We have confirmed some exciting keynote speakers.
Day 1 - Wednesday 10th September
Day 1 - Wednesday 10th September
Christopher Ring – Professor of Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK.
His academic journey commenced with a first-class psychology degree from the University of Hull, UK, in 1987, followed by a doctorate in cardiac psychophysics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA, in 1993. He has been working at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham since 1995. He has published over 200 research publications, with many papers on sport, exercise and cognitive performance. To address the problem of mental fatigue impairing performance, he has pioneered combined cognitive and exercise interventions, such as Brain Endurance Training (BET) and combined exercise plus cognitive priming. These cognitive-exercise protocols have proved to be effective performance enhancers and promise new opportunities to facilitate psychomotor learning.
His academic journey commenced with a first-class psychology degree from the University of Hull, UK, in 1987, followed by a doctorate in cardiac psychophysics from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA, in 1993. He has been working at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham since 1995. He has published over 200 research publications, with many papers on sport, exercise and cognitive performance. To address the problem of mental fatigue impairing performance, he has pioneered combined cognitive and exercise interventions, such as Brain Endurance Training (BET) and combined exercise plus cognitive priming. These cognitive-exercise protocols have proved to be effective performance enhancers and promise new opportunities to facilitate psychomotor learning.
Geir Jordet – Professor of Football and Psychology, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences
Geir Jordet, PhD, is Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences where he conducts research on psychology and elite football performance. His most extensive research interests involve performing under extreme pressure, cognitive and perceptual underpinnings of decision making, nonverbal communication & body language, and psychology applied to professional football. He has published in leading psychology and sport science journals and his work is frequently featured in major media, such as CNN, BBC, Wall Street journal, New York Times, The Times, Guardian, Sky Sports, Spiegel, El Pais, Globo and many others. In addition, Jordet operates as a performance psychology consultant specializing in professional football. He regularly advises organizations such as the English Football Association (FA), the German Football Federation (DFB), the English Premier League (EPL), and many leading clubs and individual players all over Europe. Lately, he has also worked with NBA and NHL teams. Finally, he is co-founder of Inside Out Analytics, a sport tech/analytics company producing behavioral/psychological data based on video observations of football players in games.
Geir Jordet, PhD, is Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences where he conducts research on psychology and elite football performance. His most extensive research interests involve performing under extreme pressure, cognitive and perceptual underpinnings of decision making, nonverbal communication & body language, and psychology applied to professional football. He has published in leading psychology and sport science journals and his work is frequently featured in major media, such as CNN, BBC, Wall Street journal, New York Times, The Times, Guardian, Sky Sports, Spiegel, El Pais, Globo and many others. In addition, Jordet operates as a performance psychology consultant specializing in professional football. He regularly advises organizations such as the English Football Association (FA), the German Football Federation (DFB), the English Premier League (EPL), and many leading clubs and individual players all over Europe. Lately, he has also worked with NBA and NHL teams. Finally, he is co-founder of Inside Out Analytics, a sport tech/analytics company producing behavioral/psychological data based on video observations of football players in games.
Day 2 - Thursday 11th September
Daniel Niedzkowski – Assistant coach, Men’s First Team, Brighton and Hove Albion F.C.
Daniel’s early career involved playing as a midfielder for several German clubs, including MSV Duisburg, Wuppertaler SV, and FC Remscheid. In 2008, he transitioned to coaching, joining the German Football Association (DFB). During his time with the DFB, he played a crucial role in developing and educating coaches and working with the U20 National Team. His expertise led him to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2013, where he served as an assistant coach. Daniel returned to the DFB in 2016, taking on significant responsibilities in coach education and development, mentoring coaches and innovating coaching methods at the DFB. At the same time, he served as an assistant coach with the U21 National Team, making it to three European Championship finals in 2017, 2019 and 2021 and winning the title twice (2017 and 2021). In November 2024, Daniel was appointed assistant head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League where he has worked since January 2025.
Daniel’s early career involved playing as a midfielder for several German clubs, including MSV Duisburg, Wuppertaler SV, and FC Remscheid. In 2008, he transitioned to coaching, joining the German Football Association (DFB). During his time with the DFB, he played a crucial role in developing and educating coaches and working with the U20 National Team. His expertise led him to Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2013, where he served as an assistant coach. Daniel returned to the DFB in 2016, taking on significant responsibilities in coach education and development, mentoring coaches and innovating coaching methods at the DFB. At the same time, he served as an assistant coach with the U21 National Team, making it to three European Championship finals in 2017, 2019 and 2021 and winning the title twice (2017 and 2021). In November 2024, Daniel was appointed assistant head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion in the English Premier League where he has worked since January 2025.
Danny Newcombe - Senior Coach Development Manager, The Premier League
Danny Newcombe is a coach developer and educator, currently serving as Senior Coach Development Manager at the Premier League. In this role, he leads initiatives to cultivate adaptive, skilled coaches across football academies, contributing to research and practice in coaching expertise. He is also the head coach of the Welsh Men's National Hockey Team, having previously served as assistant coach for seven years. Under his leadership, Wales achieved their highest-ever FIH world ranking and qualified for their first Hockey World Cup in 2023. Academically, Danny is a visiting research fellow at Oxford Brookes University, where he formerly led the Sport, Coaching & PE degree program. His multifaceted career reflects a deep commitment to advancing coaching standards across sports.
Danny Newcombe is a coach developer and educator, currently serving as Senior Coach Development Manager at the Premier League. In this role, he leads initiatives to cultivate adaptive, skilled coaches across football academies, contributing to research and practice in coaching expertise. He is also the head coach of the Welsh Men's National Hockey Team, having previously served as assistant coach for seven years. Under his leadership, Wales achieved their highest-ever FIH world ranking and qualified for their first Hockey World Cup in 2023. Academically, Danny is a visiting research fellow at Oxford Brookes University, where he formerly led the Sport, Coaching & PE degree program. His multifaceted career reflects a deep commitment to advancing coaching standards across sports.
