Getting Wales Moving 2019

Simon Stephens

Programmes Director, Cardiff City Foundation

Simon has been with the Foundation since 2008, working across all key outcome areas during his 10 years with the official charity of Cardiff City Football Club.

Simon is also a member of the EFL Trust Health panel as well as sitting on the Dementia Friendly Cardiff Sub-Group. Simon has an achieved a Level 5 ILM qualification and also graduated from the University of South Wales with a degree in Sports Studies.

Afternoon Plenary Session

Inspiring Outcome Focused Programme Design: The journey from theory to practice

15:20 - 15:40

Ryan Jones
Head of Rugby Participation
Welsh Rugby Union

Welsh rugby speaker Ryan Jones is the most capped Welsh captain in rugby union history, he began his career at Newport RFC in 1999 he has gone on to be part of the Celtic cup winning Ospreys’ side. Born in Newport, Wales, Ryan Jones has played for a number of well-known Welsh sides and continues to work as a sports speaker at local and club events across the Nation; as well as playing for Welsh sides Newport and Bridgend Jones has also played for the now disbanded Celtic Warriors and finally joined the Osprey’s in 2004. Whilst at the Osprey’s the team won both the Celtic League in 2004–05 and its replacement, the Magners League in 2006–07 at which point Ryan Jones was made captain. Ryan Jones continues to work as a rugby speaker for the Ospreys, his captaincy and the team’s success during his tenure helping to make him a very popular after dinner speaker for all Osprey fans.

Gareth Davies
Chairman
Welsh Rugby Union Group / Grwp Undeb Rygbi Cymru

Gareth Davies was appointed as Chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union in October 2014 following his election to the Board as a National Director. He took up his new appointment following twelve months as CEO of the Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade. He is a former Dean of Leeds Metropolitan University (2009-2013) following a three year stint as theWelsh Assembly Government’s Head of Australia and New Zealand for Trade and Investment in October 2006. He was based in Sydney. Prior to this he joined Royal Mail Group plc at the most challenging time in the organizations 368 year long history, as it proceeded with the single biggest corporate turnaround program in British industry. He worked for three and a half years with the Royal Mail Group in Wales as its Director of Welsh Affairs. Gareth, former chairman of the Sports Council for Wales and Commissioning Editor for Sports and Events at Welsh TV Company S4C, has an illustrious sporting background as well as a strong professional and business record. He began his rugby career with Llanelli, retiring from the sport after 12 seasons at Cardiff and gaining 21 Welsh caps. He captained Wales five times, and represented the British Lions team that toured South Africa in1980. His impressive business career has included Assistant Director of the CBI Wales and BBC Wales Head of Sport. He was also Chief Executive of Cardiff Athletic Club/Cardiff Rugby Football Club until June 1999. Gareth, a BSc Chemistry graduate from the former University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology, with a PGCE from Oxford University, is married to Fiona and has two daughters Kathryn, a newly qualified doctor and Lowri a graduate from Swansea University who is a teacher at Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Rachel Fowler
Managing Director
Strategic Leisure

Following her first degree in English, Rachel studied sport and leisure management at post-graduate level at Loughborough University. She moved into consultancy in 1997 after a ten-year career in leisure management with six different local authorities. She has over twenty-eight years’ experience in sports and leisure management in both the public and private sectors. In addition to her management responsibilities, Rachel retains an active role in the delivery of consultancy services to a range of clients across the UK, and internationally, and is now one of the UK’s most experienced leisure consultants. Rachel has completed over 800 consultancy projects; her experience covers the whole range of Strategic Leisure services and sectors but she has particular experience in strategic planning for indoor and outdoor facilities, green space and cultural provision, feasibility studies, facility development, funding, procurement, planning policy, evaluation, stadia and arena planning and operation, funding and major events. She has worked with many clients to address the challenges of strategic planning for facility provision, involving rationalisation, partnership and planning across boundaries. Much of Rachel's current work involves identifying and assessing options for the future delivery of cultural and leisure services, including libraries, heritage, the arts, theatres, sports and leisure facilities, and sport and arts development. She is also developing a significant number of strategic plans for facilities with local authorities. Her appreciation of the current public sector funding context, together with a detailed understanding of local authorities makes her ideally placed to advise on options for future delivery, their impact and implications, and what alternatives might be appropriate to ensure long term service sustainability. Rachel is also currently working with a number of clients on major facility developments, involving a wide range of different partnerships, and other strategic planning projects. Passionate about client care and delivery of quality outputs, Rachel has contributed significantly to the development of Strategic Leisure’s consultancy approach and team ethos.

