Leonie Lightfoot is a leading psychologist and keynote speaker specialising in performance, mindset and wellbeing. As a Psychological Skills Mentor at Chimp Management, Leonie translates complex psychological theory into practical tools that help individuals and teams thrive. Her standout achievement is applying the ‘Chimp Model’ to elite sport and business environments, unlocking consistent high performance.
Leonie’s early career was built on a strong academic and athletic foundation. She studied Sport Science and Social Science before completing a Master’s in Sport and Exercise Psychology, later adding a Diploma in Psychology. Leonie’s own experience as a competitive athlete shaped her interest in the mental side of performance, leading her into roles focused on athlete development and coaching. She spent seven years with England Athletics, progressing into the role of Coach Development Manager for England Athletics, where she led national initiatives to improve coaching standards and support emerging talent.
Across her career, Leonie has developed an impressive portfolio of achievements within elite sport and beyond. She currently works as a Performance Psychologist for the British Equestrian Federation, supporting riders through Olympic and Paralympic cycles, including Tokyo and Paris. Alongside this, she continues her work as a Psychological Skills Mentor at Chimp Management, delivering workshops and keynote sessions across sport, business and education. Leonie is also a BASES Accredited Sport Scientist, a HCPC Practitioner Psychologist, and a Full Member of the British Psychological Society, reflecting her professional credibility. Her experience includes working with organisations such as British Cycling and Sport Scotland, as well as lecturing in Sport Development and Applied Sport Psychology at university level.
Leonie is a compelling keynote speaker because she makes psychology accessible, practical and immediately useful. Her talks focus on mindset, emotional control, resilience and high performance, all grounded in the ‘Chimp Model’. Leonie helps audiences understand common challenges such as anxiety or imposter syndrome, then provides clear strategies to manage them effectively. Her sessions are relevant across corporate, education and healthcare settings, where performance and wellbeing go hand in hand. Leonie delivers insight with clarity and warmth, making her a valuable addition to any event focused on unlocking potential and improving performance.
Leonie Lightfoot’s official speaker topics are listed below:
- Change
- Communication
- High Performance
- Leadership
- Performance Under Pressure
- Personal Development
- Psychology and Mindset
- Teamwork
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"Just a note to thank you for your excellent, insightful and entertaining presentation you did for us on Friday afternoon. We were so glad you made it despite the atrocious weather. I do hope you got home safely. I have had uniformly excellent comments and feedback on how good you were and how lucky we were to have you speak." - James, Consultant Anaesthetist, NHS Wales
"Leonie delivered a really engaging presentation for the Isle of Man Sport Lecture 2016 at the Gaiety Theatre. There were around 350 people in the audience who were all captivated by what was a complex subject, simplified superbly with the easy to understand chimp model. Leonie brought sincerity and humour to her delivery which was well received by all. I was delighted to have Leonie return the next day to deliver a short workshop for our local sports coaches. She was able to guide the group through valuable reflections of the previous presentation and embellish the model further. Leonie facilitated group work exploring how, as coaches we can help manage ourselves emotionally and also how we can support our athletes to manage their emotions and decision making to aid enjoyment of sport and maximise our chances for success and development." - Isle of Man Sport
- 2025 - Supported British Equestrian athletes at European Championships
- 2024 - Supported athletes through Paris Olympic and Paralympic cycle with British Equestrian
- 2021 - Supported athletes through Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic cycle with British Equestrian
- 2017 - Appointed Performance Psychologist for British Equestrian Federation
- 2015 - Joined Chimp Management as Psychological Skills Mentor
- 2012 - Became Coach Development Manager for England Athletics
- 2009 - Graduated MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology, Loughborough University
- 2006 - Graduated BSc Sport Science and Social Science, Loughborough University
How to hire Leonie Lightfoot
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Leonie Lightfoot 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.
