Ali Oliver
CEO, Youth Sport Trust
The Youth Sport Trust is an independent charity devoted to building a brighter future for young people through physical education (PE) and sport. We believe PE and sport have the power to fulfil young people`s potential, helping them to be healthy and happy, succeed in life and contribute to society. With over 20 years of experience, we specialise in developing and delivering high quality PE, sport and physical activity related opportunities which maximise the power of sport to grow young people, schools and communities.
Kenny Gibson
Head of Public Health Commissioning
NHS England
Kenny started his NHS-career as a laundry assistant in 1981 before training as a nurse from 1982. He qualified as a nurse and midwife in Scotland and got the learning bug using the internet. He is now a perpetual learner using social media about all things relating to clinical practice and our health care systems – especially how to get the public engaged with their own health and well-being.
He has worked across ...
Kenny started his NHS-career as a laundry assistant in 1981 before training as a nurse from 1982. He qualified as a nurse and midwife in Scotland and got the learning bug using the internet. He is now a perpetual learner using social media about all things relating to clinical practice and our health care systems – especially how to get the public engaged with their own health and well-being.
He has worked across hospitals, care homes, community services, peoples’ homes and even on the streets where he volunteers with the homeless. He still works clinically with people affected by mental health & learning disabilities.
His academic studies have led to his PhD in emotional intelligence and are an urban-apiculturist (bee-keeper in Brixton).
Ali Oliver
CEO
Youth Sport Trust
The Youth Sport Trust is an independent charity devoted to building a brighter future for young people through physical education (PE) and sport. We believe PE and sport have the power to fulfil young people`s potential, helping them to be healthy and happy, succeed in life and contribute to society. With over 20 years of experience, we specialise in developing and delivering high quality PE, sport and physical act ...
The Youth Sport Trust is an independent charity devoted to building a brighter future for young people through physical education (PE) and sport. We believe PE and sport have the power to fulfil young people`s potential, helping them to be healthy and happy, succeed in life and contribute to society. With over 20 years of experience, we specialise in developing and delivering high quality PE, sport and physical activity related opportunities which maximise the power of sport to grow young people, schools and communities.
Jon Brookstein
Head of Development
British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS)
Jon Brookstein is the Head of Development at British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and as such oversees four key strategy areas for BUCS; Physical Activity & Health, Social & Recreational Sport, Professional & Workforce Development and inclusion. Having project managed BUCS research in 2013 into the impact of sport on graduate employability and worked in partnership with Deloitte from concept t ...
Jon Brookstein is the Head of Development at British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) and as such oversees four key strategy areas for BUCS; Physical Activity & Health, Social & Recreational Sport, Professional & Workforce Development and inclusion. Having project managed BUCS research in 2013 into the impact of sport on graduate employability and worked in partnership with Deloitte from concept through to delivery of the BUCS Deloitte Leadership Academy, Jon is passionate about adding value to the lives of young people through sport.
Tara Dillon
Chief Executive
CIMSPA (The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity)
As CEO of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, Tara Dillon leads the institute's headline work in professionalising UK sport and leisure and transforming the workforce development opportunities of those who work in the sector.
Tara was appointed as CEO in January 2015, before which she was interim chief operating officer whilst on secondment from IQL UK. Previously, Tara ...
As CEO of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, Tara Dillon leads the institute's headline work in professionalising UK sport and leisure and transforming the workforce development opportunities of those who work in the sector.
Tara was appointed as CEO in January 2015, before which she was interim chief operating officer whilst on secondment from IQL UK. Previously, Tara has held a variety of senior management roles within the leisure sector, combining 12 years working in local authorities and 9 years in the private sector, culminating in a customer-focused commercial role as executive director of IQL UK.
Simon Hall
Physical Activity Strategy Lead
West Midlands Combined Authority
Simon is the Physical Activity Strategic Lead for the West Midlands Combined Authority in its Public Service Reform Directorate. Over the last 10 months, he has led on the development and now implementation of the “West Midlands on the Move” Physical Activity Strategic Framework with Local Authorities, County Sports Partnerships, Public Health England, Sport England and 30 plus stakeholders which p ...
