everyone is different
Meet the team
A former International athlete and coach, a trained counsellor, teacher, consultant and adjunct of Hult Ashridge Executive Education, Jo uses the principles...

We combine performance sport and leadership expertise to help individuals and teams develop the skills and understanding necessary to deliver results under pressure.
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Stuart Preston
Associate

Stuart is a Leadership and Management Consultant with over 20 years’ experience of designing, delivering and evaluating development programmes from Board Level to Front-Line Managers.
He began his professional career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army as an infantry officer serving in Belize, Gibraltar and Kenya. As well as leading teams in the military Stuart has practical experience of leading large and small teams in a global airline and an international energy company.
He is accredited to facilitate a variety of psychometrics (One Smart World, DiSC, SDI, Wave, Hogan, Strength Scope) and is an Executive Coach with a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (accredited by Middlesex University).Never one to shirk a challenge Stuart has completed several marathons, triathlons, and charity walks.
He began his professional career at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the British Army as an infantry officer serving in Belize, Gibraltar and Kenya. As well as leading teams in the military Stuart has practical experience of leading large and small teams in a global airline and an international energy company.
He is accredited to facilitate a variety of psychometrics (One Smart World, DiSC, SDI, Wave, Hogan, Strength Scope) and is an Executive Coach with a Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Coaching (accredited by Middlesex University).Never one to shirk a challenge Stuart has completed several marathons, triathlons, and charity walks.
Harriet Beveridge
Associate

Harriet graduated from Oxford University with a BA (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. She started her career as a management consultant with Ernst and Young, specialising in large scale change Programmes.
She is now a one-to-one and group coach with 15 years of experience working in a range of industries, from Banking and Law to Manufacturing and Retail. She has coached at Partner and Senior Manager level and also enjoys helping high potential staff accelerate their progression.
Harriet has co-authored two books: 'Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? - Olympic-Winning Strategies for Everyday Success' and 'Top Tips for Talented Working Parents'. She is also a Stand Up Comic and was Semi Finalist at the 2011 UK Funny Women Awards.
She is now a one-to-one and group coach with 15 years of experience working in a range of industries, from Banking and Law to Manufacturing and Retail. She has coached at Partner and Senior Manager level and also enjoys helping high potential staff accelerate their progression.
Harriet has co-authored two books: 'Will It Make the Boat Go Faster? - Olympic-Winning Strategies for Everyday Success' and 'Top Tips for Talented Working Parents'. She is also a Stand Up Comic and was Semi Finalist at the 2011 UK Funny Women Awards.
Philip Glasgow
Associate

Prof. Philip Glasgow is head of sports medicine at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland. As Team GB Head Physiotherapist at the Rio Olympic Games his role was to lead a highly skilled diverse team of partitioners.
Phil’s doctoral studies investigated factors influencing exercise induced muscle damage and its management. He has extensive experience in high performance sport having worked with elite athletes from a wide range of sports including rugby union, football, hockey, athletics, boxing, sailing, cycling, swimming and squash. He has worked at a number of major International sporting events including the Olympic Games (London 2012 (Team GB); Beijing 2008 (Team Ireland)), Commonwealth Games (Head Physiotherapist Team NI, Delhi 2010; Glasgow 2014) as well as numerous World and European Championships.
His particular interests are in the field of functional rehabilitation and in the management of muscle tendon unit injuries. He is currently Vice President of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (Physios in Sport, UK), having acted for six years as chair for Education and Research.
He regularly presents at international conferences on various aspects of sports medicine. Phil is a visiting professor of the Ulster Sports Academy at the University of Ulster and teaches on a number of postgraduate sports medicine programmes at various UK and European universities.
Phil’s doctoral studies investigated factors influencing exercise induced muscle damage and its management. He has extensive experience in high performance sport having worked with elite athletes from a wide range of sports including rugby union, football, hockey, athletics, boxing, sailing, cycling, swimming and squash. He has worked at a number of major International sporting events including the Olympic Games (London 2012 (Team GB); Beijing 2008 (Team Ireland)), Commonwealth Games (Head Physiotherapist Team NI, Delhi 2010; Glasgow 2014) as well as numerous World and European Championships.
His particular interests are in the field of functional rehabilitation and in the management of muscle tendon unit injuries. He is currently Vice President of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sport and Exercise Medicine (Physios in Sport, UK), having acted for six years as chair for Education and Research.
He regularly presents at international conferences on various aspects of sports medicine. Phil is a visiting professor of the Ulster Sports Academy at the University of Ulster and teaches on a number of postgraduate sports medicine programmes at various UK and European universities.
Sue Pitkin-Frost
Associate

