Topic: High Performance

Tom Clark

Tom Clark is the indispensable right-hand man to Alpine's talented driver, Esteban Ocon, holding the pivotal role as his Head of Performance. With a wealth of expertise, Tom plays a crucial role in supporting Esteban, offering insights into both his health and performance.

His dedication takes him to every Grand Prix on the F1 calendar, where he orchestrates pre- and mid-season training camps to fine-tune Esteban's capabilities, as well as managing all things physiological performance at the track on race day.Rooted in a childhood passion for motorsport, Tom's journey began as a go-kart competitor, laying the foundation for a career deeply entrenched in the world of racing. Armed with an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science, he embarked on a trajectory that saw him working in a specialized private gym focusing on motorsport performance. It was here that he initiated professional connections with drivers across various motorsports, gradually making a name for himself.

Tom's ascent in the motorsport performance domain accelerated as he commenced working with racing athletes, attending competitions, and providing invaluable performance support and physical preparation advice. The turning point in his career came with an appointment at Hintsa Performance, a renowned performance consultancy in Formula 1.

Currently in his fifth year in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, Tom is dedicated to perfecting Esteban's peak performance. His focus extends beyond conventional realms, delving into cutting-edge research on human circadian rhythms and the challenges posed by jet lag and intense travel schedules in elite sports as part of his doctoral studies.

Tom's commitment to pushing the boundaries of performance is evident in his exploration of new areas for marginal gains, particularly in the intricate realm of jet lag and circadian rhythms. His groundbreaking research on jet lag is particularly pertinent in Formula 1 and other elite sports where extreme travel demands are the norm.

Tom is at the forefront of identifying barriers specific to different sports, adeptly managing sleep schedules, and mitigating the impact of social jet lag—an aspect many professional sports organizations recognize as pivotal for achieving peak performance and gaining a competitive edge.

As a pivotal force in Esteban Ocon's journey and an influential figure in Formula 1, Tom Clark continues to redefine the boundaries of performance science in the world of motorsports.

Lewis Pugh

The only person to have completed a long-distance swim in every ocean, extreme adventurer and record-breaking swimmer Lewis Pugh talks about pushing yourself beyond 'the possible' into new realms of achievement.

Most recently during 2018's summer, Lewis swam the 530km length of the English Channel in just 49 days, starting at Land's End and finishing in Dover.

In 2016 he helped negotiate the creation of the biggest protected area in the world in the Ross Sea off Antarctica. The negotiations required consensus among 25 countries, a number of which had long standing disputes with one another. The media dubbed his efforts as "Speedo diplomacy" after Lewis took on the challenge of swimming 5 swims in freezing Antarctic waters, wearing just speedos and a swim hat.

As a motivational and keynote speaker, he puts businesses at every level worldwide through their paces with vital messages and strategies for surviving and thriving in a fragile economic climate.

To be the first human to  swim  across the Arctic waters (a mean minus 1.7°C!) requires a shift in mind-set when dealing with a dramatic drop in body temperature and the dangers of killer sea-animals: one must conjure up and maintain a constant focus and flexibility—crucial elements of business management.

Lewis has lived through the repercussions of change and their contributing factors and, a passionate voice for conservation, has been busy honing his front crawl technique in vulnerable ecosystems to raise awareness about their plight.

For example, in 2010, he completed a swim across a glacial lake on Mount Everest to draw attention to the melting glaciers in the Himalayas and the impact the reduced water supply will have on peace in the region. He has now pioneered more swims around famous landmarks than any other swimmer in history!

Teamwork is also vital to the success of his exploits. Lauded as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Lewis’ influence and endurance was enabled by those around him. His crack teams are always made of those completely committed to excellence and leaders in their field.

Through his adventures, he dreams of making a significant difference. In 2015, Lewis undertook five swims in Antarctica to campaign for a large Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea - one of the most incredible and diverse areas left on earth – which is now threatened by overfishing and climate change. The media have dubbed his efforts as ‘Speedo diplomacy’.

One of Lewis’ keynote speeches on leadership was voted one of the ‘7 Most Inspiring Videos on the Web’, and TED have described him as a ‘master story-teller’. He has also appeared on various international TV news channels, and his autobiography ‘Achieving the Impossible’ was selected for Oprah’s Exclusive Book List.

Along with the Freedom of the City of London, Lewis has been bestowed with South Africa and France’s highest honours.

Lewis addresses audiences on; Business management and teamwork, surviving and thriving in challenging times, achieving the impossible, change and its repercussions and the plight of vulnerable ecosystems. Lewis has been invited to speak at both the Conservative and Labour Party 2018 conferences, and co-hosting the Panda Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars of the wildlife and environmental film and TV awards.