Team Mates

Biography

Abi spent nearly two decades chasing centimetres as an Olympic long jumper, yet her most recent leap was the one from the sandpit to the boardroom. She is a strategist, mentor and coach, keynote speaker, and Olympian who understands that the true challenge of high performance is not only achieving podium moments, but enjoying the journey and growth along the way.

With an MBA and track record of scaling a start-up to six-figure annual revenues, Abi bridges the gap between high performance resilience and commercial reality. Her work is rooted in a deep, lived experience of transition. Having spent years guiding and growing alongside others as they navigate shifts in sport, business, and life, she provides the tools and space to ensure those she works with can evolve into a new, purposeful mission that inspires joy.

Abi combines analytical strategy with a human approach to help athletes own their story and perform
with excellence in every season of life.

Areas of Expertise:

• Athlete Transition and Identity: Navigating the psychological and practical shifts beyond elite competition.
• High Performance Resilience: Lessons from several surgeries and an Olympic debut 14-years in the making.
• Personal Branding and Storytelling: How to articulate your unique value to stakeholders, partners and employers.
• Commercial Growth, Strategy and Negotiation: Applying elite sport discipline and securing sponsorship to business development and P&L management.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Building authentic, impactful relationships across diverse industries.
• Public Speaking and Communication: Engaging audiences with authenticity and impact, delivering high energy keynotes that inspire behavioural transformation.
• Empathetic Leadership: Building teams and culture in sport and business.

Qualifications:

• MBA (Business Masters, specialising in Data, Technology and AI), Alliance Manchester Business School (2026)
• Life Coach Certification (2022)
• LLB Law, University College London (2012)
• HBS Business CORE, Harvard Business School Online (2021)
• NLP Diploma (2017)
• Athletics Coach, UK Athletics (2012)

Key Experience Highlights:

• Olympic Games Finalist: Tokyo 2020 long jump finalist and 3x British Champion.
• Business Founder and Mentor: Scaled 'Manchester Tutors' to a six-figure revenue business, achieving a successful exit in 2022.
• Host50 Business Accelerator Coach and Speaker.
• Strategic Governance: Vice Chair of the British Olympic Association and UKA Athletes’ Commissions.
• Consulting Excellence: Led AI-driven digital transformation and market-entry projects for luxury and retail sectors.
• Global Speaker: Professional Speaking Association North-West President (2025), keynote speaker.

More About Abi: Beyond the Bio

Away from work, Abi still thrives on the pursuit of marginal gains, although these days they happen outside the sandpit. Recently, she swapped short sprints for an 8K run at HYROX Manchester - a complete shift from her comfort zone, but a rewarding reminder of what can be achieved by embracing new challenges.

When she's not training, you'll most likely find Abi spending time with friends or travelling to sun-drenched destinations, where she enjoys practising her French and immersing herself in local culture through its food and people.

While she brings a disciplined approach to performance, Abi also has a serious sweet tooth - a high-quality brownie or a white chocolate Creme Egg will always win her over!

She is also fascinated by the positive potential of technology, particularly AI and vibe coding, and how these tools can create more space for human connection, creativity and innovation.

Find out more about Abi, on her website: www.abigailirozuru.com. 

Connect with Abi on LinkedIn.

Biography

Tim spent 20 years as a British Army officer, leading people in environments where the pressure was real, information was often incomplete, and the consequences of decisions mattered. Yet one of his most significant leadership challenges came afterwards: leaving a career that had shaped much of his identity and working out who he was without the uniform, how his experience translated, and what he wanted the next chapter of his life to stand for.

Today, Tim works across high-performance sport as the Leadership and Management Services Advisor at UK Sport, helping to develop the people and environments that support Britain's Olympic and Paralympic system. Alongside this, he coaches, mentors and facilitates leaders, teams and athletes across sport, business and the public sector.

