Mark has over 30 years of experience within the private and public sectors, including sports and leisure strategy, leisure centre management, events, arts development, community centres, play development and tourism. Leading the most prominent local authority sport and leisure service in England for 20 years (with Leeds City Council), he covered physical activity development, sport development, leisure/wellbeing centres and major sports events. He also led the successful bid to bring the World Triathlon Series to Leeds in 2016.

Mark has held NED positions on various boards, including Skills Active, Leeds Rhinos Rugby Foundation, Leeds Triathlon Centre, Sport Leeds and West Yorkshire Sport (CSP). He remains an active member of the Chief Culture and Leisure Officers Association (CLOA) as Honorary Secretary, supporting the Executive Committee in recent years as Vice Chair and Chair.