About The Welsh Institute of Performance Science

WIPS provides capacity to conduct high impact research in alignment with Sport Wales strategy; supporting system and sport projects that explore athlete health and wellbeing, athlete development and athlete environments.  WIPS is also further developing Sport Science in Wales, training future Sport Scientists, enhancing the application of science in Welsh sports, and increasing collaboration between Welsh sport, academia and business. 

A significant strength of WIPS is the relationships created with industry and academia in the areas of sport science, medicine, science and engineering to develop, test and deliver innovations that have performance benefits within elite sport and wider domains (e.g. health, medicine). This is coordinated through our strategic management board and research steering group containing recognized specialists in Sport Science and Medicine, in conjunction with Sport Wales Institute and National Governing bodies. 

Our research is supported with grants from Sport Wales and Welsh Government. 

The Welsh Institute of Performance Science works to enhance performance in Welsh sport and increase links between sport, academia, and business in the following ways: 

  1. Performance Driven Questions, Science Driven Answers 
    Following evaluation of Welsh sport performances and systems, performance issues or areas to improve will be identified; the Research Steering Group and Sport Wales representatives will then discuss and seek out potential strategies, leading to projects being conducted to address the question or issue. 
  1. Performance Driven Questions, Industry Driven Answers 
    Following evaluation of Welsh sport performances and systems, performance issues or areas to improve will be identified; the Research Steering Group will then discuss and seek out potential strategies, leading to collaboration with appropriate industry partners to answer the performance question. 
  1. Performance Driven Questions, Science and Industry Driven Answers 
    Following evaluation of Welsh sport performances and systems, performance issues or areas to improve will be identified; the Research Steering Group will discuss and seek out potential strategies, leading to research being conducted in conjunction with industry partners to answer the performance question/issue. 
  1. Science Driven Performance Applications to Enhance Performance 
    Based on current research findings, Research Steering Group members can make suggestions to the wider Research Steering Group regarding potential performance enhancing strategies. If the Research Steering Group deem appropriate, research and discussion examining the feasibility and applicability of these strategies to Welsh sport performance will be conducted. If the findings yield positive outcomes these strategies may be implemented within Welsh sport via Sport Wales Institute. 
  1. Industry Driven Performance Applications to Enhance Performance 
    Industrial partners (and other innovation specialists) can approach the Research Steering Group regarding technological or industrial advances that might enhance sporting performance. If deemed appropriate by the Research Steering Group, research and discussion examining the feasibility and applicability of these strategies to Welsh sport performance will be conducted. If the findings yield positive outcomes these strategies may be implemented within Welsh sport via Sport Wales Institute. 

How WIPS projects work 

WIPS works alongside stakeholders (sports and practitioners) to identify performance questions and follow a cyclical process to feedback new knowledge, implement and review outcomes/strategies. 

Our Partners

WIPS is partnered with Universities and National Governing Bodies across Wales, as well as across the home country institutes.

Awards and highlights

In 2024, WIPS won the award for Outstanding Impact of Science and Technology beyond academic at Swansea University’s annual Research and Innovation Awards.

Our Practitioners

WIPS is comprised of four research associates and supported by our Research Steering Group and Strategic Management Board.

Dr Natalie Brown

Research officer at Swansea University, with a background in exercise physiology focussed on competition preparation and recovery. Natalie’s research particularly is focussed on female health, including the menstrual cycle and pelvic health, prevention and management of symptoms for sport performance and supporting young female health and wellbeing.

Dr Daniel Cunningham

Dr Dan Cunningham is a Research Assistant at WIPS with over 25 peer-reviewed publications. In addition, he has experience in applied sport science and S&C across elite team, individual and Olympic sports. Dan’s PhD focused on peak game demands, game based KPIs and underpinning physical qualities, collaborating with national and international partners. Dan is also currently supporting Sport Wales with managing the Athlete management system (AMS) with 2 sports (Swimming & Rowing)