A highly professional and authentic Digital Workplace and Business Transformation leader with over 20 years' experience in designing and implementing complex technology, business transformational programs and innovative, ahead of market, business propositions for large global corporations.
An expert in worker styles and workforce personas, Sue thrives on developing and leading high performing, diverse teams and inspiring others to reach their full potential through a coaching mindset.
With a background in elite sport and an International Coach Federation, Associate Certified Coach, Sue coaches in the business world, helping individuals, leaders and teams to perform under pressure and 'Outperform the new norm' in todays' 21st Century Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous world.
An expert in worker styles and workforce personas, Sue thrives on developing and leading high performing, diverse teams and inspiring others to reach their full potential through a coaching mindset.
With a background in elite sport and an International Coach Federation, Associate Certified Coach, Sue coaches in the business world, helping individuals, leaders and teams to perform under pressure and 'Outperform the new norm' in todays' 21st Century Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous world.
Sam Whale
Associate

Sam joined UK Sport during John’s tenure as CEO, where he was responsible for leading the prestigious Elite Coach Programme. The initiative was designed to develop world-class, high-performance coaches for London 2012 and beyond. Sam is also a Non-Executive Director of British Wheelchair Basketball.
During his time at UK Sport, Sam created a national leadership development strategy to bring together CEOs, Chairs and Board Members. He also led the creation of a new Mentor Development Programme for elite coaches and leaders within UK Sport’s high-performance system to support the next generation of coaches and leaders.
Sam completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Executive Coaching and Organisational Change with Ashridge Business School. Sam is a visiting lecturer at Loughborough University London where he contributes to the Masters in Sports Business and Leadership.
During his time at UK Sport, Sam created a national leadership development strategy to bring together CEOs, Chairs and Board Members. He also led the creation of a new Mentor Development Programme for elite coaches and leaders within UK Sport’s high-performance system to support the next generation of coaches and leaders.
Sam completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Executive Coaching and Organisational Change with Ashridge Business School. Sam is a visiting lecturer at Loughborough University London where he contributes to the Masters in Sports Business and Leadership.
Alex Wolf
Associate

Alex Wolf has spent over 15 years supporting athletes, staff and teams to perform in moments that matter; preparing for and delivering at the Olympic Games. Alex is a co-founder of Wayfaring who uses the experiences and principles of working in high performance sport to facilitate leadership, team and people development. Alex continues to consult with premier sports organisations and businesses across the world.
Alex has previously worked for the English Institute of Sport where he spent the early part of his career as a strength and conditioning coach. Post the London Games, Alex moved into leadership positions, spending five years as the Head of Strength and Conditioning. Most recently, Alex was the Head of Learning, responsible for the individual and organisational learning and development needs including the well-being and self-care of staff.
Alex brings a diverse range of expertise including an evidence based approach to performance and an understanding of motivation and behaviour to help individuals make lasting and meaningful changes.
Alex has previously worked for the English Institute of Sport where he spent the early part of his career as a strength and conditioning coach. Post the London Games, Alex moved into leadership positions, spending five years as the Head of Strength and Conditioning. Most recently, Alex was the Head of Learning, responsible for the individual and organisational learning and development needs including the well-being and self-care of staff.
Alex brings a diverse range of expertise including an evidence based approach to performance and an understanding of motivation and behaviour to help individuals make lasting and meaningful changes.
Chris Mcleod
Associate

