Our People

Having started his career as a lifeguard and fitness coach, whilst studying for a degree in Recreation Management Studies Mark progressed through a variety of management and executive leadership roles before being appointed Chief Executive of Circadian Trust in 2006. Since then, he has led the organisation’s transformation from a newly established charity into a successful and respected social enterprise.

Under Mark’s leadership, Circadian Trust has expanded its reach and impact, helping thousands of people improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life through accessible and inclusive leisure opportunities.

A passionate advocate for active communities, Mark remains committed to ensuring the Trust continues to deliver meaningful social value while investing in healthier futures for local people.

Over the years, he has gained extensive experience across several Active Lifestyle Centres, including Yate and Kingswood, as well as being responsible for the launch and operation of the then new Bradley Stoke site. Craig has developed a deep understanding of leisure operations and community-focused service delivery.

As Operations Director, Craig oversees the operation of all facilities, ensuring high standards of customer service, operational performance and financial sustainability. He works closely with teams across the organisation to create safe, welcoming and inclusive environments that encourage people of all ages and abilities to lead active, healthy lifestyles.

A graduate of the University of Gloucestershire, Craig brings expertise in operations management, strategic planning and service development. His leadership and commitment to continuous improvement play an important role in supporting the Trust’s charitable mission and positive impact across local communities.

Outside of work, Craig enjoys sport including being a County Tennis and Squash player, and a proud and loyal supporter of Queens Park Rangers (QPR).

Today, as Head of Buildings and Environment, Mike leads the strategic management of the Trust’s buildings and estate. He is responsible for ensuring facilities remain safe, efficient, welcoming and environmentally sustainable for customers, colleagues and communities.

With extensive hands-on experience and a broad range of technical skills, Mike plays a leading role in maintaining and improving the Trust’s facilities while supporting initiatives that reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable practices.

Passionate about health, fitness and community wellbeing, Mike is committed to ensuring the Trust’s facilities continue to provide inspiring places where people can be active, connect with others and improve their wellbeing.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, playing football and pool, countryside walks, skiing and travel.

After studying at the University of Birmingham, he began his career working for the NHS and served as an examiner for the American College of Sports Medicine. He was also part of the team that established the UK’s first Healthy Living Centre in South London, helping to pioneer innovative approaches to community health and wellbeing.

His career spans both private and public sector businesses where he has held senior leadership roles for national and multinational organisations. Now, as Deputy CEO and Director of Commercial Development, Ben leads commercial strategy, marketing and business growth, helping to ensure the Trust’s commercial success continues to support healthier, more active communities.

Outside of work, Ben enjoys running, fitness, photography, cooking and exploring the outdoors with his family.

Throughout her career, Yvonne has developed extensive expertise in recruitment, employee relations, learning and development, organisational change and people management. Her people-focused approach helps create positive workplace cultures where individuals can thrive and deliver their best work.

As Director of Human Resources, Yvonne leads the Trust’s HR team which supports colleagues across every stage of their employment journey: from recruitment and onboarding to training, wellbeing and professional development. The HR team play a key role in ensuring employees feel valued, supported and empowered. Yvonne has also developed a People Strategy for the Trust’s next three years.

Yvonne is passionate about helping people reach their potential and recognises that colleagues are central to the Trust’s ability to deliver positive outcomes for customers and communities. Her work helps ensure Circadian Trust remains an inclusive, supportive and rewarding place to work.

Outside of work, Yvonne’s interests include walking, kayaking and listening to blues music.

With more than 25 years of experience in hospitality, catering and commercial operations, Jo brings extensive expertise in customer service, business management and creating welcoming community spaces. Throughout her career she has successfully managed a wide range of food, beverage and hospitality services across both public and private sector settings.

As Head of Sphere Leisure, Jo oversees retail operations, conferences, events, room hire and tenant partnerships across the Trust. She is responsible for ensuring these services deliver excellent customer experiences while generating valuable income that supports the Trust’s wider charitable objectives.

Passionate about customer care and continuous improvement, Jo has led a number of major facility enhancement projects that have helped create vibrant and welcoming environments for customers, local groups and community partners.

Outside of work, Jo enjoys gardening, cooking and spending time outdoors with her family.

After graduating from the University of Canterbury, where she captained the women’s rugby team, she built a successful career in marketing and communications across a range of sectors before joining Circadian Trust.

Since joining the Trust, Fiona has progressed through a number of roles and now leads the organisation’s marketing, brand and communications activity. She is passionate about helping people discover the benefits of active lifestyles and ensuring local communities are aware of the opportunities available to improve their health and wellbeing through the Trust’s services.

A strong advocate for the positive impact that sport and physical activity can have on both physical and mental wellbeing, Fiona is committed to supporting the Trust’s mission of creating healthier, happier communities.

Outside of work, Fiona enjoys running, water sports, and keeping active in the gym. She also has a creative side and enjoys graphic design, painting, drawing and sculpture.

Passionate about driving growth, innovation and community impact, he is committed to developing services and partnerships that make a meaningful difference to individuals and communities across South Gloucestershire.

Beginning his career as a Fitness Instructor at Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre, Jim progressed through a range of management roles before joining South Gloucestershire’s GP Referral Scheme, working closely with the Public Health and Wellbeing team. During his time with the programme, he held a variety of roles and was part of the team recognised with the prestigious Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Award for its outstanding contribution to community health and wellbeing.

Since returning to Circadian Trust, Jim has played a leading role in developing and strengthening the Healthy Lifestyle on Referral Scheme, supporting people living with long-term health conditions to access specialist support through physical activity.

As Head of Health and Wellbeing, Jim leads a range of health-focused programmes, services and partnerships supporting prevention, recovery and improved quality of life.

