Biography
Neil is an elite sport and wellbeing consultant, athlete transition coach, and doctoral researcher with a background spanning sport, leadership and academia. Alongside over 20 years of leadership experience within the financial sector, he has worked across elite and grassroots sport, supporting athletes, coaches, students and organisations through challenges around mental health, transition, resilience, identity and performance.
As a former Great Britain age group triathlete, Neil understands first-hand the emotional and psychological demands of high performance, including pressure, setbacks, injury and life beyond sport. His doctoral research explores the role of secure bases in elite sport and how supportive relationships shape wellbeing and performance.
He works across sport, education and business, delivering workshops, mentoring, coaching and wellbeing programmes that help people not only perform, but feel more grounded, connected and confident in what comes next.
Areas of Expertise:
- Mental health and wellbeing in sport
- Resilience and stress management in high performance environments
- Applied psychology in sport and performance contexts
- Secure bases and social support in elite sport
- Athlete development, transition and identity
- Workshop design and facilitation across sport, education and business
- Leadership, team development and organisational culture
- Coaching and mentoring in performance environments
Qualifications:
- PhD Researcher in Sport Psychology, Loughborough University (2026)
- MSc Sports Business and Leadership, Loughborough University London
- Essential Teaching Skills, Loughborough University
- Mental Health First Aider (Adult & Youth)
- Certificate in Mental Health in Elite Sport, International Olympic Committee
Key Experience Highlights:
- Founder of 'Inspires Performance and Wellbeing'.
- Athlete transition coach with Switch the Play Foundation.
- Guest Lecturer on the MSc Sports Business programme at Loughborough University London.
- Delivered wellbeing, resilience, anxiety and transition workshops across sport and education sectorsx.
- Worked with athletes across football, rowing, boxing, athletics and para sport.
- Supported elite, professional, academy and developing athletes through performance and life transitions.
- Delivered programmes with organisations including Mental Health UK and GLL Sport Foundation.
- Over 20 years leadership experience within the financial services sector.
More About Neil: Beyond the Bio
Outside of work, sport still plays a big part in Neil’s life. He represented Great Britain Age Group Team at two World Championships as a triathlete and, despite promising himself he would never go longer, completed his first ultra race in 2025 as part of a fundraising campaign he is spearheading in memory of a close friend. The campaign aims to create a “Field of Dreams” football pitch at the school where his friend worked and has already raised more than £30,000.
Neil is also kept busy by his two children, who thankfully share his love of sport and adventure! Away from sport and academia, he has a long-standing passion for music and vinyl records and is currently releasing a compilation album on vinyl, CD and streaming platforms featuring indie bands that played for him during his time as a club promoter many years ago.