Careers Network

Attend events

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Some of the sessions below were recorded, to view these please visit the CA007 Learn Page.

11:00 AM

Industry-Led Presentations - Session One (early session)

11:00 AM

Sport Science / Performance Support

Ed Leng, First Team Lead Sports Scientist at Manchester United  

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Ed Leng graduated from Loughborough with a degree in Sport and Exercise Science in 2009 and went on to complete a PhD at the University of Bath in Sports Science in 2020. Starting out his career at Tottenham Hotspur as a First Team Sports Science Assistant, Ed progressed to Development Squad Fitness and Conditioning Coach at the club before moving to Australia as Head of Sports Science at Melbourne City FC where he worked for four years. He returned to the UK in 2019 to become First Team Lead Sports Scientist at Manchester United.

11:45 AM

Industry-Led Presentations - Session One

11:45 AM

Sports Operations & Finance

Neill Wood Former Financial Controller, MCFC  

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Careers in Sport - Off the Pitch Neill graduated from Loughborough with a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science and Mathematics in 2006 and started a graduate role in the Assurance department of Ernst & Young in 2007, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2010, having completed an intense training programme. Upon qualification, Neill met with a recruitment consultant who has him about his dream job. Wanting to combine his passion for sport, his newly acquired finance and accounting skillset and a desire to work in Manchester, Neill set his ambition to become the Financial Controller of Manchester United or Manchester City. The response he received was to be told that achieving this dream would be impossible without knowing someone in either club. Neill subsequently set out a strategy and executed that strategy, to later become Financial Controller of City Football Group, the parent company of Manchester City.
Following a successful career in football spanning almost 6 years, Neill has now left City Football Group and has founded Football Finance Professionals which is an executive education platform which teaches aspiring professionals looking for a career in sport off the pitch about finance topics through the medium of football using his expertise gained both inside and outside the football industry.
If you want to hear more about Neill's journey and experience, why finance skills are important athletes and non-athletes alike or about how Neill wants to redefine the meaning of "FFP" then make sure you listen in.

11:45 AM

Women in Sport

Featuring a number of incredible female speakers  

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Sue Anstiss, CEO Fearless Women (CHAIR)
Helen Rowbotham, CEO Access Sport
Lynsey Douglas, Head of Brands UK, Global Women's Sport Lead, Nielsen Sports
Barbara Slater, Director of Sport at BBC

12:45 PM

Industry-Led Presentations - Session Two

12:45 PM

Performance Data Analysis

Saira Mirza, Performance Development Data Analyst, Chelsea Football Club  

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Saira graduated from a Sport & Exercise Science degree from Loughborough University in 2019 having undertaken an ‘Assistant Recruitment Analyst’ placement year in 2017 at Chelsea Football Club. Upon graduating Saira re-joined Chelsea FC as their ‘Performance Systems & Recruitment Analyst’. She has now progressed within the club to a ‘Performance Development Analyst’.
The role involves collection, management and analysis of data and information, providing insights to drive innovation across the Academy, specifically to help the sport science and medical departments to make more informed performance-based decisions.

12:45 PM

Sports Agent

Serhat Yilmaz
Alex Court, Football Agent, Kin Partners  

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Alex is a football agent at KIN Partner predominately representing elite youth international bracket, ages 18-23. Alex has been involved in direct representation for around four years, working across the EFL and youth international markets. He holds a masters degree in Sports Law and Practice and completed the Loughborough University Professional Certificate for Sports Agents course in 2019.

12:45 PM

Sports Administration/Development

Merlin Van de Braam, Head of Coach Development & Support, Lawn Tennis Association  

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Merlin is currently working within Coach Development for the LTA - the governing body for tennis in Britain. His work involves developing and supporting coaches across the UK and the team offer LTA coaching qualifications and accreditations.
Prior to joining the LTA in 2015, Merlin was working for the International Tennis Federation in Spain in a development role.
He studied at Loughborough from 2009-2010, graduating with an MSc in Psychology of Sport and Exercise.