Chris Mcleod has been working in elite sport for over 15 years and holds a post graduate certificate in Creativity, Leadership and Innovation from Cass Business School. During his time in elite sport he has worked alongside coaches to prepare athletes and practitioners for multiple World Championships and Olympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016) across a range of sports. He is currently head of Strength and Conditioning for the Lawn Tennis Association where he leads on both the day to day delivery and the development of the wider UK practitioner community. Chris has previously worked for the English Institute of Sport in multiple roles, most recently Head of Strength and Conditioning and he also supported Team GB at the 2016 Olympics as a Performance Scientist.
Through his experience in elite sport and beyond, Chris has noticed that in this fast paced world, when individuals and teams manage to create time, space and structure to explore and challenge how they ‘do what they do’ unique and surprising opportunities arise.
This has led to a passion for developing creativity and innovation in practitioners, coaches and teams and the subsequent development of unique tools and methods focused on practitioner/coach development, performance problem solving and major event reviews / previews. This work is best demonstrated through the design, planning and delivery of a practitioner centred Olympic Games Review process, which included 24 reviews, over 100 UK and oversees based panel members. The process design was based on creative problem solving principles and training of facilitators. Chris has facilitated and designed similar processes for clients such as EIS Performance Pathways team, FA, GB Sailing and the UK Sport Coaching Team.
Through his experience in elite sport and beyond, Chris has noticed that in this fast paced world, when individuals and teams manage to create time, space and structure to explore and challenge how they ‘do what they do’ unique and surprising opportunities arise.
This has led to a passion for developing creativity and innovation in practitioners, coaches and teams and the subsequent development of unique tools and methods focused on practitioner/coach development, performance problem solving and major event reviews / previews. This work is best demonstrated through the design, planning and delivery of a practitioner centred Olympic Games Review process, which included 24 reviews, over 100 UK and oversees based panel members. The process design was based on creative problem solving principles and training of facilitators. Chris has facilitated and designed similar processes for clients such as EIS Performance Pathways team, FA, GB Sailing and the UK Sport Coaching Team.
Dr Peter Brown
Associate

Dr Peter Brown is Head of Performance Knowledge (Knowledge Management) at the English Institute of Sport, where he is defining and implementing the strategic direction of the organisational learning approach in support of GB Olympic and Paralympic Sports and athletes. Pete is also the Co-founder and Director of the business consultancy Knowledge Podium Ltd supporting the Knowledge Management, organizational learning and Executive coaching of high Performance Sport organisations.
Pete has worked with some of the biggest sports in the British High Performance System and consults for organisations including the International Olympic Committee. Working through his core values of care, empathy and creativity with a necessary dose of humour, Pete is passionate about working collaboratively to build positive sustainable change in order for us all to problem solve quicker and out-learn our competitors.
Pete is a kind and genuine family man living on a farm in South Wales with his wife and three children. He loves the great outdoors, animals, playing the acoustic guitar and self-build projects of any description!
Pete has worked with some of the biggest sports in the British High Performance System and consults for organisations including the International Olympic Committee. Working through his core values of care, empathy and creativity with a necessary dose of humour, Pete is passionate about working collaboratively to build positive sustainable change in order for us all to problem solve quicker and out-learn our competitors.
Pete is a kind and genuine family man living on a farm in South Wales with his wife and three children. He loves the great outdoors, animals, playing the acoustic guitar and self-build projects of any description!
Jo Hopkins
Director, Jo Hopkins Consultancy

A former International athlete and coach, a trained counsellor, teacher, consultant and adjunct of Hult Ashridge Executive Education, Jo uses the principles of neuroscience, psychology and sociology to underpin her thinking and practice in organisational and human behaviour.
Her roles such as Performance Mentor for Team GB Performance Services Team, (Rio 2016) have honed her skills and processes working with world class performers and Senior Leadership teams who are required to deliver under extreme pressure. With over 20 years of experience developing people, Jo has a trademark for a challenging yet supportive approach which encourages and empowers individuals to take control of their environment and responsibility for their own performance.
Jo established JHC in 2014 with a singular desire to help people succeed. She is particularly focused on developing women to excel in high performance environments. Working only with the very best she ensures that every organisation is assured a tailor made delivery. Her voice is authentic and speaks from experience and this authenticity remains a core part of JHC as it continues to grow.
Her roles such as Performance Mentor for Team GB Performance Services Team, (Rio 2016) have honed her skills and processes working with world class performers and Senior Leadership teams who are required to deliver under extreme pressure. With over 20 years of experience developing people, Jo has a trademark for a challenging yet supportive approach which encourages and empowers individuals to take control of their environment and responsibility for their own performance.
Jo established JHC in 2014 with a singular desire to help people succeed. She is particularly focused on developing women to excel in high performance environments. Working only with the very best she ensures that every organisation is assured a tailor made delivery. Her voice is authentic and speaks from experience and this authenticity remains a core part of JHC as it continues to grow.
Karen Brown MBE
Associate

