Our Team
Who we are
We are a small group of dedicated and professional volunteers with varied professional backgrounds, skills and experience. What connects and unites us is our passion to bring the site back into community use.
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The expertise and experience of our team is diverse and highly relevant – see our team profiles below. Our team members' ‘day jobs’ and professional roles involve: swimming pool and leisure facility design and development, employment law, leisure consultancy, sport development, planning, environmental health, external relations and project management, legal and regulatory, and catering.
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Additionally the campaign has a wider base of committed support in the community and there is a willing cadre of volunteers who ‘pitch in’ to assist with events, projects and activities.
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How we work
Some of us lead specific functional areas. However, as a small team our roles are fluid. This ensures we all have a well-developed and rounded understanding of the project which aids sound collective decision-making.
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Committee members regularly attend monthly committee meetings in addition to working within our six work streams: Governance; Design, Build & Procurement; Funding & Fundraising; Events & Projects; Marketing & Communications; and Treasury & Accounting.
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These work streams help plan and support our operations, events and other developmental activities such as external relations, background research, liaison with pro bono advisers and national organisations such as Future Lidos.
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Join Our Team!
As we respond to the changing dynamics of the project we are always keen for new team members. Enthusiasm and passion are the main requirements. If you have specific skills or experience that you can contribute...even better!
Our team fit into the following broad groups:
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Directors of the Community Interest Company
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Committee
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Advisors (pro bono)
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Discrete offers of work and/or assistance (pro bono)
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Volunteers - regular and 'one off'
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Professional services (contractors)
Contact us today to get involved!​​
Team Profiles
Leonie Sharp
Chair & Director
Lead – Governance
Lead – Funding & Fundraising
Lead – Marketing & Communications
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I am a neighbour to the Lido and have been instrumental in the Otley Lido project since our inception in 2015 and am determined to restore it for our community.
I am a Senior Manager in UNISON with 25 plus years of employment law and managerial expertise, high level public relations and media skills, project and finance management experience as well as extensive experience engaging with senior stakeholders in political environments.
Ian Lawson
Director
Lead – Design, Build & Procurement
Lead – Treasury & Accounting
Governance
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​​​​​A large proportion of my life has been spent in sports facilities and venues. After participating in numerous sports I discovered rowing at university and subsequently spent 10 years on the GB Rowing Team competing at multiple World Cups, World Championships and 2004 Olympic Games.
My career has centred around sport and consultancy. Roles at Leander Club and Eton College involved organisations balancing club/school, community and commercial use including meeting and conference facilities; corporate hospitality; private events (e.g. weddings, parties, etc.); alongside water based events and actvities. This included the Eton College Rowing Centre – London 2012 Olympic venue – built at a cost of £17m in 2006 with a circa £1.5m annual turnover.
Francesca Gains
Director (pending)
Co-Lead – Heritage Open Day 2024
Governance
Funding & Fundraising
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​​​​​​I love swimming in lidos and think a lido serving Otley and the surrounding areas would be a fantastic resource for the local community.
I am an Emeritus Professor of Public Policy who has over 30 years' experience of working with national, local and devolved authorities to develop devolution and community governance iniatives including being an expert advisor to the Local Government Association Levelling Up Inquiry.
John Hamilton
Committee
Co-Lead – Heritage Open Day 2024
Governance
Design, Build & Procurement
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​​​​​​My wife and I are keen outdoor swimmers (both open water and lidos) and regularly visit lidos across the country. We would both make extensive use of Otley and could walk there!
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After an initial career in the military as an engineer I embarked on a career in healthcare qualifying as a nurse. Subsequently, I ran my own businesses and held commercial, governance and managerial positions including my current role as a regulatory advisor for BUPA.
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I have a keen interest in building design and operations including sustainable community developments.