Sally Higham
CEO
Groop

Sally volunteers across many different organisations and charities in addition to her full-time commitment as the CEO of Groop and role as Chair of the Inspiring Impact Steering Group. She runs her local County Junior U18 Badminton Team and she is the Founder of the Championing Women network - she also mentors young women in early stages of their careers. Until late 2018, Sally was a Non-Exec Director (NED) on the board of Aster Group; previously a NED at Bromford Housing and a Guardian Professional writer. Sally is a passionate strategist committed to supporting communities, education, youth services, charities, social housing and social enterprises to survive and thrive. In October 2018, she secured a £3 million investment to develop and grow her multi-award winning RunAClub club management platform. In January 2019, this successful technology business rebranded to Groop. Still very much a socially focused business built from knowledge, it is now expanding its offering to customers, providing new and exciting functionality in an all-in-one community management platform. During 2019, this socially focussed business will continue to listen to their customers and develop the technology to make a real difference to communities across the UK. An award-winning social entrepreneur: Winner of Techies Social Impact Award (May 2019) for a product or service driven by technology that is making a difference to its users and the wider community; Shortlisted British Small Business Awards (Nov 2017); Bristol Women in Business 2016 Innovation Award; Next Gen Intelligent Communities Award 2015; Big Venture Challenge Winner 2014 and 2013; Unltd Fast Growth Winner 2013; Sally delivers talks on using technology to create social change in communities, social entrepreneurship, start-ups and social investment, building partnerships and Board roles.

Geoff Thompson
Executive Chair MBE, FRSA, DL
The Youth Charter

Geoff Thompson was appointed to the GB Sports Council - now Sport England in 1990 following an outstanding career in competitive Karate. He was five times World Karate Champion from 1982 to 1986 and holder of over 50 national and international titles. As one of Britain’s most successful and celebrated sportsmen of the 80’s Geoff made a transition from tracksuit to lounge suit where he established himself as a sports politician and administrator. Geoff is one of the leading youth activists and experts in sports development and politics with over 25 years experience in the bidding and hosting and legacy of major games and the positive impact of sport and the arts in the social and human development of young people and communities. He is Founder and Executive Chair of the Youth Charter (www.youthcharter.co.uk), a UK registered charity and United Nations accredited Non-Governmental Organisation established in 1993.

Carl Daniels
Senior Sports and Leisure Manager
Carmarthenshire County Council

Appointed as Senior Sport & Leisure Manager in 2013, Carl has since been responsible for galvanising and driving the physical activity portfolio of Carmarthenshire County Council. Transforming services under new brand ‘Actif Sport & Leisure’, improvements and investments have resulted in dramatic increases in participation, income, efficiency and user satisfaction. Gaining the confidence of the Council has led to a multi-million-pound capital investment programme across the portfolio, including being at the forefront of the development of a vision to create the £200+ million ‘once in a generation’ Wellness & Life Sciences Village in Llanelli. Starting out as a PE specialist primary school teacher before joining Carmarthenshire County Council’s Sports Development Section in 2004, Carl has more than 18 years’ experience in the sport and physical activity sector. Despite a large ‘business’ element to his role, improving lives lies at the heart of his purpose, developing sector-leading approaches to Young Ambassadors, Physical Literacy and the Measurement of the Impact of Physical Activity (Social Value) resulting in presentations at national and international events.

Mrs Kate Evans
Head of Communications and Policy
Welsh Sports Association

Kate is a corporate communications specialist with nearly 20 years in the industry. As a senior political consultant, she has advised a broad range of clients from the private, public and third sectors and has a particular expertise in public affairs. She has supported organisations taking legislation though its various procedures, and has worked on a number of successful campaigns including banning wild animals in circuses. She recently achieved a distinction in her Executive MBA from Cardiff Met, focussing on how social models of physical activity could influence national governing bodies of sport. Prior to joining the WSA, she held a Government Relations role with Sport Wales, where she led on advocacy. A passionate sports fan, Kate confesses to being a much better watcher than player of cricket, and is a coach and safeguarding officer for a local junior rugby club.

Greg Woods
WRU Rugby Enterprise Manager
Welsh Rugby Union

Joined the group in 2012 He joined from Newport City Council in which roles included Sport and Community Development Management. His role as Rugby Enterprise Manager has responsibility for growing, enhancing and future-proofing rugby union in Wales through alternative and commercial formats, whilst engaging a wide range of participants of all ages. He played club rugby for Cardiff RFC and Crossk ...

