Lucy Findlay-Beale is Event Director of Elevate and has been part of the event since its launch, playing a key role in its growth and evolution over the past decade.

Before moving into event leadership, Lucy worked within the fitness and leisure sector as an operator, giving her first-hand experience of the challenges and opportunities facing facilities, teams and customers. This operational background, combined with years of working closely with suppliers, operators, governing bodies, educators and healthcare professionals, has given her a unique perspective on the industry's development.

Today, Lucy leads the strategic direction of Elevate, curating content, partnerships and industry engagement that bring together leaders from across the physical activity, fitness and sports therapy sectors. She is a passionate advocate for collaboration and innovation, believing that meaningful progress is achieved when organisations work together to improve health outcomes and create more active communities.

David is a well-established leader within the global physical activity sector and has over 35 years of experience within the industry.

He has previously held the position of CEO at ukactive from 2008 to 2016 and has also served as the Chair of CIMSPA along with other senior executive positions across the sector, including CEO of Myzone, President of EuropeActive and non-executive Director of Alliance Leisure.

David is the Chair of the ukactive Board, where he works to drive and support the growth of the organisation's members through its Vision 2030 strategy.

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.

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

Luke Carlson is the founder and CEO of Discover Strength based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Discover Strength owns and operates strength training studios as well as the Discover Strength Franchise. Luke is an internationally recognized speaker on leadership, management, and evidence-based exercise. He is an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist, holding a BS and MS in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota, and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership, Strategy and Innovation program at Stanford University. He received an Honorary PhD from Solent University in Southampton, England. Luke has presented to audiences in a variety of industries in China, Taiwan, Australia, Brazil, and across both Europe and North America. Luke is the current chair and serves on the board of the Health and Fitness Association. He is one of the top-rated Vistage speakers in North America and won the 2022 Vistage Leadership Award.

Dan Aguilera is a high-performance business consultant & mentor, international speaker, and multi-business operator with 27 years experience in the fitness industry. Dan is recognised as one of the leading strategic thinkers in the fitness and wellness industry. He has built and scaled multiple 7-figure ventures, consulted for over 1000 gyms worldwide, and transformed the lives and businesses of hundreds of fitness entrepreneurs.

Dan specialises in structured mentoring, financial strategy, product development, system integration, and high-performance team leadership, bringing a rare combination of creativity, operational discipline, and commercial intelligence that enables him to connect with people at every level of an organisation.

He has earned a reputation for designing business models that are not only profitable, but duplicatable, scaleable and sustainable.

Paul is the CEO and Co-founder of Speedflex. Before entering the leisure industry, Paul spent 18 years working in professional sport. Five as a professional footballer for Newcastle United where he was the club’s youngest ever scorer in 1982. After injury ended his playing career he returned to Newcastle United in 1993 and enjoyed a highly successful career as the club’s Physiotherapist. He left professional football and in 2007 was called the bar. After qualifying as a barrister he once again returned to Newcastle United as the Head of Sports Medicine as part of Alan Shearer's management team.

Paul is also a bestselling and multi-award winning author of two memoirs. The Boy on the Shed (2018), and The Magic in the Tin (2022).

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 worked in the NHS then went onto 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.

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.

Jenny brings over 35 years of experience in physical activity and education, having led the development and growth of specialist health and fitness awarding organisations, including her most recent role as MD of Active IQ over the last 12 years. With a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks, she has also worked across education provider and operator environments, and she is committed to supporting individuals as they enter and progress through the sector. Over the past three decades, Jenny has witnessed—and helped shape—the evolution of fitness education from traditional instructor training to a more comprehensive, evidence informed and wellbeing focused ecosystem. Her passion for lifelong learning continues to drive her mission to equip physical activity professionals with the skills needed to meaningfully enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. Internationally, Jenny has played a pivotal role in shaping accreditation and quality assurance standards for organisations including the European Health and Fitness Association (now Europe Active), the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) Ireland, and the International Confederation of Registers of Exercise Professionals (ICREPs). Jenny now runs her own consultancy business, JP Consulting, which provides strategic advisory services for training providers, employers, sector stakeholders and awarding organisations.

