Dwayne Fields

UK Chief Scout

Dwayne Fields is the UK Chief Scout, succeeding Bear Grylls in 2024, and the first Black Briton to trek more than 400 miles to the Magnetic North Pole. An accomplished explorer and broadcaster, he has fronted several television series, including 'Endurance: Race to the Nile' and the BAFTA-nominated 'Endurance: Race to the Pole' for Channel 5, which saw him retrace historic expeditions. Dwayne has also appeared on Disney+ and National Geographic’s 'Welcome to Earth' with Will Smith, and stars in 'Seven Toughest Days', testing his limits in some of the world’s most extreme environments.

Rob Hopkins 

Co-founder, Transition Network and Transition Town Totnes

Rob Hopkins is the co-founder of Transition Network and Transition Town Totnes, and an internationally recognised author, speaker and thought leader on community-led change. His books include 'The Transition Handbook', 'From What Is to What If', and the forthcoming 'How to Fall in Love with the Future'. An Ashoka Fellow, Rob has spoken at TED Global and multiple TEDx events, appeared in the French documentary 'Demain', and hosted over 100 episodes of his podcast 'From What If to What Next'. He holds a PhD from the University of Plymouth, two honorary doctorates, and was named an Honorary Citizen of Liège in 2022.

Babajide Adebola

PE Lead, Hunter's Bar Junior School, Sheffield

Babajide is the PE Lead at Hunter's Bar Junior School, with twelve years’ experience working across more than 35 primary and secondary schools in Sheffield and Derbyshire, coaching and teaching pupils aged 3-18. He sits on the PESSPA board in Sheffield, with Hunter's Bar recognised as both a PESSPA Champion School and a YSF Centre of Excellence. In 2024/25, Babajide was PE subject leader for the Learn Sheffield and RoSIS network. A graduate of the YST Leadership in PE programme, he is currently undertaking the NPQ Senior Leadership Level 5 apprenticeship. He also works as a Talent ID scout and Pre-Academy coach for Sheffield United.

Beth Allan

Youth Board, Youth Sport Trust

Santiago Berry

Head of PE, St Mary’s College, Hull

Santiago is Head of PE at St Mary’s College, Hull, and a Youth Sport Trust PE Catalyst. He specialises in core PE curriculum design, physical literacy, and developing positive school culture. Santiago leads a large, high-performing PE department recognised through an Ofsted Outstanding deep dive and featured as a Department for Education case study. St Mary’s College is also a YST Beacon Well School, reflecting its commitment to whole-child development. Passionate about empowering young people through meaningful movement, Santiago supports schools nationally to strengthen PE practice and embed sustainable culture change.

Dr William Bird MBE

GP, CEO, Intelligent Health, Chair, Active Essex

Emma Bronnin

Head Teacher, Pakeman Primary School, Islington

Emma is the Head Teacher at Pakeman Primary School in Islington, North London. Originally from France, she moved to the UK over 20 years ago to study Early Childhood Studies and complete a PGCE specialising in Languages. At Pakeman, where the number of Pupil Premium pupils and those with English as an additional language is above the national average, Emma has gained extensive experience supporting children’s social, emotional and communication development. She leads a dedicated team that prioritises pupil wellbeing alongside academic achievement, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Natalie Brown

Research Associate, Swansea University 

Robyn Bruce

Head Teacher of Cubitt Town Primary School, London

Michael Burke

PE Specialist, St. Katharine’s CE Primary School, Bournemouth 

Katie Chapman

Assistant Head and Executive PE Lead, Little Common School, Bexhill 

Clare Collins

Account Manager, Sports Directory

Adam Douglas

Trust Sports Development Officer, Redhill Academy Trust 

Andy Dunkerley

Regional Physical Education Manager

Andy has over 20 years’ experience in the prison service, with a career focused on improving outcomes for people in custody. For more than a decade, he has held senior leadership roles and currently serves as a Regional Physical Education Manager. In this role, he develops strategic policies and frameworks to enhance the delivery and impact of physical education across the prison estate. Andy supports more than 50 prison PE departments, driving high standards, professional development and innovative practice. He is passionate about creating opportunities that promote physical health and positive behaviour change among prison populations.

Catherine Fitzpatrick

Director of Physical Education, Complete P.E.

