Tom Comyns is a Professor (Strength & Conditioning) at University of Limerick. He has published extensively in the areas of strength testing, S&C and injury surveillance in prestigious international journals and conferences. Tom has significant experience as a S&C coach and worked with Munster Rugby for six years as a Senior S&C coach and as Head of S&C in Sport Ireland Institute. Currently Tom continues to act as S&C coach to Irish Olympic athletes based in the Limerick area. In addition to this Tom is an Olympian himself having competed in the 4x100m relay at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and a UL Sports Hall of Fame Inductee.

SarahJane is an Associate Professor in Sport & Exercise Physiology in Dublin City University (DCU). She was previously lecturer and course leader on the BSc in Sport & Exercise Science in SETU Waterford. She has a BSc in Sport Science and Health and a PhD in the Sport and Exercise Physiology, both from DCU, and a MSc in Applied Sports Nutrition from St Marys Twickenham. She has spent time as a research assistant at Brunel University London and ACU Sydney. SarahJane is a Performance Physiologist providing support to high performance athletes and para-athletes in Ireland through Sport Ireland Institute. She coordinates the jockey research programme in conjunction with The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board in which the research directly informs practices and strategies implemented into the racing industry. Her research interests focus on physiological and psychological impacts of weight making, female athlete health and performance, and body composition. She is an ISAK-accredited anthropometric instructor (Level 3). SarahJane was Tournament Nutritionist for the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017. She was also part of Team Ireland's sport science team at the holding camp for Team Ireland at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and London 2012.

Edward qualified as a sport scientist from Dublin City University before specialising on the concept of deliberate practice in his PhD at Liverpool John Moores University. His subsequent work as an academic and coach focuses on practice-transfer for the development of expertise in high performance sport. He is currently a senior lecturer in skill acquisition and coaching science at Munster Technological University in Cork, where he is a research lead in skill acquisition within the HEX-SPO research group. Edward is published and cited in peer-reviewed sport science journals as well as being a regular chapter-contributor to sport science and coaching science books. He has appeared as a guest on over 100 podcasts and is a regular contributor to radio, television and print media as a recognised expert in the field of skill acquisition. Edward consults with NGBs, both nationally and internationally, on the implementation of skill acquisition across their respective coach education frameworks and as a coach works in professional sport as a practice coach for the development of effective training environments. He is a board member and Chair of Movement & Skill Acquisition Ireland.

Ed joined the Olympic Federation of Ireland (OFI) full-time in March 2021 as Financial Controller having consulted to the organisation since early 2017. He is also the OFI's Company Secretary and responsible for compliance with all areas of governance. Passionate about sport, he has extensive experience of the Irish sporting industry, having performed similar roles for Swim Ireland and Cricket Ireland since emigrating from his native South Africa back in 2008. A fully qualified Chartered Accountant who trained at KPMG Pretoria, Ed has also performed numerous volunteer roles, sitting on various finance and audit committees of National and Provincial sporting governing bodies.

Maeve has had an impact on European sport over a long period, and has worked with iconic teams, organisations and major events such as Ryder Cup, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool FC, Man City, Arsenal, FIFA and UEFA. Maeve specialises in sports strategy development on behalf of international federations, the development and commercialisation of international sports events, as well as advising city and national authorities, and sport governing bodies on development work. She has a deep understanding of the European sport industry and the most successful initiatives happening across that landscape. Maeve specialises in performance and grassroots sport and has worked with FIFA, UEFA, FIBA and the IRFU amongst others. Maeve is a previous Board Member of the Sport Ireland Campus and the Federation of Irish Sport and is regularly voted one of the Most Influential Women in Sport (sportforbusiness.com). She previously worked in international marketing roles with Orange, Salvatore Ferragamo and Bord Bia, based in Amsterdam, Milan and Madrid. She holds an MBA from the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid and has a BA (Hons) degree from University College Cork, and speaks French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Sports Director at Paralympics Ireland, Neasa was Chef de Mission (team manager) at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and will fulfil that role in Paris 2024. Neasa has over 20 years’ experience in High Performance sport where she has held a breadth of national roles including coach, sport scientist and system lead. Prior to moving back to Ireland from the UK in 2021, Neasa held the position of Head of Talent Development in Sport England, where she played an integral role in developing a world leading England talent development system. Previously, Neasa was Lead Performance Pathway Scientist for UK Sport/English Institute of Sport, and led the 'Discover Your Gold' UK-wide talent id campaign post Rio 2016. All these opportunities building on her experience and insight as a performance/development coach in GB Rowing Team and Rowing Ireland.

