Duncan Kerr's journey is a testament to the power of passion and resilience. Starting as a squash player for Scotland, Duncan transitioned into leadership roles, shaping the future of sports and health integration.

Today, as the Chief Executive of Wave Active and Hillbrow Health, Duncan is pioneering innovative health and wellness solutions, blending clinical and non-clinical services to enhance community well-being. His relentless drive to push boundaries and foster collaboration is truly inspiring.

In this episode, Aidan Gallacher shares his inspiring journey from a sports enthusiast to the founder of Actify, a social enterprise dedicated to improving health and well-being through physical activity.

Discover how Aidan's experiences at Stirling University and his work in sports management led to the creation of a platform that consolidates resources for practitioners and organizations.

Learn about the challenges and triumphs of building a digital repository of best practices and the role of AI in enhancing accessibility and efficiency in the sector. Tune in for insights on collaboration, innovation, and the future of physical activity initiatives.

This episode takes an inspiring detour into leadership with Mark Tweedie. Mark introduces The Performance Blueprint. A fresh approach to leadership that blends science and the art of people skills to create environments where individuals and organizations thrive.

We explore what high performance really means, how culture trumps strategy, and why breaking down barriers is key to unlocking potential at every level. From C-suite to the front line, Mark shares practical insights on purpose, mindset, and environment, while reflecting on his own journey as a CEO and beyond.

If you’re in leisure, health, wellbeing, or simply passionate about leadership that empowers, this conversation is packed with wisdom, honesty, and tools you can use right away.

Join Andy King and John Oxley as they dive into the transformative power of physical activity and its impact on community well-being. From the Life Leisure Stroke GM Active State of Life Social Value Report to the challenges and triumphs of scaling health initiatives, this episode explores the intersection of social value and business success. Discover how strategic investments and a strong sense of purpose can drive both economic growth and social impact. Tune in for insights on leadership, collaboration, and the future of wellness in the UK.

Excited to share my conversation with Belinda Steward, a leader in the leisure and hospitality sectors! We explored the intersection of hospitality and physical activity, and how Belinda's journey from restaurants to leisure centers is reshaping customer experiences.

Discover how her strategic vision is driving change, from enhancing customer service to leveraging technology for better health outcomes.

Join us as we delve into the importance of collaboration, the role of technology, and the power of community in transforming lives.

Join us in this engaging episode of the Conveners podcast as we sit down with Kirsty Cumming, Chief Executive of Community Leisure UK. Kirsty shares her unplanned yet impactful career journey from translation to leading a national organization. We delve into the evolving landscape of public leisure, the challenges and opportunities within the trust model, and the innovative Active Kindness Project.

Discover how physical activity and community engagement are shaping the future of public services. Tune in for insights, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on the role of leisure in our communities.

Join us as we dive into the world of fitness innovation with Cheryl, a trailblazer in integrating wellness into gym memberships. Discover how her collaboration with Health Hero is transforming the industry, offering groundbreaking services like private GP access and more. Tune in to learn about Cheryl's journey, her passion for business, and her vision for the future of fitness.

On this episode of The Conveners Podcast, we’re joined by Gareth Kirk, Senior Regional Director at GLL.

From graduate trainee to leading GLL’s operations in Northern Ireland, Gareth shares his personal journey and insights into managing at scale while staying local. We discuss his experience navigating devolved governments, GLL’s role in promoting active well-being with 35,000 referrals a year, and why health contract bidding isn’t a current priority.

Gareth also highlights innovative practices like MSK hubs in Cumbria and the organisation’s evolving approach to the agency model with council partners. A rare inside look at the UK’s largest leisure operator.

This week, host Andy King is joined by long-time collaborator and sector expert Duncan Wood-Allum, Founder and Managing Director of SLC, for a deep and thought-provoking conversation on the evolution of public leisure.

Together, they revisit Duncan’s 2020 blueprint "A New Future", exploring how his ambitions for the sector post Covid hold up in 2025 and what still needs to change. From local government reform to health and social care integration, how sustainable active wellbeing services can enable a place-based approach to deliver real results,  this episode dives into the real challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

Gain real insight into the challenges, opportunities, and future direction of the Active Wellbeing movement.

Today on the Conveners podcast I’m delighted to welcome Andy Farr, the Strategic Director from Parkwood. As Andy goes on to explain, Andy was once-upon-a-time, the F in FMG - a  very well-known and highly respected consultancy known to probably everyone in the sector. Andy has had a fascinating time since leaving FMG, both at British Cycling and at Parkwood and is now the driving force behind w a revamped Parkwood who have managed to win some significant awards recently  and, as Andy explains , have done a great job integrating Parkwood Healthcare into the leisure division that Andy now leads.   Andy explained some of the benefits of that merger of healthcare into the division,  not least how the clinical understanding is helping to codesign referral programs and raise standards generally . So another fascinating insight into one of the national chains who are fully embracing the pivot to Active well-being in and all its guises including workforce development please enjoy