Senior Management Team & Trustees - Vivacity Peterborough

Our Senior Management Team

Kevin Tighe, Chief Executive

Kevin’s professional background is firmly within the world of managing cultural services. His first role was in what was then a newly emerging field- sports development. He managed one of the first teams in the country which was based in Nottingham.

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“It feels like a long time ago since I was wearing a tracksuit and helping others take part in sport. But even now it’s the part of the work I think is most important – enabling people to enjoy life to the full.”
This was a springboard into the world of sport and he subsequently worked for Sport England in a number of guises covering a period of 15 years and culminating in the post of Regional Director (South East).

The next ten years of his career was spent in local authorities, this time with a much broader portfolio of services. The arts (including theatre management); managing parks; library services; heritage services were all added to his already extensive experience of sports facility design and management.

In 2009 Kevin was pivotal in the creation of Vivacity which he describes as “a process that was challenging and rewarding in equal measure, I look back with pure pride on the work that my whole team undertook to create an organisation that is now firmly established and growing day by day”.

Outside of the office Kevin enjoys playing tennis which has provided him with a lifetime of frustration in trying to find a faultless service! He is a keen reader, perhaps one reason why he is based in a library and he rides a Royal Enfield Bullet. His favourite time of the day is breakfast which he shares with his 2 year old daughter: “she helps me keep things in perspective and reminds me that above and beyond everything we are in the people business”.

Pam Whitbread, Director of Resources

Pam has the dual role as Director of Resources and Company Secretary for Vivacity, and is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Pam is an experienced senior manager within the voluntary sector, who joined Vivacity in June 2010.

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Prior to this, Pam worked for the Papworth Trust as Head of Finance.
“I believe that the voluntary sector has a major part to play in society and I’ve chosen to work in this sector knowing that people are at the heart of our vision, mission and values.”

Since joining Vivacity Pam has rediscovered Peterborough and all it has to offer through a diverse range of Culture and Leisure services. Pam’s mother was born in Peterborough and as a child Pam was a frequent visitor to the city.

A keen keep fit enthusiast, Pam regularly takes part in step aerobics and body pump classes. Exercise has always been a key feature of Pam’s adult life. Her other interests include socialising, reading and travel.

Jon Marsden, Director of Sport & Healthy Living

Jon has spent all his working life in Peterborough within the cultural and leisure sector. During his time he has amassed extensive experience in managing public services as varied as sports facilities, parks and open spaces, landscape management, bereavement, libraries, arts, tourism and heritage services.

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His current work as Director of Sport and Healthy Living centres on rejuvenating Vivacity sports facilities and Jon has extensive experience of planning and delivering major capital projects. As a member of the senior management team he remains as passionate as ever about providing outstanding public services and has over the years achieved many awards for the quality of services provided.

Outside work Jon is a long standing board member of the Nene Park Trust which manages areas such as Ferry Meadows Country Park and since childhood remains an avid Peterborough United supporter.

“I feel extremely lucky to work in a role that combines my hobbies and interests. Working for Vivacity with so many talented and like minded people committed to making Peterborough a better place to live and work is a real pleasure.”

Richard Hunt, Director Of Culture

Richard Hunt took up his new role with Vivacity as Director of Culture from the beginning of March 2016. Over the past five years Richard has previously worked for Vivacity as Archives Manager for our Archives Service in the Central Library.

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He has also worked as Archives and Collections Manager overseeing the teams that curate our stock and heritage collections in the libraries and museum, and most recently covering maternity as Head of Cultural Development.

Prior to working with Vivacity he worked in libraries and archives in Nottingham and Oxford.

Outside of work, Richard spends most of his time meeting the demands of a very opinionated and exhausting toddler. When he gets a moment’s break from Duplo and reading ‘Rabbit’s Nap’ he enjoys singing tenor in a cathedral choir, playing the piano and campanology – ringing church bells.

Richard says “I’m really excited to be taking up this new role in Vivacity. It’s an organisation that I am really fond of with wonderful events and activities, wonderful collections, and, most importantly, wonderful people. I’m looking forward to developing our services so that great culture inspires more people both in Peterborough and further afield.”

Kay Parkinson, Director of Marketing

Kay brings a wealth of Marketing experience to her new role as Director of Marketing for Vivacity, most recently leading Marketing Communications for comparethemarket.com.

Kay previously relocated to the area from London and is pleased to be a little closer to her home town being a true northern girl.

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Kay says “I’m really excited to be taking up this role in Vivacity. I see an exciting opportunity to use effective Marketing to grow the awareness of all the great services we offer to the community and build on all the excellent work the team already do.

I’m looking forward to working in this sector and on this great brand that has people at the heart of its vision."