Mr Chris Martin
Founder and Director
TeamKinetic

Chris has worked in both community and professional sport, starting life as a coach and fitness training in professional football with Sheffield Utd, before qualifying as a teacher and then moving onto community sports development. During his varied career, the golden thread that has linked his various life choices has been his passion to volunteer. How it has lead to many of his employment opportunities and how as a volunteer he was able to make real change happen at a local and national level. In building the company TeamKinetic, it has been his desire to create a platform for people to find communities, sharing a common cause, work in collaboration and utilise their skills. To provide the opportunity for communities to grow, be it online or in the physical world, enabling them to share resources, passion and success. TeamKinetic functions on three fundamental concepts; the generosity of individuals, the ability of people to work together when they have a shared goal and satisfaction in supporting a cause greater than yourself. These are concepts Chris and TeamKinetic continue to hold dear.

Huw Edwards
Acting CEO
ukactive

Huw was made Acting CEO of ukactive in May 2019. He was previously Public Affairs director at ukactive with responsibility for leading the organisation’s engagement with Government and wider stakeholders. In 2017, Huw was appointed as a Leisure Sector champion for the Department of Work & Pensions disability taskforce, aiming to ensure that the work of the sector in the disability space is aligned to DWP objectives. Prior to joining ukactive, Huw worked as the Public Affairs lead at British Tennis working across both the Lawn Tennis Association and The Tennis Foundation. He has also worked for both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Olympic Delivery Authority during the delivery of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Huw is the Public Affairs Director at ukactive and is responsible for leading ukactive’s engagement with government and wider stakeholders. In 2017 Huw was appointed as a Leisure Sector Champion for the Department of Work & Pensions disability taskforce, aiming to ensure that the work of the sector in the disability space is aligned to DWP objectives. Prior to joining ukactive, Huw worked as the Public Affairs lead at British Tennis, working across both the Lawn Tennis Association and The Tennis Foundation. This required ongoing engagement across the NGB network. He has also worked for both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Olympic Delivery Authority during the delivery of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Mr Brett Pearson
Head of Sales and Marketing
EMD UK

Brett is a highly experienced, award-winning sales and marketing professional, with over 30 years’ experience in running media organisations in the UK, Middle Eastern and Asian markets. Previously part of the team that established ProActive, an organisation based in Abu Dhabi to encourage local Emiratis to become active, he returned to the UK. He is now responsible for positioning EMD UK as the ‘go-to’ o ...

Peter Newth
Director
Roberts Limbrick

Roberts Limbrick Ltd. is an award-winning architectural practice, with offices in Gloucester and Newport, specialising in Sport and Leisure projects throughout the UK and are one of four architects currently appointed by Sport England under their current design services framework. Peter has over 30 years’ experience leading multidisciplinary teams and joined the practice in 1998, becoming a Director in the Sport and Leisure team in 2011. His significant experience designing Sport and Leisure projects includes new build public leisure projects such as South East Wales Regional Short Course Competition Pool, Newport, Shrewsbury Sports Village, Evesham Leisure Centre and Forest Hill Pools, Lewisham. He is currently working on the new Bridge Park Leisure Centre for London Borough ofBrent, Leisure Centres in Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge and has recently completed a feasibility study to upgrade four leisure Centres in Anglesey. His experience also includes significant refurbishment projects such as riverside Leisure Centre, Exeter, ‘leisure@cheltenham’ and Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the home of wheelchair sport as well as other sports projects such as the Allianz Park Stadium, Barnet Copthall for Saracens. The natural synergy between Sport and Leisure and Education has led to projects in the Education sector. In the Higher and Further Education sectors this has included sports and teaching facilities for the University of St. Mark and St. John, Plymouth, a Sports Centre for Exeter College and the highly accessible Sports Arena for the University of Worcester. Peter has also involved in the latter stages of the Wales National 50m pool in Swansea. School projects have included a Sports and Media Centre for Tonbridge School, Cheltenham Ladies’ College Health and Fitness Centre, a swimming pool for Huish EpiscopiAcademy, Langport, sports centres for King’s School, Gloucester and EversfieldSchool, Solihull and currently, sports pavilions for both Wycliffe College and Stowe School. Peter has also acted in a Client Technical Advisor role under the Design, Build and Operate procurement processes for the Elmbridge Excel and Hengrove 50m pools. In addition, he led the Technical Advisor team throughout the construction phase of the c£45m Plymouth Life Centre, as well as leading the earlier consultation process and stage 2 design brief. He has recently been appointed as Client Technical Advisor for the new PassivhausSports centre in Exeter and his comprehensive knowledge and experience has allowed him to contribute to a number of the recent Sport England best practice guidance notes. Peter has a particular interest in sustainability and has set up and implemented Roberts Limbrick’sEnvironmental Management System, which has led to ISO 14001 accreditation in 2012. Married with two sons, Peter enjoys outdoor activities, photography and music, as well as taking a ‘hands-on’ approach to the restoration of a derelict farm in Carmarthenshire.

