The CLOA Executive

The CLOA Executive are elected representatives of CLOA and play a leading role in the Association’s work.

We are very keen to fully represent the diversity of our membership, and have adopted an Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement to outline our commitment to actively remove barriers and promote accessibility to inclusive participation. If you are interested in joining the Executive Committee your can find out more about what is involved in this document outlining the Roles & Responsibilities. Our current Chair, Julie Russell, would also be pleased to have an informal discussion about supporting new candidates into the role. Please contact jrussell@wakefield.gov.uk

The Executive meet quarterly and you can submit items under ‘Any Other Business’ for their consideration by emailing info@cloa.org.uk up to 3 weeks in advance of the meeting date.

Forward meeting plan	Location
Thursday 26 September 2024	Reading Town Hall
Thursday 30 January 2025	Via Teams
Thursday 10 April 2025	Via Teams

You can find out more about the work of the Executive and download the minutes of meetings and the annual accounts here.

You can view CLOA’s constitution here.

CLOA Executive Officers

Service Director: Arts, Culture and Leisure, Wakefield Council

Julie is responsible for the strategic development and delivery of a range of services including sport and leisure sites, libraries, theatres, town halls, museums, parks, festivals and a range of outreach development services.

Julie has worked in local government in the North East for 24 years in a range of roles at District, Unitary, City and County level. Achievements include a number of major physical and social regeneration projects, and more recently a range of challenging, but creative projects to manage services on reduced funding. Julie is passionate about the role culture and sport can have on creating healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities.

Julie took part in the CLOA/Sport England commissioning project and has used this experience to work with partners to establish an increasingly confident and independent Active Durham Partnership.

Over many years as a senior officer in local government, Debbie has had responsibility for, and engagement with, a wide range of public sector service areas. She has played a lead role in a range of transformation projects, major events (such as the Tour de France), and emergency planning activity.

Debbie is an advocate for the importance of sport and cultural activity in supporting thriving communities and improving health and well-being. She will aim to use her position as Chair to advocate for CLOA’s vision across the sectors and with Government, and to support and listen to our members.

Born in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Mark has over 30 years’ experience of working in the private and public leisure sectors including sport, events, arts development, community centres, play development and tourism. Mark was Head of Active Leeds for Leeds City Council for the majority of his career, being responsible for physical activity development, sports development and the in house leisure and wellbeing centre service.

He also led on major sports events in the city including the World Triathlon Series 2016-20, Cricket World Cup 2019 and Rugby League World Cup 2021. Mark has been a Trustee/Director for Skills Active and the Leeds Rhinos Rugby Foundation and a director for the Leeds triathlon centre. Mark is an active member of the CLOA Executive Committee having been appointed to the position of Honorary Secretary in 2021 and has previously holding the position of Chair.

Mark’s recent work includes supporting the production of the LGA/APSE/CLOA report on ‘Securing the future of public sport and leisure services’.

Vincent worked for Bracknell Forest Borough Council from 1998 just as it was becoming a unitary authority. Prior to retirement he was Director, Environment, Culture and Communities which involved a very wide ranging portfolio of services, but within which Leisure and Culture still played a prominent part.

Within Bracknell Forest, Vince was the corporate lead for climate change and the local and national use of the Council’s Smartcard software, (SmartConnect) created through the previous National Smartcard Project.

Prior to this role he has worked in local authorities in Newport South Wales, and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire and also worked at The Queen’s University in Belfast in a research capacity.

Vince was Chair of the Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association between July 2005 – July 2007.

With experience of leading culture and tourism services in three major cities over a period of nearly twenty years, Val is now working as a consultant specialising in cultural policy nationally and internationally. Val started her career as a box office clerk before working as a festival producer, in music education and marketing. Following a seven year stretch in the arts funding system, she managed large-scale cultural projects aimed at addressing inequality, and moved gradually into local government. Val is a member of the LGA’s national Commission on Local Government and Culture, a Board member of Talking Birds theatre company and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She is the CLOA executive’s Equality Champion, having established its strong commitment to inclusion and diversity when she was Chair.

