Advisory Panels
A collective of trusted experts sitting behind the FCN Academy, united by a shared commitment to increasing the representation of female coaches and ensuring they thrive within the sporting system.
Advisory
Panels
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A collective of trusted experts sitting behind the FCN Academy, united by a shared commitment to increasing the representation of female coaches and ensuring they thrive within the sporting system.
Lasting change does not come from isolated interventions, but from connected perspectives across the whole system.
LASTING CHANGE DOES NOT COME FROM ISOLATED INTERVENTIONS.
IT COMES FROM CONNECTED PERSPECTIVES ACROSS THE WHOLE SYSTEM.
— What the panels do
01
Shape learning that reflects the realities and complexities of coaching practice
02
Address the structures and systems that influence coaching experiences
03
Integrate research, lived experience, and applied practice
04
Strengthen relevance and credibility across sporting and performance environments
Panel one
FCN | Academy - Coach Development Panel
This panel brings together a small group of highly experienced coaches from around the globe, each with deep lived experience of coaching in practice and a strong understanding of the realities that shape it.
Members are recognised not only for their expertise in coaching, but also for their contribution to coach development, having worked at the highest levels of sport and supported others through mentoring, leadership, and learning.
The panel plays an important role in ensuring that the FCN Academy remains grounded in the lived experiences of coaches, bringing informed insight, constructive challenge, and diverse perspectives to shape its direction and impact.
Global coaching practitioners
Jane Figueiredo 💦
One of the best coaches in the history of the sport, Jane Figueiredo was named Tennessee Head Diving Coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich announced on April 24.
“I could not be more excited to have Jane Figueiredo take the reins of Tennessee Diving and lead this program into the future,” Kredich said. “Jane is an absolute legend in the sport of diving. She’s well known and highly respected all over the world, and has consistently been successful at the highest levels of the sport. Jane is a force of nature – she has amazing energy, is relentlessly positive and has a very exciting vision for Tennessee Diving. We cannot wait to have her get started.”
Prior to joining the Vols and Lady Vols, Figueiredo spent the last 11 years with Aquatics GB as the High Performance Coach/Director and Head Coach of Dive London. She was responsible for and coached the British Diving Senior Team members at all International-, World- and Olympic-level competitions. Before arriving in London, she coached at the University of Houston – her alma mater – for 24 seasons and was the Russian National Team coach during the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Games.
Throughout her career, Figueiredo’s divers have won titles at the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and NCAA Championships. The 2024 International Olympic Committee Female Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award winner helped Team Great Britain to its most successful haul ever during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
A two-time Olympic champion coach, Figueiredo most notably helped Tom Daley to four medals since 2014, including the men's 10-meter synchro gold alongside Matty Lee at the 2020 Tokyo Games. During the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she guided the Russian duo of Vera Ilyina and Yulia Pakhalina to the women’s 3-meter springboard synchro gold medal.
In total, the 2017 World Aquatics Diving Coach of the Year has led athletes to a combined 11 Olympic medals and 12 World Championship medals. Her divers have won Olympic medals during the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Games, including multiple during four of those competitions.
"I am honored to accept the role of Head Diving Coach at the University of Tennessee and so excited to follow in Dave Parrington’s legacy of excellence, tradition and family values,” Figueiredo said. “Together with Matt Kredich and the amazing staff at Tennessee we'll continue to build on the foundation already established in the diving program. Coaching at Tennessee will be one of growth, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us. This is truly something very special. Thank you to the Tennessee family for this amazing opportunity.”
At the collegiate level, Figueiredo guided the Houston Cougar divers to eight NCAA titles and 51 All-America honors. She garnered National Women’s Diving Coach of the Year accolades from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) during the 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2010 campaigns. As a part of the CSCAA’s Centennial Celebration, she was named to the organization’s 100 Greatest College Swimming & Diving Coaches of the past 100 years in June 2021.
As an athlete, Figueiredo represented Portugal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, competing on 3-meter springboard. She was a five-time All-American at UH and is a member of school’s Hall of Honor.
One of the best coaches in the history of the sport, Jane Figueiredo was named Tennessee Head Diving Coach ahead of the 2025-26 campaign, Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich announced on April 24.
“I could not be more excited to have Jane Figueiredo take the reins of Tennessee Diving and lead this program into the future,” Kredich said. “Jane is an absolute legend in the sport of diving. She’s well known and highly respected all over the world, and has consistently been successful at the highest levels of the sport. Jane is a force of nature – she has amazing energy, is relentlessly positive and has a very exciting vision for Tennessee Diving. We cannot wait to have her get started.”