His work brings together practical leadership experience, evidence-based coaching and a deep understanding of change and transition. He is particularly interested in the human side of performance: how people make good decisions under pressure, build trust, influence others, navigate uncertainty, and create the conditions in which individuals and teams can thrive.

Having made the transition from an identity-defining military career into a new professional life, Tim understands that transition is rarely as simple as changing jobs. It can affect confidence, purpose, relationships and a person's sense of who they are. He helps people recognise the value of what they have already achieved, translate their experience into a new context, and move forward with greater clarity, confidence and optimism.

Tim's approach is straightforward, supportive and practical. He does not believe leadership development should be something people simply listen to. It should give them the space to think, practise, be challenged, and leave with something they can use when the pressure is on and the answer is not obvious.

Areas of Expertise:

• Leadership and Management Development: Helping leaders understand what their people need and adapt their approach to the individual, team and situation.
• Athlete and Career Transition: Navigating changes in identity, confidence and purpose when moving beyond an established career.
• Executive Coaching and Mentoring: Creating the space, challenge and support people need to think clearly and take meaningful action.
• Decision-Making Under Pressure: Making sound, timely decisions when information is incomplete, emotions are heightened and there is no perfect answer.
• Influence and Stakeholder Engagement: Building relationships, understanding different perspectives and achieving outcomes without relying solely on authority.
• High-Performing Teams and Psychological Safety: Creating cultures in which people feel trusted, supported and able to contribute, challenge and learn.
• Leading Through Change: Helping individuals and teams understand uncertainty, manage resistance and move towards a clear and meaningful purpose.
• Experiential Learning and Facilitation: Designing practical, engaging development that allows people to explore, practise and apply leadership rather than simply learn the theory.

Qualifications:

• Level 7 Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring
• Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Management
• MSc in Environmental Management for Business
• Fellow of the Institute of Leadership

Key Experience Highlights:

• High-Performance Sport: Leadership and Management Services Advisor at UK Sport, supporting leadership capability across the Olympic and Paralympic high-performance system.
• Leadership Development: Former Leadership Development Manager at the UK Sports Institute, designing and delivering programmes covering leadership, coaching, influence, change, feedback, delegation and management.
• British Army Leadership: Served for 20 years as a British Army officer, leading teams of up to 150 people and working with different nationalities and cultures in the UK and overseas.
• Operational Leadership: Led people through demanding operational environments, including frontline medical support and the preparation of teams for deployment.
• Premier League Mentor: Spent five years mentoring Academy Managers and Heads of Coaching through the Premier League’s mentoring programme.
• Athlete Transition Coach: Supports current and former athletes through Switch the Play Foundation, helping them recognise their transferable skills and develop a purposeful plan for life beyond sport.
• Executive Coach and Facilitator: Coached leaders and delivered leadership development across elite sport, government, defence, charities and commercial organisations.
• Major Event Leadership: Worked as Venue Deputy Manager for athletics at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, leading staff and volunteers in a complex, high-pressure live environment.

More About Tim: Beyond the Bio

Away from work, Tim is happiest outdoors, walking, cycling or exploring with his family and their dog, Coco. He enjoys adventures, but is just as interested in the people who make them possible: how teams form, how individuals respond when plans change, and how strangers quickly learn to work together.

He also enjoys creating experiences that bring people together, whether that's a weekend in the Lake District, a walk and a good conversation, or organising an adventure film festival.

Tim remains fascinated by leadership in everyday life. He believes it is often found not in job titles or grand gestures, but in the small moments when someone provides clarity, steps forward, listens properly or helps another person believe they are capable of more.

Connect with Tim on LinkedIn.

Biography

Eira brings a wealth of experience across performance sport, coaching and athlete development. Her journey in sport began in rowing at the age of 13. She represented England at U19 level and Wales as a senior, with early ambitions of making the GB team, until reality (and a bit of honesty) kicked in. That moment proved pivotal, sparking a coaching career that would go on to have far greater impact.

