Our Trustees

Eamonn O’Rourke joined the association as Chairperson in January, bringing significant strategic experience and expertise. Eamonn is currently a Sports and Leisure consultant working with a wide range of National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Authorities, International Federations and Commercial Sporting Organisations. Prior to this Eamonn was Head of Community and Cultural Services for Manchester City Council where he played a key role in the establishment of the infrastructure associated with the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the East Manchester development, attracted key strategic sporting partnerships for the City and established an extensive national and international events programme.

David is the Managing Director at Knight Kavanagh & Page Ltd, one of the UK’s largest sport, leisure and open space management consultancy companies. He has over 30 years’ experience in the sport and leisure industry, with his early experience in facility management and sports development.

His experience in the sector includes the delivery of strategic plans for many local authorities, sporting agencies and national governing bodies of sport; including the delivery of local football facility plans for every local authority in England. He has also been involved in the underpinning strategic planning and feasibility for many major and community sports facilities in the UK.

Dave is passionate about sport and physical activity and the wider benefits it brings to young people’s lives and society as a whole. He is a keen spectator of many sports and has just finished a 10 year stretch in coaching his sons’ football teams.

Mike is a Member if the Royal Society of Public Health, with over 20 years’ public health experience, through employment within local authorities, NHS primary care, the third sector and the private sector. Mike is currently founding Director of Progress Health Partnerships, a public health consultancy that specialises in increasing the capacity of public, private and community organisations to plan for, design, deliver and evaluate comprehensive public health improvement programmes and strategies.

Mike has led many internationally recognised projects including work with the European Heart Network and the European Public Health Alliance, Nike, European Sports Stadia, Department of Health, NICE and Sport England. More locally Mike is part of the evaluation team for GM Moving and the Local Delivery Pilots and has delivered recent work for clients including NHS England (Greater Manchester), Greater Manchester Cancer Vanguard, Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership and Greater Sport. 

Having been a keen rugby player in his younger days, Mike now enjoys coaching junior rugby for the Sale Sharks Developing Player Pathway and for Wigan Rugby Union Club.

One of Manchester’s most accomplished teachers, Aaron made the move from mainstream education to head up training and development at award-winning hosting firm UKFast in 2013. During his 12 year career in teaching Aaron became the face of modern education – fronting the Training and Development Agency’s national recruitment campaign ‘Get into Teaching’. He was also recognised as a National Ambassador for Teaching.  Spending seven years as a teacher and Head of ICT at The Dean Trust in Greater Manchester, Aaron played a key role in the development of the computer science curriculum, online learning environments and strengthening links between the schools and local businesses.

Since joining UKFast Aaron has transformed the standard expected of training and education in the private sector. He has created an award-winning and industry-leading apprenticeship and education programme at UKFast that has led to the business developing specialist academy partnerships with some of the world’s leading tech vendors.

As a result of Aaron’s and the team’s innovative approach to apprenticeships and education, UKFast has been highlighted by Ofsted for its exemplary work introducing vendor qualifications into apprenticeship programmes.

Aaron believes that in order to improve the digital skills labour market there needs to be significant investment in the talent of the future. The UK is becoming a rich source of digital talent in Europe and for the country to become a true global superpower in this space, businesses, vendors and educational establishments need to collaborate.

Nigel is a chartered accountant and spent over 20 years with professional services firm Deloitte, specialising in corporate finance.  He recently set up his own consultancy practice to advice UK SMEs in relation to raising finance.  In addition, he sits on the Lancaster University Finance and General Purposes Committee.

A keen sports person, Nigel spent four years at the University of Oklahoma in the US on a tennis scholarship, giving him an opportunity to benefit from the breadth of sporting opportunities available there.

He continues to play competitive tennis and attained a top 50 world ranking in the 45+ age category in 2020.

Nigel is keen to support youth sport development and manages the Cheshire Albion U9 football team.

Martin has extensive experience in the community and education sectors. He is currently Chair of the North Manchester Sports and Activity Forum and a Trustee of Collyhurst and Moston Boxing Club. Previously Martin spent 5 years as Community Sports Development Manager at Manchester City Council before spending 13 years as a Senior Leader at Manchester Communication Academy while also spending 6 years as a Governor of a North Manchester Primary School.

While at Manchester Communication Academy, Martin successfully developed and implemented a community engagement programme that secured the Academy National recognition via the TES Community Impact Award.

Passionate about social justice and developing strategies that overcome barriers to young people reaching their full potential, Martin is a strong believer in the impact sport and physical activity can have on character development. He personally benefitted from this having spent time coaching Football in the USA and playing and coaching cricket in Australia prior to full time employment.

Chris is a Senior Director at Nike operating in the EMEA region. During his 14 year tenure, Chris has held various roles with a focus on Sales, Partner Management, Business Transformation and Commercial Leadership. During his tenure as Football Commercial Director UK & Ireland, Chris worked with Professional Football Clubs, The FA and UK governing bodies.

In his current role Chris is responsible for leading Business Development and Transformation across Europe, Middle East and Africa. His day to day responsibilities span across Commercial, Strategy, Business Transformation and Partner Management at executive board level.

 

Chris is a firm believer that Sport has the power to move the World forward and is committed to giving back to his local community. In his current role he is also responsible for the purpose and sustainability strategy. Chris was involved in the delivery of the new Community space in Moss Side in partnership with Football Beyond Boarders, JD Sports and Millennium Powerhouse. The Community centre is called ‘Move to Zero Manchester’, which derives from Nike’s journey to zero carbon and zero waste.

 

Chris is a Sports enthusiast, representing the Rochdale town team at a youth level across Football and Athletics. Chris is keen cyclist, recently completing the Ride Across Britain amongst other endurance sporting events including Trail and Ultra Marathons. A father of two daughters, Chris is supporting his girls as they pursue Dancing, Brazilian Ju Jitsu and Football.