Dr James Hewitt

Dr James Hewitt is a globally recognised speaker, human performance scientist and advisor whose work sits at the intersection of leadership, wellbeing and sustainable high performance. With more than two decades of experience researching how humans perform under pressure, James is best known as the Founder of The Knowledge Work Lab and for his influential thinking on how individuals and organisations can achieve extraordinary results without burnout. He is also the author of ‘Regenerative Performance’, a widely praised book that challenges traditional productivity culture and offers a science-backed alternative rooted in recovery, focus and long-term effectiveness. 

James’ early career was shaped by his time as a full-time racing cyclist, an experience that deeply influenced his professional direction. Lacking natural athletic talent, he relied on data, experimentation and emerging performance technologies to compete, developing a fascination with how marginal gains compound over time. This curiosity led him to study Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University, before completing a PhD in Performance Science. His doctoral research examined how demanding work patterns affect cognitive performance, stress and recovery, using real-world data from high-performing organisations. These formative years grounded James in rigorous scientific thinking while giving him first-hand insight into the realities of sustained effort, fatigue and resilience, lessons he continues to draw on in his work with leaders today.

Throughout his career, James has held senior leadership roles in elite performance environments. He served as Chief Innovation Officer at OPTIVIO, where he helped develop pioneering stress management and workplace wellbeing technology, and previously held multiple senior positions at Hintsa Performance, including Chief Innovation Officer, Head of Science & Innovation, and Science & Development Director. His work has taken him from Formula 1 teams to Fortune 500 companies, advising executives on how to redesign work for focus, energy and sustainable output. As a speaker, James has delivered keynotes in over 30 countries, appearing at three World Economic Forum Annual Meetings in Davos and major international business conferences.

Organisations hire James because he addresses the reality leaders face, rising demands, constant distraction and mounting pressure to perform. His keynote topics span sustainable high performance, leadership under pressure, wellbeing as a driver of growth, focus on the digital age and the future of work shaped by AI. James equips audiences with evidence-based frameworks they can apply immediately, from improving recovery and decision-making to redesigning meetings and workloads.