BOARD MEMBERS

Professor Baker is currently a Research Professor at the Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, China. He has published over 450 full papers in peer-reviewed journals, published over 290 peer-reviewed abstracts, provided 69 invited key-note presentations, presented at 91 prestigious international conferences, contributed to 19 academic book chapters, written 2 books in partnership, and published 26 invited full papers. His key research areas include high intensity exercise, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, immune function, hormonal control, oxidative stress and muscle damage, steroid abuse and exercise biochemistry.

Professor Baker is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Doctor of Science (DSc). Professor Baker holds fellowships with important and relevant professional organizations these include; Fellow of the Physiological Society (FPhysiol), Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (FRSM), Fellow of Human Biology Association (FHB), Fellow of the Institute of Biology (FIBiol), Fellow of the Institute of Clinical Research (FICR), Fellow of the International Engineering and Technology Institute (FIETI) and  member of the Society for the Study of Biology (SSOB). Professor Baker is also a Chartered Biologist (CBiol), and Chartered Scientist (CSci). He is  a member of both the Physiological Societies of Great Britain and America. He also has membership with the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) and the British Pharmacological Society. Professor Baker is also a visiting Professor at University of Ningbo, Institute of Grand Health, University of Sydney, Faculty of Life Sciences and Ningbo Ninth Hospital Medical Research Centre.

Dr. Luciana De Martin Silva is Principal Lecturer at Hartpury University, UK, where she is currently Programme Manager for the MSc Sports Coaching programme, Cross-Faculty Teaching Development Scheme Lead, and Women’s Futsal Head Coach. Luciana has experience as an External Examiner at different Institutions as well as Reviewer for different journals and PhD supervisor. Luciana’s research interest includes Coach Education, Sports Pedagogy, Physical activity & health and Teaching & Learning. She has developed research with colleagues from different countries including Portugal, Brazil and the UK which resulted in a number of peer reviewed articles, book chapters and presentations at international conferences.

In one of her most recent publications, Luciana explored the learning journey experienced by Deaf International Futsal players and staff members during the seven month build-up to an International competition. From an international perspective, Luciana won a Gold medal in the World University Games in Beijing in 2001 whilst playing for Brazil and has recently co-led the England Deaf Women’s Futsal team to 4^th place in the Futsal European Championships in 2018. She has experience as a qualified PE teacher in Brazil and coached Futsal in a variety of settings from youth to international level. These include school settings in Brazil; The English FA regional Futsal Centres of Excellence (16-19 boys, Southwest and South regions); Bristol City Women’s FC and Gloucester City Men’s FC. Luciana was the only female Head coach in the Men’s National Futsal league in England. She is a UEFA B (level 3) Football and Futsal coach as well as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

William A. Sands is a professor at East Tennessee State University (USA).  He recently served as the Director of Education for the National Strength and Conditioning Association in Colorado Springs, CO (USA). He has served as the Director of the Monfort Family Human Performance Research Laboratory at Colorado Mesa University. At the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, he was Recovery Center Leader, Head of Sport Biomechanics, and Engineering and Senior Physiologist.  He has over 40 years of experience in Olympic sports.  Dr. Sands has served as an associate professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Exercise and Sport Science and Co-Director of the Motor Behavior Research Laboratory with adjunct appointments in Bioengineering and Physical Therapy.  He was the Department Chair of Exercise Science & Sports Medicine at California Lutheran University and Director of the Human Performance Laboratory.  Other positions include: Director of Research and Development for USA Gymnastics, Scientific Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation, and Chair of the United States Elite Coaches Association for Women’s Gymnastics. He has written 17 books, received over $1/4 million in grants and contracts, and published over 200 articles on sport performance.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, certified as an Athlete Recovery Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Wilderness EMT, and has several certifications in emergency communications, emergency medicine, and search and rescue. Dr. Sands is a former All-American, MVP, Co-Captain, and NAIA Gymnast of the Year.  He was also a World Championship coach in gymnastics and produced several Olympians, more than a dozen national team members, and several World Championship Team members.  His primary service and research interests involve athlete recovery, high-performance training, strength and power performance, and wilderness emergency medicine.

Yaodong Gu is currently a Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Sports Science at Ningbo University, China and and managing the Research Academy of Grand Health of the University. He acted as a visiting professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the Imperial College of London in 2013 and as an honorary professor at Auckland Bioengineering Institute in the University of Auckland since 2016.

His research areas focus on Biomechanics, Gait, Motion Analysis of Sports Activities and Rehabilitation Exercise, and Finite Elements Analysis. He has published over 70 full papers in peer-reviewed journals. He is editorial board member of Sports Biomechanics Journal and International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology. He is also the General Secretory of Asian Sports Biomechanics Society.

FIFA fitness instructors

Université Paris Sud 11 (FRANCE)

Dr Labsy is one of the prominent FIFA fitness instructors for many years. After an international football career as a goalkeeper (junior level and university level), he gained a PhD in Sport Science. He very quickly became a reference for fitness coaching in football for many federations (Morocco – Cameroun – Denmark – Tunisia – Rwanda – Mali – Tchad – Malaysia – Comore islands – Turkey – France – Burkina Faso). He also coached at different levels mainly Paris St-Germain and other clubs in Paris / France. Dr Labsy is the main author for the FIFA programme “Small-sided Games and Integrating Physical preparation” published by the FIFA’s development and education service in collaboration with: Pr Tourny C, Mr Gallice J, Pr Ahmaïdi S, J. Neppfer -JM Conz. The programme is deployed and adopted around the globe by the football federations. In addition, Dr Labsy is a research active, regularly publishing high impacting articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr Labsy is one of the prominent FIFA fitness instructors for many years. After an international football career as a goal keeper (junior level and university level), he gained a PhD in Sport Science. He very quickly became a reference for fitness coaching in football for many federations (Morocco – Cameroun – Denmark – Tunisia – Rwanda – Mali – Tchad – Malaysia – Comore islands – Turkey – France – Burkina Faso. He also coached at different levels mainly Paris St-Germain and other clubs in Paris / France. Dr Labsy is the main author for the FIFA programme “Small-sided Games and Integrating Physical preparation” published by the FIFA’s development and education service in collaboration with J. Neppfer -JM Conz. The programme is deployed and adopted around the globe by the football federations. In addition, Dr Labsy is a research active, regularly publishing high impacting articles in peer reviewed journals.