Send us a text

Leigh's resume in sport is one of Australia’s most impressive having held leadership roles in some of Australia’s largest sports. This has included General Manager positions with the AFL players association, GC Suns and Essendon Bombers (AFL), CEO of Netball Victoria and Melbourne Vixens (Super Netball) and CEO of Australia’s most successful Olympic sport, Swimming Australia. What’s unique is in amongst a successful career she has also had to navigate an era where barriers around the perceptions of women in sport existed, as well as maintaining a thriving 25 year+ strong family network while working in the top echelon of sport. If you have ever had the thought of pursuing something outside of your reach, Leigh is an example of with someone who grew up as a young girl in a working class suburbs of Melbourne who through a lot of hard work, resilience and immense courage to step outside of her proverbial lane, went on to exercise her unselfish passion to help get the best out of others!

Highlights from the episode…

• How we can we curate environments to maximise passion in young athletes to continue to pursue a lifelong career in sport?
• Leigh shares how her career being one of the first female leaders in the world of AFL started at her kitchen table.
• Having been a pioneer in her time, how Leigh has been able to break down barriers and position herself so that she can make a meaningful impact all while constantly needing to prove herself.
• "Sport is described as being a merit-based system that rewards those who do the work. However, this only works if in the beginning everything was equal". What are we not considering when choosing the right candidates for roles?
• We discuss how Leigh continues to summon the courage to pursue roles, what would be perceived, is being outside her circle of competence.
• CEO recruitment process, what's involved and how she successfully navigated this process to become CEO of Swimming Australia.
• What a CEO does, what are the KPIs, who sets the KPIs, the day-to-day workings, personal goals etc.
• During one of the darkest and unforeseen periods in Australian Swimming, Leigh candidly shares how she personally navigated the Shayna Jack scandal.
• Who do you turn too in a crisis? We discuss how leadership can often be lonely and why it’s important to have people around who you can depend on and trust.
• In an industry that is not conducive to a family network, how Leigh and her husband have been able to build a beautiful family together for over 25 years while both working in elite sport.
• How Leigh has been able to recreate and redefine her career pathway time and time again.
• What Leigh looks for when recruiting top talent, maintaining a strong sense of purpose throughout an organisation and how to dismiss those who choose not to be part of the culture.

People mentioned:

• Kate Palmer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-palmer-5874b110/?originalSubdomain=au
• Laura Johnston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurajohnstonpl/
• Andrew Russell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elitehumans/
• Shayna Jack: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shayna_Jack

Leigh Russell contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighrussell/
• Website Russell Performance Co: https://www.russellperformance.co

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

Dan is a high performance coach and mentor who’s coaching career has spanned across the likes of US Ski & Snowboard team, English Institute of Sport, England Rugby, Wasps Rugby and as Head Strength & Conditioning Coordinator in Baseball for the Houston Astros. Dan has now swapped coaching athletes to coaching coaches and works with sports performance practitioners, including S&C coaches, physiotherapists and sports scientists not just to get into the world of elite sport but excel in their roles. If you have ever wanted to work in elite sport or are currently embedded within a high performance team, then this conversation is one not to miss as Dan shares what you need to know about navigating one of the most competitive, volatile and high demanding industry and still have a meaningful impact and most importantly be fulfilled with what you chose to do.

Highlights from the episode…

• Being disillusioned by not having a specific role after finishing his undergrad degree this led to Dan asking some deep questions about his future that he now asks practitioners to this day.
• How Dan joined the US national Ski and Snowboarding team having no prior experience in winter sports and how this became a pivotal component to his career development.
• When moving from one role into the next with a lack of direction this is the one advice Dan wished he received when he was navigating his own journey in elite sport.
• Is there a risk of being too pragmatic around your needs and wants at the result that you position yourself out of a role in an already competitive market?
• The “one-way and "two-way" doors and how this concept can streamline decision making when deliberating over the pros and cons of situation.
• When the opportunities aren’t coming, you’re struggling financially and you are still working at a level you feel you have out grown, when do you give up on the dream of working in sport?
• How he secured a role with the Houston Astros and some practical steps for any practitioners going through an interview process should know.
• The “Rapport Entry” technique and how this can assist when you’re unsure of an answer to a question you’ve been asked.
• The importance of developing soft skills (communication, teamwork, problem solving etc) in parallel with hard skills (professional expertise) can seperate you from the competition.
• “Career Periodisation” and how it can help practitioners when navigating through the stages of their career of “Thriving”, “Surviving” or “Redefining”.
• Dan shares his personal transition from the “surviving” stage (coaching athletes) into a “redefining” stage (coaching coaches) and the challenges and fulfilment that came with this transition.

