Dr Emma Ross is a leading figure in the world of female-centred sports science, joining the English Institute of Sport in 2013 as the Head of Physiology. A key aid in the success of Team GB in the Rio and Tokyo Olympics, as well as their subsequent Paralympics, her position revealed the neglected experiences and barriers for women in sport.
She holds a PhD in Neurophysiology from Brunel University, as well as extensive experience in teaching sports science through roles as a Sport and Exercise Physiology Lecturer at Brunel University and as a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Physiology at the University of Brighton. Emma identified the deep-rooted oversights in the physiology of female athletes. She committed herself to carrying out cutting-edge programmes for sports personnel with the intent of spreading a deeper understanding of the female athlete regarding exercising, physiology, and psychology.
Emboldened by her observations and following mission of education, as well as her own experience in such spaces, Emma co-founded and is the Chief Scientific Officer of The Well HQ, an online hub committed to filling the drought of knowledge concerning women’s well-being and sports, dismantling stigmas around women’s health and the effect it has on performance. She is also the Director of Thrive Revolution, an organisation supporting and empowering women and girls to achieve their potential.
Emma was awarded the Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year ‘Changemaker’ Award in 2021. She is an Honorary Research Fellow for the University of Brighton and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of Kent. She is a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science and co-authored ‘The Female Body Bible’ in 2023, a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller.
Through her dedication to demystifying the endeavours of female athletes, Emma Ross identifies the gender disparity in sports and demonstrates confidence in disrupting such landscapes, inspiring sports enthusiasts, individuals and corporate clients. Emma’s captivating talks are certain to make an impact through her discussions of equality, transformation, high-performance habits and biology and behaviour. Her struggles with undiagnosed post-natal depression and extreme, yet ignored, menstrual symptoms, both of which affected her accomplishments in the sports she loved, spurred her to educate others on the intricacies of women’s bodies and their effect on sporting abilities. If you are interested in hiring a keynote speaker who specialises in unleashing the potential of women in sports, hire Emma Ross today!
Dr Emma Ross' official speaking topics are listed below:
Equality:
In the pursuit of equality, we sometimes overlook important differences between men and women, which should influence how we design systems so that everyone can fulfil their potential; equitable systems. Emma shares her decade-long exploration of what it takes to create equitable environments, and what happens when you do.
Leading Transformation:
Leading transformation or change is both exciting and challenging. In this inspiring and insightful talk, Emma shares her change-making journey of addressing gender inequalities in sport and the gaps that threaten to derail that journey. From gender gaps to data gaps to knowing-doing gaps, Emma’s lessons learned in sport will help any business or organisation through periods of change and evolution.
High Performance Habits:
Sports science seeks to understand how to optimise human performance. But it’s not just in sport where individuals and teams need to perform at their best. Emma’s holistic, bio-psycho-social approach to wellbeing and performance, learnt from a decade in sports science research and a further decade applying this expertise in the elite sporting world, will help individuals and organisations realise and embrace high-performance habits.
From Biology to Behaviour:
How is our biology related to how we experience the world? How does what’s going on inside our bodies influence our behaviour, our relationships, our communication, and our ability to perform well? An insightful and thought-provoking talk for any organisation wanting to explore wellness, wellbeing, and health as an important foundation of performance and success.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
'What has been so rewarding working with Emma Ross is how she was able to prepare any audience to think differently when it came to the development and support of the female athlete. Whether it was physical, physiological, or social, Emma provided an insight and knowledge that would influence coach and practitioner behaviour and approach towards the female athlete.' - David Faulkner OLY, Head of Performance, The FA, Women's Professional Game, Para and Futsal Team Leader, GB Women's Football
'The talk was everything I hoped it would be - interesting, engaging, informative, and inspiring. Thank you! As we said afterwards, I think the number of questions that it invited afterwards speaks volumes.' - Amanda, Head of Sports Performance, Guildford High School
'Once again, thanks for spending your morning with us. I found your talk incredibly thought-provoking, both from a business perspective and a personal one. On the point around designing for female needs, I am convinced that we can support women to thrive.' - Joanna, Global VP, Healthcare
'Firstly, let me start by saying THANK YOU! Your work has been a breath of fresh air and so inspiring. I’m sure I speak for many Athletes, Therapists, and Coaches when I say this.' - Verity, Sports Physiotherapist
- 2024 - Quality Assured Enhancing issued by CIMSPA to The Well HQ
- 2023 - Co-authored the Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller "The Female Body Bible"
- 2021 - Recipient of the Sunday Times Sports Woman of the Year Changemaker Award
- 2021 - Co-founded The Well HQ
- 2016 - Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Brighton
- 2015 - Fellow of the British Association of Sport & Exercise Science
- 2013 - Appointed the Head of Physiology, English Institute of Sport, assisting in both the 2016 Rio & 2020 Tokyo Olympics & Paralympics
- 2011 - Recipient of the Award for Excellence in Facilitating & Empowering Learning from the University of Brighton
- 2011 - Honorary Lecturer at the University of Kent
How to hire Emma Ross
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Emma Ross for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
