Following Newport Live’s AGM meeting on Wednesday 15 March, Newport Live welcomes Kevin Ward as new Chairman to the board. Kevin was unanimously voted in after founding Chairman John Harrhy announced his retirement from the position after 7 years of successful leadership of the charity.
Kevin has lived in Newport for 34 years, is a management and media consultant. His clients include the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID).
A former Editor of the South Wales Argus, Kevin is a Board member of Newport City Homes and a director of the Newport Business Against Crime Partnership. He has a Master's degree in business administration.
Kevin said: "I am honoured and proud to be the new Chair of Newport Live's board of trustees. I have a tough act to follow in John Harrhy, who has done an amazing job as Chair since the leisure trust's inception in 2015.
"We have some significant challenges and exciting opportunities in the coming months and years, as we say goodbye to the Newport Centre, open our new wellbeing facility Station, and look forward to the building of a new leisure centre on the riverfront.
"My aim as Chair is to ensure we continue to apply sound business practices while never forgetting our role as a charitable trust and Newport's leading provider of leisure and arts services.
"In particular, I look forward to highlighting the remarkable work our colleagues do in the community through programmes such as Positive Futures."
Chief Executive Steve Ward said, “I’m excited to work with Kevin as our new Chairmain, his energy, business acumen and challenge will lead Newport Live into the next phase of our development.
"We have several exciting new projects and programmes that will be developed and launched which Kevin has influenced in his previous role as Vice Chairman of Newport Live. In his role as Chair, I know Kevin will lead the development of a new strategy and continue to steer the charity in a direction which demonstrates the social value we deliver to the communities and partners in the sport, physical activity, theatre, arts and the public sector.
The board also welcomes two new trustees to the board, Rusna Begum and Beverley Flood. Beverly is a HR Senior People Partner at Monmouthshire Building Society and A chartered CIPD Practitioner and experienced HR professional with 20 years’ experience. Rusna is the CEO of a local charity, Kidcare4u and an Oral Health Improvement Practitioner with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
Chief Executive, Steve Ward said, "I’d also like to welcome our two new trustees to the board, Rusna and Beverley. Their wealth of experience and passion will be a great asset to Newport Live and we look forward to working with them.”