Dan began his career as an instructor and has since held senior leadership and advisory roles across some of the UK’s leading education, awarding and community provision providers.

Dan has extensive expertise in the fitness sector including education, training, regulatory development and public health. He is recognised for his passion for scaling organisations, building commercial success, and championing equal access to physical activity. Dan consults nationally and internationally, supporting the sector through strategic development and initiatives that improve the opportunities for both professionals and communities.

Stephanie has loved sport and exercise from a young age and played multiple sports over the years. In 2003 she qualified as a sports coach specialising in field athletics, football and classical dance. In 2005 she moved into PT and group exercise

She ran coaching and PT training business in the UK, Egypt and the USA before returning to the UK in 2009 to work in the private gym sector, taking a variety of roles for LA Fitness. During this time, she focused on education development, colleague training pathways and member journey experience.

In 2013 Stephanie worked on the development of boutique fitness spaces and programming at LA Fitness and within independent companies.

She started working at Everyone Active in 2017 where she has been leading on training and development for fitness colleagues and product design. More recently she has been developing a new wellbeing product You+ which focuses on the behaviours of wellbeing.

Stephanie is passionate about making change and influencing other fitness professionals to reach their potential and to deliver excellent products and service.

Sarah Bellew is Head of Communications and Engagement at Women in Sport, where she leads the organisation’s strategy to shift culture, influence policy and grow support by shining a light on gender inequality in sport.

An award-winning journalist with 20 years’ experience, Sarah specialises in turning research and evidence into powerful public narratives that drive debate and action. She leads integrated communications, partnerships and income strategies that strengthen both the charity’s influence and sustainability.

Under her leadership, Women in Sport has delivered bold, agenda-setting campaigns including Mini Allies and Black Girls and Sport: A Breakup Story, sparking national conversation, securing widespread media coverage and building cross-sector partnerships to address systemic barriers facing women and girls.

As an masters athlete, Sarah currently represents England in Touch rugby and has won two European gold medals and two World Cup bronze medals. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director at England Touch.

A former England rugby union player, Brian won 64 England caps between 1987 and 1995. He is also a renowned sports commentator. Brian is passionate about furthering the development of sport for women and girls and is the vice chair of the charity Women in Sport. Brian is also a trained solicitor and has a MSc in Psychology from Westminster University.

Rowell is an accomplished professional with over 15 years of experience across public health, leisure, economics, and elite sport spanning three countries. He has successfully led strategic relationships, operational contracts, frameworks, and capital projects alongside local authorities, leisure operators, and national stakeholders.

Combining elite athletic experience with academic training in economics, Rowell offers a unique lens on policy and programme development. His approach is both data-driven and outcomes-focused, ensuring strategies are grounded in evidence and aligned with broader health and societal objectives.

He possesses a deep understanding of social care, health protection, and the wider determinants of health, including socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural factors. His expertise in high-performance sport further enhances his ability to position physical activity as a powerful tool for improving population health and tackling inequality.

Throughout his career, Rowell has demonstrated a consistent ability to navigate complex systems, develop meaningful cross-sector partnerships, and drive impactful change. His work reflects a strong commitment to reducing disparities and improving lives through collaborative, insight-led solutions.

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.

Justine Davies is a global leader in youth fitness at Les Mills, where she leads the BORN TO MOVE™ programme—supporting both partner and non-partner organisations to implement innovative, scalable delivery models that inspire young people to lead fun, active lives.

Working across global markets, Justine champions a diverse ecosystem of delivery—from adopt-a-school programmes and community outreach to the development of young leaders, and impactful collaborations spanning digital platform providers through to charities. Her work is grounded in one core belief: the young person is the “why” behind everything we do—driven further through her deep involvement in Les Mills’ impact strategy, ensuring measurable, meaningful change in how young people experience movement and wellbeing.