People mentioned:

• Per Lundstam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/per-lundstam-29016322/
• Zach Weatherford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-weatherford-b67a009/
• George Petrakos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgepetrakos/
• Josh Fletcher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-fletcher-36151623/

Dan Howells contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howellsdan/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Twitter: https://x.com/howellsdan?lang=en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collaborate_sports/
• Collaborate Sports: www.collaboratesports.com/thegroupmentorships

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

Byron has built a deep career in the world of professional Rugby having worked with the ACT Brumbies (Super Rugby), Bath Rugby (UK Premiership) and currently as Lead Physiotherapist for the Wallabies. Armed with 5 degrees, including currently completing his PhD in the area of concussion, Byron is quick becoming one of the leaders in the field of injury prevention and management in the sport of Rugby. In this conversation we explore the nuances of screening, monitoring and management of concussion in addition to what he has learn that has made him successful in his roles. Byron’s journey has taken him from humble beginnings working as a public servant to a dramatic career change which has now taken him around the globe and be a privileged member of the inner sanctums of the some of the world’s most successful Rugby teams.

Highlights from the episode…

• Byron shares how he got his first role with the Brumbies after initially wanting to pursue a pathway into AFL.
• It was a baptism of fire during the early years at the Brumbies and he shares how he went about gaining as much knowledge and experience without succumbing to overwhelm and burnout.
• Injury rates, player fitness, team performance often has little to do with performance/medical staff than it has to with “culture”…Byron explains why.
• After 7 successful years at the Brumbies, why Byron chose to move overseas and work in the UK Premiership with Bath Rugby.
• We discuss how to address injuries where you may have limited knowledge and experience, and how Byron manages these unconventional cases.
• When dealing with complex cases we discuss the desire for most practitioners to seek outside expert opinion when the answers may be better sourced within the club?
• Coaches, performance staff, medical staff, managers, club and country could all be involved when it comes to a player’s injury. How dose Byron manage all the stakeholders involved?
• Byron’s shares a cautionary tale of what he learnt stepping away from pro sport and redirecting his focus to other areas of his life than just his role in elite sport.
• Working with the Australian Defence force and what it’s like to work as a physiotherapist in the military.
• How does Rugby Australia screen, monitor and manage concussion in the sport.
• We discuss the concept of graded exposure to contact and the potential unexpected consequences of not exposing young athletes to contact.
• The impact of neck strength in concussion and how Byron screens, programs, periodised strength at a professional Rugby level.
• Having uniquely worked in both club and national teams, what has Byron learnt that assists with managing players when at times there can be conflicting interests between club and country.
• How does Byron deal with doubt in decision making?

People mentioned:

• Hamis Macauley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamish-macauley-13944365/
• Katherine Rottier: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-rottier-9b36228b/?originalSubdomain=au
• Emidio Pacecca: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5unNgbm6ukafZ2VeFc7Y4r
• Craig Purdam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-purdam-6964293a/

Byron Field contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byron-field-b6a171225/
• Twitter: https://x.com/fielby84?lang=bn

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

Anthony has been part of the fabric of Australian football for over 3 decades and has assisted 3 different A-League clubs win silverware with Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Macarthur FC. Anthony has also held the prestigious position of Head of Strength and Conditioning for the Australian National Football Team for close to a decade and was part of Socceroos history with involvement in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and 2006 World Cup in Germany. Other roles have included working in the J-League as well providing consultancy for clubs in the EPL, Serie A and the Trinidad and Tobago national team, to only name a few. This is a one kind long form conversations where we discuss all things football performance in amongst some never heard before stories of being a part of some of Australian footballs most iconic moments.

