The Active Essex Board has been further enhanced with three new appointments, who will bring a wealth of experience and expertise from the children and families sector, digital communications, mental health and wellbeing, and local government sectors.
A year into the physical activity and sport strategy, ‘Fit for the Future’ and alongside the continuing developments of the behaviour change campaign ‘Find Your Active’, this is an exciting time for Active Essex. The three new board members will play a pivotal role in helping to ensure Active Essex, and its system partners, can achieve what was set out in the strategic priorities.
The new Active Essex Board Members consist of Lee Bailey, Scott Logan and Fiona Bool. Lee will bring extensive experience among the children and families sector, helping to support Active Essex’s children and young people work. Scott Logan is an experienced leader in local government, standing as the current Chief Executive of Basildon Council. Fiona Bool, brings great experience within communications and digital technology, and is a passionate campaigner for positive mental wellbeing.
Speaking of the new appointments, Director of Active Essex, Jason Fergus said: “It is great to welcome Fiona, Lee and Scott to the board. We are confident they will provide valuable perspectives as we continue to execute the systems strategy, support the physical activity and sport sector and strive to create an active Essex to improve everyone’s health and wellbeing.
“Good governance is important to us. We work hard to refresh our Board and have had some of our long serving members retire. This meant that over the last 2 years, we have now seen 6 new appointments to the Board, each helping to ensure our composition contains the right mix of skills and experience to support the team, deliver our strategy and reflect those in our communities.”
Chief Executive of Basildon Council, Scott Logan said: “I’ve worked in local government for over 30 years at four different Essex Councils. I’m really passionate about physical activity and the many benefits it can bring. I’ve seen first-hand how powerful a tool it can be in tackling health inequalities in Basildon, so to get the opportunity to become an Active Essex board member is something I’m really proud of.”
Following his recruitment to the Board, Lee Bailey commented: “As I work among the partnerships surrounding services for children, young people and families in North Essex, I hope that through my time with Active Essex, we will be able to build upon the offer of physical activity opportunities for young people. For me, sport and physical activity not only supports better physical and mental health, but the friendships that can form, and enjoyment had, can last a lifetime.”
Fiona Bool added: “I’m from a technology and events background, but I have a real passion for community fitness and championing initiatives that promote and enable positive mental health. I’m so excited to be joining the Active Essex Board to help support the direction of the organisation, using my skills and knowledge to reduce the stigma around mental health and endorse the benefits in which physical activity can have.”
With these additions, Active Essex’s board will compromise of 9 members. In addition to the three new appointments, the cohort includes: Anne Wafula-Strike MBE, Caroline Rassell, Dr David Sollis, Anton Ferdinand, Emma Lewis and Dan Doherty.
To read more about the board of Active Essex, visit: www.activeessex.org/the-board/
