Head of Service

Julia Wells

Head of Performance Analysis

Julia joined the UK Sports Institute in 2004 as a Performance Analyst supporting the Canoe Slalom team over four Olympic cycles.

Following this she has been a UK Sports Institute Technical Lead and alongside led the Performance Analysis team for the Sport Wales Institute.

Michelle Pearson

Head of Strength and Conditioning

Michelle joined the UK Sports Institute in 2006 as a multisport Strength and Conditioning Coach in Loughborough.

She subsequently completed the UK Sport Fast Track Practitioner Development Programme.

Esme Matthew

Head of Physiology

Esme joined the UK Sports Institute in September 2007 with a BSc from Northumbria University, and an MSc from Manchester Metropolitan University.

Following this she has been a UKSI Technical Lead and alongside led the Performance Analysis team for the Sport Wales Institute.

Professor Paul Worsfold

Head of Biomechanics

Paul has worked as a consultant for the UK Sports Institute since 2009 and was appointed as Head of Biomechanics in 2014.

He has delivered scientific support to professional and high performance athletes at both International competitions and the Olympic Games.

Joanna Harrison

Head of Performance Lifestyle

Jo joined the UK Sports Institute in July 2002 with an honours degree in Sports Studies from De Montfort University.

Dr Danielle Adams Norenberg

Head of Sport Psychology

Danielle acquired HCPC registration in 2012, she joined the UK Sports Institute in 2014 following completion of a PhD from Brunel University and delivering multi-sport performance psychology at SportScotland.

Prior to the Head of Service role, Danielle was a Technical Lead to the Psychology team and supported Canoe Slalom for the Tokyo Olympic Cycle.

Alison Thompson

‪Head of Physiotherapy

Ali joined the UKSI in 2005 as a Physiotherapist working with UK Athletics, before transitioning to multisport, supporting various sports including triathlon, short track speed skating, and gymnastics.

She completed the UK Sport Fast Track Practitioner Programme and worked as a Physiotherapy Technical Lead for 10 years before taking on the Head of Service role.

Jim Kerss

Head of Sports Medicine

Jim joined the UKSI as a registrar during his Sport & Exercise Medicine training in 2014.

Since then he has worked as Chief Medical Officer for British Para-swimming, England Squash and England Netball and more recently progressed to a Sports Medicine Lead role with responsibility for the Respiratory Health strategy at the UKSI and then he was appointed as Head of Sports Medicine in May 2024.

Wendy Martinson

Head of Performance Nutrition

Wendy joined the UKSI in 2011 as a Technical Lead and went on to combine this with a role working in the Performance Rehabilittaion Unit and the Female Athlete Performance Team. In April 2025 she was appointed Head of Performance Nutrition.

Wendy is a Registered Dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council, has a Masters in Sport and Exercise Nutrition and the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition. Wendy is a Practitioner registrant with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register.

Wendy has 24 years’ experience working in high performance sport. She has worked as Team GB Performance Nutritionist at 6 summer Olympic games and most recently was the Performance Nutrition Lead for Team GB at the Paris 2024 Olympic games.

Throughout her career, Wendy has worked with a wide range of organisations including the NHS, British Gymnastics, GB Hockey, Great Britain Rowing Team, British Olympic Association, English National Ballet School, West Ham united FC and the England Football Squad.

In the New Year 2010 Honours list Wendy was awarded an OBE for services to sport and to nutrition.

Louise Fawcett

Head of Olympic Performance Support

Louise is a chartered physiotherapist with over 20 years' experience in elite sport

She has held roles at the Badminton Association of England, the Football Association and went on to spend three seasons at Liverpool FC. She completed a Masters in Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2007 and commenced a PhD in October 2016 to undertake research on spinal pain and its impact on the long term healthcare of athletes.

In 2009 Louise took up her appointment as Head of Sports Science and Sports Medicine for British Gymnastics, which converted to the HOPS role in August 2016.