Highlights from the episode…

• Having had no previous experience in S&C, Anth received his first opportunity in S&C from Australian football legend Frank Farina in the NSL.
• In an ever evolving industry of sports science, we discuss dealing with the challenges of staying up to date while maintaining time tested methodologies.
• We discuss the volatility of the industry and navigating coaching changes, staff changes and job security.
• Anth discusses the innovative approach Football Federation Australia took to maximise their chances of qualifying for the 2006 World Cup.
• Anth provides an unprecedented and never heard before perspective of what it was like in the lead up to the famous qualifying game against Uruguay, the game itself and what occurred after that famous game.
• How to communicate at times unpopular perspectives around player injuries, player loads, recovery etc. to coaching staff.
• Session design. What factors, frameworks, concepts Anth uses to design world class on field training sessions for his teams.
• After a decade with the Socceroos Anth had an opportunity to move overseas to the J-League and he speaks about his time working and living in Japan.
• Anth vulnerably shares what it was like to be sacked for the first time in his career and how he dealt with the uncertainty, scrutiny and volatility all while trying to turn a club around and managing family life while in a foreign country.
• After Japan and a short stint at Sydney FC, he spent the next 6 years with Melbourne Victory and speaks about all the success at the club.
• Why Anth chose to leave the biggest football club in the A-League to move to a “start-up” club with limited resources, new staff and fresh players at Macarthur FC.
• From football pitch to board rooms. Anth discusses how he has been able to make a successful transition away from his traditional role as S&C coach to now a consultant to several organisations across the globe.

People mentioned:

• Frank Farina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Farina
• Ian Crook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-crook-b6a69230b/?originalSubdomain=au
• Les Gelis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/les-gelis-9aa78727a/
• Jean Paul de Marigny: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Paul_de_Marigny
• Guus Hiddink: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guus_Hiddink

Anthony Crea contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonycrea004/
• Email: acrea@nevadarush.com

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

Callum is a sports physiotherapist and strength & conditioning coach who has worked in the elite levels of various sports across Europe and the UK. This has included working for both the Mercedes AMG Petronas and Hass F1 racing teams in the Formula 1 (F1), in professional football with both Reading FC women’s team as well as holding a variety of roles with the English Football Association (The FA). He is now currently working with some of UKs best Olympic and Paralympic athletes and manages a specialised multidisciplinary team at the UK Sports Institute (UKSI). This is a fascinating conversation with someone who originated from Australia and has now gone on to hold prominent roles in the UK sports landscape and continues to add value, not only to the athletes he works with but also the colleagues he now leads, educates and mentors in the industry.

Highlights from the episode…

• We discuss the practical steps Callum took to get his first role at Reading FC Women’s team with no prior football experience.
• Callum shares his time at Reading and dealing with the pressures and challenges of being in a relegation battle.
• His transitioning from football into F1 with the Mercedes racing team and discusses his role as team physiotherapist/performance coach.
• Is there value in providing performance support not just for the athlete but also for the wider performance support staff?
• Callum shares what are the non-negotiables are for practitioners who are considering working in F1.
• Sport is a “trust-based” industry not a “skill-based” industry. It’s not always the person with the most skills who gets the job, it’s more likely the person who they “trust” most can do the job.
• Callum share one of the most comprehensive and creative methods The FA used during its recruitment process to acquire top talent in the competitive market of English football.
• Having spent 7 years with The FA, he shares what his roles were and how the national team staff and resources are structured throughout the medical/performance departments.
• We chat about balancing a strong relationship with a significant other while pursuing a career in elite sport.
• Career transition and the “CLAMPS” framework. How it can assist in difficult decisions around career opportunities.
• How the UKSI is structured, how it services athlete and Callum’s role as clinic lead rehabilitation.
• Now running a department at the UKSI what extra curricular activities/courses/degrees should one consider to help them effectively run a department in sport.
• “Performance reviews”. How Callum provides feedback to staff.