After juggling rowing coaching with life as a Head of Department in a busy secondary school, Eira moved into full-time coaching with British Rowing in 2004. Over the next decade, she worked with athletes aged 13 to 30, supporting them from their very first outings through to national team selection, with many progressing to become world and Olympic medallists.

Eira now runs, 'High Performance Parenting', supporting athletes, parents and families to navigate sport in a healthy, balanced way. Alongside this, she mentors athletes through transitions, helping them build confidence, perspective and a sense of identity beyond sport. Working with an organisation like Switch the Play Foundation provides the ideal platform to do this, enabling athletes to be supported in a truly holistic and meaningful way.

Areas of Expertise:

• Strengthening your support network: How to build “team friends and family”
• How to write your own script: Learn clear and confident communication under pressure
• Helping you understand and accept the decisions made by coaches
• Navigating difficult seasons with clarity and confidence
• Gender parity within sport: Funding, facilities, opportunities, coaching and media coverage
• Helping you find joy and motivation in the everyday

Qualifications:

• Qualified teacher
• British Rowing Qualified Coach

Key Experience Highlights:

• 10 year’s experience as Talent Development Coach with British Rowing
• International coaching experience at U19, U23 and Senior level
• Coach of multiple world and European medal winning crews and athletes
• Founder of 'High Performance Parenting'

Find out more about Eira, on her website: www.hpparenting.co.uk.

Connect with Eira on LinkedIn.

Biography

Areas of Expertise:

• Athlete transition and life beyond sport
• Identity, purpose and "what's next"
• Values-led development (anchored, aligned and accountable)
• Building confidence and self-belief
• Habits, routines and behaviour change
• Performing under pressure
• Leadership and team dynamics
• Creating clarity and direction
• Entrepreneurship and building your own path

Qualifications:

• MBA International Sports Management, Loughborough University
• MSc Coaching and Behaviour Change, Henley Business School
• Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching, Henley Business School
• Member of International Coaching Federation

Key Experience Highlights:

• 30+ years’ experience working across sport, health, human performance and leadership
• Worked with senior leaders and teams across global organisations
• Designed and delivered programmes across 20+ countries
• Built and successfully sold two businesses – a boutique gym and a conference business
• Experience working with the England RFU and consulting for British Rowing
• Delivered 50,000+ combined hours of coaching and workshop facilitation

More About Adam: Beyond the Bio

Outside of work, Adam enjoys reading, cold water dips, and alongside his girlfriend, growing his own fruit and vegetables.

Connect with Adam on LinkedIn.

Biography

Darren is a certified coach specialising in supporting men in midlife and athletes approaching the end of their sporting careers through periods of transition and change. With a background in sport and football development, Darren spent many years working for organisations including, Sport England and The Football Association. He established his own coaching and consulting practice in 2016 and qualified as a Personal Performance Coach in 2017.
​​
Darren now works with men who feel stuck, uncertain, or at a crossroads, as well as athletes - both men and women - navigating life beyond competitive sport. Whether the challenge is a loss of direction, identity shift, career transition or redefining purpose, he understands how destabilising these moments can be.

Areas of Expertise:

• Navigating change and transition
• Career change
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Purpose and identity
• Personal values
• Organisations within the sport and physical activity sector and NGB landscape

Qualifications:

• BSc (Hons) Sports Studies, University of Chichester (1998)
• UEFA Certificate in Football Management (2013)
• Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching, The Coaching Academy (2017)
• Mental Health First Aider, MHFA (2020 - refreshed in 2023)

Key Experience Highlights:

Darren is an experienced leader, consultant and certified coach with a background in sport and leisure, working with organisations and individuals in complex, changing environments. Across his career, he's led and delivered projects, shaped and implemented strategy, undertaken research, monitoring and evaluation, and supported the development of people and organisations. What sits underneath all of that is a simple motivation: helping people and organisations to move forward with clarity, confidence and purpose.

