Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Susie Brown
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Susie has supported a wide range of athletes across multiple sports in her role as Performance Lifestyle Advisor. Susie has completed the Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 course in Coaching and Mentoring. She worked at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é as a Research Associate in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences and more recently in the Careers Network and Business School Placements team. Susie was selected to run for England in the 400m Hurdles and 4x400m relay.
Emily Hansell
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Emily has been based at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é since she arrived as an undergraduate student in 2015. During this time, she completed her BSc in Sport and Exercise Science, and MSc in Strength & Conditioning. Since 2021, Emily has worked in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences as a member of academic staff, teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the areas of S&C, physiology, nutrition, and anatomy. She is also completing a part-time PhD in sports nutrition and neuromuscular function. Emily has experienced high performance environments in several different support roles and brings expertise from an academic/education perspective. Emily has been a member of the Performance Lifestyle team since 2022 and is an ex-competitive gymnast and dancer.
Penny Rabone
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Penny completed her Sport and Exercise Science degree in 2009 at The University of Worcester, and went on to complete a PGCert in applied management, whilst also training and competing in athletics. She has recently completed her TALs qualification, and currently training to be a mental health first aid instructor with MHFA England.
Penny has a background working with the NHS within their Physiotherapy department, and more recently has worked at Swim England for 5 years as their Health and Wellbeing Manager. Penny now works for a Sports charity (Sported) part time as their Wellbeing lead, supporting grassroots sports coaches and young people with all things relating to their mental and physical Wellbeing.
Ola Krukowska-Burke
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Ola is a Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é graduate, having completed her PhD in Sport Psychology. She currently works as a University Teacher delivering sessions to the students on the Psychology, Sport Science, and Sports Science Coaching and Physical Education programmes. She used to compete in volleyball representing Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é Students Club. Ola is passionate about helping student-athletes balance the demands of their dual careers and realise their full potential.
Alex Laybourne
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Alex completed his undergraduate (Psychology) and postgraduate (Sports Coaching) at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é then went on to work in the Sports Development Centre as the Rugby Club and Coach Development Officer. He was also Head Coach of the Women's Rugby Programme during this time. Alex moved into Education, taking on a Head of Rugby role at an Independent School before progressing into Pastoral care and pupil development as Deputy Head of 6th Form, Head of Careers and running PSHCE. Alongside these current roles he is the Director of Rugby for the Lambs Rugby programme. He was previously Head Coach of Scotland Women's Rugby U20s.
Jenny Maxwell
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Jenny is a rugby player for both Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é Lightning and Scotland Women. She has twenty-five full International caps and fourteen Scotland 7s caps. Alongside this she has an MSc in Sport and Exercise Physiology and currently works as an Elite Sport Tutor, helping young athletes to reach their full potential inside and outside of their sport.
Brodie Miller
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Brodie graduated from Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é with a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science and is currently studying Exercise as Medicine MSc. She played international level Badminton from ten years. Brodie has experience of student-athlete lifestyle, being a TASS athlete for two years and has experienced first-hand how Performance Lifestyle can benefit an athlete. This is what sparked her interest in pursuing a career as a Performance Lifestyle Mentor.
Campbell Oswald
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Campbell graduated from Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é in 1991 with a degree in Economics. He played a multitude of sports whilst at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é including representing the English and British Universities at cricket. Campbell worked in professional services with Deloitte for 30 years with over half of them as a Partner leading large global teams.
During this time he was also extensively involved in recruitment, coaching and mentoring. He has continued to train and play competitive sport throughout his business career and still captains one of the teams at his local hockey club. Accordingly, he understands some of the time pressures of combining work commitments with his own and his children's ongoing sports commitments.
Saskia Thompson-Kobus
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Saskia has been a competitive athlete (rugby), graduated from Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é with an MSc in 2017 and currently works there as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. This has equipped her with the knowledge and understanding of the similar challenges our athletes face on a day to day basis. She has been a Lifestyle Advisor for five years.
Amy Ward
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
After completing both her degree in Social Psychology and her Masters degree in Work Psychology at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é, Amy has gone on to complete research in Athlete Transitions and to work within education and learning & development across a variety of industries. She particularly specialises in Early Talent, including Apprenticeships and Graduate Programmes, and within sport focusing on Athlete and Workforce development. Amy currently manages leadership and talent development programmes for a range of clients, whilst career coaching individuals through key transitions. Amy is also part of the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é Alumni Advisory Board.
Laura Whittle
Performance Lifestyle Mentor
Laura studied Publishing with English at Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é while also representing Great Britain in athletics. The highlight of her athletics career so far has been competing in the 5000m at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. She also finished 6th in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and won the 5000m at the European Under 23 Championships in 2007.
After graduating from Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é she worked part-time in Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Admissions, before progressing into an Admissions role within the Business School, while also balancing the demands of being an elite athlete. Laura therefore understands first-hand the challenges placed on athletes when balancing sport and academic commitments.