David Woods – Chair
David Woods has over 25 years experience as both an Executive and a Non-Executive Director. He has held Executive Director posts in the NHS and operated at a senior level at the University of Manchester.
He has been Non-Executive chair of two large charities providing a range of social care services for both older people and those with severe disabilities. He has also been a Trustee of a policy think tank and has served on the board of a Pension Fund.
As well as being the Chair of Brio, David also chairs the Chester Music Society, which provides over 24 live classical music events a year and the Cheshire West and Chester Voluntary Arts Network- a network organisation that brings together over 60 cultural and arts organisations across west Cheshire.
In his spare time, David is a keen road cyclist, traveller, photographer and choral singer.
Tony Allen FCMA – Vice Chair
Tony has held senior positions in industry, public sector and social benefit organisations.
A qualified accountant, he has delivered finance and IT strategies and raised significant funds for private equity business and social housing. As a managing partner for his consultancy business and Non-Executive Director in the NHS and other organisations, he brings a wide range of expertise to Brio including risk management, health and safety, audit and governance.
Tony has lived in Tarporley for ten years and is a keen badminton and 5-a-side football player.
Non-Executive Directors
Professor Lynne Kennedy
Lynne has over 25 years experience of working in Higher Education, specifically within nutrition, public health and healthcare education and training. She is Head of Subject in the Faculty of Medicine and Clinical Sciences and Head of Department of Clinical Sciences and Nutrition at the University of Chester.
She has held several senior policy advisory roles at regional and national levels, including Public Health Wales and England, to address critical health issues such as food poverty, inequalities in health and also obesity prevention and weight management at a population level.
Lynne brings public health and research intelligence expertise to the Board and has helped strengthen links between Brio and the University.
In her youth, Lynne was a successful long-distance runner, representing Cheshire and Merseyside many times. She now prefers walking and is regularly enjoying the outdoors and fresh air.
Mark Bayley-Smyth
Mark has held senior leadership roles in large corporate organisations, most recently as Managing Director at Siemens. He gained a great deal of international experience through living and working in Singapore, USA and Germany.
He now runs his own management consultancy and leadership development organisation, focussing on improving management performance and productivity in regional businesses. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute.
In his spare time, Mark enjoys travelling.
Peter Broxton
Peter has run a consultancy business for the last 15 years specialising in business turnarounds across the UK and Eastern Europe and supporting entrepreneurs to commercialise innovative healthcare products.
A scientist by background Peter started his career at Astra Zeneca in Macclesfield and has worked with several North West-based medical and consumer businesses.
Peter is a Non-Executive Director of the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership and an active member of the Expert Network of advisors at the Alderley Park Accelerator.
In his spare time, Peter enjoys hill walking, keeping fit, cricket and the theatre.
Peter Taylor
Peter Taylor is a portfolio IT and Projects Director working with several SMEs based in the North West.
Prior to this Peter has been an Executive Director of four businesses in the commercial, not for profit and public sectors.
Peter is a keen sportsman, coach and volunteer across a variety of sports including badminton, cricket, football and hill walking.
Executive Directors
Elly McFahn – Managing Director
Elly joined Brio as Managing Director in 2011, with previous background experience in contracts, operations, mobilisation of leisure construction projects, and managing leisure sites.
She has worked for the industry-leading accreditation agency, Quest, as a Communities Assessor, and Operations Mystery Visitor alongside this, gaining valuable insight into the industry as a whole.
Elly is passionate about wellbeing and the integration of public sector leisure services and sits on the Borough Health and Wellbeing Board.
In her spare time, Elly enjoys swimming, dog walking, skiing and travelling.
Mike Hobday – Finance Director
Mike has over 15 years experience within the non-profit sector and has been with Brio since its formation in 2011.
Before this, he worked for the Chester and District Sports and Recreation Trust (CADSART).
He’s a qualified accountant with years of experience in many sectors including hospitality, working for large multi-sited organisations and businesses, including hotels and sporting venues.
Mike lives in North Wales and enjoys running, swimming, walking and cycling.