A passionate advocate for sector alignment, Justine actively supports UKACTIVE in embedding its guidance on safely including children and young people (aged 2 to 16) in gym and group exercise environments—helping operators adopt age-appropriate access, supervision, safeguarding, staff training, and inclusive practices. She also works with global markets to interpret and localise these frameworks, ensuring programmes are delivered safely, effectively, and in line with national physical activity recommendations while meeting the needs of local communities, and meet the needs of our young people!

Known for her “what if” mindset, Justine challenges the status quo—refusing to accept “this won’t work here.” She brings a tenacious, can-do attitude and an unwavering belief that, while the challenge of getting young people active is huge, it is absolutely worth the fight—and she won’t give up. A natural collaborator, she believes there is no single solution and refuses to be a gatekeeper to progress.

Above all, Justine is a fierce champion for young people—ensuring their voice, experience, and wellbeing remain front and centre.

Lawrence co-founded Love Recruitment in 2015 and Love Childcare Recruitment in 2021 and is the CEO of both. Lawrence is a specialist in recruitment and loves bringing great candidates and great businesses together. Lawrence's key focus is providing the vision for the company and the growth.

Lawrence’s background is in the fitness industry, working within a start-up called Solutions Health and Fitness before moving to Esporta for many years. After working within recruitment for nearly 5 years, Lawrence launched Love with Abhi Lakhina.

Towards the end of 2022, Lawrence also launched and hosts the Love Your Career Podcast, designed to help candidates with their careers and businesses learn recruitment tips from industry professionals telling their stories. Lawrence is also passionate about climate change and businesses doing more to support these causes. We plant trees with every placement we make, it is called Share The Love. Lawrence also sits on UK Active’s Supplier Council after being elected this year.

CEO EMEA at Lift Brands, leading the growth and performance of the Snap Fitness network across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Founder of TRIB3 and winner of the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Over the past 30 years, I have built, scaled and transformed businesses across fitness, leisure and marketing, launching more than 550 locations and creating brands that deliver sustainable growth for franchisees, investors and shareholders.

My passion is helping people and businesses unlock exponential potential through leadership, innovation, franchising and operational excellence. I believe great businesses are built by great people, strong cultures and a relentless focus on customer experience.

A high performing Board Executive with extensive experience across the leisure and wellbeing industry, dealing with complex contractual relationships in both the public and private sectors. 20+ years of experience impacting positive organisational outcomes through change management, project delivery and developing high performing teams.

More recently, embarked on a change management programme reviewing digital systems and customer touch points across the organisation with the aim of simplifying the customer journey and making our wide range of services easily accessible.

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!

Jack has over 17 years of experience in the sports industry and currently serves as 4GLOBAL’s Director of Strategic Projects. In this role, he leads a team of Senior Consultants, Project Delivery Managers, and Data Analysts, ensuring the successful delivery of multiple complex and high-value projects. Jack brings extensive senior and executive leadership experience within the sport, physical activity, and health sectors, with a proven ability to operate effectively at all organisational levels.

At 4GLOBAL, Jack has been instrumental in driving projects such as The Moving Communities project with Sport England. His leadership in this project has fostered innovation and emphasised the importance of knowledge sharing across the sector. The initiative has significantly contributed to enhancing the fitness and health sector by providing more frequent opportunities for physical activity and highlighting underserved communities and areas that require investment.

Before joining 4GLOBAL, Jack was the Director of Research, Policy, and Communications at ukactive. During his tenure, he led the delivery of strategic research and insights that influenced sector policies and delivered tangible positive changes. His role also involved maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders across both central and local government.

Jack's expertise in strategic leadership, project management, and policy development, combined with his passion for the sports and health sectors, positions him as a valuable asset across initiatives. His commitment to driving innovation and improving sector outcomes is reflected in the successful projects he has led and the strong relationships he has built throughout his career.

