With 13 years of CEO experience in the NHS and a thought leader and advisor to the NHS and the wider healthcare sector, Farrar’s appointment comes at a time when the physical activity sector is becoming more integrated with the national health agenda, led by ukactive’s work to help reduce health inequalities and grow the scale and impact of its members.

Farrar previously served as chair of the National Strategic Health Authority Chief Executive’s Group from 2002 to 2009; chief executive of the NHS Confederation from 2011 to 2013; vice and interim chair of Sport England between 2009 to 2012; and chair of Swim England from 2015 to 2020.

In 2005, Farrar was awarded the CBE for services to the NHS and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Physicians, and of the University of Central Lancashire.

Throughout his career he has also been committed to supporting sports bodies and charitable foundations, including serving as chair of the Amateur Swimming Association, a trustee of the Football League Trust, chair of the Rugby League Players Welfare Forum, and chair of Huddersfield Town and Huddersfield Giants Community Sports Trust.

Mike will take over from outgoing ukactive Chair, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who is approaching the end of a six-year tenure.

“I am honoured to be named the new chair of ukactive and cannot wait to get started in delivering on the ambitious plans I have seen to grow the sector’s impact and reach. There is huge synergy and opportunity here to develop our plans for supporting improvement in the nation’s health,” said Farrar.

“Equity of access to healthcare has been a key issue for me throughout my NHS career and I want to ensure that diversity and inclusion runs through every layer of our sector, our organisation and our governance at ukactive.

“ukactive’s members have an essential role to play, alongside the NHS, in the future of our population’s health and wellbeing. They are an integral element in our healthcare system and I will be committed to realising that vision.”