As the Awarding Body prepares for its official rebrand on 30th June 2026, we are delighted to announce the appointment of two new members to the Awarding Body Committee: Craig Leslie and James Uren.
These appointments follow a rigorous recruitment process aimed at bolstering our committee with deep expertise in auditing, compliance, and professional governance.
Craig Leslie
Craig Leslie brings a broad professional background in clinical education, emergency care nursing, clinical research, audit, sail training, and paddlesport.
Craig previously worked within the NHS, where he developed extensive experience in training, governance, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement. His background has given him a strong understanding of professional standards, robust assessment processes, and evidence-led development.
Currently, Craig holds an operational leadership role at Sea Kayaking UK, a sea kayak manufacturer in North Wales. Alongside his professional career, he has remained actively involved in paddlesport and outdoor activity, giving him a practical appreciation of the experiences, expectations, and standards that matter to participants, coaches, and leaders.
James Uren
James Uren brings a wealth of experience in high-level auditing and compliance. James is currently the Head of Independent Assurance at the RNLI, where he leads on organisational risk management, compliance, and assurance frameworks. His experience in these areas gives him a strong understanding of how robust governance supports safe, effective practice.
He recognises the vital role that the Awarding Body plays in guiding activity, particularly in maintaining standards and providing assurance across geographically dispersed and high‑risk environments, while enabling practitioners to excel.
James is also an active recreational paddler, enjoying a range of disciplines across paddlesport. His connection to the paddling community, combined with his professional expertise, brings a valuable perspective to the committee’s work and will be instrumental in ensuring the Awarding Body maintains its standing as the only recognised and regulated awarding organisation in the paddlesport sector.
“The addition of Craig and James to the Committee ensures that our quality assurance frameworks remain robust and aligned with national regulatory requirements (Ofqual, Qualifications Wales, and CCEA).
For our Delivery Centres, Club, Communities and learners, these appointments provide further confidence and assurances that our qualifications are of the highest standards and represent the industry needs.”
Lee Pooley, Responsible Officer