Sarah Robertson is a strategic leader with over 20 years’ experience delivering transformational change across sport, leisure, health, local government and communities.

Currently Active Wellbeing & Partnership Manager at Active Wirral, Sarah leads large-scale programmes that improve health outcomes, reduce inequalities and create stronger, more active communities. She is responsible for strategic partnerships, commercial development, place-based working and service transformation, working across local government, health systems, education, voluntary sector organisations and national governing bodies.

Sarah is recognised for her ability to bring people together around a shared vision, translating complex challenges into practical action and measurable impact. Her expertise spans system leadership, organisational development, stakeholder engagement, behavioural change, community activation and strategic planning.

Prior to local government, Sarah held leadership roles within national sports organisations and major international events, including Basketball England and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. She has led award-winning marketing, communications and engagement initiatives throughout her career.

A qualified Executive Coach, She is passionate about creating environments where individuals, organisations and communities can thrive, and is particularly interested in the role of sport, physical activity and movement in driving social change. Outside of work she is an active tennis coach and has been for 25 years.

Tina spent 25 years of her career within Local Authority Sports Development before joining the Place Team at Sport England. She has since spent the past 8 years working with Place Partners across Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria to support the development of place-based systemic work in tackling inequalities and increasing physical activity.

Tina works with a range of local and national partners, building collaborative relationships that connect, challenge, reflect, and learn. Her work and that of Place Partnerships contribute towards tackling inactivity and stubborn inequalities in local communities and to the successful delivery of Sport England’s strategy, Uniting the Movement.

David is a well-established leader within the global physical activity sector and has over 35 years of experience within the industry.

He has previously held the position of CEO at ukactive from 2008 to 2016 and has also served as the Chair of CIMSPA along with other senior executive positions across the sector, including CEO of Myzone, President of EuropeActive and non-executive Director of Alliance Leisure.

David is the Chair of the ukactive Board, where he works to drive and support the growth of the organisation's members through its Vision 2030 strategy.

Cameron is a senior leader with more than 20 years’ experience running complex, high-profile organisations across entertainment, media and public-interest sectors. He was previously Managing Director of 20th Century Fox UK, where he built a high-performance culture and led the organisation’s commercial growth. He also served on the Board of Cinema First, the UK’s trade body for the film industry, where he played a lead role aligning rival cinema operators and film studios around shared priorities, convening senior leaders through structured roundtables, and translating discussion into tangible outcomes.

Throughout his career, Cameron has built influential brands, mobilised audiences and forged commercially strong partnerships in high-profile environments. He was Group Strategy Director for renowned advertising agency, Engine, and has held senior positions at Sky, Paramount, Showmax Africa and Channel 4. Alongside his commercial career, Cameron served as Chair of The Film & TV Charity, where he led industry-wide action on mental health and wellbeing — commissioning landmark research into workforce mental health, building cross-industry coalitions around shared standards, and demonstrating that a diverse sector can come together to be a powerful force for the wellbeing of the people it employs.

Cameron is an avid runner and advocate for physical activity, having been inspired to start running when he was working on the re-release Chariots of Fire as part of the London 2012 celebrations. He has since become an endurance runner, helping to raise over £200,000 for charity and building a community of followers on Instagram.

Melinda Nicci is a board-level leader, behavioural scientist and founder working at the intersection of AI, digital health and human performance. Melinda brings governance-level thinking to one of the most pressing strategic questions facing the sector: how AI should be adopted responsibly, ethically and with people at the centre.

Melinda's work is grounded in behavioural science and applied across AI strategy, digital health and leadership — advising organisations on where technology adds genuine value and where human judgement must remain sovereign. She is the founder of Baby2Body, Bella Ai and Mbody and a non-executive director and advisor to businesses navigating innovation at pace.