Simon is the Physical Activity Strategic Lead for the West Midlands Combined Authority in its Public Service Reform Directorate. Over the last 10 months, he has led on the development and now implementation of the “West Midlands on the Move” Physical Activity Strategic Framework with Local Authorities, County Sports Partnerships, Public Health England, Sport England and 30 plus stakeholders which positions active communities as the dynamo of a happy, healthy, better connected and more prosperous West Midlands. The Strategic Framework was launched by the West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street in November 2017 and included the opening of the Coventry “human power station”, a joint investment to bring activity into everyday lives.
Simon is seconded from the Active Black Country Director post at the Black Country Consortium Limited, where he was Director for 12 years; developing an insight and intelligence-led approach to planning, championing skills, collaboration; addressing inequalities and economic growth. He previously worked for Sport England and a number of Local Authorities.
After 35 years of football, in 2017 he ran the London Marathon and led the WMCA’s team to success in the Great Birmingham Half Marathon’s Arcadis business challenge, raising over £7500 for local charities. He is a guest Research lecturer at the University of Worcester and his passions include beekeeping, gardening; Public Service Broadcasting and the more sorrows, than joys of supporting Birmingham City.
Alex Stacey
Learning and Development Activity Lead
UK Sport
Alex Stacey is currently leading the EIS Performance Pathway Team, overseeing Pathway Education Programmes for Pathway Managers, Coaches, Staff and Athletes. Having joined the Team in 2011, Alex has played an active role in the evolution of Performance Pathways in Great Britain, and her current focus areas include working with England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to align Pathways for success in Tokyo and be ...
Alex Stacey is currently leading the EIS Performance Pathway Team, overseeing Pathway Education Programmes for Pathway Managers, Coaches, Staff and Athletes. Having joined the Team in 2011, Alex has played an active role in the evolution of Performance Pathways in Great Britain, and her current focus areas include working with England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to align Pathways for success in Tokyo and beyond. Alex has extensive experience of working with multiple Olympic and Paralympic Sports through her work in the Performance Pathway Team, and also in her work with the England Institute of Sport since Beijing 2008.
Yvonne Harrison
Managing Director
Project `92
Yvonne was appointed as Managing Director of Project 92 in March 2018, after leading Greater Manchester Charity, GreaterSport, as their Chief Executive for four years. Having spent over fifteen years within the sport and physical activity landscape, Yvonne has a wealth of experience across the sector incorporating strategic development, relationship management, finance, business planning and communications. Yv ...
Yvonne was appointed as Managing Director of Project 92 in March 2018, after leading Greater Manchester Charity, GreaterSport, as their Chief Executive for four years. Having spent over fifteen years within the sport and physical activity landscape, Yvonne has a wealth of experience across the sector incorporating strategic development, relationship management, finance, business planning and communications. Yvonne has been a key driver to galvanize the Greater Manchester network to produce Greater Manchester Moving, the blueprint for physical activity and sport across the City Region, as Greater Manchester trailblazes with radical reform of the health and social care system through devolution and begins to implement Sport England’s local delivery pilot. Yvonne led GreaterSport to multiple awards, before leaving to embark on a new challenge, working with the ‘Class of 92’ across their sport and education portfolio, which includes the brand new University venture UA92 in Trafford. Yvonne joined the Board of Why Sports Media Group in 2017 following a positive working relationship with the Founders and recognising the contribution she could make through her experience and network. Yvonne is enjoying helping the social enterprise realise its objectives and ensuring customers of Why Sports experience great content, networking and cutting edge thinking through the series of conferences and panel debates delivered.
John Herriman
CEO
Greenhouse Sports
John joined Greenhouse Sports as Chief Executive in 2016. The charity provides intensive sports coaching and mentoring to young people in state schools and the community across some of London’s most socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods. A former Navy Diver who completed Commando training with the Royal Marines, John is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to develop, particularly through sp ...
John joined Greenhouse Sports as Chief Executive in 2016. The charity provides intensive sports coaching and mentoring to young people in state schools and the community across some of London’s most socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods. A former Navy Diver who completed Commando training with the Royal Marines, John is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to develop, particularly through sport, and knows first hand the benefits of challenge in a well-structured environment. Qualified as a teacher John also worked at a senior level in both the public and private sectors. He now lectures on a global MBA programme with a personal interest in CSR and the way it can help to tackle some of the deep inequalities existing in society today. John is also privileged to be a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, a role through which he is actively involved in strategies to support community and social integration.
