness brand in Australia. Not only is he a former Board Director of ukactive, but his product, Myzone, is enjoyed in 9,000+ facilities by over a 2 million people in 92 different countries. A serial entrepreneur, who has actively supported the fitness industry for over 3 decades, Dave is a straight-talking and passionate Australian (based in the UK) who has the unique ability of understanding the industry from all angles.

Jak Phillips is a content expert who specialises in the global fitness market and has produced countless industry-leading reports. Based in London, Jak’s role as Global Director of Content, PR & Growth Marketing for Les Mills sees him work with leading brands from around the world, offering rare insight into what it takes to win in the modern fitness industry. He is also a qualified personal trainer, BODYPUMP and CEREMONY HYROX Instructor.

Dave Wright is the Founder of Myzone, the CEO and owner of Creative Fitness Marketing and the co-owner of the Voyage Fitness brand in Australia. Not only is he a former Board Director of ukactive, but his product, Myzone, is enjoyed in 9,000+ facilities by over a 2 million people in 92 different countries. A serial entrepreneur, who has actively supported the fitness industry for over 3 decades, Dave is a straight-talking and passionate Australian (based in the UK) who has the unique ability of understanding the industry from all angles.