Declan leads the sports physiology and performance science teams at the Sport Northern Ireland Sports Institute (SNISI). He is an Accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist through the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences and he has extensive experience of providing physiological support and performance solutions to athletes and coaches over six Olympic and Paralympic cycles. In 2019 he was appointed lead Physiologist for Team Ireland for the Tokyo Olympic Games (2020-21) and he was responsible for coordinating the travel and acclimation preparation for athletes and support staff. Declan initially studied Sport, Exercise and Leisure (BSc) at Ulster University and was awarded a Diploma in Industrial Studies following completion of a professional training internship at the Western Australian Institute of Sport in Perth, prior to the Sydney Olympic Games (2000). In 2002 he obtained a Masters in Sports Physiology from Liverpool John Moores University. This academic training and applied experience facilitated the development of Declan’s support philosophy, which combines established scientific principles and emerging evidence, to develop and implement tailored interventions for athletes. In addition to being a practitioner Declan has also conducted research in Gaelic football throughout his academic journey, culminating with a PhD awarded by Dublin City University in 2021.

Professor Kate Pumpa is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Advanced Accredited Sports Dietitian, with expertise in optimising sporting performance through nutritional and physiological interventions. Kate commenced as a Professor of Sport and Exercise Physiology at University College Dublin in January 2023, relocating from The University of Canberra, Australia. Kate has extensive clinical and research experience in High Performance Sport, particularly in Rugby Union and Basketball. In Australia, Kate was the chair of the Course Accreditation Committee for Exercise and Sport Science Australia, which was responsible for the accreditation of all exercise and sport science, and exercise physiology degrees across Australia. Kate is a graduate of the Australian Company Directors Course, and has experience as a board member on the University of Canberra Council from January 2020 – December 2022.

An accredited S&C Coach (NSCA) and Sports Scientist (BASES HPSA), Adam currently combines his Senior Performance Strategist role at Kitman Labs (specifically working with their National Governing Body and League clients), with applied Academy S&C coaching involvement at Ulster Rugby. After graduating from Brunel University London in 2004 (BSc and Masters in Sports Science), Adam worked in English Premiership Rugby for twelve years (Saracens, London Wasps and Sale Sharks) across a variety of sports science disciplines. Upon returning to Ireland in November 2016, Adam completed his PhD and began working at University College Dublin as the Head S&C Coach within their Ad Astra scholarship programme, while also leading the Strength and Conditioning and Coaching Science modules. In December 2017, Adam was appointed Performance Director for Hockey Ireland, leading Irish hockey teams throughout the Tokyo Olympic cycle. In October 2016, Adam was appointed Chair of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science Sport and Performance Division (a role he performed for four years). Adam currently sits on the BASES Conference Planning Group and is a BASES Fellow.

Bróna has a BSc. in Sport Science and Health and a PhD in the area of Clinical Exercise Physiology, both from DCU. Her PhD investigated the effects of inactivity and exercise on vascular health and functional capacity in individuals with peripheral arterial disease. She was a postdoctoral researcher on a project commissioned by the HSE to develop a National Exercise Referral Framework. Bróna then took up the role of Research Manager with ExWell, a community-based exercise rehabilitation programme for chronic disease. She was an Assistant Professor in Exercise Science at DCU before taking up her current role as Lecturer in Exercise Physiology at South East Technological University (SETU). Bróna’s research area of interest is the role of physical activity in the treatment and management of age-related chronic conditions. To date she has worked with individuals living with cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, cancer and frailty. Her research has involved a multi-disciplinary approach to the design, implementation and evaluation of physical activity and exercise interventions in these cohorts. There has been a particular focus on delivery models of exercise rehabilitation, namely community-based and home-based programmes.

Marcus is the Head of Communications & Media with Leinster Rugby and looks after all forms of communications for the club, as well as managing communications for both senior teams competing in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Series, the BKT United Rugby Championship and Investec Champions Cup.

Having completed a degree in Business and Legal Studies in UCD, Marcus qualified as a solicitor in 2007 with William Fry Solicitors but in 2009 he joined leading Irish PR agency Pembroke Communications (now Teneo) to work in their Sports and Sponsorship division. 

He worked with clients such as the GAA, the LGFA, Dublin GAA County Board, Bord Gáis Energy U-21 Hurling Championship, AIG, Under Armour, Sports Surgery Clinic, Setanta Sports, Vintners' Federation of Ireland and the FBD 7s. 

In 2014 he left Pembroke to lead the communications team in Leinster Rugby and he has been there ever since. 

In addition to his qualifications above, Marcus completed a Diploma in PR and Event Management in the Dublin Business School in 2012 and in 2024 completed his MSc in Business (Leadership & Management Practice) in the UCD Smurfit Business School.

Marcus has always had an interest in media and in sport and has worked on a freelance capacity over many years with Setanta Sports, Foinse, Irish Independent, Raidió na Life, Raidió na Gaeltachta, BBC NI Radio, Newstalk, Irish Daily Star, TV3, Eir Sports, SKY Sports and currently works with TG4, GAA GO and Dublin GAA on commentary in Irish and English.