Jordan Cummins joins as non-executive director for Growth. He currently leads the Confederation of Business Industry’s (CBI) Competitiveness department, where he helps political and industry leaders tackle some of the UK’s biggest economic and societal challenges. He brings with him a wealth of experience from his time working overseas for the Ministry of Justice and has been responsible for the CBI’s recent Purpose Review as well as launching its first Health & Life Science department.

Through the ukactive Board, Cummins will support ukactive’s growth and commercial strategy as part of the Vision 2030 strategy to grow the sector’s reach and impact.

Dr Sonia Adesara joins as the Board’s non-executive director for Health. She is a practising GP and campaigns to improve women's healthcare and address health inequalities. Previously, she worked in national health policy as a former National Medical Director's Clinical fellow. She is the interim chair of the Fabian Society and is on the board of Trustees for the charity Medact, which supports healthcare professionals in addressing social determinants of health.

Adesara’s expertise will help support ukactive to develop its health strategy and demonstrate to the Government and its agencies how the physical activity sector can play a crucial role in reducing health inequalities.

Claudette Elliott joins as a non-executive director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). She is a qualified social worker with more than 40 years’ experience, working in operational and senior management roles across health and social care. She has worked in EDI roles in Greater Manchester and Southeast London, helping communities to understand how inclusive services can be best delivered and codesigned effectively.

In this role, Elliott will provide advice and support for ukactive’s EDI plans, helping the sector to address health inequalities within all communities across the UK.

Each of ukactive’s new board members will support the organisation in its journey towards Vision 2030 to get more than five million new users active in its members’ facilities, drawn from a greater diversity of backgrounds. They will serve an initial term of three years.

Mike Farrar, chair of the ukactive board, said: 'I’m delighted to welcome Sonia, Jordan and Claudette to the ukactive Board, where they will be instrumental in supporting our organisation to help grow our sector for the health of the nation.

'The calibre of the candidates who applied for these roles is testament to the growing reputation of our organisation, and the knowledge and expertise that our new directors bring to the Board will help us take the next step in our ambitions for growth, inclusion and health.'

Cummins said: 'I’m delighted to be joining the ukactive Board at an important moment for the industry and the UK’s collective health. I’ve spent the last decade working with government and business leaders on policy, regulation, and investment to improve society and the economy, and I look forward to contributing to the brilliant work the ukactive team does to get us all moving more sustainably.'

Adesara said: 'I’m hugely excited by the opportunity to help ukactive in its bold ambitions for the sector to help reduce our health inequalities.The physical activity sector makes a huge contribution to society and working together we can help to maximise its impact as part a health strategy that puts prevention first.'

Elliott added: 'I'm delighted to join the ukactive Board and looking forward to contributing to the work of the organisation and its membership in ensuring the sector is as welcoming, supporting and inclusive as it can be.

'People from all communities should be able to experience the transformative power of physical activity and I’m excited to be part of the next chapter in this journey.'