John is passionate about the power of grassroots sport and coaching to enable young people to reach their full potential.
Paul Roberts
Director
My Customer Lens
Paul Roberts is CEO of MyCustomerLens, the insight platform driving customer-led growth for the sports and physical activity sector. Paul has spent the past 20 years helping commercial and sports organisations around the world to achieve customer & revenue growth by improving customer experiences. The ‘secret’ to their success has been adopting an ‘outside-in’ perspective; seeing their world fr ...
Paul Roberts is CEO of MyCustomerLens, the insight platform driving customer-led growth for the sports and physical activity sector. Paul has spent the past 20 years helping commercial and sports organisations around the world to achieve customer & revenue growth by improving customer experiences. The ‘secret’ to their success has been adopting an ‘outside-in’ perspective; seeing their world from the customers’ point of view. Maintaining this perspective is hard work, so Paul founded MyCustomerLens to speed up and simplify the process of creating actionable customer insights.
Rhiannon Adams
Under 5`s Physical Activity Development Director
Greater Sport
Sharon Skade
Under 5`s Development and Training Officer
GreaterSport - Greater Manchester Sports Partnership
With a background in sports coaching, devising and delivering physical activity programmes for families in Stockport, Sharon became aware of a gap in the provision within nurseries and Children’s Centre’s regarding the awareness of the important role and positive impact of Physical Development in all areas of a child’s learning and development. In order to understand more fully the theories involved in c ...
With a background in sports coaching, devising and delivering physical activity programmes for families in Stockport, Sharon became aware of a gap in the provision within nurseries and Children’s Centre’s regarding the awareness of the important role and positive impact of Physical Development in all areas of a child’s learning and development. In order to understand more fully the theories involved in child development, to complement her coaching qualifications, Sharon completed a BA Degree in Childhood Studies passing with First Class Honours. This has enabled Sharon to design appropriate bespoke training and development opportunities for a multi-agency early years workforce.
Sharon is passionate about changing lives through physical activity and sport and inspires colleagues across Greater Manchester with her interactive early year’s physical activity training sessions and CPD opportunities. Her vision is to have Physical Development Champions in all Early Years environments.
Nick Powell
Managing Director
PE Partner
Nick has been working with schools and partners to drive engagement in sport and PE over 12 years, firstly as a primary school coach and then as strategy lead for PE Partner. During his time as chair of governors at his boy's school he saw the scrutiny and data that suggested interventions in other core subject areas and recognised the power of applying this rigour to physical education.
Nick has been working with schools and partners to drive engagement in sport and PE over 12 years, firstly as a primary school coach and then as strategy lead for PE Partner. During his time as chair of governors at his boy's school he saw the scrutiny and data that suggested interventions in other core subject areas and recognised the power of applying this rigour to physical education.
Jayne Molyneux
Director Children and Young People
Sport England
Jayne has worked for Sport England since 2009 and is responsible for leading their work involving children and young people. Jayne has also previously worked for the Youth Sport Trust as a National Development Manager responsible for supporting the national network of School Sports Partnerships and Sports Colleges and has over twenty years' experience in the sport and education sectors.
A former international ...
Jayne has worked for Sport England since 2009 and is responsible for leading their work involving children and young people. Jayne has also previously worked for the Youth Sport Trust as a National Development Manager responsible for supporting the national network of School Sports Partnerships and Sports Colleges and has over twenty years' experience in the sport and education sectors.
A former international rugby player, Jayne also coached England Students but now enjoys walking and cycling in her spare time. Until recently she was a school governor at a secondary school in the North West where she was Chair of Governors for five years.
Steve Guscott
Head Of Operations
EZFacility
Steve is the Head of Operations for EZFacility, one of the market leaders for online membership management and scheduling software, and oversees the business in the UK, Europe and Middle East regions driving new business opportunities, partnerships as well as delivering high quality products and customer support. He has over 12 years in the industry working closely with school sports facilities throughout t ...
Steve is the Head of Operations for EZFacility, one of the market leaders for online membership management and scheduling software, and oversees the business in the UK, Europe and Middle East regions driving new business opportunities, partnerships as well as delivering high quality products and customer support. He has over 12 years in the industry working closely with school sports facilities throughout the UK. He has a lifetime of interest and passion in sport and fitness.
