Directors
Suzy Toseland-Goakes
Executive Director
Suzy started her career in health and fitness in 1989 as a studio instructor and personal trainer. She developed her skills further within a successful Exercise Referral scheme. In 1999 she accepted a role with one of the UK’s largest work based learning Training Providers and was integral to launching their national strategy for Active Leisure apprenticeships. She then went on to lead the company’s technical lecturing team covering, programme delivery and quality assurance across the whole of the UK. In 2006 she was appointed Lead External Verifier for Active IQ and designed and implemented a successful quality assurance strategy managing a team of external verifiers both nationally and internationally. In March 2008 Suzy was promoted as the Executive Director of Active IQ and has successfully continued to drive the company forward to meet the business strategy of Active IQ.
Mobile: 07725 240460
Email: suzy@activeiq.co.uk
Debra Stuart
Chief Executive Officer
Having enjoyed a lifelong career in health and fitness education, Debra has played an integral part in the development of national occupational standards and qualifications and raising the standard of health and fitness education. She has provided consultancy services to organisations such as SkillsActive, the Register of Exercise Professionals and many other industry bodies and sits on the European Health and Fitness Standards Council. Debra has directed national business development strategies in line with learning and skills council funding policies for a number of large training organisations in the UK. She joined Active IQ as Executive Director in 2006 and successfully directed the awarding body’s business expansion strategy. Debra was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in 2008 and now focuses on business strategy for the awarding body and in particular driving Active IQs expansion into Europe and the UAE.
Email: debra@activeiq.co.uk
Mark Botha
Sales & Marketing Director
Mark brings to Active IQ 15 years experience working within a corporate health and fitness environment, having previously worked for NY Health and Raquet Club, Fitness First and Leisure Connection, he totally understands the needs of employers and provides essential insight to the Active IQ qualifications development team ensuring qualifications and resources are fit for purpose. Mark is responsible for all areas of Sales and Marketing but in particular driving forward the organisation’s current 3 year growth strategy.
Julian Berriman
Research & Development Director
During his early college years Julian gained a BA (Hons) in Sport and Recreation and a Masters in Leisure Management. In 1995, he embarked on the Premier Diploma in Fitness Training and Sports Therapy as well as a Certificate in Education. On completion of his studies he set up his own sports therapy and personal training business. Julian then moved into a training and development role in health and fitness where he enjoyed 13 years in many key roles within training and development. The experience and knowledge gained during this time now serves him well within his current role as Research and Development Director. Within this role Julian is responsible for all areas of content within Active IQ's educational offerings. In recent years, he has also completed a BSc (Hons) in Osteopathy and now combines his work at Active IQ with running his own osteopathic practice.
Mike Edwards
Finance Director & Company Secretary
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in Norwich and working for Ernst & Young where key clients included Aviva and Bowaters, Mike then worked for 12 years as Divisional Finance Director for a printing group where he was responsible for six sites spread across the South East and London employing around 1,000 people with a turnover of £100m. The main site, based in Essex, was one of the UK’s largest magazine printers producing such varied titles as What Car, In Style and Spectator and consuming 300 tonnes of paper per day. Mike moved to the South West in 2007 having been approached by Europe’s largest book printer to join their digital print business with sites in Chippenham, Melksham and Eastbourne.