Catherine is a globally recognised expert in the design and delivery of Physical Education. Since qualifying as a PE teacher in 2004, she has focused on supporting teachers and stakeholders to deliver high-quality PE. Catherine has developed numerous subject leadership courses and wider PE CPD, including programmes for the Youth Sport Trust and afPE. Over the past two years, she has collaborated with PE Scholar to design and develop the Oak National Academy’s PE curriculum, shaping accessible and effective physical education for schools across the UK.

Dr Paula Franklin

Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Clinical Advisory Board, Spectrum.Life

Paula studied medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, and practised in the UK and Barbados. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA from London Business School, and an MA in Bioethics and Medical Law from St. Mary’s University. While in the US, she worked for the Children’s Defence Fund on health policy and legislation. In the UK, Paula held senior medical roles at Bupa and served as Global Medical Director at Marie Stopes International before returning to Bupa as Chief Medical Officer. She is a trustee of the Youth Sport Trust and chairs the Clinical Advisory Board of Spectrum.Life.

Emmanuel Gebreyes

Regional Physical Education Manager

Emmanuel is a passionate advocate for youth voice and activism within the UK sport sector. As a member of the Youth Sport Trust’s Youth Board, he helps shape youth engagement, building on his work co-producing the YST Youth Voice Toolkit and Youth Summit. A former member of sportscotland’s Young People’s Sport Panel, Emmanuel has championed inclusive sport through committee and advisory roles in secondary and higher education. He is currently studying Medicine at the University of Glasgow, with research interests in public health and socioeconomic inequalities, bridging grassroots activism with academic insight.

Mark Hanson

Health and Well-being Lead, Argoed High School, Wales

Mark is an experienced Health and Well-being Lead at Argoed High School, with over 12 years of leadership in Welsh secondary education. He leads a successful PE department alongside a whole-school Health and Well-being programme, prioritising inclusion, pupil engagement, and leadership through sport. Mark is passionate about using physical activity to develop confidence, character, and lifelong skills in young people. He has worked closely with the Youth Sport Trust on initiatives including Sky Sports Living for Sport and Set for Success, helping to inspire and equip pupils to fulfil their potential both in school and beyond.

Sarah Johnson

Trust Director of PE, Redhill Academy Trust

Justin Jose

Head of PE, Cubitt Town Primary School, London

Ashleigh-Stevenson Leigh

Lead Practitioner and Owner, ASL Education

Ashleigh-Stevenson is the Lead Practitioner and owner of ASL Education, known for delivering high-quality Physical Education and School Sport. A former semi-professional rugby player with ten years’ experience, he has coached at elite clubs including London Irish and Wasps before moving into education. Ashleigh also mentors with LIV Golf, supporting the rollout of Majesticks GC’s ‘Little Sticks’ schools programme, introducing golf to primary-aged children across the UK.

Ruth Marvel OBE

CEO, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Jennifer Moir

Marketing Manager, Sports Directory

Dan Moody

Partnership Manager, The Grange School, Christchurch

Dan is the Partnership Manager for the Christchurch and Isle of Purbeck PE and School Sport Partnerships, working with school leaders and local and national partners to enhance children and young people’s lives through PE, sport, and active lifestyles. He also serves as Strategic Lead for PE and Sports Development at Twynham Learning Multi Academy Trust and as a Development Coach for the Youth Sport Trust, supporting the School Games Organiser network.

James Mooney

Senior Curriculum Leader for PE, Cabot Learning Federation

James Mooney is a nationally recognised leader in physical education, driving inclusive and impactful practice across his multi-academy trust and beyond. As Lead PE Catalyst for the Youth Sport Trust, he supports schools regionally and nationally, fostering collaboration and championing youth voice. James has led curriculum innovation, staff CPD, and strategic partnerships with School Games and Girls’ Football, while developing the Well School Trust approach to transform student engagement. Passionate about physical literacy and equity, he aims to create lasting change and opportunities for young people, particularly those underserved by traditional school models.

Helen Newman

Partnership Manager, Burnley School Sport Partnership

Helen has over 18 years of experience in the PE, School Sport, and Physical Activity (PESSPA) sector. She has worked as Partnership Manager for Burnley SSP and, more recently, as Active Schools Lead for Pennine Lancashire’s place partner, TaAF (Together an Active Future). Helen focuses on strengthening PE, school sport, and physical activity provision, including delivering the National School Games, supporting effective use of the PE and School Sport Premium, and developing staff professional learning. Drawing on lived experience, she is a passionate advocate for how PESSPA can transform lives and improve the wellbeing of the whole child.