Karen is a former International hockey player and Coach, she won 355 caps a world record, captained her country and won Olympic Bronze, European Gold and Commonwealth Silver medals as an athlete. In 2005 she was appointed Coach of the GB and England woman’s squad that achieved Olympic Gold (Rio) & Bronze (London), European Gold, Commonwealth Silver and World Cup Bronze, during her tenure the team world ranking rose from 10th to 2nd, the sports highest ever position.
Karen now works for the English Institute of Sports as a Performance Mentor working across 8 Olympic Sports, as well as Consultancy for organisations such as Arsenal FC, Watford FC Southampton FC Premier League, UK Sport & UK Coaching.
Her interests lie in creating and sustaining high performing teams that can perform under pressure.
Karen now works for the English Institute of Sports as a Performance Mentor working across 8 Olympic Sports, as well as Consultancy for organisations such as Arsenal FC, Watford FC Southampton FC Premier League, UK Sport & UK Coaching.
Her interests lie in creating and sustaining high performing teams that can perform under pressure.
Doug MacDonald
Associate

Doug is an award-winning mentor, coach and coach developer with extensive experience of working across the UK performance sport system. With a strong background in Psychology, Doug’s passion is for developing people through understanding how they learn and then working on how we can accelerate that learning process.
Doug has worked extensively with elite athletes, high performance coaches and national governing bodies. Doug has an MA(Hons) in Psychology with French, an MSc degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and is an accredited coach and mentor with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Doug was awarded sportscotland Scottish Coach Developer of the year in 2019.
Doug has worked extensively with elite athletes, high performance coaches and national governing bodies. Doug has an MA(Hons) in Psychology with French, an MSc degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and is an accredited coach and mentor with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Doug was awarded sportscotland Scottish Coach Developer of the year in 2019.
Eliza Downey
Senior Associate

A former International Rugby athlete and current Coordinator of Women & Girl’s rugby, Eliza is passionate about developing others. She has over 10 years experience as an athlete, leader, and performance coach supporting and developing personnel within the Performance environment
Eliza has a particular interest and affinity for individuals transitioning into new environments and has a track record of providing the support and challenge needed to ensure they flourish. She has specialized within the undergraduate and postgraduate environments demonstrating ability to provide structured support whilst being flexible to the unique and specific needs of this population. She is a lead Facilitator on the Ulster University Female leadership programme, and is passionate about developing women in any performance environment.
Her approach centres on building a strong genuine relationship with her client and enabling them to develop better self-awareness and understanding of their motivations and strengths.
With an intuitive ability to ensure the right support, right place, and right time she understands what it takes to enable others to deliver under pressure. Having worked in both public, private and non for profit sectors she has an understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented across these various environments.
Eliza has a particular interest and affinity for individuals transitioning into new environments and has a track record of providing the support and challenge needed to ensure they flourish. She has specialized within the undergraduate and postgraduate environments demonstrating ability to provide structured support whilst being flexible to the unique and specific needs of this population. She is a lead Facilitator on the Ulster University Female leadership programme, and is passionate about developing women in any performance environment.
Her approach centres on building a strong genuine relationship with her client and enabling them to develop better self-awareness and understanding of their motivations and strengths.
With an intuitive ability to ensure the right support, right place, and right time she understands what it takes to enable others to deliver under pressure. Having worked in both public, private and non for profit sectors she has an understanding of the challenges and opportunities presented across these various environments.
Stuart Pickering
Associate

Head of Performance Support Services - English Institute of Sport.
Having worked in elite sport for 15 years, Stuart was a Strength and Conditioning Coach in Premiership Rugby Union for over a decade, before helping England Women’s Rugby win the Rugby World Cup in 2014. More recently Stuart supported Team GB at the 2016 Olympics as Performance Scientist. His current role with the English Institute of Sport supports and develops elite Strength and Conditioning Coaches, and Sports Science and Medicine teams working with a range of Olympic sports including British Swimming, Skeleton, Sailing, and Pentathlon.
Having worked in elite sport for 15 years, Stuart was a Strength and Conditioning Coach in Premiership Rugby Union for over a decade, before helping England Women’s Rugby win the Rugby World Cup in 2014. More recently Stuart supported Team GB at the 2016 Olympics as Performance Scientist. His current role with the English Institute of Sport supports and develops elite Strength and Conditioning Coaches, and Sports Science and Medicine teams working with a range of Olympic sports including British Swimming, Skeleton, Sailing, and Pentathlon.
Charlie Parker
Associate

