Our team
Simon Shepard
Simon has worked in multiple sectors and geographies. His background is over 25 years experience at Lord’s Cricket Ground as a physiotherapist and leader of support services.
He co-founded Optima-life in 2008 with a vision of enabling organisations to develop both ‘The Human’ and ‘The Humane’ side of performance. And over the past decade he has developed an approach that blends technology, education and motivation so that the Key Human Performance Indicators (KHPIs) are used as a catalyst for success.
Nigel Stockill
Nigel is a Sports Scientist with a career steeped in elite sport. His professional career started at Lilleshall National Sports Injury and Human Performance Centre before moving into cricket as Sports Science Manager to the England Team. He now combines his sport and exercise science knowledge and expertise with cutting-edge technology, delivering programmes that highlight the ever increasing link between corporate and sporting performance.
Katie Patman
Katie is a graduate of Bournemouth University where she gained a BSc in Psychology. Her studies have encompassed health, cognitive and behavioural modules and, coupled with her research experience in analysing numerical and descriptive data, they have given her an ideal foundation for her role as Operations Manager. She is passionate about health and wellness with a particular interest in nutrition. Katie is a regular gym visitor and also loves to swim.
David Chapman
With over 20 years’ experience, David combines his knowledge of training needs-analysis, design, delivery & evaluation with a complete understanding of leadership development and change management. His experience of working with global clients such as BP, HSBC, GSK, Deloitte, Barclays, Allen & Overy, and the ECB coupled with his creative and energising style, ensures a training experience which results in positive change, increased wellbeing, and commercial uplift.
David is also an incisive Executive Coach, catalysing personal performance improvement with senior executive & middle management clients from multi-sector backgrounds.
Louise Deeley
Louise is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, who began her career as a Senior Lecturer in Sport Sciences at Roehampton University London. Since leaving academia, Louise has worked to enhance performance across both sport and business, designing and delivering High Performance Programmes for clients such as UK Sport, ECB, Prudential and the RFU, and in addition to development through training, supports individuals and teams to get the best out of themselves and others through tailored coaching in both 1-2-1 and group settings.
Dr Tara Swart
Tara is a medical doctor, an executive coach and one of the world’s leading neuroscientists. Her training provides a unique insight into the mindset and behaviour patterns seen in competitive, top-level business environments. In combining with Optima-life, Tara links neuroscience and physiology o provide a sophisticated approach to psychological and physiological resilience and performance. Tara is a published author and is a globally respected speaker on neuroscience in business.
Keith Gladstone
Keith is a Registered Osteopath and Sport Scientist with extensive in professional sport, the media and personal wellness. Keith is currently the osteopath to the England rugby team and prior to this appointment worked at Lord’s cricket ground with Middlesex CCC and the MCC for 7 seasons. Keith has also led medical teams on various television shows from the World’s strongest Man to The Jump and has helped individuals achieve their goals, be it overcoming injury, training for performance or finding health and fitness.