Our Board members are more than just leaders, they are champions for physical activity, passionate about creating a more active and healthier Humber.
They understand that physical activity has a vital role to play in improving people’s health and wellbeing, bringing communities together and creating healthier places to live, work and grow.
At Active Humber, our Board members help keep physical activity at the heart of the decisions we make. They advocate for creating more opportunities for people to be active, encouraging collaboration across sectors and ensuring that physical activity is recognised as an important part of improving lives across the Humber.
Rebecca D'Arcy, Chair of the board
Rebecca is an experienced leader with over 25 years in Sports Development, specialising in School Sport, the School Games, and cross‑sector partnership working. She is recognised for her ability to build strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and for creating collaborative environments where strategic thinking and shared purpose thrive. As Chair of the Board, Rebecca brings clarity, balance, and a people‑centred approach to governance. She ensures the board operates with integrity, transparency, and a focus on long‑term impact. Her leadership style emphasises constructive challenge, informed decision‑making, and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. Rebecca is energised by face‑to‑face engagement and professional dialogue, using these spaces to draw insight from others, build consensus, and support organisations through both opportunity and change. Her work is grounded in connection, purpose, and a belief in high‑quality Physical Activity experiences for all.
Rebecca D'Arcy, Chair of the board
Rebecca is an experienced leader with over 25 years in Sports Development, specialising in School Sport, the School Games, and cross‑sector partnership working. She is recognised for her ability to build strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and for creating collaborative environments where strategic thinking and shared purpose thrive. As Chair of the Board, Rebecca brings clarity, balance, and a people‑centred approach to governance. She ensures the board operates with integrity, transparency, and a focus on long‑term impact. Her leadership style emphasises constructive challenge, informed decision‑making, and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. Rebecca is energised by face‑to‑face engagement and professional dialogue, using these spaces to draw insight from others, build consensus, and support organisations through both opportunity and change. Her work is grounded in connection, purpose, and a belief in high‑quality Physical Activity experiences for all.
Andreas Michaelas, Member, Finance and Audit Committee
I’m proud to be a member of the Active Humber board, helping to support and guide our ambition to make the Humber a more physically active place for everyone. I joined the Active Humber board with over 15 years’ experience in sports development, working across a range of National Governing Bodies and with key system partners. I aim to bring my experience, insight, and professional network to support and strengthen the work happening across the Humber.
In my day job, I work at British Wrestling, a Sport England-funded National Governing Body. We’re exploring opportunities to better support the Humber by developing new activity, including Beach Wrestling initiatives in coastal communities. This also presents a great opportunity to strengthen collaboration between NGBs and Active Humber, working together towards shared goals for physical activity and wellbeing.
Andreas Michaelas, Member, Finance and Audit Committee
I’m proud to be a member of the Active Humber board, helping to support and guide our ambition to make the Humber a more physically active place for everyone. I joined the Active Humber board with over 15 years’ experience in sports development, working across a range of National Governing Bodies and with key system partners. I aim to bring my experience, insight, and professional network to support and strengthen the work happening across the Humber.
In my day job, I work at British Wrestling, a Sport England-funded National Governing Body. We’re exploring opportunities to better support the Humber by developing new activity, including Beach Wrestling initiatives in coastal communities. This also presents a great opportunity to strengthen collaboration between NGBs and Active Humber, working together towards shared goals for physical activity and wellbeing.
Kayleigh Jackson, Welfare and Safety Director; Member, Governance and Standards Committee
As a member of the Active Humber Board and the organisation’s Welfare and Safety Director, I play an active role in the strategic leadership that shapes how Active Humber increases physical activity, reduces inequalities, and strengthens community wellbeing across the region. I provide specialist insight on safeguarding, welfare, and safe practice, ensuring that our approaches prioritise the protection and wellbeing of all participants particularly young people, families, and underrepresented groups. Helping to ensure that decisions remain grounded in the realities of frontline community sport while embedding robust safeguarding standards into governance, partnership development, and the alignment of regional and national physical activity strategies.
I bring extensive experience in community engagement, sport for development, youth work, and a multiagency approach through my work with Tigers Trust the official charity of Hull City and from my previous roles within youth and community settings. I believe this provides a strong understanding of how physical activity supports mental wellbeing, aspiration-building, social connection, and positive behaviour change. It also strengthens my awareness of the barriers faced by at risk or disengaged groups, reinforcing the need for safe, inclusive, and supportive environments.