Charlie is currently a Leadership Consultant and Executive Coach and UK Sport endorsed mentor with a MSc in Coaching Science. She is also currently working as a Leadership Advisor with UK Sport and over the last 6 years much of her work focuses on Support and Challenge to World Class programme staff that have delivered Historical collective medal achievements in the last 3 Olympic and Paralympic Summer games and the last 2 Winter games. Specifically she has supported Performance Directors and their Teams to deliver Medal Success in Sochi, PyeongChang and Rio and she is currently working with the Senior Leadership teams of sports to prepare them for Tokyo 2021.
Charlie is an accredited member through the Association of Coaching and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and she has lead on the development and implementation of the High-performance sports systems mentoring and Coaching strategies over 2.5 cycles. Prior to this she was the Director of Education and Development with Swim Ireland and was a former Olympic and Paralympic swimming coach representing Ireland in Beijing and London where the Irish swimming team saw medal winning performances in consecutive games.
Charlies ultimate passion in life is to support people to achieve despite the unique challenges and opportunities thay may face. She works at her best by navigating an ever-changing environment and has a Coaching approach that can support , especially those in leadership positions to help gain perspective and develop a route forwards for themselves facing change or uncertainty. Charlie adopts a holistic approach to Coaching and consultancy.
Charlie is an accredited member through the Association of Coaching and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and she has lead on the development and implementation of the High-performance sports systems mentoring and Coaching strategies over 2.5 cycles. Prior to this she was the Director of Education and Development with Swim Ireland and was a former Olympic and Paralympic swimming coach representing Ireland in Beijing and London where the Irish swimming team saw medal winning performances in consecutive games.
Charlies ultimate passion in life is to support people to achieve despite the unique challenges and opportunities thay may face. She works at her best by navigating an ever-changing environment and has a Coaching approach that can support , especially those in leadership positions to help gain perspective and develop a route forwards for themselves facing change or uncertainty. Charlie adopts a holistic approach to Coaching and consultancy.
Dr. Sharon Madigan
Associate

Dr. Sharon Madigan, RD, MSc, PhD, RSENSharon graduated from the University of Ulster with an MSc / PGD in dietetics and commenced work in the Belfast Trust as a community dietitian in 1995. She has a Phd in Nutrition Education.
From 2003-present she has worked as the performance nutritionist with the Irish Boxing Team working with young right up to the elite international team. The squad has had unprecedented success at all levels and returned 4 medals at last summer’s Olympics. From 2002-2009 Sharon delivered services at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland. Part of this role included the provision of nutrition education to the Ulster Rugby Academy, Hockey, Sailing, Triathlon, swimming. From 2008-2011 was the performance dietitian with the Senior Ulster Rugby Team.
In 2010 she started work with the Irish Institute of Sport. She is responsible for delivery and aids coordination of nutrition services for elite Irish athletes across a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports. She co-ordinates the development of nutrition related policy and aiming to integrate a research evidence base into elite sport practice in a number of nutrition areas.
She is currently a member of the science and medical team of the Olympic Council of Ireland and was the performance nutritionist with the Irish Team in London and Rio.
From 2003-present she has worked as the performance nutritionist with the Irish Boxing Team working with young right up to the elite international team. The squad has had unprecedented success at all levels and returned 4 medals at last summer’s Olympics. From 2002-2009 Sharon delivered services at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland. Part of this role included the provision of nutrition education to the Ulster Rugby Academy, Hockey, Sailing, Triathlon, swimming. From 2008-2011 was the performance dietitian with the Senior Ulster Rugby Team.
In 2010 she started work with the Irish Institute of Sport. She is responsible for delivery and aids coordination of nutrition services for elite Irish athletes across a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports. She co-ordinates the development of nutrition related policy and aiming to integrate a research evidence base into elite sport practice in a number of nutrition areas.
She is currently a member of the science and medical team of the Olympic Council of Ireland and was the performance nutritionist with the Irish Team in London and Rio.