Vicki Oag

Specialist Teacher, Kent County Council

Vicki is a Specialist Teacher at Kent County Council with 20 years’ experience in primary education, including over a decade as PE Lead and roles in senior leadership and as SENCO. She now supports children with physical disabilities and complex medical needs, providing training and practical guidance to schools to help PE teachers deliver high-quality, inclusive PE and sport. Vicki is passionate about creating opportunities for every child to participate in, succeed at, and enjoy physical activity.

Catherine Parker

Head Teacher, Broadbent Fold Primary School and Nursery, Tameside

Catherine has been Headteacher at Broadbent Fold in Tameside since 2019. Prior to this, she spent 20 years as a teaching deputy in Manchester city centre, gaining extensive leadership and classroom experience. Having attended the local secondary school herself, Catherine is deeply committed to providing high-quality learning experiences for pupils in the community she now serves. She places strong value on physical wellbeing and ensures this ethos is embedded across the school. A lifelong passion for sport has shaped her leadership approach, supporting the development of key skills that continue to inform her work as a headteacher.

Natalie Pearson

Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Epidemiology, Loughborough University

Natalie is a Senior Lecturer in Behavioural Epidemiology and Public Health at Loughborough University, specialising in systems-based approaches to promoting physical activity and nutrition among children and young people. Her research explores how individual, social, and policy-level factors influence health behaviours and impact mental and physical wellbeing. Recognised for advancing evidence that informs equitable interventions and public health policy, she contributes through systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Natalie leads the England arm of the international Active School Uniforms project, collaborating with eight global partners to examine policies, barriers and facilitators related to active uniforms in primary and secondary schools.

David Percival

Head Teacher, Riverside Special School, Goole

David has been involved in education since 1998, beginning his career teaching PE and racing professionally in Spain before moving into leadership roles in sport. After contributing to the Sports College network and the Building Schools for the Future Programme in Hull, he transitioned into special education following the 2012 Olympics. For the past two years, he has led Riverside School, driven by a passion for physical education and the belief that opportunities to move and be active are a gift. David is also co-author of research exploring how school staff can amplify the PE voices of pupils with severe learning difficulties.

Dr Tom Rance

Paediatrician and NIHR  Doctoral Fellow

Tom is a paediatrician and NIHR Doctoral Fellow at the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge. Alongside his clinical work in A&E, he researches factors influencing children’s physical activity to inform prevention and policy. Tom represents the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health on the Class of 2035 Commission and contributes to national child health policy. He has collaborated with professional bodies, charities, and public sector partners to translate research evidence into practical recommendations, NHS standards, and government policy.

Dr Wendy Russell

Senior Research Fellow in Play, University of Gloucestershire

Wendy is an independent researcher and Senior Research Fellow in Play at the University of Gloucestershire. She has led multiple studies on the Welsh Government’s Play Sufficiency Duty and co-authored a review of contemporary research on children’s play for Play Wales. Wendy has also investigated play in schools across the UK and Europe, leading evidence reviews on the benefits of play in schools for OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) and, in collaboration with Ludicology, on play sufficiency in schools. Her work focuses on advancing understanding of the role and value of play in children’s development and education.

Hayley Ryan

Curriculum Manager and Programme Manager, Royal Ballet and Opera

Hayley has led the award-winning Create & Dance programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera for over a decade. Prior to joining the organisation, she worked as a freelance dance artist, delivering creative projects across education and community settings. Hayley holds a Master’s degree in Dance Performance, with research exploring gender representation of ballerinas across the 19th and 20th centuries. She is passionate about creating inclusive and playful spaces that build creative confidence in teachers and support children’s wellbeing and emotional literacy through movement and storytelling.

Dr Surpreet Sidhu

GP, Clinical Lecturer in Medical Education, UCL

Supreet, MBBS, BSc (Physiology), MSc (Med Ed), MRCGP, is a London-based GP with over ten years of clinical experience across Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, and General Medicine. She has published research in dermatology and women’s health and held roles at several London medical schools. A member of the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine and its Physical Activity Specialist Interest Group, Supreet is currently a Clinical Lecturer in Medical Education at UCL. She is passionate about ensuring all children have access to the tools they need to thrive and reach their full potential.

Nikki St John

Head Teacher, St Katharine’s CE Primary School, Bournemouth

Nikki has been Head Teacher of St Katharine’s CE Primary School in Bournemouth for 16 years, passionately fostering a school culture centred on wellbeing. Under her leadership, the school achieved an Ofsted Outstanding rating in 2024, recognising the impact of its “Forever Flourishing” vision. A Headteacher Ambassador for the Youth Sport Trust since 2013, Nikki has guided the school to become a Beacon Well School. With 30 years of primary education experience as a teacher and PE specialist, she has served on the QCA PE Advisory Group, is a former National Leader in Education, Chair of the Dorset PESSPA Network, a CMI Chartered Manager and mentors other school leaders.