In both my board role and my daily role, I champion embedding a safeguarding culture ensuring that everyone especially at risk individuals can engage in physical activity with confidence, trust and knowing their voices are heard.
Kayleigh Jackson, Welfare and Safety Director; Member, Governance and Standards Committee
As a member of the Active Humber Board and the organisation’s Welfare and Safety Director, I play an active role in the strategic leadership that shapes how Active Humber increases physical activity, reduces inequalities, and strengthens community wellbeing across the region. I provide specialist insight on safeguarding, welfare, and safe practice, ensuring that our approaches prioritise the protection and wellbeing of all participants particularly young people, families, and underrepresented groups. Helping to ensure that decisions remain grounded in the realities of frontline community sport while embedding robust safeguarding standards into governance, partnership development, and the alignment of regional and national physical activity strategies.
I bring extensive experience in community engagement, sport for development, youth work, and a multiagency approach through my work with Tigers Trust the official charity of Hull City and from my previous roles within youth and community settings. I believe this provides a strong understanding of how physical activity supports mental wellbeing, aspiration-building, social connection, and positive behaviour change. It also strengthens my awareness of the barriers faced by at risk or disengaged groups, reinforcing the need for safe, inclusive, and supportive environments.
In both my board role and my daily role, I champion embedding a safeguarding culture ensuring that everyone especially at risk individuals can engage in physical activity with confidence, trust and knowing their voices are heard.
Ellie Westwood, Member of the Advocacy and Influence Committee
I am so proud that I get to play a part in helping Active Humber’s work to help people improve their health and wellbeing by getting active. The life-changing benefits people can experience by getting active is amazing, so to be a part of this work is wonderful.
I’m a Lancashire lass, but moved to East Yorkshire in 2009 when I landed a job as a local journalist at the Hull Daily Mail. It’s a brilliant region to live, work and bring up a family, so I have never left! I am a busy mum to two young boys and am determined to play a part in helping them enjoy physical activity and reap the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Since working as a journalist all those years ago, I have focused on a career in comms, marketing and PR, with experience in global corporates and now heading up comms and PR in a thriving marketing agency. My experience and skills in comms, PR and marketing enable me to bring insight, creativity and support to help the charity strengthen its advocacy and influence work. Powerful, strategic and impactful marketing is so beneficial to charities like Active Humber, so I hope my expertise supports the team.
I truly believe in the power of exercise supporting good mental health, positivity and productive environments. That's why I have spent years supporting and encouraging colleagues to participate in physical activity as part of their daily lives, to challenge themselves and reap the benefits - think team sports challenges in aid of charity and local community sports events; all helping to get more people active. I believe it is important for workplaces to embrace the power of movement and support employees to stay healthy and active. The benefits are huge!
Ellie Westwood, Member of the Advocacy and Influence Committee
I am so proud that I get to play a part in helping Active Humber’s work to help people improve their health and wellbeing by getting active. The life-changing benefits people can experience by getting active is amazing, so to be a part of this work is wonderful.
I’m a Lancashire lass, but moved to East Yorkshire in 2009 when I landed a job as a local journalist at the Hull Daily Mail. It’s a brilliant region to live, work and bring up a family, so I have never left! I am a busy mum to two young boys and am determined to play a part in helping them enjoy physical activity and reap the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. Since working as a journalist all those years ago, I have focused on a career in comms, marketing and PR, with experience in global corporates and now heading up comms and PR in a thriving marketing agency. My experience and skills in comms, PR and marketing enable me to bring insight, creativity and support to help the charity strengthen its advocacy and influence work. Powerful, strategic and impactful marketing is so beneficial to charities like Active Humber, so I hope my expertise supports the team.
I truly believe in the power of exercise supporting good mental health, positivity and productive environments. That's why I have spent years supporting and encouraging colleagues to participate in physical activity as part of their daily lives, to challenge themselves and reap the benefits - think team sports challenges in aid of charity and local community sports events; all helping to get more people active. I believe it is important for workplaces to embrace the power of movement and support employees to stay healthy and active. The benefits are huge!