People mentioned:

• Peter Lion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterlion/?originalSubdomain=uk
• Clare Lion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-lion-464b7789/
• Sam Boylett-Long: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-boylett-long-56b8b855/
• Craig Ranson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-ranson-85a58832/
• Mark Adamoulas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markadamoulas/
• Simon Spencer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-spencer-5b699732/
• Chris Bodman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-bodman-9a4ba340/

Callum Repper contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callum-repper/
• X: https://x.com/callumrepper?lang=en

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

Luke is an Australian Sports Physiotherapist whose career spans some of the biggest codes in Australian sport having worked with the likes of Rugby Australia (Rugby Sevens), GWS Giants (AFL) and Sydney FC (A-League). Currently he is a senior physiotherapist for the world renowned Aspetar, where he plays a pivotal role in their knee injury division which services elite athletes from across the globe with an ACLR re-injury success rate of less than 5%. In this conversation we chat about all thing’s injury management as well as his move from pro sport in Australia to living in the middle east and working with the world-leading specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital shaping high performance care across various sports and athletes.

Highlights from the episode…

• Why Luke early on persevere with receiving low pay, long hours, extra work just to pursue a chance of a career in sports.
• Acquiring his role at GWS Giants and how most practitioners are doing it all wrong when trying to get their foot in the door of pro sport.
• Having never played/worked in AFL how Luke gained the knowledge and skills to effectively develop and deliver rehab programs at the highest level of a unfamiliar sport.
• When developing a rehab plan for an athlete, Luke has established a “Drill Library” and discuss how he built this and utilises it.
• The importance of understanding “what” needs to be communicated and “how” coaches, players, colleagues etc. like to be comminated too.
• Working at Aspetar, Luke shares some of the world class facilities, calibre staff and the comprehensive approaches they take to injury management.
• Although an incredible opportunity to be chosen to work for Aspetar, Luke vulnerably shares the conversations and considerations he had to make as a father and a husband before making the final decision to move Qatar.
• With the experienced gained in his career as far what things would he do differently when it comes to rehabbing an athlete back to Return-to-Sport (RTS).
• Luke shares some the milestones to determine progression in an athletes rehab/RTS decision making and we discuss how much weight should practitioners put on these milestones and when they can be ignored and when they should be non-negotiable.
• When it comes to injury prevention, we debate over the importance of needing symmetrical, clean, efficient biomechanics, or can athletes inevitably overcome any biomechanical inefficiencies and develop reasonable adaptations that inevitably make them robust?

People mentioned:

• Matt Cameron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cameron-phd/?originalSubdomain=au
• Nalesh Murti: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nalesh-murti-845008b9/?originalSubdomain=au
• Nick Walsh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-walsh-3ba07139/details/experience/
• Alex Natera: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-natera-035a7765/
• Roula Kotsifaki: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Roula-Kotsifaki

Luke Heath contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-heath-8b015795/
• HPRS Physio Website: https://www.hprsphysio.com.au/who-we-are
• Aspetar ACL protocol: https://aspetar.com/en/professionals/aspetar-clinical-guidelines/acl-rehabilitation-protocol

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

This is one of the most unique, inspiring and fascinating stories to date and Tim shares his entire journey as far, having worked in high performance sport across 4 different continents. Tim provides an unprecedented insight of what it’s like to work internationally, including being one of few Australian practitioners to have navigated living and working in China with some of the countries elite athletes for over 5 years. After stints in China and the UK, with the English Institute of Sport, he now leverages the experience, skill set and knowledge his gained working across various athlete types to now working with the world’s best combat sports athletes as Physical Therapy Manager for the UFC Performance Institute in Mexico City, Mexico.

