Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale is an internationally recognised expert in Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology, with over two decades of experience researching women’s health and performance. Her work focuses on the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraception, menstrual dysfunction, and pregnancy in athletic, occupational (example: military) and clinical populations.

Kirsty has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and is committed to improving research and practice standards in women’s sport. She regularly collaborates with leading organisations including the UK Sports Institute, UEFA, FIFPRO, and the Women’s Tennis Association, as well as elite teams such as Arsenal Women and Manchester Thunder.

Professor Elliott-Sale currently leads the Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University, driving innovation and impact in female athlete research.

Ms Sally Kettle first met Dr Marlize De Vivo in 2019. Along with a small group of women, they realised there was a complete lack of support and credible advice for women wanting to stay active during and after pregnancy. While plenty of online guidance existed, much of it came from unqualified sources, creating a confusing landscape for women seeking safe information. Determined to fill this gap, the group founded The Active Pregnancy Foundation (APF) during the 2020 lockdown.

By then, Sally had spent 15 years as an adventurer and professional speaker, a career sparked by rowing across the Atlantic twice – once with her mother, earning them a Guinness World Record. She has since shared her stories with over half a million people, recounting her record-breaking ocean rows, expeditions, and humanitarian work. Formerly a BBC Radio producer, she also wrote and presented for BBC Radio 4’s FourThought and From Our Correspondent.

Ms Kettle later became a Personal Trainer and was selected to work with athletes at the London 2012 Olympic Games. During this time, she and her husband faced fertility challenges and turned to IVF. Her pregnancy journey highlighted how little guidance existed for women’s physical and mental wellbeing – a realisation that continues to fuel her passion for The APF’s mission today. Alongside her volunteer work, Ms Kettle is a qualified coach, management trainer, and Deputy Chief Guide for Girlguiding.

Ms Lizzie Deignan MBE OLY, is a decorated British professional cyclist who has achieved major success in both road and track cycling, winning the 2015 Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Road World Championships and a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Born in Otley, West Yorkshire, she transitioned from a successful track career to become a dominant force on the road, also winning a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the

Women’s Road World Cup twice. After the birth of her first child in 2018, Deignan balanced motherhood with her professional career, demonstrating remarkable resilience and returning to compete at the highest level, including winning the inaugural Women’s Paris-Roubaix in 2021.

Lizzie’s career is defined by significant achievements across both her early years on the track and her later focus on road racing. Her early success included a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 2009 UCI Track Cycling World Championships before she transitioned to road racing, where she quickly became a top contender. In addition to her world championship and Olympic silver medal, she has won the British National Road Race Championships four times and secured multiple victories in prestigious races such as the Tour of Flanders and La Course by Le Tour de France.

At the pinnacle of her career, Ms Deignan is recognised as one of Britain’s most successful cyclists and a role model for her resilience and dedication, particularly in balancing family life with elite sport. She married professional cyclist Philip Deignan in 2016 and has two children, exemplifying that it is possible to compete at the highest level of professional cycling while being a mother. Following the 2025 season, Deignan is set to retire from professional cycling to spend more time with her family but plans to remain actively involved in the sport.

Ms Emma Brockwell is a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist. She works with several Women’s Super League football clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. Alongside this, she consults for the Netball Players Association, working within the Netball Super League.

In addition to her clinical work, Emma is a Female Health Consultant for FIFA, contributing to pelvic health research projects and supporting the development of FIFA’s Female Health Education programme.

Ms Brockwell is the author of Why Did No One Tell Me? How to Protect, Heal and Nurture Your Body Through Motherhood, published by Ebury Books.

Dr Pumi Senaratne is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) with a special interest in paediatric and adolescent SEM and women’s cricket. She currently works at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Sport and Exercise Medicine Department and serves as a Team Physician with England Women’s Cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). She has recently taken on the role of Chair of the ECB Women’s Health Group.

Pumi completed General Practice training in August 2016, followed by a 12-month fellowship in SEM and General Practice. She went on to complete Higher Specialty Training in SEM in February 2022 before being appointed Consultant in SEM at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and with England Women’s Cricket at the ECB.

She has a strong interest in adolescent and paediatric SEM, having spent more than six months of her specialty training in paediatric SEM clinics. She now runs weekly paediatric and adolescent SEM clinics at NUH. Her other main interest is women’s cricket. As part of the ECB Women’s Health Group, she has contributed to developing and delivering education, clinical care, and policy aimed at championing women’s health across cricket.

Previously, Dr Senaratne was Chief Medical Officer for The Blaze (formerly Lightning Cricket) within the Women’s Domestic Structure from February 2021 to December 2023. Before that, she worked as Team Doctor for the England Disability Cricket Team from July 2018 to March 2020.

Dr Nigel Jones is a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine. He has worked in elite sport for over 30 years and, since 2017, has served as Chief Medical Officer for British Cycling. He has held this role for both the Tokyo and Paris Olympic cycles – LA 2028 awaits!

Prior to this, Nigel was Team Doctor for the England Men’s Senior Rugby Union Team. He has also worked with Liverpool Football Club, the English Institute of Sport, and the British Boxing Board of Control. Nigel currently works as a Consultant in Sport and Exercise Medicine at Spire Liverpool Hospital and Rehab 4 Performance.

He is a former Chair of Education for the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine and a former Chair of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Liverpool.

The medical team at British Cycling continues to lead and innovate in the field of female athlete health. Whether discussing the organisation’s saddle health strategy, efforts to reduce low back pain in female track sprinters (contributing to gold medal success), or the development of the UCI’s pregnancy participation policy, Dr Jones looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience during the Female Athlete Health expert panel discussions.