Board of Trustees

Councillor Aziz Ambia has been working within healthcare since 2010.

As the registered manager of Fusion Radiology (a company that provides private tele radiology services to the NHS and private clinics, including a clinic in Luton), he brings a breadth of health and wellbeing knowledge with him to Active Luton, which we are sure to utilise.  

In his spare time, Aziz is a very sociable individual, who loves cricket, and is passionate about supporting his community. He is also very interested in world politics and does his best to stay informed.

Aziz commented “I hope to make a positive impact with my work with Active Luton”.

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Femy has five years’ experience as a teacher and manager inthe further education sector. Her role as an educator in local colleges hasinvolved delivering vocational education programmes, running inspirationalevents for students to raise aspirations and improve academic attainment.

Femy is co-founder of the New Life Youth Club in Londonwhich worked to improve and enhance the lives of local youth throughself-development workshops, inspirational programmes, and developing strongerrelationships with families in order to help build a better community for thefuture.

Prior to this Femy worked in the Logistics sector for 16years overseeing the moving of commercial items globally.

Away from work Femy likes to skate and keep fit and has akeen interest in health-related matters such as nutrition and wellbeing. Femyalso plays an active role in the church, specifically focusing her energy inthe health department which works with the local community to enhance andpromote good health.

Femy’s contribution to the Active Luton Board is tobring together her wealth of experience from logistics, the voluntary sectorand education, to help contribute towards driving Active Luton forward.

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Glynis is an education consultant with extensive experienceof providing advice and training for Physical Education and School Sport. Sheleft her full-time role in 2011 to work independently after 14 years’ teachingand 20 years as PE Adviser to Bedfordshire County Council and then CentralBedfordshire Council.  She worked as an Ofsted Inspector for SecondaryPhysical Education for 15 years and has also undertaken inspections andconsultancy for the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate. She has extensive knowledgeof the Physical Education Curriculum and its assessment at all key stages. Shehas expertise in safe practice in PE, including working with expert witnessesand solicitors.

Her advisory role included managing the LA EducationalVisits and Journeys online system, writing policy and monitoring schools’compliance.

She had been a volunteer for 10 years with English Heritageat Wrest Park, where she spends every Monday working with the conservation andcuratorial teams in the archaeology collection. She also volunteers at BushmeadPriory during the Summer months.

Glynis joined the Active Luton Board in 2017 andbrings a wealth of knowledge and experience of the PE and Education sector. Hercontribution to the AL Board lies with the Health and Safety Leadership Teamand sub - committee. She is a Member for River Bank Primary School.

Helen is a former employee of Active Luton having spent sixyears working in the wellbeing team. 

Mostly working with children and families, she helpeddevelop the provision of social prescription for children and young people andwas team leader when the scheme was extended to cover areas further afield inBedford and Milton Keynes. 

Helen has a degree in Sport, Health and Physical Educationand is passionate about empowering others to lead healthier lifestyles andlearn how to improve their physical, mental and emotional health.

In a voluntary capacity, Helen has over a decade'sexperience as a school governor, having been a chair of governors at bothprimary and secondary level. She was also a director of the trust establishedto build and open a new secondary school in Hertfordshire. Away from work,Helen enjoys yoga, walking her Great Dane and is currently learning to playgolf.

Kevin was born and grew up in Luton and was a student at theUniversity of Luton where he completed a degree in Computer Science andManagement. Whilst completing his studies he set up his first business andsubsequently took on roles within the media and advertising sector. He thenmoved into facilities management where he held several internationally-basedsenior executive roles encompassing IT and operations.

Kevin’s professional time is now spent undertaking interimroles within businesses and community organisations to help them resolveoperational and IT-related challenges.

Kevin is very active within the local Luton community, wherehe has founded ABCD-in-Luton and promotes the Asset Based Community Developmentmethodologies. He can often be found getting his hands dirty with gardening,and litter picking through the #KeepLutonTidy campaign.

Currently, he helps Active Luton with their IT Strategy,conducts monthly Health and Safety Workplace inspections and sits on theFinance and Risk subcommittee.

Mahmood migrated to the UK from Pakistan in August 1967having just graduated in Political Science. He initially worked in Darwen,Lancashire and made the move to Luton in 1969.

Mahmood worked at Vauxhall where he became actively involvedin Trade Unions and the Labour Party. He became a Senior Shop Steward atVauxhall and then became self-employed in 1973. He established his own privatehire company in the 1980s with 65 drivers working for his company at one point.He continued to run his firm until 1999 when he was elected as a Luton BoroughCouncillor.

Mahmood has held various responsibilities within the Counciland has chaired a number of committees. He has been a member of the Cabinet ofthe Council since 2005 and was Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care for anumber of years. Mahmood is currently the Portfolio Holder for Children’sServices and a member of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Mahmood has been a trustee of Active Luton for many years.He actively encourages the participation of adults and children in sport andphysical activity. He is also a strong advocate of the work being undertaken toencourage BAME communities to participate in sport and leisureactivities.  It was one of his ambitions to have an Olympic sized pool inLuton and he is extremely proud to have played an integral part in the teamthat developed Inspire: Luton Sports Village.

Mahmood enjoys walking and reading in his sparetime.

Nicola is currently the Divisional CEO at CommercialServices Group, one of the biggest local authority trading companies in thecountry, owned by Kent County Council.  She leads a number of servicesfrom procurement and energy through to recruitment and landscapeservices.  

Prior to this, Nicola worked for Luton Council for over 20years in a range of senior leadership positions including Corporate Director ofCustomer and Commercial and Corporate Director of InclusiveEconomy.  

Nicola is an Active Luton service user and avid swimmer andcan be seen regularly ploughing up and down in the Inspire pool.

Philippe was appointed a Trustee in 2021. He was born inBelgium and came to live in Luton when he was two years old. Philippe has livedand worked in Luton ever since.

Prior to retirement Philippe worked for Luton Council as theProcurement Contracts Manager, and is a Member of the Chartered Instituteof Purchasing Supply. Philippe has been a serving Magistrate on theBedfordshire Bench since 2008. He is also a Trustee and Secretary of HattersHeritage, a small local charity.

Philippe is a regular user of the gym and swimming pool atInspire: Luton Sports Village. He also enjoys travel and is a keen supporter ofLuton Town Football Club.

Priya has considerable experience within Recruitment,Volunteering, Events Management and Employer Liaison.  She has beenworking for the University of Bedfordshire for several years and has a passionfor helping and supporting students/graduates into employment.  She isactively involved in the community with her additional roles at Active Luton,Teams Beds and Luton and the recently developed Bedfordshire Skills Board.

Priya has a strong interest in culture and people and hascompleted a Masters in Intercultural Communication.  She hascompleted her undergraduate qualification in Business Studies and is alwayslooking to learn and grow. Recently, she has completed Equality and Diversityand Digital Media courses.

Priya is a regular runner and has a keen in sports andmaintaining a healthy lifestyle.

She is adventurous, loves to travel and has climbed MountBatur in Bali!  

She is contributing to Active Luton by representingthe diverse community of Luton and by linking education to the sports industry.

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Wayne has worked in secondary education for over 20years.  In that time, he has taken on many leadership roles includingDirector of Specialism (PE),  Head of Year,  Assistant Head(assessment and reporting) and is currently Assistant Head (teaching, learningand training).

Wayne is a strong advocate for the young people in the townand their right to a brighter future. He is happiest when outdoors andenjoys playing golf, walking his dog, and mountain biking.  He also enjoystravelling, eating out and going to music concerts.