Assistant Director of Culture - Reading Borough Council

Donna has been in local government for 20 years, having joined the first cohort of the National Graduate Development Programme. She has held senior leadership roles, in a range of positions at District, Unitary, London Borough and County level, covering culture, events, waste, parks and registration services.

Donna is currently at Reading Borough Council, where she has been Assistant Director of Culture since 2019. Her remit includes Leisure, Libraries, Reading Museum, Theatres, Culture, Adult Learning and Archives.

Donna is Vice Chair of CLOA and an LGA Peer Reviewer.

Donna is passionate about leisure and culture’s pivotal role in delivering corporate and partner agendas and the positive impact it can have on economic prosperity, health and the quality of life for communities.

Cultural Services Manager - Calderdale Council,

Bobsie has responsibility for libraries, museums, theatres, cultural strategy and development.

She has a wealth of experience working for local government, starting in education, moving into finance, strategy and policy, community development and the last 20 years within the cultural sector.

Bobsie is passionate about open access for all, championing creative and active communities and proud to be a public servant.

Bobsie is also Vice Chair of Creative Lives – a UK and ROI organisation advocating and supporting community and volunteer-led creative activity.

Head of Arts, Culture and Library Services, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Caroline is Head of Arts, Culture and Library Services within local government in Wales. Her service areas include the Arts Service and its two local authority run theatres and a creative wellbeing centre; the Libraries Service and its 3 area and 10 branch libraries, including customer service provision; and a Community Development Team and the development of community resilience hubs, including community asset transfer, resident support, and sustainable food and age-friendly communities. Caroline has worked within local government for 17 years.

Caroline is Chair of the Chief Culture Officers Wales Forum, representing the sector in Wales on the Executive.

She holds an MSc in Public Service Management and is an alumna of the National Culture Forum’s Leading Learning Programme. She is a Community Governor of a Welsh-language primary school in south Wales.

Caroline wants to ensure that the value of the cultural sector is fully recognised for the support it provides to thriving, resilient communities; positive health and wellbeing; and a sense of place and belonging.

Head of Leisure - Carmarthenshire County Council

Ian has been Head of Leisure for Carmarthenshire County Council since 2006, having first joined the authority in 1995 as a Sports Outreach worker. His portfolio includes Outdoor Recreation, Cultural Services, and Sports & Leisure Services. Ian has been responsible for bringing over £100m of investment into his service during his time with Carmarthenshire, whilst securing accreditation for many of his services and increasing user numbers, income, and profile. He is currently chair of the Chief Leisure Officers forum for Wales (CLOW).

Ian graduated from UWIC in Cardiff, in 1994 having studied Sport and Human Movement Studies, and has recently completed a Masters in Sports Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University. A keen sportsman, Ian gained a Wales U18 Soccer Cap, and a Wales Youth Rugby cap, before moving into coaching, becoming the Head Coach of the Wales U19 Rugby side in 2005, and remaining actively involved in community coaching roles outside of work. He is married with two young children and enjoys socialising, attending major events, keeping fit, and eating out.

Chief Executive - Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure

Iain is responsible for the initial creation of a sport and leisure trust that has managed the London Borough of Redbridge’s sports facilities since April 2007. In May of 2011, the remainder of Redbridge’s culture and leisure services were transferred to a new and expanded trust. Iain is the Chief Executive of this trust that currently manages libraries, sports facilities & development, parks & open spaces, arts, museums, play, outdoor education, civic halls and grounds maintenance.

Vision-Redbridge Culture & Leisure Ltd is one of the UK’s largest culture and leisure trusts, and Iain and his senior management team are currently concentrating on the business model that was part of the rationale for the Council setting up the wider trust. Iain led Redbridge’s Olympic and Paralympic initiatives and continues the legacy work through the development of facilities and a Legacy Fund that was created through Olympic income generation. Iain is a previous Chair of CLOA.

