Revolutionizing training methods

Australian Catholic University is a public institution renowned for its emphasis on education, health sciences, and the humanities. Australian Catholic University is ranked 40th globally in sport science and shares first place in human movement and sports science research within Australia. The Department of Sport and Exercise Science at Australian Catholic University offers programs aimed at helping elite athletes achieve peak performance, supporting individuals with chronic diseases, and inspiring children to lead active, healthy lives.

Duke University is a prestigious private research institution consistently ranked among the top globally. Renowned for its rigorous academics, distinguished faculty, and emphasis on research and innovation, Duke excels in various fields. The Duke Clinical Research Institute, part of the Duke University School of Medicine, is the world’s largest academic clinical research organization, collaborating with industry, academia and government to advance research that enhances global health.

Johns Hopkins, America’s first research university, has revolutionized higher education in the US. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the world’s largest and highest-ranked school of public health, boasts a distinguished faculty with over 80 research centers. It is dedicated to advancing public health and protecting millions globally from illness and injury through pioneering research and education across ten departments and various public health disciplines, including biostatistics, epidemiology and reproductive health.

Northumbria is a research-intensive, modern university with a global reputation for academic excellence. Named the UK’s University of the Year in 2022 by Times Higher Education, Northumbria University also ranks among the top 25 universities in the UK for research power according to the Research Excellence Framework. With 40 years of Sport and Exercise Programs, Northumbria is one of the UK’s top-rated sport universities, and is renowned for specific projects focused on ‘Female Athlete Health and Wellbeing’.

North-West University fosters equity, redress, and globally competitive teaching and research. Ranked in the top 4% of universities by the Center for World University Rankings, North-West University is home to some of Africa’s leading research powerhouses. The School of Human Movement Sciences at North-West University excels in training students in various fields, such as sports science and coaching science, preparing them to be world leading practitioners, leaders and innovators.

The Université de Lyon is an academic Community of Universities and Institutions that brings together 11 member institutions and 25 associated institutions in Lyon and Saint-Étienne. With 32 research laboratories and 66 research teams, the Doctoral School of Health Sciences at the Université de Lyon focuses on interdisciplinary research in areas, such as cardiovascular physiology, metabolism, endocrinology, nutrition, physical activity and sport.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the first public university in the US, is renowned for its commitment to innovative teaching, groundbreaking research, and public service. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the 11th top ranked university in the US for federal research and boasts 45 research centers and institutes. The Department of Exercise and Sport Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers diverse programs dedicated to advancing knowledge of human movement to enhance the quality of life for individuals and society.

The University of Wollongong is a young, dynamic and innovative university that over its almost 50-year history has become one of the best of Australia’s new generation of universities. The University of Wollongong are among the top 1% of universities in the world, reflecting their underlying excellence in teaching, research and academic excellence. The university boasts advanced expertise in sports science and athlete health with a focus on optimizing athletic training, testing, and injury prevention.

Jase Banta is an expert in Data Science, Data Engineering, and Machine Learning. He drives a highly available, scalable Data Ecosystem using cutting-edge technology to fuel the KIH App, unlocking global female athlete performance research and advanced analytics. Jase is most excited to establish the largest female-oriented Data Ecosystem to elevate advanced research in female athletes.

Julian Bradford-Hill brings his breadth of knowledge in the field of software engineering and data-driven application design to KIH. An expert in full-stack development, mobile applications, IoT, and software development lifecycle, Julian is responsible for engineering KIH’s mobile application software and research platform.

Duke University partner Dr. Carly Branter brings a strong technical background in biostatistics, data science, and scientific research to the KIH team. Her understanding of effective data analysis techniques to advance female health and performance research and passion for female athletics make her a wonderful addition to our interdisciplinary team of experts.

Niamh specializes in content strategy, working closely with designers, engineers, scientists and users to lead the development of core in-app features, ensuring both are accurate, engaging, and aligned with the company’s vision. Niamh is also an international level runner, recently representing Great Britain at the World Cross Country Championships.

Grainne Conefrey is responsible for overseeing the entire product lifecycle, from conception to launch and beyond. Her vast experience creating user-centered solutions has given her a proven track record of bringing innovative products to market across multiple industries, consistently driving success through a blend of creativity and analytical thinking. Grainne is dedicated to fostering collaboration, leading the Product Team to ensure the delivery of high-quality products that serve users and help achieve KIH innovation goals.

Bryan is an expert in IT Governance, Cybersecurity, Systems & Network Administration, and Vendor Management. He oversees the technical operations, customer service, and security of the organization. As a father of two daughters, Bryan could not turn down the opportunity to contribute to the mission of improving health and wellbeing of female athletes around the world.

Dr. Jessica Freemas is a research scientist specializing in female physiology, thermoregulation, and exercise performance. Her focus is advancing female athlete support through applied practice and she has delivered expert consultation to a range of elite athletes and teams across the NWSL, WNBA, NCAA, NBA, MSL, Liga MX, and Team USA.

Dr. Amal Hassan is a Sport and Exercise Medicine Consultant Physician. She specializes in female athlete health with a focus on perinatal and fertility health in athletes. Dr. Hassan leads the Perinatal group on the Female Health Project at FIFA and has developed clinical expertise in supporting athletes with menstrual cycle dysfunction.