Highlights from the episode…

• How his experience living in the Ukraine and Peru shaped his philosophies and decisions around pursuing sports physiotherapy around the world.
• Playing semi professional football himself, Tim shares the challenges that most up-and-coming practitioners have with gaining sports physio experience and still wanting to pursue their own athletic career.
• “Sacrifice” and how many suggest this is what’s needed to get ahead in the industry. I ask “do you have to give up your 20s to make it?” Tim’s answer No! and why…
• Tim shares a play-by-play of his move to England and how he was able to obtain a role with the English Institute of Sport having no contacts in England.
• Having built a career in sport in the UK, why Tim chose to move to China for work.
• Tim shares a fascinating story of the recruitment process and how he eventually obtained a role with the Shanghai Sports Institute working with some of China’s elite athletes.
• Tim shares an unprecedented look into what its like to work in high performance sport in China including the challenges, advantages and the unique clinical experience he gained that he would have never obtained unless he had the privilege of working in China.
• COVID affected many in the high performance sport industry and Tim shares what it was like living and working in the epicentre of COVID while in China.
• We dive into the structure and set up of the UFC PI, how services are delivered, facilities, number of athletes etc. and how it differs from Shanghai and the Mexico City institutes.
• How Tim approaches the balance of minimising injuries in fighters but understanding that injuries are inevitable and may even be beneficial to a fighters journey.
• Being unable to speak Spanish or Chinese, how Tim has been able to conduct comprehensive assessment, deliver treatment plans as well as build rapport and connection with his athletes?

People mentioned:

• James Moore: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-moore-4a412814/
• Rob Madden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robmadden/
• James Vickers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-vickers-9b522a34/
• Kurt Tropinao: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-tropiano-b9962663/
• Adam Forrest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-forrest-17693248/details/experience/
• Heather Linden: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-heather-linden-dpt-4758642b/
• Dean Amasinger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-amasinger-076b4b225/

Tim Roberts contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-roberts-601920130/
• Email: troberts@ufc.com

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.

Send us a text

Rachel has worked with elite athletes across many domains through her work as a sports physiotherapist, breathing specialist and her expertise in the field of performing in high pressure environments. Rach has worked with elite performers from the NBA, NRL, AFL, military and corporate to only name a few, but it’s her ability to have recreated her identity time and time again in a profession that rewards staying in once’s lane that is most fascinating. Listen as we dive into the physiology of how athletes and practitioners can better deal with high pressure situations as well as dive into her unique journey from elite gymnast to specialist in improving performance in high pressure environments.

Highlights from the episode…

• After representing New Zealand in the commonwealth games and world championships as a Gymnast, she was exposed to some exceptional physiotherapist that inspired her to choose a similar pathway post her athletic career.
• It was a chance encounter with an athlete with Hyper Ventilation Syndrome that inspired her to pursue a better understanding around breathing it’s affect on performance.
• How Rach began working with the Golden State Warriors (NBA) and how the same approach led to her being invited to contribute at an event hosted by the Vatican City.
• With an ever growing cohort of practitioners exploring avenues outside of their siloed profession we discuss how she has been able to transition beyond her title as a physiotherapist into other roles in Business, IT, Breathing, Coaching etc.
• We have a vulnerable conversation around the challenges Rach had in the early stages of recreating herself beyond her identity as a physio/”breathing lady” and what she did to navigate through this period.
• Dealing with pressure. “You can’t compartmentalise your physiology! You can compartmentalise your thoughts, but not your physiology!”
• How to balance having confidence in being an expert of your field but being humble enough in your approach to understand that you are not an expert of their sport.
• Why breathing is important and how to maximise it to enhance athletic performance both biomechanically and physiologically.
• What are the elements that define a high pressure situation and what can athletes and practitioners do to train/mask/blunt the negative effects that come with pressure.
• Rach shares a real-life case study of the breathing and performance under pressure techniques she used with an elite golfer to improve his performance.
• Specific training modalities to induce a stress response and in turn exercise the techniques around the physiological aspects of arousal state control.
• In a moment of pressure there are 3 things Rach suggests focusing on 1. Where are you looking? 2. Where are you breathing? and 3. What are you thinking about?

People mentioned:

• Paul Hodge: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwhodges/?originalSubdomain=au
• Mark Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-young-b2aaa520/
• Wim Hof: https://www.wimhofmethod.com

Rachel Vickery contact details:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelvickery/
• Website: https://rachelvickery.com/about/
• Email: rachel@rachelvickery.com

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: luis.resa@outlook.com

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.