Our board is a group of accomplished leaders whose strategic guidance and collective expertise help steer, check and challenge Leap.

Sue Imbriano

She/Her/Hers | Board Chair

More

Sue is particularly passionate about all children and young people having opportunities to achieve the very best outcomes. The importance of the very early years of childhood and the development of our young people’s emotional intelligence and resilience are areas of specific interest. Sue is also a champion of the importance of physical activity and sport in young people’s physical and emotional development.

Sue Chairs Leap’s Nominations Committee.

Amanda Wright

She/Her/Hers | Board Member

More

A creative and enthusiastic team player, determined to ensure that her experience and connections benefit Leap’s objectives and aspirations. Through her 30 years career as a branding specialist and as founding Director of Yellow Yoyo, an established futures, strategy and design business, she has been responsible for shaping and steering large national and international businesses both strategically and creatively.

Colin Howe

He/Him/His | Board Member

More

Colin is a Retired Accountant and has advised businesses, charities and individuals over the last 37 years of professional life. He has broad experience gained from nearly 40 years as a professional practicing accountant serving owner managed businesses and their owners. Strong negotiation and mediation skills both in informal and formal (mediation and arbitration) settings.  While on the Board of his practice Colin has at various times been responsible for the  Marketing , IT  and  Finance functions.

Colin Chairs Leap’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Lee Mason

He/Him/His | Board Member

More

Lee is a social entrepreneur committed to using sport to improve lives.  Formerly the Director of Bucks Sport, Lee now leads the national umbrella body for the network of Active Partnerships across England, but continues to support us as strategic adviser.  Lee plays a range of sports particularly cricket, enjoys cycling and golf and is a qualified coach.

Martin McElhatton OBE

He/Him/His | Board Member

More

Martin is a Paralympian who competed in wheelchair basketball for Great Britain in the 1984 Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville. 

Martin has been involved in wheelchair sport for over 30 years including voluntary roles within wheelchair tennis at national and international level, local sport within Buckinghamshire as well as his professional life as Chief Executive of WheelPower at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

Martin was honoured to be a London 2012 Paralympic Torch Bearer and in 2013 received the prestigious Brad Parks Award for services to international wheelchair tennis. In the New Year’s Honours list 2020, Martin was awarded an OBE for his services to sport.

Sophie Payne

She/Her/Hers | Board Member and Senior Independent Director

More

Sophie is Director of Culture, Sport and Leisure for Buckinghamshire Council.

Sophie has 25 years’ experience in communications and stakeholder engagement, organisational change, customer experience and digital transformation. Prior to joining local government, Sophie held senior roles within the Government Communication Service, working across diverse issues including public health campaigns, NHS reform, pensions and benefits, consumer protection and crisis communications. She has also worked at an international PR agency, an internet start-up and the European Commission.

Sophie is a Member of Leap’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Tom Godfrey

He/Him/His | Board Member

More

Tom has worked in sports for most of his life across the globe, although not at the moment! He fully understands the power of sport to inspire and bring people together to help them change their lives. He is particularly interested in creating public and private partnerships to help people and communities make this change.

Will Rysdale

(He/Him/His) | Board Member

More

Head of Housing Delivery, Milton Keynes Council and Board Member for Leap.

Yvette Thomas

(She/Her/Hers) | Board Member

More

Yvette is a secondary school teacher with Further Education and Headship experience spanning 34 years, in the UK and abroad. In her current role Yvette supports schools across the County as School Improvement and Traded Delivery Manager: her team provides advice and guidance to schools and monitors the educational attainment of all pupils and students in Bucks.

Yvette leads on Safeguarding and Anti-discrimination in education: delivering training to teaching staff and professionals working with children and young people.

For her work on anti-racism Yvette was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Show Racism the Red Card in 2016.

Sue is particularly passionate about all children and young people having opportunities to achieve the very best outcomes. The importance of the very early years of childhood and the development of our young people’s emotional intelligence and resilience are areas of specific interest. Sue is also a champion of the importance of physical activity and sport in young people’s physical and emotional development.

Sue Chairs Leap’s Nominations Committee.

A creative and enthusiastic team player, determined to ensure that her experience and connections benefit Leap’s objectives and aspirations. Through her 30 years career as a branding specialist and as founding Director of Yellow Yoyo, an established futures, strategy and design business, she has been responsible for shaping and steering large national and international businesses both strategically and creatively.

Colin is a Retired Accountant and has advised businesses, charities and individuals over the last 37 years of professional life. He has broad experience gained from nearly 40 years as a professional practicing accountant serving owner managed businesses and their owners. Strong negotiation and mediation skills both in informal and formal (mediation and arbitration) settings.  While on the Board of his practice Colin has at various times been responsible for the  Marketing , IT  and  Finance functions.

Colin Chairs Leap’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Lee is a social entrepreneur committed to using sport to improve lives.  Formerly the Director of Bucks Sport, Lee now leads the national umbrella body for the network of Active Partnerships across England, but continues to support us as strategic adviser.  Lee plays a range of sports particularly cricket, enjoys cycling and golf and is a qualified coach.

Martin is a Paralympian who competed in wheelchair basketball for Great Britain in the 1984 Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville. 

Martin has been involved in wheelchair sport for over 30 years including voluntary roles within wheelchair tennis at national and international level, local sport within Buckinghamshire as well as his professional life as Chief Executive of WheelPower at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

Martin was honoured to be a London 2012 Paralympic Torch Bearer and in 2013 received the prestigious Brad Parks Award for services to international wheelchair tennis. In the New Year’s Honours list 2020, Martin was awarded an OBE for his services to sport.

Sophie is Director of Culture, Sport and Leisure for Buckinghamshire Council.

Sophie has 25 years’ experience in communications and stakeholder engagement, organisational change, customer experience and digital transformation. Prior to joining local government, Sophie held senior roles within the Government Communication Service, working across diverse issues including public health campaigns, NHS reform, pensions and benefits, consumer protection and crisis communications. She has also worked at an international PR agency, an internet start-up and the European Commission.

Sophie is a Member of Leap’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Tom has worked in sports for most of his life across the globe, although not at the moment! He fully understands the power of sport to inspire and bring people together to help them change their lives. He is particularly interested in creating public and private partnerships to help people and communities make this change.

Head of Housing Delivery, Milton Keynes Council and Board Member for Leap.

Yvette is a secondary school teacher with Further Education and Headship experience spanning 34 years, in the UK and abroad. In her current role Yvette supports schools across the County as School Improvement and Traded Delivery Manager: her team provides advice and guidance to schools and monitors the educational attainment of all pupils and students in Bucks.

Yvette leads on Safeguarding and Anti-discrimination in education: delivering training to teaching staff and professionals working with children and young people.

For her work on anti-racism Yvette was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Show Racism the Red Card in 2016.

Experience genuine rewards as a valued member of our team.

FIND OUT MORE