Dr. Fred Coalter previously was the Director of the Centre for Leisure and Tourism Studies at the University of North London and Director of the Centre for Leisure Research at the University of Edinburgh. In these roles he undertook a wide range of research and provided advice for a variety of UK government bodies, serving on a range of working groups and committees. He is currently, a member/expert advisor of the Scottish Executive’s Physical Activity and Health Council. In addition to his general interests in all aspects of leisure policy, he has particular interests in participation trends, the pricing of public leisure services and the definition and measurement of the social impacts of leisure services (especially sport). He is also involved directly in the delivery of leisure services, being Chairman of the Board of Directors of Edinburgh Leisure, the trust company which manages sport and recreation facilities on behalf of the City of Edinburgh. He is also Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management, a member of the Editorial Board of Managing Leisure: An International Journal and a former editor of Leisure Studies.