COMMUNITY Leisure UK is delighted to welcome three new board members and an enhanced role for an existing board member.
Iain Varah, Chief Executive of Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure, has been appointed as one of the two new Vice Chairs, with Dawn Heaton – the current Treasurer – taking on the other Vice Chair position. They replace Alistair Roberston.
Chief Executive of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Kay Morrison has replaced Andrew Bain as Scotland’s representative on the board.
Mike Lyons, Chief Executive of Hampshire-based Charitable Trust Horizon Leisure, replaces Scott Rolfe as South West Director.
Robin Strang, chair for Scotland, has also stepped down after more than four years in the role.
Chair of Community Leisure UK, Phil Rumbelow said: “We’d like to thank all our outgoing board members for their support and expertise during their term. Since Covid began, our sector has been on a three-year rollercoaster, and not a pleasant one at that. Their experience, along with the rest of the board, has played a pivotal role in supporting our sector through a pandemic, energy crisis and cost-of-living crisis, and I know I speak for all other board members when I say how grateful we are for their time and dedication to our sector.”
The new board members bring a wealth of experience with them.
Iain Varah began his Leisure and Culture career back in the early 80s at Blyth Leisure Centre before being appointed as Chief Officer in the City of Newport and, eventually, moving to the London Borough of Redbridge, where he and his team set up Vision Redbridge.
Dawn is the Finance Director and Company Secretary for Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles and has strategic responsibility for the organization’s financial management and organizational development. She has been a member of the Senior Leadership Team for more than ten years as Finance Director and Head of Finance & Resources.
Kay has worked in Scotland’s Leisure and Culture sector for 19 years in both a Local Authority and Charity context. Her working experience includes roles in Sports & Physical Activity, Community Recreation, Strategy, Business Development and Governance. She is also the former vice–chair of the Sportscotland Trust Board, having completed two four-year terms as a board member.
Mike has more than 30 years of experience in the sport, leisure, and culture sector, working previously as Director of Sport and Leisure at BH Live based in Bournemouth and prior to that as Head of Sport and Leisure at Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles in Wigan.
Kirsty Cumming, CEO of Community Leisure UK, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new Directors, and we are looking forward to working with them to further enhance the reputation and understanding of a sector that really cares about communities and making a difference.”
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