Louise Osborne

Partnership Board Chair
Falmouth University, Strategic Projects & Corporate Events Manager

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall Board?

I have a broad range of experience which has served me well as Chair of the Active Cornwall Partnership Board. I started my career in financial services before moving to working in an active partnership team in the West Midlands.  As a business development manager I had hands on experience of stimulating investment into a range of community physical activity and sport initiative and provision.  When I moved to Cornwall in 2009 my first job was in a community charity supporting disadvantaged communities in West Cornwall.  This experience was profoundly important for my understanding of the challenges and priorities for the Active Partnership in Cornwall.

For the last 10 years I have worked in a variety of roles in higher education, honing my skills in strategic planning, leadership, business development, innovation and partnerships, all of which I use in my role on the Board.

Since then I’ve worked in funding, development and relationship management roles in a charity and for University of Exeter.  My current role at Falmouth University is wide ranging and that combined with my previous experience gives me a broad base of skills in business, leadership and development.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m originally from Ireland and have lived in the UK for over 20 years.  I moved to Cornwall to be near family and the sea and I feel so lucky to live here.  I work at University of Exeter at Penryn which is a brilliant, diverse community of interesting people.  And I’m about to become a student myself as I start a degree apprenticeship MBA.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

I love exploring Cornwall’s beautiful coastline and countryside.  I swim in the sea all year round and a few years ago started training with Fitness Wild, an outdoor gym based at Argal Lake, which is enormous fun.  I’m so happy that my daughter has inherited my love of swimming and is a keen member of a surf life-saving club.  It’s a fantastic sport which teaches people how to be safe in the sea.

James Collings

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall board?

In my ‘day job’ I am a partner at top 100 UK Law firm Foot Anstey LLP specialising in employment law and providing practical and commercially orientated advice to a large array of businesses on both a local and national level.  In connection with this therefore I bring to the board both a level of commercial and legal expertise as well as private sector business acumen.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I was originally born and raised in Gloucestershire (albeit with fond memories of family holidays to Cornwall during school summer holidays!).  Having taken a year out to do a season of Snowboarding in a the Canadian Rockies and travel around the US, I then undertook  law degree and post-graduate training at Cardiff University before then starting work with Foot Anstey in the firm’s Plymouth office. When the firm took over another firm based down in Cornwall, I seized the opportunity to move further south and west with my wife, and two children later we are now firmly rooted in the county.

Sport and physical activity have consistently played a large part in my life and provided many benefits around both physical and mental well-being and social integration.  I am passionate about the social benefits and role that physical activity can play in benefitting the county.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

Whilst I previously took great pleasure from playing in a successful rugby team, being a parent to two comparatively young boys means that a lot of my spare time is now taken up by taking them along to engage in various sporting activities meaning that my engagement with rugby is now more focussed on watching it when I get the chance as opposed to actively participating. I nonetheless remain a keen snowboarder and take up any opportunity I can to get away to the mountains. 

Cycling has also always been something of a passion of mine from a young age, so I can often be found on a turbo trainer in the shed once the children have gone to bed or our and about clad in lycra enjoying the beautiful Cornish landscape on two wheels most weekends.

David Parr

Member of the Active Cornwall advisory board with ‘championing’ roles on safeguarding, risk management, governance matters to check and challenge

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall board?

Professional qualifications, chemical engineer, chartered environmentalist etc with 35 + years regulating industry etc. In later years, I transferred to developing risk based regulatory policies/tools that are now implemented across the Environment Agency and other bodies (linked with HMGs modernising regulation work).

This past work experience means I am able to offer insight into effective risk management/governance and improved decision making with my board colleagues.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I was born in Leamington Spa of service parents with the one main constant being my family connection with Cornwall. I was finally able to take this up in 1996 (just meant numerous long commutes for work over the years!). Early on I used to play rugby, sprint cycle and archery but these were taken over by golf and bowls – the time away from work was important and helps put matters back into perspective I found.

Back in the late 1970s I took up bowls for that reason, became club secretary, county committee member etc, qualified coach (level 3) – I believe in putting back into sport what you get out personally. Fortunately I have been successful in bowls representing England in British Isles championships 2014 with my three colleagues, winning other national championships etc over the years.

Now in county sides I am viewed as “one of the senior players” and expected to perform when the pressure is on. I still enjoy playing sport at the highest level and like most get annoyed if my own performance does not match what I would anticipate (driven I think the word is) – but fortunately I can still relax when playing inter club matches with club mates, but I still like to win.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

Spare time, since retirement I do not have much of that. My bowls admin work (chair of the county association, chair county development group, rep to NGB) plus playing in those competitions now open to the retired takes up most of my time. However,  if possible, I like gardening, looking after some 500+ cacti and succulents, reading (mostly technical journals from various institutes that I remain a member of) and the very occasional pint (but I do walk to and from the pub!)

Rachel Wigglesworth

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall Board?

Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

I have worked in a range of health, community and voluntary sector organisations which focus on improving the wellbeing of people with the poorest health and tackling issues of social justice – including Shelter the homeless organisation. I started my career in academic posts including time on the national evaluation of Health Action Zones for London School of Economic.