More About Darren: Beyond the Bio

Darren's passion for sport was originally sparked by a trip to the 1990 World Cup Final in Rome which inspired him to pursue a career in the industry. Outside of work, he coaches his son's U14 football team, Littleport Rangers in Cambridgeshire, and enjoys listening to 90s indie guitar bands and BBC Radio 6 Music.

Find out more about Darren, on his Front Foot Life Coaching Instagram.

Connect with Darren on LinkedIn.

Biography

John is a highly experienced consultant with over twenty-six years of expertise in the fields of football, education, coaching, mentoring and business. John is a skilled educator. A qualified teacher and higher education lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and Sheffield Hallam University, John has educated internationally having worked in the UK, US, Asia, Africa and South America. John has developed teacher education and mentoring programmes as an expert consultant for The FA National Faculty and is currently a FIFA Expert in technical leadership, providing training and supervision to FIFA mentors worldwide. Additionally, John is practised at directly delivering executive coaching/mentoring and team development, delivering to current clients such as FIFA, UK Sport, The Football Association and  The Brazilian Football Confederation. A UEFA Qualified Coach and a council member of The Football Association, John uses his talents to guide strategic thinking at a National level within English Football.

John is a successful business owner, having established his consultancy, Summitpeople Ltd. John has been a CEO for an award-winning County Football Association and Regional Manager and National Manager for the Football Association. He successfully achieved year on year growth in participation in football for over 20 years through the skilful mentoring of many senior leaders within The Football Association and County Football Associations in the UK, using his expertise in football development and strategic business planning to drive performance.

John has a Master’s degree in coaching and mentoring, accredited by the EMCC at professional level and a Bachelor of Education with Honours specialising in Physical Education. John’s research to date includes, leadership, coaching and mentoring and inclusive education.

Away from John’s professional life he relaxes with his family in Ripon, North Yorkshire. He enjoys sport, playing football, cycling and being a keen gym enthusiast.

Reason for becoming an associate of STP

Passionate about educating and supporting others to grow, develop and meet their aspirations. Having worked in sport in various roles and levels I have experienced those that find transitioning from sport difficult and feel I can support them on their journey.

Biography

Kieron Achara is a former Olympian and Scottish professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Duquesne University and ended his professional playing career at Glasgow Rocks after playing most of his career in mainland Europe, in Italy, Spain and Greece. Kieron captained both Scotland and Great Britain at a national team level and is now an Ambassador for Great Britain Basketball.

Currently working towards a Master’s degree in Business Leadership and Management from Northumbria University, his dissertation focused on the factors that lead to a successful transition out of sport.

Reason for becoming an associate of STP

"The subject of transition is very personal to me as I found it difficult to find direction and purpose. Support came through researching in my dissertation, speaking to others who had left sport and hearing their thoughts on what they would have done differently. I want to return the favour by working with Switch the Play to make sure as many athletes as possible make a smoother transition out of sport when their time comes."

Biography

Ian has held many roles in sport, beginning as a rugby player in Fleetwood, Lancashire. His journey has seen him become a committee member, board member, coach, trustee, chair, and Chief Executive of what is now the British Elite Athletes Association. The latter led him to become a key member of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson's team, which completed the 'Duty of Care in Sport' Review for the Government. This, in turn, led Ian to found DOCIA Sport and become a supporter and partner of Switch the Play Foundation.

His primary interest is in the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in the sector, but especially athletes, wherever they are in their careers. Ian is proud to have collaborated with Switch the Play Foundation to establish the Psychological Care Pathway, which he believes is ground-breaking in the way it supports athletes' welfare.

