New Appointments Further Strengthen the Active Devon Board

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Charlotte Burrows, Dr. Kay Brennan and Steve Brown to our Board.

Charlotte’s career has focused on tackling inequalities, and in her current role (Director Design at South West Academic Health Science Network), she leads the design, development, and implementation of a portfolio of regional health equity programmes. This builds on her extensive career experience across the voluntary, health, and care sectors, in both executive and non-executive roles. She brings significant expertise in innovation, strategy development and service design, with an enterprising approach to achieve social impact.

Charlotte said:

“I am passionate about the power of movement, to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and I am delighted to be joining Active Devon, with its commitment alongside its partners to reduce inequalities within our county.”

Kay is a practicing GP in North Devon with a specialist clinical interest in sport, exercise and musculoskeletal health. She brings extensive experience to the board on the value of physical activity for individual health and its role in community wellbeing. She is a NHS Devon Clinical Advisor working within the new Integrated Care System, where her priorities include tackling health inequalities through collaboration and inclusion. She is the vice-chair of the One Northern Devon’s Board and also chairs its Healthy Weight & Physical Activity and Active Travel forums.

Kay said:

“As a GP I am a huge advocate for physical activity as a core, preventative and therapeutic healthcare intervention. But its power stretches much wider than simply keeping people out of hospital. From enhancing thinking and ensuring healthy growth in young people to reducing loneliness and promoting community economic recovery. I am privileged to be joining the Active Devon board as it strives towards its vision of everyone in Devon being active for life.”

Steve was appointed as Director of Public Health for Devon County Council in January 2021 and has wider leadership responsibilities including Communities, Prosperity and Comm’s and Engagement. After completing his first degree in Sports Science and Leisure he joined the NHS in 1995 working as the Physical Activity Co-ordinator for the Health Promotion Agency. Steve remained in the NHS working within senior public health positions and joined Devon County Council as Assistant Director of Public Health, becoming Deputy Director in 2016. Steve recently completed an 18-month secondment to Cornwall Council and the Council of the Isles of Scilly as the Service Director of Wellbeing and Public Health, and he returned to Devon in April 2020. Steve is a member of the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board and chairs the SW Cardiovascular Oversight Group.

Steve has a passion for physical activity and in addition to coaching his local youth football team keeps himself active with mountain biking, swimming, walking and going to the gym.

Steve commented:

“I am delighted to be joining the Board of Active Devon.  I am passionate about improving health and wellbeing and tackling inequalities and I am really looking forward to learning more about the work of Active Devon and most importantly supporting the team in our mission to unlock the ability of movement to change lives in Devon.”

Jim Nye, Active Devon’s Chair said:

“I am thrilled that Charlotte, Kay and Steve have joined the Board. They bring a combined wealth of experience, but each with unique perspectives, that will add new dimensions to the Board’s collective capability. Their passion for our social purpose and the close alignment of their personal values to our vision is really exciting.”

Matt Evans, Active Devon CEO, said:

“It’s fantastic to be welcoming our new Board members. As well as their exceptional leadership attributes they will really strengthen the Board’s understanding of the health sector and the value of physical activity within it. They are certain to be a huge asset to the Board and our mission.”

Charlotte, Kay and Steve have already taken up their appointments, joining the February 2023 Board meeting.

To find out more about the Active Devon Board and to see all the Active Devon Board members, visit the Active Devon Board page on our website.