Exercise Physiologist with over 30 years experience in quantitative and qualitative research in. Regular international keynote speaker on exercise and falls prevention. Strong interest in falls prevention and motivation of older and frailer adults to take part in strength and balance exercise to prevent falls and fractures. Have led or been a co-investigator in research grants totalling £15 million and contributed significantly to the research literature with over 190 research papers, review articles, Cochrane reviews, reports, professional journal articles, books and book chapters. 

Specialises in getting research into practice and involvement of key stakeholders (patients, participants, staff, policy makers and commissioners) in dissemination and implementation. Involved in a number of implementation research studies looking at fidelity to original interventions and outcomes when translated into practice. This includes the FaME Implementation Toolkit endorsed by NICE. In 2003 set up a not for profit training organisation (Later Life Training) in order to get research iinto practice and improve outcomes for frailer older people and stroke survivors. Since inception, Later Life Training have trained over 9000 professionals in the UK, Europe and Singapore.

Leadership within large projects include:

- Scientific Co-ordinator for ProFaNE (Prevention of Falls Network Europe) and work package lead in ProFouND (Prevention of Falls Network for Dissemination), both EU funded. 

- Led MRC funded Seniors USP (Understanding Sedentary Patterns).

Current external advisory posts:

- Chair of the British Geriatric Society Rehabilitation Group.

- Member of the National Falls Prevention Cooridnation Group (previously Public Health England, now OHID) producing for eg. Falls Prevention Consensus Statement, Return on Investment Tool to support commissioners of services in falls and fracture management and the recent Wider Impacts of Covid-19 on reduced physical activity due to social restrictions and on falls.

- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the MRC-ARUK Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research at the University of Birmingham.

Member of the British Geriatrics Society Falls and Bone Health Special Interest Group.

- Co-editor of the Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia and Falls.   

- Member of the Royal Osteoporosis Society Clinical and Scientific Advisory Community (CSAC) Lifestyle and Nutrition Forum.

Previous external advisory posts:

- Associate Editor for the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity for 10 years.

- Chair of the Older Peoples Panel of the CMO Physical Activity for Health Guideline update group.

- Member of the Expert Panel on ‘Strength and Balance for Health Evidence Review’ for Public Health England and Centre for Better Ageing.  

- Chair of the Royal Osteoporosis Society Expert Consensus Statement on Exercise and Osteoporosis - Strong, Steady & Straight. 

Awards:

- 2017 - awarded the British Geriatrics Society Marjory Warren Lifetime Achievement Medal.

- 2016 - elected as Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

- 2016 - awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

- 2015 - awarded an Honorary Doctorate – MD h.c., from the University of Umeä, Sweden.