ACTIVE WORKING™ GROUP - Key Persons
Alan Hedge is a Professor in the Department of Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University. He directs the Human Factors and Ergonomics teaching and research programs. Prior to joining Cornell, he ran the Graduate Program in Applied Psychology and Ergonomics at Aston University, Birmingham, U.K. From 1990-1993 he was also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Institute of Occupational Health, University of Birmingham, U.K. and he has been a Research Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Syracuse University.
Amy has a clinical background specialising in psychology. Her broad expertise includes mental health, occupational health, health informatics and analytics, and health insurance. Amy leads Health EY, an internal health, mental health and wellness programme.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Chartered Physiotherapist and Director of ALO Physiotherapy Clinic
André is a chartered physiotherapist and Director of ALO Physiotherapy Clinic, Harley Street. He specializes in work related Musculoskeletal disorders.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman, Ukactive
Baroness Thompson has had an extremely successful career as a Paralympic athlete, winning 11 gold medals, as well as six London marathons. In 2005 Tanni was made a Dame for her services to sport and in 2010 became a life peer sitting as a cross-bencher in the House of Lords. She became Chair of ukactive in 2015.
Ben Willmott leads the CIPD's Public Policy team, which works to inform and shape debate, government policy and legislation in order to champion better work and working lives.
Job Titles:
- Expert Adviser on Health and Work to NHS England and Public Health England
Dame Carol Black chairs the Board of Think Ahead, the Government's new fast-stream training programme for Mental Health Social Workers, and the RSSB's Health and Wellbeing Policy Group. She is a member of the Welsh Government's Parliamentary Review of Health and Social Care in Wales and Bevan Commission on health in Wales, the board of UK Active, Rand Europe's Council of Advisers, PwC's Health Industries Oversight Board, and the Advisory Board of Step up to Serve. As Principal of Newnham she is on several committees in Cambridge University, for example the Advisory Board of the Centre for Science and Public Policy, and is one of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors.
Job Titles:
- Senior Lecturer
- Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Psychology
Dr Benjamin Gardner (Senior Lecturer, King's College London, UK) is a social and health psychologist. His current research focuses on understanding the real-world social and organisational contexts within which workplace sitting and standing interventions are implemented, and developing strategies to increasing standing at work that account for these contextual constraints.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour & Health
- Lecturer in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour & Health
Dr Edwardson's research focuses on understanding the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the prevention of chronic diseases, designing and evaluating behaviour change interventions and objectively measuring physical activity and sedentary behaviour. She currently holds research grants, totalling >£5 million, from the Medical Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, Department of Health and the European Commission.
Dr Edwardson's current research work focuses on understanding patterns of sedentary behaviour and the relationship to health; physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions; and testing and reviewing physical activity and sedentary behaviour selfmonitoring devices
Job Titles:
- Senior Lecturer in Psychology / Loughborough University
Hilary's research focuses on health and well-being with a strong emphasis on injury prevention particularly in the context of work.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Medicine, Director Obesity Solutions / Mayo Clinic
James is a world-renowned expert on sedentary behaviour and leader in obesity research and child advocacy. James has consulted governments including the US President's Panel and State Department. James has published more than 200 scientific papers, worked on dozens of corporate programs, is author of "Get Up" and invented the treadmill desk and a variety of wearable technologies.
Job Titles:
- BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre / University of Glasgow
- Reader, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences / University of Glasgow
Dr Gill leads an active multi-disciplinary research group investigating the effects of exercise and diet on the prevention and management of vascular and metabolic diseases from the molecular to the whole-body level.
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Public Health Medicine ( Health & Wellbeing Directorate )
Job Titles:
- Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist
- Principal Ergonomist / Johnson & Johnson Medical
Dr Kevin Tesh is a Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist at Johnson & Johnson (J&J). Kevin provides global strategic and technical ergonomic advice across the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific regions.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor, Physically Active Lifestyle
Matleena has her background in human resources and organisational development as well as HEPA (Health Enhancing Physical Activity) promotion. She is the co-chair of HEPA Europe working group Workplace HEPA promotion, and was a member of the national expert group that prepared the Finnish recommendations to reduce SB.
Job Titles:
- Deputy National Lead for Adult Health and Wellbeing
Mike has worked in the public, private, academic and voluntary sectors and has over a decade of experience as a public health professional holding leadership roles at national, regional and local levels. Prior to public health, Mike had an eclectic background as a biochemist and a public relations consultant.
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine
- Lead Consultant Sports Physician English Institute of Sport / University College London
Dr Loosemore is a consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) at the English Institute of Sport. He is also working to promote exercise as a preventative intervention and treatment in many medical conditions. Loosemore is active in various fields of sport and exercise medicine research and has published work on various aspects of SEM.