This experience inspired me to work in community public health although I retain academic links with NIHR, Exeter University and LSE. I am currently the Director of Public Health for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, starting my role at the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic.  What we have learned in the past few years is how many people value being active, and enjoy being outdoors. I hope we can harness this enthusiasm to encourage everybody to move more.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I have lived in Cornwall since 2011 when I moved down with my young family to train in public health with organisations across Cornwall, Devon and Plymouth. I used to live in a co-housing community in Gloucestershire with 8 families and had a lot of fun gardening, looking after animals and running beer festivals.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

I enjoy travelling, walking and cycling and am an enthusiastic but recreational sea swimmer. Also love theatre, reading and watching films when resting.

Board meetings are attended by Ruth Goldstein on Rachel’s behalf.

Dean Jenkins

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall board?

I am a doctor and I’ve worked in hospitals for the NHS for 30 years. I have a passion for active lifestyles and the promotion of health and wellbeing. I currently work in a senior role in a pharmaceutical company. I have built and sold my own technology business, worked voluntarily on boards in education and local charities, and also serve as a parish councillor in Grampound with Creed. I am an active member of our local church and the Parish Safeguarding Officer. I hope to bring some of this experience to assist colleagues and other board members at Active Cornwall.

Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born in Wales and trained as a doctor in Cardiff. I moved with my family to Cornwall in the mid-2000s since a web-based technology business training doctors to pass exams meant I could work from almost anywhere. I have been proud to be a pioneer of ‘working from home’ allowing me to see my children grow up in Cornwall and for us all to enjoy the natural beauty and opportunities we have here.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

I’m a keen runner and cyclist. We did take up surfing when we first arrived in Cornwall but haven’t been out as often as we’d like. I enjoy photography and making a noise on keyboard with a local band. I’m trying to be an activist for Green issues.

Trevor Smith

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall board?

I have worked in leisure services, physical education, sport and physical activity development for over 35 years, including work with and for local authorities, national and local charities, schools and international bodies. I now run my own consultancy business which specialises in activating countries and communities. I am also a Trustee and Vice Chair of the International Physical Literacy Association, which advocates the adoption of physical activity across ages and abilities for life. My fundamental belief is that everybody has a right to access physical activity in a manner which is both relevant and appropriate for each individual.

Whilst this is often difficult to achieve, my view is that interventions and initiatives are only successful when they are owned by the communities in which they take place. Having moved to Cornwall in 2020, I am committed to doing what I can to promote and encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for everybody across the county that is now my home.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I grew up in Hampshire, and was fortunate enough to have parents who were active and who allowed and encouraged me to participate with them – mainly for the fun of being with other like-minded people. So, in the 1980s, when sports funding in England began to focus on “people” not “places”, I jumped at the opportunity to become one of the country’s first sports development professionals. As I have moved around the country and overseas to work, I have found “social sport” to be instrumental in successfully integrating with new colleagues and communities. My professional life has taken me to Somerset, London, Yorkshire, Oxfordshire and four years in the Middle East.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

I am extremely fortunate to have an active family and we all enjoy the outdoors – walking with our two springer spaniels on Cornwall’s amazing moors and beaches, mountain-biking and running around the woods near our home, playing at the village tennis club and making an occasional appearance at a social badminton club. I am also trying to be musical – I play the cajon (pronounced Cahon) with a local ukulele band and I am teaching myself (slowly) to play the bass guitar and ukulele. We are also big campers and adventurers, so when we get the chance, we load up our VW Camper and hit the road to explore new places.

Holly Laverick

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall board?

In my current role as operations manager at Penzance Gymnastics Club CIC, I bring my knowledge from my health and fitness and activity background to the board. I have a high level of responsibility to the business and the directors and I am the first point of call for staff as well as customers. I have experience in both customer facing and back of house roles and excellent leadership and people management skills. I am lucky enough to have seen the work that Active Cornwall do as well as have the background knowledge about the key target areas and demographics of Active Cornwall.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I grew up in Oxfordshire and after university, lived and worked in the areas around Berkshire and Surrey. In 2017, I graduated Buckinghamshire New University with a degree in Dance & Fitness before working in the leisure industry full time. I have worked in leisure management roles in various heath clubs and leisure centres as well as outside of work, volunteering my time to coach cheerleading, dance and gymnastics.

My biggest achievement was winning a gold medal in 2018 at the World Cheerleading Championships in Florida representing England.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

In some what limited spare time, I like to walk my dog, go to the beach and go to the gym. I am still involved in the cheerleading and dance community and throughout the year, I am invited to judge at various regional and national championships. 

Sue Handford

What skills and experience do you bring to the Active Cornwall board?

I have worked at senior levels from Ford Motor Company to Further Education, to running my own consultancy. I’m a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, have excellent networks throughout the county and also work as part of the events team at Sharp’s Brewery managing a range of activities from sponsorship to clubs.

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

I went to school in Bodmin and have lived in North Cornwall for many years, which I returned to  after university and moving away to work. I love sport and have participated in show jumping, hockey and latterly gig rowing – I’m qualified as a British Rowing Fixed seat cox.

What do you like to do in your free/spare time?

I’m always busy, but I love to walk my dog, gig row, fundraise, keep learning and get out and about.

This year I am heading to Indonesia to help OVAID – orangutan veterinary charity set up by Vet Nigel Hicks and his wife Sara Fell Hicks. We are aid taking medical equipment to Orangutan Rescue Centres in Sumatra.