Home About What's On Sports Centres Libraries Parks Learning Engagement Contact News SEARCH Meet the team of Directors and Trustees who run the Trust: Phill Sykes Director of Operations Phill started his career in the Royal Marines working as a musician on board the Royal Yacht Britannia where he travelled the world providing music for the Royal Family. After thirteen years he decided on a change of career and trained as a personal trainer where he secured a position as a sports rehabilitation specialist with David Lloyd Leisure helping people recover from injury and major surgery. Phill spent two years in this position before joining the management team with the clear aim of driving income across all sports and activities in the health club. After six very successful years in this role Phill moved across to the sales and membership department to help grow the business for future investment. After eight successful years with David Lloyd Leisure, Phill took the General Manager position in a large Virgin Active health club in Wimbledon where the same ‘customer first’ approach saw the club out-perform its targets to deliver £127k over budget. Following a relocation to Wales, Phill started as Area Manager for Evans Cycles before taking up the position of Commercial Director with Aneurin Leisure Trust. Following recent restructuring in November 2019, Phill has taken up the post of Director of Operations. Nichola Morden-Tew Director of Resources Originally from Abertillery, Nichola now lives in Llangynidr and attended Glamorgan University in Pontypridd. Nichola started her career in manufacturing working in supervisory management positions in fast moving environments. After 10 years she took the decision to change career path and move into human resources and health and safety management remaining within the private sector. She is experienced in creating and implementing programmes to improve business operations and her past positions have enabled her to gain experience of short-term working abroad such as France, Malaysia and Korea. In 2015, Nichola made the decision to widen her current knowledge and experience choosing to work within the public sector and joined BGCBC in April 2015, transferring to Aneurin Leisure as the Human Resource Manager in July 2015. Following recent restructuring in November 2019, Nichola took the post of Director of Resources. Nichola's interests include watching athletics, walking, reading and spending time with her family. Our Trustees Working with our Directors, the Board of Trustees is made up of a broad cross-section of the community and is committed to ensuring that we continue to develop our provision and services with the aim of improving community life for all residents of Blaenau Gwent. Lyn Evans Chair In the local government reorganisation in 1996 I moved to Blaenau Gwent Council. I worked in the Works department as a management services officer, then into Leisure Services and became the grounds maintenance and countryside manager until my retirement in 2009. I have worked over 30 years in local government and I have gained valuable experience during that time. In March 2013 I became the vice chairman of voluntary directors with Six Bells Regeneration Limited which is a social enterprise company based at TY Ebbw Fach in Six Bells. In December 2013 I became the company secretary and I have acquired business skills which will be beneficial in carrying out the role as trustee. I am looking forward to being involved in developing and improving access for leisure, culture and community learning which will bring great benefits to the future health, and wellbeing of the people of Blaenau Gwent. I would like to ensure the long-term sustainability of leisure services and I am proud to serve as a trustee on the board of Aneurin Leisure Trust. Jenny Ames Community Trustee I have had a 35-year career in the university sector, the last 8 years of which were in senior leadership positions, including as Assistant Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University of South Wales. I am now based in Reading, Berkshire, where I am establishing a consultancy working at the interface between universities with business and society. Throughout my career I have gained considerable experience working in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including the NHS, local councils, museums, charities, the private sector, and further education colleges. Enabling and encouraging people to reach their potential is important to me and mentoring and coaching colleagues is further experience I bring to Aneurin Leisure. I have experience of leading colleagues in areas of direct relevance to the Trust, including sport and exercise, public health and well-being, inequalities and disadvantage, natural environment, and Food. In addition, I have a very good understanding of the types of pathway from academic research to creating an impact in society. I am excited to be able to apply my knowledge and skills to benefit Aneurin Leisure. Donna Hardman Employee Trustee I started working for Gwent Libraries in 1989, in a temporary job in County Hall, Cwmbran, and have worked for libraries ever since! I worked in Gwent's Schools Library Service, and Acquisitions, before transferring to Blaenau Gwent with reorganisation in 1996. In that time I have worked on the mobile library and home delivery service, and I am currently the children's officer, which includes responsibility for library services for schools and Bookstart. Originally from Newport, I've lived in Tredegar for 23 years and have two daughters. In my spare time I volunteer for Kidz R Us, a performing arts centre in Tredegar. My interests include music and