Kay is happiest when she is out and about outdoors kayaking or on a bike surrounded by her family and friends.

Our Trustees

Alan Sadler, Chairman

Alan is married with 2 grown up sons and has lived in Peterborough since 1984. Alan attended Midhurst Grammar school before joining the Royal Air Force as an engineering apprentice technician in 1975, he served 37 years in a number of roles and locations and retired as Officer Commanding Leadership Training in 2013. Find out more... Hide...

More recently he has worked as a business and programme manager for the NHS responsible for staff, budgets, programmes and governance. As a school governor since 1997 he has worked with the last 3 head teachers and is currently serving in his second spell as Chairman at Jack Hunt School.

"I have been extremely impressed by the remarkable evolution of Vivacity as a result of Shelagh Smith's commitment, enthusiasm and leadership. Whilst I recognise I have a tough act to follow, I can say I’m really looking forward to working with everyone to build on the success of the last 6 years.”

Keith Marriott

Keith is currently the Finance Director of the Professional Publishers Association. Keith, a Chartered Accountant, has been heavily involved in the media sector for over 25 years, holding the positions of Finance Director and CFO for several companies.

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Keith moved to Peterborough when he joined Emap some years ago, and although he has since worked in Australia, France and America, he always had a base in the City and thinks of it as his home. He is happily married with two wonderful young children and thoroughly enjoys family bike rides around parts of the Green Wheel and daytrips with the family

Rachel Woodford

Rachel is a business consultant, Trustee and Non Executive Director. Prior to this she co-owned and managed an AIM listed, FCA regulated financial services organisation in the City of London.

Stewart Francis

Stewart is an award winning broadcaster and was Managing director of Mid Anglia Radio Group PLC. He launched three radio stations in Peterborough and has been responsible for raising one million pounds for local disability charities.

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He was previously Chair of the regional Strategic Health Authority, Chair of the RPC (the National Railway “Watchdog” responsible to Parliament) and a member of the Commission for Integrated Transport.

He is a qualified football referee and cricket umpire.

Stewart is Deputy Chair of Vivacity.

David Bath

David is a retired town planner, responsible for the “Peterborough Effect” marketing campaign with Peterborough Development Corporation. David has been influential in the growth and development of Peterborough since the 1970s.

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He has served on the Boards of Nene Park Trust, Minster Housing Association and Peterborough Sculpture Trust. David has a passion for public art, is a keen sportsman and long-time member of Peterborough Rugby Club.

Sarah Sewell

Sarah is a Financial Analyst within the Environment Agency where she has worked within varying financial roles for 13 years. She brings a wealth of experience from her degree in Marketing and Communications she gained at Nottingham Trent University, alongside her financial background.

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Sarah is married with one young child and together they enjoy many of the services and facilities provided by Vivacity; in addition she supports her friends and family as members of the Westwood Musical Society and Peterborough Voices.

"I am in awe every year by the incredible events the Vivacity staff and volunteers organise from the Arts to Heritage festivals and sporting activities. I am looking forward to being actively involved in inspiring more people to engage with the Arts, Culture and Sport in Peterborough."

June Bull

June Bull has over 35 years of experience as a public-sector professional having worked as a Whitehall Civil Servant and latterly as an EC/EU Trade Delegate to the Association of South East Asian Nations. She also holds various voluntary roles in community settings. Find out more... Hide...

Her experience and passion for local culture and heritage is backed up by her being a founder member of Peterborough Local History Society and co-author of 9 local history publications, as well as being a long-standing contributor to various magazines and other people’s publications.

Outside of work June is a dog lover, attends regular cardiovascular workouts, adores travel and immersing herself in different cultures, is a regular guest speaker on the local club/society circuits, as well as enjoying her classic E-Type.

June says: “I am passionate about heritage, culture and sports, plus I am excited about continually improving and innovating services provided by Vivacity. I am always on the lookout for ways to provide excellent offerings, and do things better for residents, visitors and for the staff too.”

Navid Dean

Steve Allen

Theo Anderton

Helen Milligan-Smith

Helen was educated in Manchester and Leicester and graduated in Law. Having lived all round the country working for Companies including Whitbread and Greggs, Helen now works in Covent Garden as the Growth Director of Brakes Group, a company owned by the US business, Sysco. She settled in Peterborough in 2011 and her daughter attends the Peterborough School where she is also a governor. Find out more... Hide...

Helen was Young Business Person of the year 2011, was a finalist on the BBC's "The Apprentice" and was also a Business Connector for Prince Charles.

She joined the trustee board at Vivacity in 2017.

Who we are

Find out more about the people who make up our leadership team