Joining the board with immediate effect are well-known leisure industry leaders Jenny Patrickson and Debra Stuart, alongside Christina Hennessey, Rob Lander, Alison Crowe Melissa Wright and Aimee Henderson. Each has been appointed for an initial four-year term following an open recruitment process that attracted an exceptionally strong field of applicants.

The appointments come as EMD UK enters the final year of its current five-year strategy and begins shaping its strategic direction for 2027-2031. 

During the last five years, group exercise has continued to grow in both participation and influence. Sport England's latest Active Lives Adult Survey shows that 7.2 million adults took part in group exercise during the previous 28 days, making it England's largest participation activity category. In addition, EMD UK's recent Social Value of Group Exercise research demonstrated that the sector generates £5.3 billion of annual social value and supports more than 60,000 instructors delivering health and wellbeing benefits in communities across the country.

The new appointments will help guide EMD UK's next phase of development, with a particular focus on strengthening the integration of group exercise within health, supporting workforce development, and ensuring the sector continues to play an increasingly important role in tackling physical inactivity, health inequalities and social isolation.

Among the new appointments is Jenny Patrickson. With more than 30 years working the sector, Jenny brings extensive experience advising operators, suppliers and governing bodies, considerable commercial and strategic expertise together with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the leisure sector.

Debra Stuart, has more than three decades of experience spanning education, workforce development, commercial leadership and strategic consultancy. Having led some of the sector's most influential brands, including Premier Global NASM and Active IQ, she has helped shape professional standards and develop thousands of fitness professionals throughout her career. Her appointment brings a wealth of industry knowledge and leadership experience to the EMD UK Board.

The board is further strengthened by Rob Lander, CEO Fisikal, recently sold to Vesta Software Group, and part of Vesta’s growing portfolio that includes Gladstone. Lander brings significant digital and technology expertise. Christina Hennessey, former chief medical officer of Boots Digital, whose experience across healthcare, rehabilitation and physical activity will strengthen links between the health and leisure sectors, while Aimee Henderson, COO The Conservative Party, is an experienced people and organisational development leader with expertise in culture, leadership and workforce transformation.

Alison Crowe, Joint chief customer officer at Great British Racing and before that Director of Digital and Data, England and Wales Cricket Board, brings extensive commercial, strategic and governance experience, while Melissa Wright's background in organisational leadership and people development, working with organisations including World Rugby and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), will further strengthen EMD UK's leadership as it enters its next strategic phase.

'The quality and diversity of applicants was exceptional and reflects both the progress EMD UK has made over recent years, and the growing recognition of the impact group exercise has on the nation's health and wellbeing,’ says Samantha Cullum, Chair, EMD UK. 

'The passion and expertise of our Board members, new and old,  will be invaluable as we shape that next chapter for EMD UK and continue to raise the profile and influence of group exercise nationally.'

Dan Rees, CEO EMD UK says: 'As we prepare our next five-year strategy, this is an important moment for the organisation. We have compelling evidence demonstrating the scale of group exercise's contribution to society, from improving physical and mental health to reducing loneliness, supporting communities and easing pressure on health services. Our ambition now is to build on that momentum, ensuring the group exercise workforce is recognised as a trusted partner in delivering prevention, tackling health inequalities and supporting healthier communities across the UK.’

The appointments follow the completion of Board terms for four long-serving Non-Executive Directors, who stepped down earlier this year after serving the maximum eight years permitted under the Code for Sports Governance.

The full list of current EMD UK Board members is as follows: 

Existing NED's

Sarah Durnford, Global Experience director for Les Mills

Stuart Armstrong, managing director, Future Coach Limited 

Born Barikor, founder, Our Parks

Samantha Cullum, chair EMD UK

New for 2026:

Rob Lander, CEO, fisikal

Jenny Patrickson, owner JP Consulting

Debra Stuart, owner, D Stuart Consulting

Aimee Henderson, former COO The Conservative Party

Alison Crowe, Great British Racing 

Melissa Wright, World Rugby

Christina Hennessey, chief medical officer

For more information about EMD UK visit: https://emduk.org