A recognised thought leader in UK tech and wellness, she writes on AI, leadership and human performance in her Substack, Unstoppable.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

Peta Young has spent almost three decades working in the people space, initially specialising in L&D, before moving in to more senior HR generalist roles, and for the last three years as People Director with Oxygen Activeplay. With experience in Retail, Leisure and Hospitality, Peta has worked in fast-paced privately owned and PE backed businesses.

In her role as Senior L&D Manager at The Entertainer, she supported the UK growth from 15-150 stores, as well as the acquisition of The Early Learning Centre brand, and the global franchising of these brands.

Peta is also the employer representative on the Board Governor’s for Captiva Learning, an apprenticeship provider and has held this post, advising on standards, governance and private sector needs for the last four years.

Peta keep active by walking her puppy, pilates and walking advantures on UK and world-wide city breaks

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.

Ryan is Chief Operating Officer at Access Training, where he leads strategic direction, business development, and operational performance across the organisation's education and skills delivery. Since stepping into the COO role in January 2026, he has focused on sustainable growth, sharper collaboration across the executive team, and consistently strong outcomes for learners and employers.

He brings two decades of experience in the health and fitness sector, including more than five years in director and executive leadership positions. Over that time, Ryan has built deep expertise in workforce development, strategic partnerships, and commercial growth — sitting at the intersection of physical activity and the education and training sector that supplies its talent.

At Elevate, Ryan offers a practitioner-led view of how training providers, employers, and the wider sector can work together to professionalise the workforce, widen access, and meet the demands of a rapidly changing labour market. He is a vocal advocate for clearer career pathways into the industry and for raising the standard of qualifications that underpin them — ensuring individuals gain the skills, confidence, and credentials needed to thrive in modern health and fitness careers.

Dr. Ashley Gluchowski is a clinical exercise physiologist and University Fellow at the University of Salford. She specialises in strength training for health in middle-aged and older adults. She is passionate about bringing the gap between research and practice, translating strength science into actionable community-based messaging, programming, resources, and services that promote life-long behaviour change.

Ben Ward is the Strategic Sector Development Manager at Innerva, leading international growth and strategic partnerships for power-assisted exercise solutions supporting active ageing, rehabilitation, and long-term health. His work focuses on scaling commercially sustainable models that improve health outcomes and expand access to inclusive physical activity across global markets.

With over a decade of experience in the health & fitness sector, Ben specialises in international distribution, market development, and strategic partnerships. He is involved in shaping initiatives at the intersection of fitness and healthcare, including work aligned with NHS-backed programmes and new approaches to preventative health and rehabilitation.

He brings a strategic perspective on the evolving role of the fitness industry as a core pillar of public health, with a focus on demographic change, rising healthcare demand, and more inclusive, outcome-driven wellbeing solutions.

Accomplished Freelance Trainer/ Tutor to the fitness industry-LOVE my job

Passionate about the exerciser experience. Skilled in the creation & delivery of staff learning & development workshops (CPD). Involved in qualification delivery, assessing & quality assurance since 1997. Experienced in supporting, Colleges, Training Providers, Operators & Equipment Manufacturers.

Speaker/ presenter-when absolutely, undoubtedly, & unequivocally, no-one else is available.

Georgie has led ukactive’s events and marketing teams for over 5 years and has recently supported the launch and delivery of ukactive’s consumer engagement work, to develop the sector’s understanding of consumer expectations, barriers, behaviours, and trends to support ukactive’s Vision 2030. Georgie has extensive experience in event delivery and consumer experience, having previously working at Goodwood Estate delivering major events and other experience-based projects. Leading on the marketing and promotional aspects of all ukactive’s work, Georgie has worked with various organisations to elevate ukactive’s work and partner brands to maximise these partnerships and demonstrate the value that our sector does. Georgie also leads on National Fitness Day connecting our sector to the consumer and driving the awareness and value of being active, year on year driving increased engagement and impact.

Marianne is the Director of Membership & Sector Development at ukactive, the UK’s leading non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health of the nation through the power of physical activity. With a deep passion for collaboration and innovation, Marianne leads strategic engagement with ukactive’s diverse membership base, spanning public, private, and third-sector organisations across the physical activity landscape.