Job Titles:
- Associate Medical Director ( Prevention & Care ) British Heart Foundation
- Associate Medical Director / British Heart Foundation
Mike joined the BHF, from a clinical background. As Associate Director (Prevention, Survival & Support) at the BHF, Mike is responsible for initiating innovative programmes for all people at risk of, or affected by, heart disease.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of CPActive
- Director of Research at CP Active
Dr Nicola Eccles is Director of Research at CP Active. Nicola has spent the last fifteen years looking at health behaviour decisions in relation to our daily working patterns and the built environment. Nicola has worked in academia at a range of Universities as lecturer in health and physical activity behaviour and also worked with Sport Scotland, Sport England and Heart Research UK.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Active Living Research Group
- Senior Research Fellow Health & Life Sciences / Glasgow Caledonian University
Dr Dall is a member of the Active Living Research Group. She has published in international peer-reviewed journals on the objective measurement of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, including the development of novel data analysis techniques. Her current research is focused on measuring the quantity and pattern of sitting in office workers and call-centre staff, and intervening to reduce prolonged sedentary behaviour at work.
Job Titles:
- Principal Research Fellow / Bradford Institute for Health Research
Job Titles:
- Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Applied Health Research
- Senior Research Fellow in Behavioural Dynamics / Glasgow Caledonian University
Dr Chastin is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Applied Health Research, Glasgow Caledonian University. His research focuses on behaviour dynamics. He leads the trans-disciplinary investigation on the determinants of sedentary behaviour for the European Joint Programme Initiative DEDIPAC.
Job Titles:
- Senior Lecturer in Human Biology / Loughborough University
Dr Clemes' research interests focus on the measurement of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in children and adults. She has expertise in intervention research promoting reductions in sedentary behaviour and increases in physical activity in the workplace and has conducted a number of profiling studies examining sedentary behaviour and physical activity.
Job Titles:
- Senior Lecturer in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Health / Diabetes Research Centre University of Leicester
Tom has rapidly progressed to become a recognised national and international expert in the role of physical activity and lifestyle in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. His work has helped shape, and ensure the continued forwards progression of, the diabetes prevention agenda both in the UK and internationally. A core theme running through Tom's work has been developing an understanding of new approaches to promoting health through the application of movement sciences; in particular investigating the physiological and epidemiological impact of substituting sitting time for standing.
Job Titles:
- Head of Ergonomics ( IDEWE ), Prof. Ergonomics ( Free University of Brussels )
Veerle is responsible for ergonomics and occupational safety at IDEWE (Belgian External Service for Health / Safety at Work ) & professor in ergonomics. She works on a variety of national and international occupational health projects and is a pioneering thought leader on active working.
Dr William Bird GP founded Intelligent Health to provide ways to integrate physical activity into health and wellbeing. He is a member of PA Strategy Board for PH England and advises WHO and PH Wales.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Australian Research Council Future Fellow
- Head of the Physical Activity Laboratory at the Baker IDI Heart
- Head, Physical Activity Laboratory
David is Head of the Physical Activity laboratory at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne and is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow. He also holds the position of Professor within the Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University. His research focuses on the role of sedentary behaviour in the prevention and management of chronic diseases and the development of interventions targeting reducing prolonged sitting in real-world contexts (eg: workplaces, schools). He has published over 175 peer reviewed papers, including publications in high impact journals such as Circulation, Diabetes Care and Diabetologia. Over the past 15 years David has extensive media interest in his research including interviews with ABC Catalyst, 60 Minutes Australia, National Public Radio, Wall Street Journal, CNN, the New York Times and the LA Times.
Dr Dunstan is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow. He is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health at the University of WA. His research focuses on the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. Over the past 15 years, Dunstan has established an extensive media profile, including interviews with National Radio, Wall Street Journal, CNN, the New York Times and the LA Times.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Research Physiotherapist
Emily is a Research Physiotherapist. She works clinically with patients who have musculoskeletal conditions and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in the NHS and private sector.
Gavin Bradley - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Director
- Founder
- Managing Director
- Founder of Active Working™ CIC
Gavin is founder of Active Working™ CIC which he set up in 2014 to spearhead thought leadership, key insights and advocacy on sitting time in the workplace. Gavin has 25 years of strategy & consulting experience working with elite football clubs and major corporates including: Liberty Global, Cable & Wireless, Coca Cola and Unilever.
Bradley has 20 years of experience in emerging market consultancy, working for a variety of global brands including Coca-Cola, Mars, Cable & Wireless, Liberty Global. After working for a charity in Sweden where he first discovered sit-stand workstations, Bradley soon became alarmed by the growing research detailing significant health risks & engagement restraints of prolonged sitting. He founded the social enterprise Active Working CIC and Get Britain Standing campaign in 2014.
Gitte trained as a physiotherapist, acupuncturist, reflexologist and physiological masseur, running her own clinic for ten years. Gitte then became the National Manager for a Norwegian Furniture Company, before founding and inventing Steppie; the ‘missing link' to any sit/stand solution.
