POD has come into being since May 2024, thanks to the many volunteer hours put in by our fabulous team. We didn’t know each other before POD, yet we’ve had a fantastic time getting to know each other and bringing POD into existence. We’ve been helped by many along the way, and we’re deeply grateful to all who have contributed so far!
The POD Manager
Kieran Turner
Manager
Kieran lives in Walsden and is involved in a wide range of community organisations with a focus on social justice, environmental protection, and encouraging diversity. During his career he has been involved in projects as varied as running humanitarian aid projects in emergency settings, through to being a stage manager at the Edinburgh festival. His focus now is on local projects that help the Calder Valley to be as sustainable as possible.
Volunteers
POD is only possible due to the volunteers who are dedicated to providing a low-cost, low-pollution alternative to private car ownership.
If you’d like to volunteer, please get in touch.
One day, you may even get your portrait here 😉 (if you want it)!
We arrange social events for volunteers too!
Meet the POD Directors
All the POD Directors serve as volunteers.
Rose Wheeler
Chair
Rose Wheeler has a First Class Honours degree in Social Policy. From 1974 she worked initially in community development, then in social policy research at York University. She worked for three metropolitan local authorities in senior roles, before becoming in 1996 full-time Director of the Society for Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). She was seconded to central government for 18 months before joining Calderdale Council from 2001 first as Deputy Chief Executive then as Director of Community Services. She left to become a freelance consultant in 2006. Rose has been active in many voluntary organisations at the grassroots and at Board level, both locally and nationally.
Rebekah Wilinsky
Treasurer
Rebekah has a First Class Honours degree in Law and Accounting and Finance, an MSc in Law and Finance and is a Certified Internal Auditor. She is currently working in internal audit for a building society providing risk-based assurance across a variety of complex risks and working with a range of stakeholders to achieve effective risk management. Rebekah previously worked in peer-to-peer lending supporting new lending platforms to establish their strategies and business plans. This also involved managing client bank accounts and assessing cash flows to ensure financial stability.
Dr James Furlong
Director of Sustainable Transport
Jamie has been an Hour Car member for a number of years. He is a research fellow at the University of Westminster’s Active Travel Academy analysing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in Greater London. He lives in Hebden Bridge and has been involved in a range of projects and schemes related to sustainable transport. He has conducted research into on-street cycle parking for Hebden Royd Town Council and has supported Cargodale – a local cargo bike delivery service – with grant applications and local activity days.
Anthony Leach
Director
Anthony is local to the Calder Valley, where his family has lived for decades. He comes from a farming background. He works for WPP, the world’s largest advertising company, in their artificial intelligence (AI) arm, where he advises and leads strategy for C-suite executives. He wanted to join POD because he believes in supporting a local organisation that is strengthening the community and putting sustainability at the centre of its work is a great cause. His focus as a director is on improving operations, governance, and the user experience so that shared transport in the Calder Valley can grow to be more flexible, accessible, and sustainable. He is family oriented, with a wife and two children, and outside of work is an outdoorsy person who enjoys snowboarding and competitive target shooting.
Lewis Sinkala
Director
Lewis is Head of Procurement at Leeds City Council, where he leads the Procurement, Social Value and Corporate Contract Management teams. With over a decade of experience spanning local government, Lewis brings expertise in public sector procurement, supplier relationship management, and social value. He has led complex initiatives and is a passionate advocate for maximising value from procurement and contracts. As a director, Lewis offers deep insight into public sector governance, contract management, and the role of procurement in driving community impact.