Areas of Expertise:

• Mentoring
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Career advice
• Networking
• Leadership

Qualifications:

• M.Sc. University of Manchester
• Former MHFA England Mental Health Instructor

Key Experience Highlights:

• Assistant to Baroness Tanni Grey-Thomson creating the Duty of Care Review in Sport for government
• Led the team opposing the motion, “This house would boycott the Sochi Olympics” at the Cambridge University Union Debating Society in February 2014
• Worked with CIMSPA, UK Coaching
• Director Matt Ratana Foundation
• Chair Casagrande Coaching Academy
• Former Trustee of SportsAid

More About Ian: Beyond the Bio

Ian has his own personal board, a trusted group of colleagues, friends and family who help keep him grounded and support his wellbeing. The Senior Non-Executive on that board is his dog, Fred. He's a great listener, fiercely loyal and always gets Ian out for some fresh air.

Find out more about Ian, on his website: www.dociasport.co.uk.

Connect with Ian on LinkedIn.

Biography

A proud husband and father to three amazing children who he loves to share his passion for travel with. He describes himself as “a life-long learner whose curiosity to develop as an individual is matched by my ambition to help other people unlock their true potential”.

He has lived experience of the ecstasy and agony of the football industry during his 15 years as a professional player. Mark is currently relishing the opportunity to add to his 600 plus competitive appearances as current captain of his local side, Warrington Town.

At Fleetwood Town Mark realised his childhood dream of walking the Wembley steps as a winning captain but it was at Stevenage where he enjoyed his most successful time on the field. He counts himself fortunate to have been part of an extraordinary squad that created history and Mark led the club from the bottom half of the National League to the verge of the Championship. Although proud to have been named player-manager on two separate occasions he says “nothing can compare to when we secured victory at Old Trafford in the League Two Play-Off Final”. As a Manchester United supporter and former season ticket holder it was the ultimate honour for him to lead his side out at The Theatre of Dreams. Lifting a trophy in front of the Stretford End was a moment he will treasure for the rest of my life.

Reason for becoming an associate of STP

Since making my transition out of professional sport I’ve tried to align myself with organisations whose vision matches mine.

StP have given me the ideal platform to reach more athletes whilst developing my own skill-set and I’m excited for what the future will bring.

Masterclasses I deliver

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Maximising Your Network

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Financial Wellbeing

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Biography

Tobi is a professional footballer, who came through the ranks at Charlton Athletic and is currently playing for Carlisle United. He has a business management degree, counselling qualifications and is the co-founder of F3 - a charity which supports footballer’s wellbeing and holistic development.

His experiences as a professional athlete have inspired a passion for helping fellow athletes to discover their identity, in and out of their sport, and explore what they want to do in life, during and following the conclusion of their career.

As well as being a keen reader, Tobi also enjoys listening to podcasts and travelling.

Other experience includes; coaching (football), events planning, public speaking, teaching and mentoring.

Reason for becoming an associate of STP

STP’s vision of “a world where every sportsperson fulfils their potential at every stage of their lives” aligns well with my passion for seeking opportunities to maximise my potential and helping others to do the same. I want to use this opportunity, working with STP, to encourage other athletes to explore the many possibilities available to them, while still involved in sport, which can continue to be developed once no longer involved in sport.

Biography

• 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

• 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

• 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.

Biography

Sarah is a high-performance coach and performance psychologist with over 15 years’ experience across elite
sport, business and education. She works with teams, leaders, and individuals to build self-awareness, strengthen relationships and drive sustained high performance. Her approach helps people better understand themselves and others, turning insight into behaviours that impact the human behind the badge.

Sarah has extensive experience in elite sport, including nine years full-time within a Premier League football club and as Sport Psychologist for the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team alongside International Cricket and Rugby.

She now supports a range of high-performance environments within and beyond sport, translating lessons from sport into business and leadership contexts. Her work has led to stronger performance cultures, improved team connection, and increased confidence/self awareness to create meaningful change. Sarah believes people drive environments and environments drive results, so her focus is on developing the person behind the performance. Treating everyone as the unique individual they are.