A former hotelier, who in 2001 co-founded Incorpore Ltd, a network of over 3000 gyms, with responsibility for heading up the GymFlex programme which provides over 600 national organisations gym memberships via salary sacrifice.
Jo Foster is the Programme Lead for physical activity at Macmillan Cancer Support, where she is leading an ambitious programme to ensure that everyone living with and beyond cancer are aware of the benefits of physical activity.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- Founding Executive Director of the Center for Active Design
Joanna Frank is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Active Design (CfAD), where she advances design and development practices to foster healthy and engaged communities. Prior to launching CfAD, Ms. Frank worked for the City of New York, where her positions included Director of Active Design and Director of the NYC FRESH program. Before working for the City, Ms. Frank was a Partner at Bright City Development, LLC where she was responsible for the development of mixed-use residential buildings using sustainable design criteria. Ms. Frank is a member of the American Heart Association Workplace Health Steering Committee, as well as the Urban Land Institute's Affordable/Workforce Housing Council.
Job Titles:
- Journalist & BBC News Presenter
- Moderator
An Award-winning journalist and broadcaster with over thirty years' on-air experience, both in radio and television. Worricker currently presents ‘Weekend' on the BBC World Service and appears regularly on the BBC News Channel and Radio 4. www.JulianWorricker.com
Laura Johnstone was responsible for launching the central HR department for Austin Fraser's offices in the UK, Germany and USA and has been a driving force in implementing the people management infrastructure.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive, CSP Network
A career in sports management including establishing and leading the County Sports Partnership (CSP) for Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes and acting as a non-Executive Director including with the English Federation of Disability Sport. Since 2010 Lee has led the work of CSP Network, representing CSPs with key stakeholders, growing the impact and guiding the future direction of the network.
Job Titles:
- Head Ergonomist / Furniture Industry Research Association
Caglar is a highly qualified ergonomist who is well-known throughout the furniture industry, providing ergonomics research, consultancy and testing to all sectors of the furniture industry.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Head of Business Development
A member of the LTA with a degree in Sport Science & Biology, Luke is a founding member of the growing team a Sit-Stand.Com. He is responsible for bringing to market cost effective and dynamic active working innovations.
Job Titles:
- Research and Information Manager
An influential Research specialist with unique experience and a sustained record of success in both the public and private sectors. Extensive background in diverse service organisations, managing complex research projects from inception to completion. A Lean leader and effective team player with a strong academic background accompanied with excellent analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills. The BIFM Research and Information team is focused on developing the research, insight and information that will position BIFM as the authoritative voice of the FM profession. I manage the delivery and development of the Institute's research and content activities.
Job Titles:
- Founder & CEO of Cordless Group & UnWork.Com
Ross is a futurist, author and advisor on the future of work. With a focus on people and behaviours, he specialises in predicting the impact of emerging technology on the way we work and live. He has worked with organisations around the world to introduce new work styles including Ernst & Young, McKinsey & Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Macquarie Group, the BBC and PwC.
Job Titles:
- Director / the Work Foundation
- Director of the Centre for Workforce Effectiveness
Stephen is Director of the Centre for Workforce Effectiveness at The Work Foundation and has carried out research and policy work for the Number 10 Policy Unit, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions and the European Commission.
Job Titles:
- Research Manager / Psychology PhD Candidate
Raluca is currently running a variety of interdisciplinary projects promoting health psychology and behaviour change. She is also Research Manager Volunteer for Active Working / Get Britain Standing.
Job Titles:
- Head of Business Development
Rikesh has a strong back ground in Sports and Wellbeing, predominantly working in BME communities in Warwickshire. He studied Business Management at Coventry University and based his dissertation on ‘How does Health and Wellbeing effect work productivity.' For the last year Rikesh has been the Head of Business Development for Sit-Stand.Com and has built up a strong knowledge about how companies are reducing sedentary behaviour.
Rohit Talwar is a global futurist, keynote speaker and the CEO of Fast Future Publishing where he is applying the principles of exponential thinking to create a new model for publishing. Rohit works with the businesses around the world to help them understand, anticipate and respond to the forces of change reshaping business and the global economy. He is the editor and contributing author for a recently published book The Future of Business, editor of Technology vs. Humanity and co-editor of a forthcoming book on The Future of AI in Business.
Job Titles:
- Head of Workplace Consultancy
Sam Sahni leads the workplace design team of behavioural experts whose key focus is how to get the very best out of people. Working across a variety of sectors including finance, IT, real estate, FMCG, engineering and TMT and across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
In 2015 BackCare became the first UK charity to go 100% Sit-Stand. As advocates of "Active working" BackCare now live their mission to promote healthy backs.
Job Titles:
- Head of Engagement / Active Working Group
A qualified nutritionist and wellness professional, Sue is passionate about the development, promotion and education of wellbeing to the general public. She joined Active Working in 2015 having worked previously with Herbalife.