Drawing on over a decade of experience in local authority leisure, public health and major infrastructure and by driving stakeholder relations, sector growth, and policy engagement, Marianne has played a central role in advancing ukactive’s mission to create a healthier, more active society. Her leadership has been instrumental in supporting sector-wide initiatives, driving member value, and championing inclusivity, sustainability, and sector growth.

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.

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

Liam Baker is the founder and Managing Director of Together We Lift, a not-for-profit movement using strength training to start honest conversations around mental health.

After experiencing his own mental health crisis in 2021, Liam found that opening up, getting support and rebuilding his confidence through fitness changed the direction of his life. What started as one community lifting event in 2022 has grown into Together We Lift, a national series of inclusive strength-based events designed to help people talk, connect and realise they are not alone.

Through Together We Lift, Liam brings people together around one simple message: when the weight feels too heavy to carry alone, we lift together. His events use accessible strength challenges, including Tandem deadlift, to demonstrate the power of Communication & Trust.

Liam has raised over £18,000 for mental health support through these events and continues to work closely with localised mental health charities.

Philip is Senior Head of Public Affairs for Swim England, the National Governing Body for Swimming, Para Swimming, Diving, Water Polo and Artistic Swimming.

Philip has over 15 years experience in public policy, public affairs and campaigns. After working in parliament for a number of years for MPs, Philip has experience of influencing government for a large health charity with a specific focus on local government and a leading disability charity.

Since 2019 he has led the Public Affairs work of Swim England, campaigning on issues such as funding for pools, school swimming and water quality issues.

Justine Davies is a global leader in youth fitness at Les Mills, where she leads the BORN TO MOVE™ programme—supporting both partner and non-partner organisations to implement innovative, scalable delivery models that inspire young people to lead fun, active lives.

Working across global markets, Justine champions a diverse ecosystem of delivery—from adopt-a-school programmes and community outreach to the development of young leaders, and impactful collaborations spanning digital platform providers through to charities. Her work is grounded in one core belief: the young person is the “why” behind everything we do—driven further through her deep involvement in Les Mills’ impact strategy, ensuring measurable, meaningful change in how young people experience movement and wellbeing.

A passionate advocate for sector alignment, Justine actively supports UKACTIVE in embedding its guidance on safely including children and young people (aged 2 to 16) in gym and group exercise environments—helping operators adopt age-appropriate access, supervision, safeguarding, staff training, and inclusive practices. She also works with global markets to interpret and localise these frameworks, ensuring programmes are delivered safely, effectively, and in line with national physical activity recommendations while meeting the needs of local communities, and meet the needs of our young people!

Known for her “what if” mindset, Justine challenges the status quo—refusing to accept “this won’t work here.” She brings a tenacious, can-do attitude and an unwavering belief that, while the challenge of getting young people active is huge, it is absolutely worth the fight—and she won’t give up. A natural collaborator, she believes there is no single solution and refuses to be a gatekeeper to progress.

Above all, Justine is a fierce champion for young people—ensuring their voice, experience, and wellbeing remain front and centre.

With a background in education and local authority sports development, Mark originally joined StreetGames in its infancy in January 2008, managing the national Young Volunteers programme.

In 2011 Mark became the founding Chief Executive of the new, independent County Sports Partnership, Get Berkshire Active, where he worked on the legacy of London 2012 across the county.

Having returned to StreetGames as Deputy Chief Executive in May 2013, when the organisation secured £20 million to deliver 1,000 neighbourhood Doorstep Sport Clubs in England, Mark subsequently took on the role of Acting Chief Executive in October 2019 and was appointed as the permanent Chief Executive in December 2020. Mark received an OBE for services to charity and education in the New Year’s Honours List in 2025.

Mark is passionate about the power of sport and physical activity to impact upon the lives and aspirations of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

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.