MEET THE PRACTITIONERS
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TEAM
Greg Aspin
Head of Strength & Conditioning
Greg is an experienced coach with UKSCA and BASES accreditations, offering over a decade of experience with athletes from grassroots to Olympic level. He holds a BSc and MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Science. Greg has worked at the English Institute of Sport, Manchester Met University, Teesside University, and Leeds Rhinos. Currently, he leads the strength and conditioning program at Northumbria University, supporting basketball, football, rugby league, and volleyball teams. His goal is to provide high-quality coaching that fosters an inclusive, challenging environment, focusing on health, well-being, and performance.
Carl Soulsby Strength & Conditioning Coach
Carl has been a Strength & conditioning coach at the University for 3 years and has over 7 years of experience in health and fitness. A UKSCA accredited coach, he completed a BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science in 2021. Carl also works with Newcastle United Women’s and Men’s Academy and the England U18’s Rugby Union Pathway. He has experience in Rugby Union, Football, Netball, Athletics, and has worked with athletes from GB Bobsleigh, GB Ice Hockey, as well as para-sport organizations like GB Para-curling and Goalball.
Aleksander Dinkov
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Aleksandar is a globally accredited strength & conditioning coach with a BSc (Hons) in Sports & Exercise Science and MSc in Strength & Conditioning, as well as extensive experience with athletes across countless of individual and team sports from all levels, some of which Olympic and Paralympic medallists. He has previously competed in basketball, powerlifting, weightlifting, running and dancing. In terms of delivery, on numerous occasions he has had to look after anywhere between 200-300 athletes a week, supporting and demonstrating great care to every single one of them.
PHYSIOTHERAPY TEAM
Salwa Bowen
Sport Physiotherapist
HCPC CSP ACPSEM
Salwa is a specialist in Musculoskeletal and Sport Physiotherapy with nearly 30 years of experience in professional sport. She spent 16 years with the Newcastle Falcons medical team before consulting on sports injuries at Northumbria University. Salwa supports semi-professional, national, and international student athletes, including Olympic and Paralympic competitors. She also serves as a clinical educator at Northumbria University, with a passion for teaching and presenting in sports medicine. Her research interests include ACL injuries in female athletes, pediatric sports medicine, head injuries in sport, and neuroplasticity related to rehabilitation and performance.e
Kirsty Peacock
Sport Physiotherapist
Kirsty is a Chartered Physiotherapist at Northumbria University with 31 years of experience in the field. She treats a wide variety of injuries, offering expert care to athletes. Kirsty utilises her extensive knowledge and skills to help individuals recover from injuries, manage pain, and enhance their physical performance. With a hands-on, patient-centered approach, she is committed to supporting the health and well-being of those she works with. Her wealth of experience and dedication to rehabilitation ensures students and athletes reach their full potential. are some of her current research and study areas.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
Dan Livingstone
Performance
Anaylst
Dan recently joined as Head of Performance Analysis. He earned an undergraduate degree in Sports Science from the University of Leeds and a master’s in Performance Analysis from Northumbria University. Dan has expertise in performance evaluation and data-driven insights to enhance athletic outcomes. Over the past three years, he led the Volleyball program at Northumbria University, overseeing both men’s and women’s teams. His passion for performance analysis and coaching drives his dedication to improving athletic performance across various sports.
SPORT NUTRITION
Steven Marshall Sport Nutrition
Steve Marshall is an Assistant Professor in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Northumbria University and a practitioner registrant on the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register. He has supported students by providing expert guidance on the link between diet and athletic performance, creating tailored nutrition plans, offering consultations, and delivering workshops to optimize training and recovery. Beyond the classroom, Steve contributed to developing holistic support systems for student-athletes. His passion for sport nutrition and student development helped many athletes reach their full potential both academically and athletically.
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
Helen Rudd
Sport Psycholgist
Helen is a Sport and Exercise Psychologist (BPS Stage 2 Trainee) at Northumbria University. She supports students in achieving their goals by combining sport psychology techniques with mental health and wellbeing principles. With a background in finance and experience in elite sport—including international sail racing and representing Great Britain in paddling— Helen helps students strengthen their mental resilience, overcome challenges, and integrate self-care practices to thrive both academically and athletically, valuing each student’s unique journey.
Dr Julius Jooste
Sport Psycholgist
Julius is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Registered Practitioner Psychologist with the HCPC. He is an Assistant Professor at Northumbria University, where he has led the MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology for five years, shaping postgraduate students’ academic and professional development. With extensive consultancy experience, Julius works with athletes and teams at all levels, from grassroots to elite national squads. He has a strong passion for team sports, particularly rugby.
Seb De Chaves
Sport Psycholgist
I am currently a professional rugby player with Newcastle Falcons, and alongside my sporting career, I am in stage 2 supervision to become a Chartered Sports Psychologist. My lifelong passion for human performance at all levels drives my commitment to continuous learning and development. I aim to help teams and individuals reach their full potential by combining my sporting experience with psychological insights. I am dedicated to supporting others in overcoming challenges and unlocking their best performance, both on and off the field.