Collaboration and partnership working are central to Jim’s approach. He has developed relationships with organisations across health, public services and the wider community, He has also played a key role in securing and renewing public health contracts and funding across areas including Escape Pain, Weight Management and Falls Prevention.

Jim is passionate about advancing health and wellbeing strategy, embracing innovation and building meaningful community partnerships. His focus is on creating accessible, sustainable services that enable people to be healthier, more active and independent, regardless of age, ability or circumstance.

Outside of work, Jim remains closely connected to sport, having enjoyed a successful career as a professional footballer before moving into the health and wellbeing sector.

During this time, she gained her NEBOSH qualification before joining Circadian Trust.

Since joining Circadian Trust in 2006, Sonja has developed extensive expertise in health and safety, compliance and quality management. She qualified as an ISO 9001 Internal Auditor and plays a key role in maintaining the Trust’s quality, environmental and health and safety standards.

As Health, Safety & Compliance Manager, Sonja helps uphold high standards of safety, compliance and operational excellence across the Trust. Her work supports safe, welcoming environments where colleagues and customers can feel confident participating in healthy and active communities.

Her passion for health and safety stems from a lifelong passion for competitive swimming, surf lifesaving and lifeguarding. She continues to share her expertise as an STA Pool Plant Tutor, delivering Pool Water Treatment and Pool Plant Operations courses for colleagues across the organisation.

A qualified Swim Teacher, Sonja continues to teach regularly and enjoys helping children build confidence and develop their skills in the water. Outside of work, she is passionate about swimming, fitness, walking the family dog, gardening and reading. She competes in Masters swimming competitions as well as open water events and still loves the buzz of racing and being in the water.

A graduate of the University of Portsmouth with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Sports Science, he began his career as a Fitness Assistant with LivingWell Health Clubs before progressing into management roles within the leisure sector.

Andy spent nearly 20 years with Circadian Trust, where he developed through a number of leadership positions, including Fitness Manager, Assistant Manager, Quality Performance Manager, and Centre Manager at both Thornbury and Yate Active Lifestyle Centres. During this time, he led operational performance, quality management systems, staff development initiatives and service delivery across some of the Trust’s largest facilities.

He later joined Torfaen Leisure Trust in Wales, initially as General Manager before being promoted to Operations Director, leading leisure operations and service development across the organisation.

Returning to Circadian Trust in 2025 as Area Manager, Andy now provides leadership and operational oversight across multiple Active Lifestyle Centres, helping to ensure high-quality services that positively impact customers and local communities.

Outside of work, Andy enjoys all sports, especially football and is a lifelong Newcastle United supporter. He also enjoys spending time with his family and walking his dog.

A graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, he began his career with Circadian Trust, progressing through a range of management roles including Centre Manager and Area Manager.

He later joined Aspire Sports & Cultural Trust as Facilities and Community Engagement Director, where he gained valuable experience leading multi-site operations, enhancing services and developing strong community partnerships.

Having returned to Circadian Trust, Dean now serves as Head of Operations, overseeing the delivery of services across Active Lifestyle Centres. His commitment to operational excellence, customer experience and community wellbeing plays a key role in supporting the Trust’s mission and ensuring positive outcomes for the communities it serves.

Outside of work, Dean is a keen triathlete, loves music, sport, the great outdoors and is a passionate advocate for active lifestyles.

Beginning his career through an apprenticeship, he gained qualifications in Fitness Instruction and Personal Training before joining Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre as a Leisure Assistant.

Driven by a passion for helping people lead active, healthy lives, Adam progressed through a range of operational roles before achieving his ambition of becoming Centre Manager. Today, he leads the day-to-day operation of Yate Active Lifestyle Centre, supporting colleagues to deliver welcoming, inclusive and high-quality experiences for customers of all ages and abilities.

Alongside his centre responsibilities, Adam supports procurement activities across Active Lifestyle Centres, helping the Trust adopt sustainable and environmentally responsible purchasing practices that contribute to its long-term charitable and environmental goals.

Outside of work, Adam is a passionate sports fan, following Bristol City and Formula 1, and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Starting as a Casual Lifeguard, Swimming Teacher and Lifeguard Trainer Assessor, she progressed into Centre Manager roles across several Active Lifestyle Centres before becoming Head of Aquatics. Her extensive experience gives her a unique understanding of both the operational and developmental aspects of aquatics.

In her current role, Fran leads the Trust’s swimming and aquatic services, helping to ensure the highest standards of safety, teaching quality and customer experience. She is passionate about creating opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy swimming, gain confidence in the water and develop skills for life.

Alongside her leadership responsibilities, Fran is an Aquatic Tutor playing an important role in training the next generation of aquatic professionals, delivering Swim Teacher, First Aid and Lifeguard qualifications across the sector.

Outside of work, Fran enjoys mountain biking, running, skiing and swimming.

His career in the industry began as a Casual Lifeguard at Thornbury, before progressing through a wide range of operational and fitness roles and gaining extensive experience across both the public and private sectors.

After returning to South Gloucestershire in 1996 as Fitness Manager at Yate Active Lifestyle Centre, Dave introduced the highly successful circuit training class that continues to engage and inspire participants today. Throughout his career, his passion for fitness, increasing participation and supporting customer wellbeing has remained at the heart of everything he does.

Dave was Head of Health & Fitness for over ten years and, in his current role as Senior Health & Wellbeing Manager, plays a key role in shaping health, wellbeing and fitness services across Active Lifestyle Centres. He manages key supplier relationships and works closely with fitness teams to develop welcoming, inclusive and engaging programmes that encourage people of all ages and abilities to become more active and enjoy the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.

Outside of work, Dave is a Chelsea Season ticket holder of over 30 years and enjoys travelling all over the world.