Areas of Expertise:

• Identity and Purpose: exploring self-concept beyond sport, redefining success and building a sense of direction.
• Emotional Transition: managing the emotional challenges of loss, uncertainty and change.
• Confidence and Self-Belief: rebuilding confidence and self-efficacy in non-sporting environments.
• Career and Motivation Exploration: transferring the mindset and habits of elite sport into new roles or pathways, strengths based approach.
• Wellbeing and Mental Health: maintaining structure, balance and resilience post-retirement/through
  transition.
• Relationship Changes: navigating shifts in family, social and team dynamics.

Key Qualifications:

• BSc Hons Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Brighton, 2002
• PGCE Secondary Physical Education from the University of Brighton, 2003
• MSc Sport Psychology from Brunel University, 2008
• Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Science Sport Psychologist, 2012
• Health Care Professions Council registered Sport Psychologist, 2019

Key Experience Highlights:

Sarah was one of the first full-time Sport Psychologists employed by a Premier League football club, where she built the psychology department over the course of nine seasons. Progressing from Lead Academy Sport Psychologist to working with the men's and women's senior teams, she oversaw psychology across the club, embedding mental wellbeing alongside performance – an approach that remains at the heart of her work today.

Having spent the past few years as a consultant, Sarah now works with the Premier League, the Football Association of Ireland, corporate leaders and teams, parents of talented athletes, coaches and athletes transitioning out of sport. She supports a wide range of sports and organisations, helping individuals and teams develop greater self-awareness, strengthen mental wellbeing and enhance performance.

Sarah is also the co-author of 'Sport Performance Parenting' and supervises trainee sport psychologists.

Before beginning her career in sport psychology, Sarah was an athlete herself, competing in county cricket, football, hockey and tennis before playing hockey at an elite level whilst working as a Physical Education teacher – her first career.

More About Sarah: Beyond the Bio

Still a keen competitor, Sarah trains regularly and loves nothing more than running the trails near her Sussex home. She also enjoys playing masters hockey whenever she can, although, by her own admission, the pace isn't quite what it used to be!

Driven by a love of the outdoors, Sarah is happiest outside and often has to be persuaded to spend time indoors. Nature, movement, gardening, great coffee and meaningful human connection are what keep her energised every day.

Having completed a barista course, Sarah also makes a great coffee - although she'll be the first to admit that her latte art still leaves plenty of room for improvement!

Find out more about Sarah, on her website: www.performance-edge.org.

Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn.

Biography

Rich is an HCPC-registered Sport and Performance Psychologist. Originally training as a Chartered Accountant at EY, he went on to hold senior roles in investment banking and telecommunications before embarking on his own career transition in 2011 to become a Chartered Psychologist.

Today, Rich specialises in supporting athletes through critical moments, such as deselection or injury - anxiety-inducing events that can reshape a person's sense of self. His applied work and research with motorcycle road racers have given him a comprehensive understanding of the long-term injury experience.

As Principal Sport Psychologist at Isle of Man Sport, Rich supports a wide range of athletes, parents, coaches and teams across various performance pathways, including high-performing athletes in Olympic and other professional sports.

Alongside his applied work, Rich is a published author and supervises trainee Sport & Exercise Psychologists.

Areas of Expertise:

• Performance enhancement
• Personal development
• Anxiety and stress management
• Managing critical moments
• Building confidence and self-belief
• Focus and concentration skills
• Developing adaptability

Qualifications:

• HCPC-registered Sport & Exercise Psychologist
• Practitioner Psychologist, British Psychological Society

Key Experience Highlights:

Rich brings over 25 years of high-performance experience to his work with athletes and business leaders. Rich has worked with athletes at all levels of the talent pathway, from juniors through to Olympians and world champions.

More About Rich: Beyond the Bio

Rich is a keen fell runner and loves an ultra-endurance challenge!

Find out more about Rich, on his website: www.richsille.com.

Connect with Rich on LinkedIn.

Biography

Sport has shaped everything about how Lynn works. As a former County-level gymnast and International 2* event rider, she developed essential workplace skills that continue to underpin her approach today, bringing both a coach's perspective and an athlete's mindset to everything she does.