Head of Culture and Visitor Economy - Barnsley MBC

Jon has been at Barnsley Council for two years running a portfolio of services including museums.

He spent eight years working for the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council; including CEO of MLA West Midlands. He set up a successful consultancy company in 2012 working with cultural institutions across Australia, alongside running a heritage service.

Jon returned to the UK as Head of Culture in Preston, leading the initiation of a major capital project at The Harris. In 2018 he joined Bristol as Head of Culture and Creative Industries and was integral to the response to the Colston Statue toppling. He is Chair of the English Civic Museums Network.

Activity & Creativity Lead, Redditch Borough & Bromsgrove District Councils

Jonathan oversees sports and culture development services at Redditch Borough and Bromsgrove District Councils. He is a founding partner on Redditch’s new Creative People and Places programme and currently directs the Cultural Compact for North East Worcestershire. He co chairs the West Midlands Cultural Compact’s Network, sits on the board member of Motionhouse, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and represents Selly Oak Constituency on Birmingham City Council’s Stronger Communities Panel. He previously sat on the boards of Audiences Central and Arts Development UK and chaired the national advisory group for Voluntary Arts England (now known as Creative Lives) as well as Worcestershire’s Rural Touring Network “Shindig”.

Chief Executive - Stevenage Borough Council

Matt has worked in local government for over 38 years in a variety of operational and strategic roles for both London Borough’s and District / Borough Councils.

Matt is particularly proud of his involvement (whilst in the role of Head of Leisure & Cultural Services for Aylesbury Vale District Council) in the development and successful opening of the £47m Aylesbury Waterside Theatre, the completion of an innovative £6.5m leisure centre redevelopment project and the procurement of horticultural and leisure management contracts that saved the Council circa £900k per annum whilst also strengthening the respective service offers.

More recently Matt and the team at Stevenage Borough Council secured £37.5m from the Governments Towns Fund and will be using part of this funding to support the development of a New Heritage Facility in recognition of Stevenage being the first New Town that was created after the Second World along with the construction of a circa £45m Sports & Leisure Hub facility. The Council’s 45km of cycleways will also be improved to increase connectivity as well as providing additional new cultural features.

These schemes are linked to the broader regeneration of the town centre which is one of the biggest of such programmes in the East of England for which £400m private sector investment has already been secured via Developers MACE and REEF amongst others. The regeneration programme will result in the further development of the leisure and cultural service offer in the town.

Outside of work Matt enjoys spending time with his family, exercising and motorcycling, but not always in that order!

Chief Executive - West Berkshire Council

Nigel Lynn is the Chief Executive at West Berkshire Council and was previously CEX at Arun District Council between November 2011 – November 2021. Prior to this Nigel was Deputy Chief Executive at Spelthorne Borough Council in Surrey from 2007 and a Strategic Director for Spelthorne from 2003.

His career path in the public sector includes working for Bridgend County Council, Maldon District Council, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority, the Inner London Education Authority, Tower Hamlets and the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. Previous responsibilities have included leisure, community services, regeneration, education, libraries, the youth service, tourism, economic development and culture. Nigel has also worked in the private sector.

External roles have included being an Advisor to the LGA Culture and Sports Board, a Peer Assessor for the CPA and Chair of the Chief Leisure and Culture Officers Association.

Culture and Community Development Manager - Oxford City Council

Paula has worked in local government for over 8 years and is currently responsible for a range of services in Oxford including Museum of Oxford (MOX), Events, Arts Development, International Links, Community Grants/Fundraising and EDI. She is the Chair of the Oxford Cultural Partnership and Big Ideas networks, on the Steering Group for Oxford’s Cultural Programme and a trustee of the Magna Carta Trust.

