Board and Governance
Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited is a charitable, not-for-profit, organisation responsible for managing the majority of leisure centres, libraries and play areas in the county of Flintshire. The company is owned by its employees and the legal model is a Community Benefit Society. Aura’s constitution states that the business of the company is to be conducted for the benefit of the community and not for the financial benefit of its members (employees).
Governance of Aura is provided by a Non-Executive Board which is made up of local professional people who have committed to volunteering their time. There are no shareholders on the Board and no dividends are paid to anybody.
Sara is the Chair of Aura’s Board of Non-Executive Directors.
Sara retired from full time work as a Further Education College Principal in 2013 and was awarded an OBE for services to vocational education in the same year.
As well as education, Sara has expertise in governance, public service and human resources. Since retirement, Sara has also been a Non-Executive Director of a social housing association.
She has lived in Flintshire for over 30 years and was attracted to join Aura because of the positive difference it makes to the health and well-being of the people of the county.
Peter is the Chair of Aura’s Audit and Risk Sub-Committee.
Peter is Group Director of Resources at Cartrefi Conwy, an independent not-for-profit Registered Social Landlord.
He has experience of working in both private and public sectors and has over 15 years’ experience at Board level.
Peter is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). His principal areas of responsibility with Cartrefi Conwy include business planning, financial management, governance, human resources, insurance and information and communication technology.
Peter joined Aura due to his passion and support for community-based leisure and library services.
Peter is the Chair of Aura’s Governance and Nominations Sub-Committee.
Peter is a marketing and communications professional specialising in economic development, physical and social regeneration, culture, sport, tourism, inward investment, media and brand management, public affairs and major events.
He is a former Deputy Chair of Arts Council England Northwest and Member of the Northwest Sports Council. He was a member of the London 2012 Nations and Regions Group representing the Northwest and chaired the steering committee for the Olympic Torch Relay.
Peter lives in Mold and is passionate about Aura’s role in delivering culture, sport and leisure opportunities that improve mental health and physical well-being for our local communities.
John is the Chair of Aura’s Remuneration Sub-Committee.
John joined Aura as a volunteer in 2018, working with the Sports Development team delivering activities for young people in Hope and Saltney.
As a retired police officer his experience gained during a lengthy career has enabled him to support and guide Aura in areas such as safeguarding, health and safety, and emergency and contingency planning.
John has always been a keen sportsman and is a big advocate of the benefits of physical activity on individuals’ health and mental well-being.
Jane is currently Head of Commercial Development (Product and Services) for the Disclosure and Barring Service. Previously, she has been a business improvement consultant supporting Chief Executives, Directors and senior managers to lead their organisations through change initiatives.
She is keen to help Aura develop further in terms of strategic planning, innovation and partnerships.
Jane has lived in Flintshire most of her life and the impact Aura’s services have on communities is very important to her.
John runs his own business as a safety consultant in the adventure sports sector. Previously, he was Head of Leisure and Community Services for a local authority in England with a close involvement in regeneration and capital projects. He has also worked as the CEO of a Welsh sports governing body and is an active sports club coach.
John believes that Aura’s services are integral in providing quality to people’s lives and help to define towns and communities. As a Board member, he aims to bring his experience to bear in protecting and developing both services and facilities.
Alison is an award-winning finance professional with experience in financial strategic management and leadership. She currently works in the private sector for a British family-owned luxury jewellery brand.
She has previously worked for a not-for-profit social housing provider, together with financial services and recruitment organisations.
Alison is a passionate advocate for mental and physical well-being and is committed to making a difference and adding value to individuals’ lives.
Jay is currently Planning and Performance Manager at The British Heart Foundation and specialises in strategic and operational planning, performance monitoring, risk management and corporate governance.
He started his career as an Aura employee and remains enthusiastic about its mission and the work of his former colleagues.
Dan is currently a Sports Development Officer within Aura having started as a volunteer in 2009. As an employee-owned organisation, Dan is the workforce representative on the Board responsible for ensuring the ‘voice’ of colleagues is reflected in the decision-making process.
Dan has experience of grant funded programmes, together with a wealth of knowledge of the local communities in which Aura serves.
Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited is registered in England and Wales under the Cooperative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 (Registration No. 7610). The Registered Office address is Deeside Leisure Centre, Chester Road West, Queensferry, Flintshire, CH5 1SA.