Circadian Trust, the not-for-profit organisation that manages leisure centres across South Gloucestershire for the local authority, has appointed former civil servant Phil Boobier as chair of its trustees.
Phil, pictured, has 40 years’ experience in the public sector having worked in various finance roles in the Civil Service and other public bodies. 
Since 2013 he has been an independent director and chair of Sphere Leisure, Thornbury-based Circadian Trust’s commercial trading arm.
That role has enabled him to offer his wide range of financial and business experience to support the trust in continuing to deliver high-quality facilities to the local community.
Phil qualified as a management accountant in 1992 after more than a decade’s experience as an electrical engineer in the shipbuilding industry. Since then he has worked across a range of different roles within the public sector, which have focused on investment, project governance and accounting.
In addition to his role at Circadian, Phil is also a director of Bristol-based business and financial consultancy Briarsmead, which specialises in the education and charity sectors, and earlier this year became a lecturer at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, teaching adult learners and apprentices AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) Level 4.
He is a regular visitor to Circadian Trust’s Active Lifestyle Centres, taking advantage of the range of activities on offer.
He said: “Since joining the organisation five years ago, I’ve watched the Trust deepen its relationships within the community and inspire clients to adopt healthy lifestyles – both physically and mentally.
“Circadian Trust has experienced considerable growth in the last few years and I am very much looking forward to continuing to support its future development.”
Phil takes over from Ross Parker, who has stepped down after a year of leading the board of trustees to accept an opportunity oversees.
Trustee Patrick van Beek, head of ALM, UK Life Finance at Aviva, remains as vice-chair.
Circadian Trust operates leisure centres in Bradley Stoke, Downend, Kingswood, Longwell Green, Thornbury and Yate in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council.
Any profit made by the Trust is reinvested to improve facilities, equipment and services for its customers.
