The Advisory Board

Lorrainne Smyth, Chair of the Advisory Board
Thematic Role: Rural Issues, Climate Change & the Environment, Welfare
Chief Executive, ACT Cumbria

Colin Cox, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: Health, Cumberland Council Liaison
Director of Public Health, Customer and Community Wellbeing, Cumberland Council

Chris Connelly, Advisory Board Member & Senior Independent Member
Thematic Role: Finance & Governance, Safety
Chief Operating Officer, Direct Rail Services
Paul Kasiera, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: Equality Diversity & Inclusion, Together Fund and Poorer Communities
Consultant, PKAS Consultancy

Andy King, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: Workforce & Skills, Health Connectivity
GM Active Chair and Coach

Katrina Stephens, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: Westmorland and Furness Council Liaison
Director of Public Health, Westmorland and Furness Council

Richard Johnston, Advisory Board Member
Active Cumbria Senior Manager (Operations)

Bruce Lawson, Advisory Board Member
Active Cumbria Senior Manager (Development)

Michelle Swainson, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: Evaluation & Learning
Lecturer in Physiology/Physical Activity Researcher, Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University
Caroline Taylor-Beswick, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: Safeguarding, and Children & Young People
Chief Executive, Carlisle Youth Zone

Phill Wright, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: TBA
Head of Insight & Business Transformation, CIMPSA

Angela Sibson OBE, Advisory Board Member
Thematic Role: TBA
Retired VCSFE Chief Executive
Active Cumbria Advisory Board is committed to meeting the requirements of the Government’s Code for Sports Governance, and regularly reviews all aspects of its operations to ensure it is meeting the requirements of a Tier 3 organisation.
One demonstrable way of evidencing our commitment to achieving the aims of the Code is through the make-up of the Advisory Board, which currently consists of 42% female members, against a target of 40%. This figure increases to 50% female representation when looking at only independent (and not Ex-officio) Advisory Board members.
We continue to seek to recruit members from diverse communities to ensure we move towards greater diversity, whilst still continuing to meet the gender parity targets already achieved. We will publish an annual statement of progress on this issue and others within our Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan Annual Review.