Kate Thornton-Bousfield

CEO, Association for Physical Education

Kate is the CEO of the Association for Physical Education, previously serving as Head of Physical Education and Achievement at the Youth Sport Trust and Director of Specialism. She spent 13 years teaching PE across four secondary schools and six primary schools in the North West of England. A passionate and driven educator, Kate believes every child should have the opportunity to be their best, accessing a well-structured curriculum delivered by knowledgeable and enthusiastic teachers. Committed to improving PE, she champions its transformative power and currently leads the National Curriculum Drafting Team, overseeing significant developments in the physical education landscape.

Emma Timlett

Teacher of PE and Outdoor Education

Emma is a PE and Outdoor Education teacher with experience in both mainstream and SEND settings. As a teacher and Manager of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, she has developed an inclusive approach that ensures all young people feel supported, confident, and valued. Her commitment to breaking down barriers in sport stems from her own experience playing football as a child and drives her work empowering young people to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong active habits. She has also worked in a US summer camp, learning the importance of relationships and meaningful connections, and continues to develop initiatives such as the Girls Active ‘GALS group’ to promote positivity, confidence, and inclusivity in sport.

Matthew Vaudrey

Managing Director, Enrich Education

Matthew is an experienced education and enrichment leader with over 20 years’ experience in PE, school sport, physical activity, and enrichment. He has worked at local authority and national levels, including managing Knowsley Local Education Authority’s Extended Schools Programme, before co-founding Enrich Education. As Managing Director, he spent over a decade growing the organisation and maximising the impact of its creative, active learning programmes. Following the merger of Enrich Education and Commando Joe’s, Matthew is now a Director at Commando Joe’s, focused on expanding its reach and strengthening its position as a leading provider of character education and enrichment for schools.

Kev Weir

Sports Coach and Primary PE Lead

Kev is a Primary PE Lead, Sports Coach, and PE content creator who shares practical, easy-to-use ideas with teachers via Instagram and TikTok. He began his career developing a PE programme from scratch in a primary SEND school, focusing on confidence, success, and belonging at the heart of learning. Kev now leads PE in a mainstream primary setting, supporting teachers to deliver inclusive, engaging, and enjoyable physical education experiences for every pupil.

Lisa West

Head of Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs, Women in Sport

Lisa is Head of Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs at Women in Sport and a passionate advocate for gender equality. With 18 years of experience across local authorities, national governing bodies, and consultancy, she has led change across the sport and leisure sector. Lisa has a deep understanding of how systems must evolve to enable women and girls to thrive as participants, volunteers, professionals, and leaders. She strongly believes in the power of sport and physical activity to improve lives and also serves as a School Governor at her children’s primary school.

Frances White

Regional School Engagement Lead for London and the South East, London Marathon Foundation

Frances is the Children and Young People Engagement Lead for London and the South-East at London Marathon Events and the London Marathon Foundation. She leads the regional delivery, sustainability and impact of The Daily Mile and related participation programmes, supporting children and young people across London and the South East of England to engage in regular physical activity.

Trystan Williams

Director, Beyond Expectation Education

Trystan is an accomplished educational leader, having held senior roles including CEO, Deputy CEO, Executive Head, and Principal across schools and trusts. He has a strong track record in school improvement and championing inclusive education. At the national level, Trystan has served on the Department for Education’s SEND Advisory Board for Academy Converters, the Youth Sport Trust Executive Committee, and was the SEND Lead for the London Olympics Parliamentary Select Committee. He is currently Director of Beyond Expectation Education, continuing to drive excellence and innovation in education.

Iain Williamson

Head Teacher, Dame Dorothy Primary, Sunderland

Iain has been Head Teacher of Dame Dorothy Primary in Sunderland since 2009, passionately promoting the life-changing benefits of physical activity. He has transformed the school’s culture by embedding movement into learning and wellbeing, including daily running sessions for all pupils and a weekly running club. In 2024, he introduced an “always active” uniform to encourage daily activity, attracting national attention. Iain has spoken at Westminster and the 2025 Labour Party Conference on Active Uniforms, establishing himself as a national voice for innovative approaches to children’s health. Under his leadership, the school has earned Youth Sport Trust Beacon status.