Leeds Rhinos Foundation is delighted to announce three new appointments to the charity’s board of trustees with public figures Mariana Pexton, Councillor Stuart McKenna and Neil Clephan OBE all taking up roles with Leeds Rhinos’ official charity in 2016.
Fresh from receiving an OBE from the Queen in the New Year’s Honours List, Neil Clephan OBE joins the board of trustees on the back of a fantastic year at one of the best and highest achieving schools in the city as Head Teacher of Roundhay School.
Following in the footsteps of Councillor Lucinda Yeadon in her support of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Labour MP for the Garforth and Swillington ward, Councillor Stuart McKenna has also taken up a role on the board of Trustees.
As lead member for sport for Leeds city council, Stuart has already taken to his role by supporting Community Clubs Development Officer Sam Horner with a recent bid for funding to improve facilities at West Leeds ARLFC.
A further boost for the Foundation comes with the appointment of Chief Officer of Corporate Support at Leeds City Council Mariana Pexton, whose experience in children services will provide some valuable expertise as the charity continues to support the Leeds City Council’s Child Friendly Leeds agenda along with providing links to new partner Yorkshire Jets through her role as chair.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Chairman Neil Kaiper-Holmes commented on the new appointments:
"I am very pleased to have persuaded all three to join the Board. Their diverse but complimentary backgrounds will help us to go to the next level with our work in the Community whilst maintaining a firm hold on the Governance of all our activities I am already impressed with their levels of commitment and enthusiasm."
Stuart McKenna said:
"It's a big honour for me to become a trustee on the Leeds rhinos foundation, I've been a season ticket holder over the years for the rhinos and still play rugby league myself for west Leeds and Milford.
"First of all I would like to thank the trustees for given me this wonderful opportunity especially Gary Hetherington who nominated me and also to the staff who've made me very welcome and supported me in my new role and look forward to supporting the whole foundation team in any way I can.
"As a Leeds city councillor and lead member for sport for Leeds city council , I've seen first hand the work the foundation do across the whole of the city is truly amazing and inspirational and I'm so glad to be a part of this fantastic charity."