dance, walking and reading (of course!). Richard Dando Community Trustee I’m excited to join Aneurin Leisure Trust as a trustee to help support the fantastic staff and volunteers across the sport development, leisure, libraries, community education and venue teams to deliver the organisation’s mission of ‘Improving Community Life’. I have over 10 years’ experience working in the sport sector with Sport Wales and have worked in partnership with the sport development team in Blaenau Gwent over the last 8 years to help get the schools and communities active and enjoying sport. I have a passion for supporting the leadership development of people through sport and seeing the positive impact this can have on individuals and communities. I look forward bringing my experience, enthusiasm, challenge and support to help take Aneurin Leisure Trust forward, in addition to learning, developing and expanding my own knowledge and skills while in the role. Andrea Smart Community Trustee I am so excited about being involved with Aneurin Leisure Trust as a community trustee because I was born and raised in Ebbw Vale – this part of Wales is very dear to my heart. Along with my family, I still live locally and am very keen to do all I can to support the Trust to develop the best services and facilities for the people of Blaenau Gwent. I currently work as a commercial director for a global organisation within the healthcare sector managing the UK business, where I get to use the skills and knowledge I have built up over the last 25 years. I gained a Master’s degree in business from Cardiff University in 2007 and have used a combination of academic and practical knowledge to successfully lead several commercial organisations since that time. Doing the best for patients and customers is what makes me get out of bed in the morning doing my day job – and this passion for making the lives of people living in my community better is exactly the reason I was keen to become involved as a trustee with Aneurin Leisure. I believe that we all have a responsibility to look after our neighbours, local community and those who call these Valleys home. I realise that life can be difficult, challenging and lonely for many people, and some of the services and facilities the Trust provides and manages can have a positive impact on all our lives. I am keen to support Aneurin Leisure in providing a variety of things to help enrich daily life and very happy to be able to contribute using my skills in any way I can. I often visit some of our local amenities such as Parc Bryn Bach with my other family member – my dog, and I am very excited about seeing the future development of other sites across Blaenau Gwent, and I look forward to being involved with Aneurin Leisure over the coming months and years. Stephen Priestnall Community Trustee Originally from Ashington, Northumberland, I moved to Wales in 2017 with my business oomph, a customer experience agency, founded in 2005. Previous experience has included running a WPP interactive design agency in London and working for global telecommunications enterprise Cable and Wireless in the UK and Bermuda. I also founded and now run a digital platform-based survey tool, Decision Juice. I have always had a passion for wellbeing in all aspects of life, now as a committed fell runner, a Welsh FA football coach and PPC for the Green Party in Blaenau Gwent and previously as a triathlete, footballer and qualified personal fitness trainer. I'm very happily committed to balance time with my family, my work and the communities of which I am proud to be part. I have chaired committees as an 11-16 school governor, a local football team, co-founded a health and wellbeing participation group, run a football youth coaching programme and provided vocational lecturing for High Level Apprentices in marketing and communications. I'm both grateful and excited to have been offered the position as Community Trustee of Aneurin Leisure and hope to be able to share some of my knowledge in customer experience innovation and data driven research as well as work in which I have been engaged with Sport England, Leisure and Arts Trusts, County Sports Partnerships and Social Investment Fund development. I look forward to being part of a team that makes Aneurin Leisure a national reference point in creating a new approach to wellbeing through leisure and life community services provision. Councillor Wayne Hodgins Local Authority Trustee I have been a Borough Councillor since September 2016 where I am ward member for Brynmawr. I have been a Brynmawr Town Councillor, since 2014. I am Chairperson of Brynmawr Town Partnership and have the responsibility of organising and installing Christmas lights in Brynmawr Town Centre. I support all the local rugby clubs in the town. I am a local businessman and in the course of my business I work on many community events. I have the interest of the community at the forefront of my work as a councillor and also as a board trustee member of Aneurin Leisure. Councillor Stewart Healy Local Authority Trustee I have been a borough Councillor since 2017 where I am a ward Member for Beaufort. I am the Treasurer of the local Tenants & Residents Association and an active Member of the local British Legion. I am a former board Member of the Police & Crime Panel, Gwent. I am very excited to be a part of Aneurin Leisure as my passion is helping the community which is at the forefront of my work as a Councillor. Privacy notice | Public documents | Dewis Cymru 01495 355606 | enquiries@aneurinleisure.org.uk Aneurin Leisure is a registered charity in England and Wales (1159092) © Aneurin Leisure. All Rights Reserved. Designed by Harper Visuals