Sean Dollery
Account Manager
EZFacility
Sean Dollery is the Accounts Manager at EZFacility UK and as such oversees all new business acquisitions within the UK, Europe, Asia & Australia. Sean has a decade of experience in the leisure & sports industry including four years in events management & six years working for EZFacility who specialises in SaaS-based membership management & sports facility booking software ...
Sean Dollery is the Accounts Manager at EZFacility UK and as such oversees all new business acquisitions within the UK, Europe, Asia & Australia. Sean has a decade of experience in the leisure & sports industry including four years in events management & six years working for EZFacility who specialises in SaaS-based membership management & sports facility booking software. His experience in training, support, sales & account management fuels his knowledge of the EZFacility product & understanding of his client's needs.
Gary Denton
Managing Director
Icon Vocational Training Limited
Gary Denton is Managing Director of ICON Training, an award-winning, Grade 1 Ofsted, sport and leisure industry apprenticeship provider.
Gary has more than 16 years of experience in the sector and started out as an apprentice Gym Instructor. He previously operated his own personal training business, worked as an Exercise Therapist in accident rehabilitation and has tutored, assessed and managed operations at a number o ...
Gary Denton is Managing Director of ICON Training, an award-winning, Grade 1 Ofsted, sport and leisure industry apprenticeship provider.
Gary has more than 16 years of experience in the sector and started out as an apprentice Gym Instructor. He previously operated his own personal training business, worked as an Exercise Therapist in accident rehabilitation and has tutored, assessed and managed operations at a number of organisations, sharing his passion for education and the difference it can make to an individual and the workforce as a whole.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and consultant for an industry trailblazer.
Dr Carolynne Mason
Lecturer in Sport Management
Loughborough University
Mr Chris Allbut
Director of Programmes
Greenhouse Sports
Jason Sugrue
Head of Sports and Coaching
Greenhouse Sports
Jason has worked for Greenhouse Sports for 15 years and was a previous national champion table tennis player. He was instrumental in developing the STEP framework and since 2018 has led the programme delivery in the Greenhouse Centre.
Jason has worked for Greenhouse Sports for 15 years and was a previous national champion table tennis player. He was instrumental in developing the STEP framework and since 2018 has led the programme delivery in the Greenhouse Centre.
Jack Shakespeare
Head of ukactive Kids
UK Active
Natalie Davis
Consultant
4 Global
Natalie works in our Sport investment practice which has been set up to work with sport governing bodies, government agencies, local authorities, commercial facility operators and county sports partnership. We work with them to enable them to maximise returns from the innovative and strategic use of data and information.
She joined the 4global team recently with her background being with NGBs like Swim England and Engl ...
Natalie works in our Sport investment practice which has been set up to work with sport governing bodies, government agencies, local authorities, commercial facility operators and county sports partnership. We work with them to enable them to maximise returns from the innovative and strategic use of data and information.
She joined the 4global team recently with her background being with NGBs like Swim England and England Squash as well as with leisure operators. Her key focus is around helping to bring the power of data to life within the sector as well as helping to empower organisations to better collect in an automated way as well as use it to evidence outcomes and impact day to day delivery.
Utku Toprakseven
Director of Sport Intelligence
4 Global
As the Director of Sport Intelligence at 4 global, Utku Toprakseven manages the leading independent provider of information on participation, operational and financial performance for sports funding bodies, national governing bodies, county sports partnerships, facility operators and sports delivery partners in the UK sports and leisure sector.
The Sport Intelligence practice manages the sector sharing DataHub project, ...
As the Director of Sport Intelligence at 4 global, Utku Toprakseven manages the leading independent provider of information on participation, operational and financial performance for sports funding bodies, national governing bodies, county sports partnerships, facility operators and sports delivery partners in the UK sports and leisure sector.
The Sport Intelligence practice manages the sector sharing DataHub project, tracking over 350million visits from 1,500+ leisure centres and sports venues providing a suite of business intelligence modules via a single online portal to a range of governing bodies (Badminton England, England Squash, EMD UK) and leisure centre operators (Places for People, GLL, 1Life and many others). - www.datahubclub.com
In his earlier career, Utku worked at Accenture and contributed to the delivery of IT consultancy projects for multinational companies.