Our team
Once you’ve been accepted onto the course you’ll be assigned one of our PhD level, one-on-one tutors, while your lectures will be delivered by some of the world’s leading experts in performance nutrition.
Dr Laurent Bannock DProf, MSc, CSCS, RNutr, SENr
Founder and Director
Laurent is the founder and director of The Institute of Performance Nutrition. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Laurent has over 20 years’ experience working with elite teams and athletes.
He’s currently a Nutrition Consultant for Edinburgh Rugby and the Nutritionist for the Belgium Men’s national football team.
He’s previously held similar roles with Egypt men’s national football team, Team GB fencing at the 2016 Olympics, and London Irish, London Broncos and London Scottish rugby teams.
Visiting / Guest Lecturers
Prof. Don MacLaren PhD – Liverpool John Moores University
Prof. Craig Sale PhD – Nottingham Trent University
Prof. Emma Stevenson PhD – Newcastle University
Prof. Graeme Close PhD SENr – Liverpool John Moore’s University
Prof. James Morton PhD SENr – Liverpool John Moore’s University
Prof. Stu Phillips PhD – McMaster University
Prof. Kevin Tipton PhD – University of Stirling
Prof. Mark Russell PhD RNutr – Leeds Trinity University
Prof. Ben Jones PhD – Leeds Becket University
Prof. Dylan Thompson PhD – University of Bath
Prof. Craig Twist PhD – University of Chester
Prof. James Betts PhD – University of Bath
Prof. Andy Jones PhD – Exeter University
Dr Oliver Witard PhD – Kings College London
Dr Daniel Owens PhD – Liverpool John Moore’s University
Dr Leigh Breen PhD – University of Birmingham
Rin Cobb RD SENr, Clinical and Sports Performance Nutritionist
Dr Kevin Currell PhD RNutr SENr– English Institute of Sport
Dr Glenn Davison PhD – University of Kent
Dr Kirsty Elliot-Sale PhD – Nottingham Trent University
Dr Gethin Evans PhD – Manchester Metropolitan University
Dr Javier Gonzales PhD – University of Bath
Dr David L Hamilton PhD – University of Stirling
Dr Mayur Ranchordas DProf SENr – Sheffield Hallam University
Dr Lewis James PhD – Loughborough University
Dr Sophie Killer PhD – Performance Nutritionist, English Institute of Sport
Dr Ian Lahart PhD – Wolverhampton University
Dr Duane Mellor PhD RD – University of Canberra
Lloyd Parker MSc RD – Nutritionist for Manchester City Football Club Academy and Salford Devils Rugby
Matt Reeves MSc – Head of Fitness and Conditioning, Leicester City Football Club
Dr Matthew Furber PhD – Senior Scientist, GlaxoSmithKline Human Performance Laboratory
Alex Ritson MSc, SENr (Grad)
Head of Department (Online Education)
Alex is the Head of Department for Online Learning at the IOPN. His education includes a Master of Science in Sports and Exercise Nutrition (with distinction) from Middlesex University (London), and a Higher Education Teaching Certificate from Harvard University (USA).
Alex is also a graduate with distinction of the IOPN Diploma in Performance Nutrition. Professional credentials include being a certified sports nutritionist (CISSN), a graduate registrant with the UK Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register, and a UKAD certified Anti-Doping Advisor.
Alex is primarily responsible for the management, design, and ongoing development of our online education programs and also serves as a member of our in-house research team, keeping up to date with the latest evidence-base in sports nutrition to ensure our courses remain cutting-edge. Adjunct to his dedication to academia, Alex maintains a successful online sports nutrition coaching and consulting practice.
Dr Stephen Smith BSc, MSc, PhD, SENr (Grad)
Tutor
Stephen has a Master of Science in Sport Nutrition from Liverpool John Moores University (UK) where he is also currently undertaking Doctoral Research into how the gastrointestinal system responds to exercise.
Stephen is a Graduate Registrant on the UK Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr), a certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN), a certified Anthropometrist (ISAK) and a certified Anti-Doping Advisor with UKAD.
Stephen has worked in a diverse spectrum of sports including professional motorsport, pro MMA, world-championship downhill mountain bike, cycling, triathlon and with the military. His written work has appeared in the UKSCA Journal as well as respected triathlon magazines, and his own blog covers a range of nutritional topics to help athletes improve their performance.
Dr Mark Hearris BSc, MSc, PhD, SENr
Tutor
Mark has a BSc in Sport Science (Physiology), an MSc in Sports Nutrition, and recently completed his PhD at the Research Institute for Sport & Exercise Sciences at Liverpool John Moore’s University. His research interests focussed on the molecular and cellular responses of human skeletal muscle to endurance exercise and the impact of nutrition on modulating these responses as well as nutritional strategies to enhance team-sport performance.
To date, Mark has authored four scientific research publications in the area of nutrition and exercise metabolism and has presented this work at both national and international conferences. Mark also has four years of experience teaching, designing module content, supervising work-based learning placements and providing both academic and pastoral support to students on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes which has allowed him to become an Associated Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
Mark is also Registered Sports and Exercise Nutrition Practitioner with the British Dietetic Association’s UK Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) and a certified anthropometrist (ISAK). Over the past four years, Mark has continued to work as an applied practitioner where he currently acts as a nutrition consultant within professional football and supports a variety of physiological testing for a range of external clients through LJMU.
Nina Walker
Jasmine Campbell BSc, MSc, DProf(c), SENr
Tutor
Jasmine obtained a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Worcester, an MSc in Applied Sport Science from the University of Gloucester, following which she went onto complete the Diploma in Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition at the IOPN. Since graduating Jasmine has gained a great deal of experience running physiological testing services to a range of clients (including the Guru Performance Clinic in London), and delivers lectures to both undergraduate and postgraduate Sports Nutrition students.
Whilst being a consultant in sports nutrition, she is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate (DProf) at Liverpool John Moores University. Jasmine is a Registered Sports and Exercise Nutrition Practitioner (SENr), and currently works with a variety of athletes to include elite swimming & rowing, professional football players, and motorsport drivers.
Dr Luke O’Brien PhD, MSc, ANutr
Tutor
Luke has an MSc in Human Nutrition from Ulster University and has recently completed a PhD in Sports Nutrition at Liverpool Hope University. His Doctoral research is focused on investigating the nutritional requirements of elite Gaelic footballers.
Luke has held the position of Graduate Teaching Assistant at Liverpool Hope University for 3 years. This role involved delivering lectures, seminars and tutorials to undergraduate students on both Nutrition and Sport and Exercise Science courses. Luke also assisted academic staff with the development or updating of learning materials and provided technical support to undergraduate projects. Luke is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA).
Luke is a Registered Associate Nutritionist and a certified anthropometrist (ISAK). He also works as a nutritionist with Spire Healthcare as part of the Weight Management Service, where he provides specific, tailored nutrition advice to patients to enable them to meet their weight loss and health goals.