Leonie Cowen
Principal
Léonie Cowen & Associates

Recognised as a leading practitioner in local government law and an expert in public procurement, she is Principal of Léonie Cowen & Associates which provides expert legal and consultancy services to local authorities, local authority companies and charities. Léoniehas a wide range of professional and management experience and particular strengths in the implementation of leisure, arts and cultural projects including procurements and Teckal(local authority)companies. ‘Light touch’ procurements for these and other services under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 area particular skill. Léonie has provided national guidance for the Welsh Local Government Association (in conjunction with Social Care Wales) on how to achieve successful, modern, outcome-focused collaborative procurement for ‘light touch’ services focussing on social care. Currently assisting several local authorities in Wales, she has an in-depth understanding of Welsh law and practice and a long-established track record of supporting many Welsh and many other local authorities in achieving successful projects. Her varied professional and management background has given her a unique blend of public sector experience allied to an appreciation of the commercial reality of the formation and development of successful public-private partnership projects and effective legal structures and documents for these. Many of these projects are completed to very tight time scales. Her client portfolio includes a number of clients whom she has advised on numerous matters over several years. She was a Visiting Lecturer at Birmingham University on the INLOGOV certificate on social service commissioning (lecturing for them all around the country) for many years. She speaks regularly at courses and seminars to lawyers and others on management and professional issues, including extensively on public procurement, State Aid, local authority social care law and practice. Léoniespent fifteen years in London local government, latterly as Director of Law and Administration and Deputy Chief Executive with Camden (1988-89) and before that Chief Solicitor with Barnet (1985-88).

Mr Ed Hubbard
Principal Consultant
4global Consulting

Mr Paul Roberts
Head of Programmes
StreetGames

Paul has spent his career supporting disadvantaged young people and the communities they live in, through the medium of sport/physical activity. He has been committed to understanding sport, understanding disadvantage communities and understanding the lives of young people living in those communities. Paul is currently employed with the sport and poverty charity,StreetGames, where he has been for the past nine years. StreetGames is a delivery partner for Welsh Government and Sport Wales. They have spent several years working directly with organisations and communities to design sport/physical activity interventions that tackle poverty in a proven and practical way. The charity seeks to improve young people’s life chances by increasing their physical activity, employability, mental health and confidence. At the same time, StreetGames aims to strengthen local communities by training more volunteers, providing activities for young people and utilising buildings/space that has been previously underused. Paul’s work with StreetGames in Wales to date has helped leverage over £5m of new investment, support over 350 partners and mobilise over 70,000 young people living in poverty across Wales, through physical activity and sport. Paul is passionate that sport/physical activity can reach out, even further, to new audiences across Wales, either through participation and/or having life-changing experiences.

Paul Thomas
Director
DNA Definitive

Kath Edgar
Substance Co-Founder & Senior Researcher
Substance

Kath is a founder member of Substance. As a Senior Researcher, she leads on and supports a range of Substance’s major research and evaluation projects. Demonstrating the link between youth interventions and wider personal and societal outcomes is her main research interest. Kath currently leads on the evaluation of MyBnk’s financial education training programme, measuring the development of key executive functions on primary school children and lead field researcher on the Sport England funded Greater Manchester Moving evaluation. Kath holds a PhD in criminology and sociology with a specific focus on the influence of collaborative strategic partnerships on crime prevention outcomes. Kath is also an associate member of the Market Research Society and the CIPD.

Simon Stephens
Programmes Director
Cardiff City Foundation

Simon has been with the Foundation since 2008, working across all key outcome areas during his 10 years with the official charity of Cardiff City Football Club. Simon is also a member of the EFL Trust Health panel as well as sitting on the Dementia Friendly Cardiff Sub-Group. Simon has an achieved a Level 5 ILM qualification and also graduated from the University of South Wales with a degree in Spo ...

Speaker Profiles

Simon Stephens

Programmes Director, Cardiff City Foundation