In addition to her role as Associate Professor at Northumbria University, Dr. Kirsty Hicks leads the female health support initiatives at Washington Spirit Soccer and oversees the club’s research efforts. Kirsty has an extensive background in working with elite female athletes, both nationally and internationally, with a specific focus on soccer. Kirsty has published over 50 papers, focusing primarily on investigating physiological sex differences and optimizing performance and recovery in elite female athletes.

Scientific Advisor Dr. Glyn Howatson is an expert in Applied Physiology, Strength and Conditioning, and Strategic Leadership. A FIFA Consultant and Professor at Northumbria University, Dr. Howatson focuses particularly on fatigue, recovery and adaptation to training and competition stressors. In addition to his expertise in sport and exercise physiology, he has a long tradition of leading projects that apply research to the real world for performance improvements.

Dr. Ric Lovell is an Associate Professor in Sport & Exercise Science at the University of Wollongong. His predominant research focus investigates optimal preparation, performance and athletic development strategies for team-sports players, including injury prevention, fatigue, thermoregulation, biological maturation, and monitoring training and match loads.

Heather is a global operations expert dedicated to increasing the reach and impact of mission-driven organizations. She has over a decade of strategic operations and community development experience, designing and implementing standard operating procedures for scale. A specialist in nonprofit structure and KPI management, Heather’s business acumen keeps KIH’s gears turning smoothly and efficiently.

Bringing global business and brand building expertise, Theresa joins the KIH as CEO to oversee all business operations of the organization. She is responsible for driving impact, directing organizational structure, ensuring financial sustainability, leading marketing efforts, and managing board relations.

Dr. Kelly Lee McNulty’s research interests are predominately focused on female exercise physiology and optimizing female health and performance, as well as addressing the sex data gap in sport and exercise science research. Through her role with KIH, Dr. McNulty is proud to be changing the narrative for female athlete health and performance.

Dr. Isabel (Izzy) Moore is an expert in applied sport and exercise medicine, specializing in female health, epidemiology and human movement. As KIH’s lead epidemiologist, Izzy is working with data generated through our health surveillance system to create evidence-informed insights to enhance athlete availability and understand athlete health risks.

Sam R. Moore is an applied sport scientist and fourth year PhD candidate in the Human Movement Science Curriculum studying in the Applied Physiology Laboratory at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sam was a dual sport collegiate athlete at Western Oregon University, and her research interests center around integrating laboratory and field-based methodologies for female athlete sport science innovations to improve health, safety, and performance across the lifespan.

Dr. Chimsom T. Oleka is a distinguished Pediatric, Adolescent, and Sports Gynecologist. As an education and research consultant for KIH, Dr. Oleka offers her OBGYN perspective and expertise in numerous discussions and settings regarding female athlete health. Her research focuses on enhancing and optimizing physical/mental fitness and reproductive health from puberty to post-menopause, with a particular focus on puberty, periods, pregnancy and postpartum.

Australian Catholic University partner, research scientist, and Applied Sports Science Lead, Suzanna (Suzy) Russell is an expert in fatigue, recovery, sleep, human performance, mental / cognitive fatigue, and athlete well-being. She manages and leads KIH’s Sports Science Research team collaborating closely with the female health and performance team to support female athletes.

Dr. Dawn Scott has accumulated over 20 years of experience in women’s football and is currently the Vice President of Performance and Innovation with Washington Spirit in the NWSL. She was previously Performance Director for Inter Miami CF in the MLS as well as Head of Performance for the USWNT, supporting the team at three FIFA Womenʼs World Cup final tournaments and two Olympic Games.

Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She is a highly accomplished and respected figure in the field of sports science, within the realm of exercise physiology and nutrition. With her expertise in body composition, metabolism, exercise performance and nutrition, Dr. Smith-Ryan has made significant contributions for the advancement of athletic performance, and female health and well-being.

Abe Stein has over a decade of experience as a marketer and strategist in professional sports. He is an innovation leader, providing guidance to some of the top leagues and teams in the world on how to leverage new technologies and processes to evolve their business and reach new fans. He has written books, chapters, and journal articles on interactive sports media and holds a master’s degree from MIT in media studies.

Cherianne Taim’s research focuses on female exercise physiology, prioritizing the translation of scientific findings into practice to improve the health and performance of female athletes. Having recently submitted her PhD, Cherianne is passionate about empowering girls and women globally through translational research and education.

Dr. Matt Whalan is a Sport Physiotherapist and Sports Scientist as well as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong (AUS) and La Trobe University (AUS). He is an expert and respected researcher in the fields of injury, injury prevention, and surveillance. Dr. Whalan is currently a physiotherapist for Football Australia and the Football Australia Player Availability Coordinator and works closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) & FIFA.

Former Professional Athlete, 2 x Olympian, Founder, and Product and Content Manager Rosie White utilizes her expertise in athlete engagement as well as scientific, engineering, business, and user data to capture feature requirements and help prioritize the direction of KIH products. Rosie is excited to be part of such transformative work dedicated to closing the gender research gap and creating a safer, more purposeful environment for female athletes.

Rehabilitation expert Dr. Kate Yung is a registered physiotherapist in Australia and Hong Kong, as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA). Dr. Yung joined KIH to revolutionize training in female athletes by creating education content in the areas of injury prevention, rehabilitation and return to play.