Previously, she has been the Director of Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Theatr Brycheiniog and Salisbury Arts Centre and has also run many large and smaller scale festivals and events. She is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Senior Leisure Officer – Crawley Borough Council

Penny is currently the Senior Leisure Officer for Crawley Borough Council which involves oversight of the leisure facilities contract, theatre, and council owned league football stadium.

With over twenty years’ experience in the sport and leisure industry she has worked for local authorities, leisure trusts, higher education and in the private sector. This has led her to work across the globe in Canada and Russia as well as across the UK, including being the events manager for major national and international sporting events, including the Commonwealth Games.

Penny is also a Trustee of South Down Leisure.

Head of Heritage Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council

Rob has worked in the Museum and Heritage industry since 2005. This has included delivery of the ‘Lord Ashcroft Gallery’ at the Imperial War Museum and the renovated interpretive experience at Stonehenge for English Heritage. In 2017 Rob took on the role of Director of Curatorial and Museums for Sydney Living Museums in Australia, where he had operational, curatorial and commercial oversight of 12 historic properties. In his current role he overseas the operations of B&NES Council’s heritage assets including the Roman Baths. Rob is interested in the creation of innovative museum and heritage experiences that maximise commercial return, social impact and emotional outcomes for the widest possible audience.

Thorsten has worked in local government for 18 years, initially within cultural services. He now advocates for culture in corporate roles, embedding culture in corporate plans and building partnerships for culture across councils and with local strategic partners. He has an interest in cultural planning and the contribution of culture to place-making, community development, and local economies.

He has worked as a fundraiser for English National Opera and Trinity Laban. At City University he led projects to advance equality, diversity and inclusion in the creative industries.

Thorsten is a competitive ballroom dancer and a member of the executive of the United Kingdom Equality Dance Council. He also serves as a trustee of Hackney Historic Buildings Trust.

Head of Leisure & Parks at The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Ullash is responsible for Parks, Open Spaces, Cemeteries, Capital Projects, Sports Development, Ecology Service, Community Gardens, and Leisure Centres. He has a wide range of skills and experience in both private and public sector. Ullash is passionate about “demystifying” the social value and positive benefits physical activity brings to wider society, the economy, and residents wellbeing. He is also keen to highlight and increase diversity, especially in senior management roles in the leisure and parks sector.

Ullash is a qualified coach in cricket and badminton and has been pushing for more opportunities at state schools and better community outreach programmes.

Cultural Placemaking Officer - Reading Borough Council

Zsuzsi is the Cultural Placemaking Officer for Reading Borough Council, supporting both the Cultural Services and the Housing and Development Team.

She has worked in the creative sector for the last 20 years in both in the UK and abroad. As a result of her experiences, she has developed a passion for delivering and designing cultural projects with social impact outcomes. Seeing first-hand the impact that cultural projects can have on wellbeing, sense of self and place, community building and academic achievement.

Outside of her role as Cultural Placemaking Officer she is a mum of three, founder of the Reading Fringe Festival, space animator, Trustee for Ironclad, planet protector and keen novice biker.

The CLOA Executive

CLOA Executive Officers

Julie Russell (she/her) – Chair

Debbie Kaye (she/her) – Immediate Past Chair

Mark Allman (he/him) – Honorary Secretary

Vincent Paliczka – Hon. Treasurer

Val Birchall (she/her) – Vice Chair

Donna Pentelow (she/her) – Vice Chair

Bobsie Robinson (she/her)

Caroline O’Neill (she/her)

Ian Jones (he/him)

Iain Varah (he/him)

Jon Finch (he/him)

Jonathan Cochrane (he/him)

Matthew Partridge (he/him)

Nigel Lynn (he/him)

Paula Redway (she/her)

Penny Greenwood-Pearsons (she/her)

Robert Campbell (he/him)

Thorsten Dreyer (he/him)

Ullash. A. Karia (he/him)

Zsuzsi Lindsay (she/her)