Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Our 2026 symposium marks the third iteration of our industry leading conference, designed to unite sport nutrition professionals and bridge the gap between theory and practice.
The 2026 symposium will build on our unique conference interactive workshop model, creating an event where practitioners not only learn but actively collaborate and connect. We blend contemporary learning methods with interactive engagement to foster a thriving knowledge exchange environment. This year places an even stronger emphasis on connection, practical impact, and applied learning.
We aim to provide aspiring, early career, and current sport nutrition practitioners with contemporary knowledge, practical skills, and networking opportunities to excel in their careers.
The symposium will focus on:
The symposium will feature a Friday networking session, including a live Carnegie Conversation podcast with Kevin Sinfield, James Moran and Professor Ben Jones, offering delegates an additional opportunity to connect, share experiences, and strengthen professional relationships.
Together, these elements shape a dynamic, practical and collaborative symposium where attendees will deepen their skills, expand their networks, and leave with actionable insights they can implement immediately.
Friday's session will include:
Join us for applied, problem based small group learning across three rotating stations:
Hear from practitioners translating research into practice
Think about nutrition through a different lens, and understand how you can make impact beyond nutrition
Think ahead to the future of our industry
Richard is Head of Nutrition at Scottish Rugby, having rejoined the organisation in autumn 2025. Prior to this, he held a range of senior nutrition and leadership roles at Aquatics GB, where he supported athletes at two Olympic Games and multiple World, European and Commonwealth Championships. Most recently, he led the science and medicine provision for Para-Swimming through the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Richard previously served as Lead Nutritionist at Scottish Rugby from 2008 to 2016, following an earlier role with the UKSI supporting judo and boxing. A former SENr board member, he has a strong interest in nutrition governance and strategic development.
Information coming soon.
Dr Emily Jevons is a performance nutritionist specialising in endurance sport. Coming from a previously academic background studying her PhD in exercise metabolism at Liverpool John Moores before working as a lecturer in nutrition at the University of Chester, she has now transitioned to a full-time practitioner working with a variety of athletes from amateur to elite. She prides herself in being evidence-based but making the science understandable to maximise impact in the real-world. Currently, she primarily works as the nutritionist for World Tour Cycling Team Picnic PostNL.
Emma is currently Head of Nutrition at the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), a role she has held for the past three and a half years, leading and managing a team of 14 nutritionists, as well as working closely with the Men's National Team during a highly successful period that has included back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2023 and 2024, followed by a Triple Crown in 2025.
Prior to joining the IRFU, Emma spent a decade as a Senior Performance Nutritionist at the English Institute of Sport, specialising in team sports. Her career spans both Olympic and professional environments, including work with Northampton Saints Rugby Club and Great Britain Hockey. As part of the Science and Medicine team, she supported the GB women's hockey squad to Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro 2016 and bronze at Tokyo 2020.
Between 2017 and 2022, Emma served as Lead Performance Nutritionist for the Senior Men's England Cricket Team at the England and Wales Cricket Board. During this time, the team achieved historic success, winning the 2019 Cricket World Cup on home soil, followed by a T20 World Cup in 2022.
Emma was also a member of the Team GB Science and Medicine Team for both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, leading nutrition provision across more than 25 sports during the pre-game's preparation camps.
Emma holds a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Birmingham, alongside two MSc qualifications in Sport and Exercise Science and Sports Nutrition. She is a high-performance registrant with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register and has also completed a Diploma in Women's Leadership at University College Dublin.
After earning a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Dan specialised in Sport Nutrition, completing a master's at Liverpool John Moores University. He went on to undertake a PhD exploring the energy demands of elite tennis, under the guidance of Professor Graeme Close and Professor James Morton. Since 2018, Dan has worked primarily with the LTA as Head of Nutrition. His role spans governance and policy, direct performance nutrition support, and the development of educational content, translating scientific research into practical strategies for Britain's leading tennis players.
Tom Jacques is an applied sports nutritionist working in elite rugby league and netball. He supports athlete health, development, and performance through evidence-based practice, providing nutrition support for the Leeds Rhinos Academy and Scholarship rugby league squads, as well as Leeds Rhinos Netball in the Netball Super League. His responsibilities include developing tailored nutrition education, fuelling and recovery strategies, supplement provision, designing practical resources, and offering one-to-one player support. He has extensive experience with developing athletes, helping them manage training demands, navigate growth and maturation, and build long-term performance habits.
Alongside his applied practice, Tom is undertaking a PhD at Leeds Beckett University. His research investigates how changes in body composition influence performance and health in team sports, explores the challenges of body composition assessment and management in applied settings, and focuses on developing evidence-informed best practice guidelines to support both athletes and practitioners.
Sarah is a registered dietitian from South Africa. After time in public health, she moved to focus more on sport, working predominantly in team sport, across both youth and senior teams. She moved to the UK in 2017 to start (and complete) her PhD focusing on gastrointestinal health in rugby and holds practitioner roles in both rugby league and cricket currently alongside a lecturing role at Leeds Beckett University.
Dr Linia Patel is an award-winning dietitian with over 20 years of experience across elite sport, clinical practice, and public health. She currently works with the Zambian Olympic Team and has contributed as a Nutrition Expert for the International Olympic Committee's Advanced Courses for Team Physicians in Senegal.
Author of Food for Menopause and Life After Weight Loss Medications, Linia specialises in supporting women - particularly through midlife and the use of GLP-1 weight loss medications - by translating science into practical, sustainable strategies for long-term health.
Dan is a SENr Performance Nutritionist and Chartered Sport and Exercise Scientist with over 10-years' experience of working in professional and Olympic sport. He obtained his MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition from Leeds Beckett University followed by a PhD in the area of Performance Nutrition, Education, and Behaviour Change from Liverpool John Moores University.
Dan holds strategic positions across three main sports. In motorsport, he is Head of Sports Science and Performance Coaching for Moneygram Haas F1 team, in football he is Head of Nutrition for Southampton FC, and within horseracing he holds a central role of Head of Industry Nutrition Services. Alongside these roles he still enjoys works privately and directly with several professional athletes including F1 drivers, Premier League footballers and celebrities. Originating from West Yorkshire and being a Leeds Beckett alumnus, he's looking forward to returning to the university and sharing some of his experiences and the lessons learned on his journey.
Louise is widely recognised as a leading practitioner in applied sport nutrition. She has held numerous esteem positions including Chair of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Sport Nutrition Group, Deputy Chair of the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENR) Board, and Chair of the SENR Registration Panel. In recognition of her significant contribution to the profession, she was recently awarded a BDA Fellowship.
A prominent industry advocate of mentorship and early career support for graduate practitioners, Louise led the development of LBU's Advanced Certificate in Applied SEN Practice. The UK's first quality assured mentorship and supervision programme, endorsed by the SENR and launched last year. This pioneering programme is delivered in partnership with global brand Danone and their GetPro Professional initiative. The dual aims of which are to support early career practitioners to gain access to highly experienced mentors whilst also putting sport nutrition at the heart of grassroots sport.
A contributor to industry policy and practice guidelines Louise is invited to speak nationally and internationally on regulation in sport nutrition practice and the development of industry standards and qualifications.
