Keynote SpeakersProfessor Greg Whyte OBE is a Physical Activity Expert, Keynote Speaker, world-renowned sports scientist, and Olympian.
However, Greg is best known for guiding many celebrities through Comic Relief and Sport Relief challenges.
These have included training and coaching:
- David Walliams to swim across the English Channel and along the River Thames.
- John Bishop for his Week of Hell.
- James Cracknell to run, cycle and swim to Africa.
- Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles and Gary Barlow to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
- Davina McCall on her £1m Bike Ride.
- Eddie Izzard to run a remarkable 43 marathons in 51 days.
- Mel C, Dara O Briain and others raft 110k down the Zambezi River.
- Dermot O’Leary, Olly Murs and others cross Africa’s driest desert.
- Christine Bleakley to waterski across the English Channel.
- Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly take part in a 24-hour Danceathon.
10 years on, since Greg took the original nine celebrities to Kilimanjaro, he found another nine to attempt the challenge. The list included Dani Dyer, Osi Umenyiora, Dan Walker, Alexander Armstrong, Shirley Ballas, Ed Balls, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Anita Rani.
Greg and the celebrities completed the challenge, overcoming some obstacles, mainly altitude sickness.
More recently, Greg supported Jo Brand on her ‘Hell of a Walk‘ from Hull to Liverpool and Radio 1’s Greg James on his 5 triathlons in 5 cities in 5 days.
As a result of his work, Greg Whyte has helped to raise over £60 million for charity.
Greg Whyte OBE – Olympian:
Greg’s sporting career saw him represent Great Britain as a Modern Pentathlete (combining swimming, Shooting, Fencing, Equestrian, and Running) from 1986 to 2000.
His most notable achievements include representing Great Britain at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympiads. He also made 10 World Championship appearances, including a SILVER medal in 1984.
Greg’s professional career includes posts/consultancy as follows:
- Professor of Applied Sport & Exercise Science, John Moores University, Liverpool
- Director of Science & Research, English Institute of Sport
- Director of Research, British Olympic Medical Unit
- British Olympic Association Performance Management Group
- Commonwealth Games Advisory Panel
Greg Whyte OBE has also consulted with Benetton and Renault Formula 1 teams, Liverpool FC & West Ham FC, Subaru Rally Team and many leading Track & Field Athletes.
Keynote Speaker – Optimising our Performance:
Optimising our performance is intimately linked to health (physical, mental, emotional, and social). Generally, optimising performance relates to a currently unrealised ability linked to all aspects of our lives, from relationships with others to work productivity.
Optimising your health is one key action to realise your potential. Health is not simply the absence of physical disease or infirmity; it is associated with mental, emotional, and social well-being. Optimising your health will increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, and improve quality of life, happiness, lifespan, and healthspan (i.e., improved quality of life in our later years).
Optimising our performance is often limited by our own beliefs and the beliefs of others. We can boost our performance by taking responsibility for our performance and making positive changes to our lifestyles.