Lynn is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy, a qualified coach, and an experienced trainer, mentor, professional speaker and management consultant with over 35 years' experience in the public sector. As the founder of 'Dynamic Focus Limited', she has spent the past few years working with a diverse range of clients across the public and private sectors, including military service leavers.

Building relationships and trust is central to Lynn's approach, creating the right conditions for learning, growth and lasting change. She is passionate about helping elite athletes unlock their potential and step confidently into their next chapter.

Supporting people through one of the biggest identity shifts of their lives has been the most meaningful work of Lynn's career, whether that's military service leavers navigating life beyond the Armed Forces or leaders facing significant change. She understands that athletes often don't see the cliff edge of career transition coming. Lynn is passionate about helping to mitigate the risk of poor mental health outcomes during this transition, recognising that athletes have so much to offer - they simply need the right support to see it. The work of Switch the Play Foundation sits at the heart of how Lynn wants to help athletes move into their next chapter with clarity, confidence and purpose.

Areas of Expertise:

• Career transition coaching, mentoring and workshop facilitation: from active career to life beyond elite sport
• One-to-one coaching using NLP and DISC behaviour profiling: building self-awareness and confidence
• Identity and strengths-based reframing: helping individuals recognise and articulate their transferable skills
• Active listening and relationship-building: creating psychologically safe spaces for honest conversations
• Personal resilience, self-leadership and wellbeing: tools for navigating high-pressure change
• Group workshop design and facilitation: engaging, learner-centred and action-focused delivery
• Imposter phenomenon: practical strategies for stepping forward with confidence despite self-doubt
• Professional speaking: Thames Valley Regional President and Professional Member of
  the Professional Speaking Association.

Qualifications:

• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy, Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (since 1998)
• Personal Performance Life Coaching Diploma, The Coaching Academy / International Coaching Federation Member (2021)
• Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner, The Coaching Academy (2021)
• DISC Behaviour Profiling Accreditation, The Coaching Academy (2021)
• Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, City & Guilds (2022)
• PRINCE2 Practitioner, AXELOS (2005–2020)
• British Horse Society Assistant Instructor and Level 2 Coach, British Horse Society, 2014

Key Experience Highlights:

• Ministry of Defence Career Transition Partnership - 616 service leavers supported through 26 workshops and 205 one-to-one career consultations (March 2024 to September 2025)
• CIPFA LEAD Leadership Programme - team building and coaching workshops for three cohorts senior finance leaders (2025/26, commissioned again 2026/27)
• Sterling Training - culturally aware classroom-based training for international military and private clients
• Professional conference speaking to 700+ delegates across 16 events for CIPFA, CIMA, ICAEW and South East Employers on self-leadership, communication, resilience and change
• 100+ hours of individual coaching (NLP and DISC) with clients ranging from veterans and senior leaders to small business owners
• 35+ years of public sector experience, including 20+ as a management consultant, including Hampshire County Council, University of Southampton and working with a broad range of external stakeholders.

More About Lynn: Beyond the Bio

Sports have shaped everything about how Lynn works. As an event rider, she often competed alongside Olympians - and yes, she has absolutely felt like an imposter on that start line! She owns horses, loves hiking, is a proud Parkrun enthusiast (50+ runs and counting), and enjoys travelling whenever she can with her husband.

Lynn is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained in April 2026, which brought her 2026 eventing and show-jumping goals to an abrupt end - a reminder of how quickly sporting ambitions can change.

She also likes to bring a sense of fun to everything she does. In fact, she secured her place with Switch the Play after submitting a LEGO® Minifigure video to demonstrate her skills - because if you're going to support elite athletes in thinking differently about their next chapter, you have to be willing to do the same yourself!

Find out more about Lynn, on her website: dynamicfocus.co.uk. 

Connect with Lynn on LinkedIn.