Sarah Tester, UK Treasurer, UK Spa Association
After many years of dedicated service UKSA Treasurer, Gary Lipman has decided to take a step back. Gary has been a hard-working force behind the UK Spa Association for many years and has been instrumental, together with Abi Selby, the UKSA Chair, in strengthening the Association for further planned growth and development.
Bobby Griffiths, the UKSA General Manager, said, “We are sad to lose Gary and his expertise from the board but thank him from the bottom of our hearts for all his hard work and support, in growing the association to this point. We wish him all the very best.”
UKSA is delighted to announce that current board member, Sarah Tester, has agreed to take over the role of Treasurer with immediate effect from November 2025.
Sarah brings over 15 years of experience in the spa and hotel industry. She joined Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Essex as part of the pre-opening team in 2010, beginning her journey as a night receptionist. Her dedication and versatility saw her rise through a variety of operational roles before transitioning into finance, ultimately becoming Finance Director. In 2019, she expanded her remit to include operations and now serves as Finance and Operations Director. In this role, Sarah oversees every facet of the resort and its business, leading a team of over 200.
Her combined expertise in both operations and finance gives her a comprehensive, 360-degree perspective on managing the spa, along with a perpetually full To-Do list.
Since joining Lifehouse, Sarah has felt fortunate to receive numerous opportunities for growth. She strongly believes in giving back by fostering success in others, empowering and developing her team through dedicated mentorship. She is passionate about promoting equality and diversity in the workplace and is deeply committed to raising awareness and support for mental health. Her goal is to help make the spa industry a more inclusive and welcoming space for everyone.
Sarah’s journey into wellness began in 1999 through the study of Kung Fu, embracing both internal and external disciplines. She went on to qualify as an instructor in both styles, deepening her practice with meditation, qi gong and acupressure. Her dedication led to national recognition, earning British titles in Tui Shou, a form of Tai Chi combat, and securing two silver medals at the European Tai Chi Championships. While she no longer actively trains, the principles and practices she learned continue to shape her outlook and remain a lasting influence in her life.
Abi Selby, UKSA Chair, said, “Sarah has taken to her new role seamlessly and is already getting up to speed. Myself and Bobby are delighted to announce her appointment and are looking forward to working with her in the coming months, to continue with our development plans and growth strategy.”
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