Dr Alan McKay

Dr. Alan McKay is a Senior Research Assistant at the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Centre for Football Research. Within this role, Alan works alongside the WIPS research steering group and industry partners to produce world-leading applied performance science projects to enhance the performance of Welsh athletes and organisations. Current projects include a UEFA-funded study exploring the process of effective coach education across Europe and supporting coaches to develop players’ mental toughness to enhance performance consistency under pressure. For more details on Alan’s work and the ongoing work of the FAW Centre for Football Research, visit: https://lnkd.in/eYR3gUBY

Dr Iwan Rowlands

Iwan Rowlands is a Research Fellow at WIPS, supporting a collaborative partnership between the University of South Wales (USW) and Sport Wales Institute (SWI). In this role, he contributes to applied research aimed at enhancing the performance and well-being of athletes across elite Welsh sport. Alongside this, Iwan is a Senior Research Assistant at USW, supporting the Applied Psychology Research and Innovation Group (AP-RIG), with a particular emphasis on sport psychology. His PhD research focuses on psychophysiological recovery in athletes, with a specific emphasis on the use of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRVB) as an evidence-based technique to enhance recovery and sleep, regulate stress, and optimise performance.

Research Steering Group

Liam Kilduff. Professor in Performance Science, Swansea University.

WIPS Chair

Vicky Gottwald. Senior Lecturer in Skill Acquisition at Bangor University.

Athlete Development Lead & Talent Identification & Transfer Lead

David Shearer. Professor of Elite Performance Psychology, University of South Wales.

Performance Psychology Lead and Athlete environment’s lead

Denise Hill. Associate Professor in Applied Sport Psychology, Swansea University.

Athlete Health & Wellbeing Co-lead

Kelly Mackintosh. Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University.

Athlete Health and Wellbeing Co-lead

Brendan Cropley. Professor of Sport Coaching, University of South Wales.

Coaching Science Lead

Rowan Brown. Associate Professor in Data Science, Swansea University.

Data Science Lead

Lisa Trainor. Senior lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science at Swansea University.

Disability Sport Lead

Sam Oliver. Professor in Sport & Exercise Science at Bangor University.

Environmental Physiology Lead

Thomas Love. Senior Lecturer in Sports Nutrition, Swansea University.

Performance Nutrition Lead

Neil Bezodis. Professor of Biomechanics, Swansea University.

Performance Biomechanics Lead

Mark Waldron. Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University.

Performance Physiology Lead

Rhodri Martin. Sport and Exercise Medicine Consultant, Sport Wales

Sports Medicine Lead

Julian Owen. Senior Lecturer and Associate professor in Sport and Exercise science at Bangor University.

Sports Physiotherapy and Injury Lead

Jason Pedley. Senior lecturer in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Strength and Conditioning Lead

Jonathan Hughes. Senior lecturer in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Youth Sport Co-lead

Kurtis Pankow. Senior lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science at Swansea University.

Youth Sport Co-lead

Malcom Fairweather. Head of Performance Solutions, Sport Scotland Institute of Sport

SIS Representative

Andrew Sommerville. Senior Performance Physiologist, Sport Scotland Institute of Sport.

SIS Representative

Declan Gamble. Head of Performance Science, Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute.

SNI SI Representative

David Lasini. Head of Strength and Conditioning, Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute.

SNI SI Representative

Melita McNarry. Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University

WIPHAS Representative

Craig Williams. Strategic Lead - Insights, TASS

TASS Representative

Nathan Stephens. Head of Performance Development, Disability Sport Wales

DSW Representative

Gareth Walton. Physical Performance Coach Manager, Football Association Wales

FAW Representative

Esther Goldsmith. Physiologist, Sport Wales.

Sport Wales WIPS Project lead

Strategic Management Board

Liam Kilduff. Professor in Performance Science, Swansea University.

WIPS Lead

Esther Goldsmith. Physiologist, Sport Wales.

Sport Wales WIPS Project lead

David Adams. Chief football Officer, Football Association of Wales

FAW Representative

Melita McNarry. Professor in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Swansea University

WIPAHS Representative

Craig Williams. Strategic Lead - Insights, TASS

TASS Representative

Dan Farmer. Head of Sport System Institute Services and Data, Sport Wales.

Sport Wales Leadership Team Representative

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