Women's sport in the UK has never looked better, with record crowds, rising investment, and a new generation of fans transforming the landscape. But for too long, sports science has been built on data collected predominantly from male athletes, meaning women's performance has often been assessed and managed using benchmarks that don't reflect their physiology, biomechanics, or hormonal fluctuations.

Digital tools and data have the power to change that. When we gather, analyse, and act on information specific to women's bodies and experiences, we unlock improved injury prevention, better nutrition and more personalised training, making a stronger case for investment in women's sport at every level, as well as new insights into women's health more broadly.

The panel will be chaired by Professor Kate Devlin, Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute.

Please note: this event will take place online only.

Speakers:

• Professor Kate Devlin, Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute

Professor Kate Devlin is Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Society in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the Chair-Director of the Digital Futures Institute at King’s.

She is also King’s lead investigator on the UKRI’s Responsible AI UK programme, which brings together researchers from across the UK to understand how we should shape the development of AI to benefit people, communities and society.

• Dr Fiona Lavelle, Lecturer in Nutritional Sciences

Dr Fiona Lavelle is a Lecturer at the Department of Nutritional Sciences, King’s College London. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Sport Science and Health from Dublin City University in 2011, followed by an MSc in Preventive Cardiology from Imperial College London in 2012, where she specialised in Exercise and Nutrition. After two years in managerial roles within the hospitality sector, she was awarded a Northern Ireland government scholarship to pursue a PhD in Behavioural Nutrition at the Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, which she completed in 2017.

In recognition of her innovative research on children’s cooking behaviours, Dr Lavelle received both the British Nutrition Foundation Drummond Early Career Scientist Award and the Nutrients International Young Investigator Award in 2021.

• Victoria Ogunseitan, Lecturer in Physiotherapy & Clinical Practitioner with King's Sport

Victoria Ogunseitan is a a Lecturer in Physiotherapy and a Chartered Physiotherapist specialising in Sports MSK and Trauma & Orthopaedics. Victoria’s academic journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Anatomical Sciences at The University of Manchester followed by a Master of Science in Physiotherapy (pre-reg) at King’s College London.

She has worked across multiple NHS trusts as a Highly Specialist/Team Lead Physiotherapist and has extensive experience in sport, including roles with King’s Sport, GB Taekwondo, and GB American Football, supporting athletes at national and international competitions. Alongside her academic role, Victoria continues to works with King’s Sport in a clinical capacity delivering physiotherapy care to athletes, students and staff whilst supporting physiotherapy students on clinical placement. She is also responsible for expanding the physiotherapy clinical placement provision and developing the physiotherapy services within King's Sport & Wellness.

• Lottie Birdsall-Strong, Chief Impact Officer at Shakespeare’s Globe / Board Director at the Manchester United Foundation

Lottie Birdsall-Strong began her career in football in Arsenal’s Academy, where she spent nearly a decade as a player before moving into leadership roles, shaping award-winning national strategies across football, tennis and cricket. She is widely recognised for her expertise in social return on investment, and recently became the first Chief Impact Officer at Shakespeare’s Globe. Lottie has an MPhil in Gender from the University of Cambridge, the UEFA Certificate in Football Management, Harvard Business School’s Certificate in Creating Shared Value, and has completed the Impact Investment Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. She serves on the Board of the Manchester United Foundation and works as a consultant on select projects in sport. 

• Wendy Martinson OBE, Head of Performance Nutrition at the UK Sports Institute

Wendy is a Registered Dietitian (HCPC) and Performance Nutritionist (SENR) with a Master's in Sport and Exercise Nutrition and IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition.

A Registered Dietitian with 25 years’ NHS experience and 24 years’ working in high-performance sport. Wendy was a Team GB Nutritionist at six Summer Olympic Games and is currently the Head of Performance Nutrition at the UK Sports Institute.

Throughout her career, Wendy has worked with a wide range of organisations, including the NHS, British Gymnastics, GB Hockey, Great Britain Rowing Team, British Olympic Association, English National Ballet School, West Ham United FC and the England Football Squad.