About Grey Matters

Dave has over 350 peer review publications and 60 books/chapters. Research interests include performer/coach development, expertise, and peak performance. Dave holds certifications from the BPS, BASES and HCPC, plus professional qualifications in Teaching and Strength and Conditioning.

As a psychologist, he has worked with over 70 World or Olympic medallists plus professional teams and performers. Previously, as PD of UK Athletics, Dave directed the programme which progressed the team from 24th to 5th (World then Olympic) 21st to 3rd (World Indoors) and 12th to 1st (European Team). The established medal haul of 8 at the Beijing Olympics makes Dave one of the most successful PD of recent times.

Current applied assignments include football, rugby, ski and snowboard and motorsport, plus work with non-sports organisations. Past attendance at 11 Olympics plus numerous World and Euroepean Championships and professional sports have provided useful experiences!

Dave has coached to national level in three sports, is a 5th Dan Karate, Director of the Rugby Coaches Association and iZone Performance, Fellow of the Society of Martial Arts, ZSL and BASES, Associate Fellow of the BPS, and experienced PE teacher/teacher educator and an ex Royal Marine.

Starting her education at Roehampton University in 2008, Rosie has progressed through academia and is now completing a Doctorate investigating the development of automaticity in elite sport.

Rosie currently works as the Lead Psychologist for England Golf's female National Squads alongside numerous Motorsport and Track & Field clients...

In addition, Rosie is currently leading the programme for coach education with all National and Regional England Golf coaches, and also has experience from a number of other performance domains such as music, drama and banking.

Dr. Andrew Cruickshank works with Grey Matters as Senior Performance Psychologist, and is a former professional footballer and current SFA qualified Coach. A Chartered and HCPC psychologist, Andrew’s research interests include culture change and leadership in elite sport, expertise, and the promotion of peak performance. Andrew currently works with the British Judo Squad, England Golf and professional teams and performers. Past assignments have included Mountain Biking, Premiership Rugby and Athletics.

Dr. Áine Macnamara’s background is in physical education and coaching, and currently works with Grey Matters as Senior Coach Developer. She has worked with young people in a range of sporting environments as an educator, coach and sports psychology consultant. Her main research interest is in Talent Development and she has published widely including over 45 peer-review journals, 15 book chapters and technical reports, and two books.

Áine has consulted with a range of sporting organisations in the UK and Ireland including the FA, GAA, England Golf, Munster Rugby, and Leinster GAA, helping them develop Talent Development pathways and policies as well as providing coach and parent education to support the implementation of these ideas. Áine has been an invited speaker at National and International conferences and workshops focused on talent development, sport performance, youth sport and physical education, engaging frequently with NGBs of sport by contributing to coach education and player development workshops.

Grey Matters Lead on clinical issues, Sheelagh has a range of qualifications including a doctorate and an MBA. In addition to a long career in the NHS, Sheelagh has ongoing sports expertise. This includes service with three Olympic teams and four NGBs. Past service as an Officer in the Hong Kong Police and experience in Mountain Marathons add to a well rounded profile.

An Associate Fellow with the BPS and current member of the Clinical Division Committee, Sheelagh has specialisms in Eating Disorders and Childhood Trauma. Her professional expertise includes Dialectic Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing and as a Trained Teacher, Supervisor and Trainer in Mindfulness.

With a passion for nutrition and a background in health and exercise promotion - and having been married to Dave for over 14 years - Helen is no stranger to the workings of Grey Matters. These days, however, you’ll find her in front of a computer screen (when she hasn’t raced off for a quick session in the gym). Co-director of Grey Matters, Helen is responsible for all-things-office, ensuring clients are invoiced and the team get paid!

Mark has a background in child development and education. He has worked with children, young people and families in a range of sporting and educational environments as a team leader, team coach and practitioner. More recently, Mark has become an accredited Sport & Exercise Psychologist, having worked across an array of sport and performance environments including football, tennis, athletics, American football, and other individual athletes. As a sport psychologist, Mark is currently working within an elite football academy, supporting players, parents and coaches develop along the challenging talent development pathway.

Martin is currently Head of Sports Recovery at Help for Heroes. He joined the charity in May 2011, having served in Army from the age of 16, firstly in the Parachute Regiment and latterly in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps (RAPTC). During his military career, Martin developed a keen interest in rehabilitation and Paralympic sport, which led him to take a career break as the Senior Paralympic Performance Manager at UK Athletics during 2006/7. In 2008, he helped establish the MOD's Battle Back Programme at Headley Court, a founding partner of which was H4H. His role is to maintain its position as a world leading provider of adaptive sport and adventurous training opportunities, to wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans so they can maintain an active, independent and fulfilling life. This is achieved through participation in competitive sport and the delivery of vocational training courses. As part of his work with Grey Matters, Martin leads on disability sport whilst also bringing his considerable experience to bear on system, coach and athlete development.

Dr. Jamie is a Senior Coach Developer at Grey Matters, his background is as an experienced coach and teacher. Previous roles include coaching at Leicester Tigers for 7 years, pathway coaching lead at the English Institute of Sport and a number of teaching roles.