1:45 PM

Industry-Led Presentations - Session Three

1:45 PM

Sport Nutrition

Mhairi Keil, Performance Nutritionist at English Institute of Sport  

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Mhairi holds two master’s degrees from Loughborough in Sports and Exercise Nutrition and MPhil in Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Throughout her career so far, she has worked with all kinds of athletes as a performance nutritionist, including the Worcester Warriors Rugby Club and the English National Ballet Company.
During her time at EIS, where she has been since 2010, Mhairi has worked with elite level athletes including the England Women’s Rugby Union team and GB Wheelchair Basketball. Teams she is currently working with are British Gymnastics and GB Snow Sport.

1:45 PM

CANCELLED - Sports Marketing Industry

Apologies, this speaker is no longer able to attend  

1:45 PM

Sports Coaching

Tom Curtis, National Head Coach & Youth Development Phase Lead at The FA  

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Tom Curtis is currently the England Men's U17 Head Coach and Youth Development Phase lead. He is a successful Manager, Coach and Coach developer with extensive experience coaching National Senior and National Youth players at home and abroad as well as working with professional coaches in elite environments. He has worked in Academy and Senior pro football for 28 years.
Previously as Academy Manager at Bristol Rovers, he was responsible for leading a large team of staff, 8 full time and 35-part time as well as 130 Academy players.
As Technical Director of the Antigua and Barbuda FA and Head Coach of the Antigua Barracudas, Tom led National, Senior, U23 Olympic, and all age group teams, and was responsible for all football development on the island.
At the end of his playing career, he was Head Football Coach at Loughborough University. He also coached and managed the English university team and worked as a part time Academy Coach at Nottingham Forest and Derby County.
Tom is a former full time professional footballer with over 500 league appearances during 14 years playing, and have had captaincy and coaching experience in the football league.

2:45 PM

Industry-Led Presentations - Session Four

2:45 PM

Strength & Conditioning

Michael Cooper, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Tottenham Hotspur F.C.  

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Alumnus Michael graduated with an MSc in Sports Biomechanics in 2012. During his time at the University he worked with Loughborough Students’ Football having already completed at internship at Watford FC.
From Loughborough he moved to Tottenham Hotspur as Academy Sports Science Intern. He also worked with Swindon Town Football Club as First Team Sports Scientist from 2013-17 before heading back to Tottenham as Academy Physical Development Coach. He then moved to Leyton Orient as Head of Physical Performance for the 2019/20 season.
Now back at Tottenham and working with the first team, Michael will share an insight into his broad S&C experiences across all levels of football.

4:42 PM

SSEHS: What next? PhD and beyond

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Joanne Fallowfield, Head of Applied Physiology, Institute of Naval Medicine
Jonah Thomas (PhD student)
Dr Chris McLeod, Research Associate and University Teacher
Dr Lizzie Stamp, Lecturer
Professor Fehmidah Munir, Professor of Health Psychology

This workshop aims to explore life as a doctoral researcher, and the careers that may follow. Students will learn more about academic career pathways and explore what is involved in the work of a PhD student, a Research Associate, a Lecturer, and a Professor. Joanne Fallowfield, Head of Applied Physiology at the Institute of Naval Medicine, will provide the perspective of someone who completed a PhD and currently works outside of a University setting. Attendees will be encouraged to consider studying for a PhD; the benefits will be explored and any misconceptions addressed.

2:45 PM

Sports Entrepreneurship

Pete Hitchens & Hayley Jones, Loughborough Enterprise Network  

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Loughborough University has a growing community of sports tech entrepreneurs, innovators and experts. During this session we’ll share how you can become a part of this network and access free coaching, mentoring, funding, training, workspace and specialist advice to bring innovative new business ideas to market. With representative from Loughborough Enterprise Network (LEN) and LU Inc.

3:45 PM

Q&A Industry Panel

Take part in this industry expert panel and ask questions that matter to you.  

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Ashlea Smith, Living Sport
Femi Akinsanya, Director of Athletics, Loughborough University
Jennie Cooper, Head of Games Strategy & Planning, British Paralympic Association
Steve Mitchell, Co-founder, Sporting People and Trustee, Switch the Play Foundation

The recordings of these presentations are now available on Learn CA007.