Jamie has consulted across a wide variety of organisations and has worked with over 100 coaches in a developmental capacity. His portfolio of work includes support for coaches and organisations across football, rugby, tennis, athletics and a variety of Olympic sports.

He holds a PhD in coaching science, professional qualifications in teaching, coaching and mentoring. His research interests are coaching, talent development and coach development, and has been an invited speaker at conferences in all three areas.

James Austin OLY works with Grey Matters as Performance Psychologist, and has a background in performance sport as a former professional athlete and Olympian, with experience working in mental health, education and coaching environments.

As a practitioner psychologist, James is currently working towards accreditation as a Sports and Exercise Psychologist and works with athletes across a range of sports including rowing, powerlifting, judo, golf and rugby.

Professor David Shearer, working with Grey Matters as Senior Performance Psychologist, is a HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and has consulted extensively as an applied sport psychologist in a wide range of elite sports both in the UK and abroad. These include, GB Wheelchair Basketball, GB Swimming (Swansea ITC), Swim Wales, GB Shooting, England Shooting, Sport Wales and the Finnish Olympic Committee and Institute. He also has extensive experience of preparing athletes for, and working at, multi-sport competitions (2 Paralympic Games), World and European Championships. More recently David has started transferring his performance psychology knowledge to help those embarking on adventurous/dangerous endeavours. This has included high-altitude mountaineering, extreme endurance cycling, ocean rowing, and ocean swimming.

David is Professor in Elite Performance Psychology at the University of South Wales and has published 50 papers and 4 book chapters on a range of topics in sport psychology and sport science. He specialises in team dynamics, psychological and physical factors related to recovery, and psychological factors underpinning extreme sport participation. David is passionate that his research should always have real-life impact.

Having completed his undergraduate, Masters degree and PhD at Leeds Beckett University Dr. Michael Ashford now works with Grey Matters as a Coach Developer and is a Lecturer in Sport Coaching at Coventry University. Previously a Rugby Union coach, Michael’s research interests include player and coach decision making, skill acquisition, performance psychology, pedagogy, coach development and coach education. Michael currently works with professional teams in a rugby union context and works with individual coaches across a range of sporting contexts. Previous assignments have included team coaches in international settings, Premiership Rugby Academies and coaches across a range of individual and team sports.

Amy works as a coach developer with Grey Matters, and as a Women's National Coach Developer with the English Football Association (FA).

In Amy’s role with The English FA, she has experience of developing coaches and managers in the women’s professional game and talent player pathway. Previous to Amy’s coach development roles, she had a career in academia at St Mary’s University in Twickenham.

As a UEFA A Licence coach who started to coach in 2003 whilst playing for AFC Wimbledon Ladies, Amy has experience of coaching and managing teams in both the male and female game, at various levels. Amy’s applied experience has complimented her doctoral studies where she is investigating the role of game understanding for team sport players.

Amy has collaborated with national governing bodies such as England Rugby Union, English Cricket Board and The English FA, in addition to developing coaches from individual sports such as boxing, ninja, tennis and golf.

After moving to the UK in 2016 for a Masters, Urvi Khasnis is now in the final stages of her PhD which is focused on exploring impactful factors and alternative ways to facilitate sporting success in India. Through the PhD, Urvi has proposed an India-specific model for developing coaches and a coaching system.

Urvi works with Grey Matters as a Performance Psychologist and is currently awaiting final accreditation as a Sport and Exercise Psychologist. As a practising psychologist, Urvi is currently working with Stockport Harriers Wheelchair Racing Group and England Basketball. In addition, Urvi has experience from other sports including canoeing, roller derby and rowing and also has been involved with Indian clients including the TATA Steel Sport Academy, one of the top sports academies in the country.

Dr Loel Collins is a Senior Coach Developer at Greymatters, his background is as an action and adventure sports coach and coach developer.

Over a forty-year career, he has worked for many different organisations including, National Governing Bodies, the National Centres in the UK developing 1000s of coaches and leaders in many different sports.

He has extensive experience working with inclusive, adaptive and para performers as well as tactical athletes in emergency response and technical rescue.

He has competed and coached internationally. However, his passion lies in exploring by kayak and canoe and has completed many first descents around the globe.

He holds a Professional Doctorate in Elite Performance, professional qualifications in teaching and is a highly qualified kayaking, canoeing, skiing and rock-climbing coach and instructor.

His research interests focus on coaching and coach development. In particular, the development of professional judgement and decision-making in hyper-dynamic environments. He is a prolific author and is regularly invited to present at conferences.

Dr. Chelsea Orme is an HCPC registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with experience delivering psychological support to individual and team sports at various levels of competition. This includes experience of preparing elite athletes for major competitions such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Chelsea currently works as a Sports Psychologist for British Judo and Archery GB, delivers a sport psychology curriculum in a Norfolk Sports Academy, and is a coach developer in the British Sailing Team.

Chelsea has recently completed a PhD at the University of Chichester in collaboration with the British Sailing Team. This has provided her with specialist knowledge and experience of decision-making and decision-making debriefing practice in elite sport.