Prior to joining the Vols and Lady Vols, Figueiredo spent the last 11 years with Aquatics GB as the High Performance Coach/Director and Head Coach of Dive London. She was responsible for and coached the British Diving Senior Team members at all International-, World- and Olympic-level competitions. Before arriving in London, she coached at the University of Houston – her alma mater – for 24 seasons and was the Russian National Team coach during the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Games.
Throughout her career, Figueiredo’s divers have won titles at the Olympics, World Championships, European Championships and NCAA Championships. The 2024 International Olympic Committee Female Coaches Lifetime Achievement Award winner helped Team Great Britain to its most successful haul ever during the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
A two-time Olympic champion coach, Figueiredo most notably helped Tom Daley to four medals since 2014, including the men's 10-meter synchro gold alongside Matty Lee at the 2020 Tokyo Games. During the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she guided the Russian duo of Vera Ilyina and Yulia Pakhalina to the women’s 3-meter springboard synchro gold medal.
In total, the 2017 World Aquatics Diving Coach of the Year has led athletes to a combined 11 Olympic medals and 12 World Championship medals. Her divers have won Olympic medals during the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Games, including multiple during four of those competitions.
"I am honored to accept the role of Head Diving Coach at the University of Tennessee and so excited to follow in Dave Parrington’s legacy of excellence, tradition and family values,” Figueiredo said. “Together with Matt Kredich and the amazing staff at Tennessee we'll continue to build on the foundation already established in the diving program. Coaching at Tennessee will be one of growth, and I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us. This is truly something very special. Thank you to the Tennessee family for this amazing opportunity.”
At the collegiate level, Figueiredo guided the Houston Cougar divers to eight NCAA titles and 51 All-America honors. She garnered National Women’s Diving Coach of the Year accolades from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) during the 2001, 2003, 2009 and 2010 campaigns. As a part of the CSCAA’s Centennial Celebration, she was named to the organization’s 100 Greatest College Swimming & Diving Coaches of the past 100 years in June 2021.
As an athlete, Figueiredo represented Portugal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, competing on 3-meter springboard. She was a five-time All-American at UH and is a member of school’s Hall of Honor.
Lori Locust 🇺🇸 🏈
Lori Locust is a professional American football coach with expertise in NFL operations, talent evaluation, defensive systems, and high-performance team development. She is recognised as the first woman position coach in the NFL and among the first to coach in—and win—a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She has also held defensive roles with the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens. Her experience spans roster construction, player development, opponent preparation, and performance analytics, underpinned by a systems-level understanding of team-building. She brings a practical advisory focus on talent identification, coaching pathways, defensive strategy, and culture alignment.
Lori Locust is a professional American football coach with expertise in NFL operations, talent evaluation, defensive systems, and high-performance team development. She is recognised as the first woman position coach in the NFL and among the first to coach in—and win—a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She has also held defensive roles with the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens. Her experience spans roster construction, player development, opponent preparation, and performance analytics, underpinned by a systems-level understanding of team-building. She brings a practical advisory focus on talent identification, coaching pathways, defensive strategy, and culture alignment.
Ivi Casagrande 🇧🇷⚽️
Ivi Casagrande is a high-performance coach, coach developer and consultant specialising in women’s football, coaching systems and athlete development. Originally from Brazil, Ivi has built an international career spanning elite performance environments, coach education and leadership development across multiple countries and sporting systems.
A former professional footballer, she has worked extensively in women’s football as a sport scientist, strength and conditioning coach and performance practitioner, supporting athletes and teams at both club and international level. Her experience includes roles within elite women’s football, national team environments and international consultancy projects focused on performance and coach development.
Ivi is the Founder of the Casagrande Coaching Academy, an innovative coach development initiative dedicated to transforming coaching culture and creating stronger pathways for coaches within the women’s game. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between education and practice, helping coaches develop the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills required to thrive in modern sporting environments.
Known for her progressive approach to coach development, Ivi advocates for learning environments that foster creativity, reflection and innovation. Through her coaching, consultancy and educational programmes, she challenges traditional approaches to coach education and supports practitioners in creating more effective, athlete-centred environments.
Today, Ivi works internationally with coaches, clubs and organisations to support the growth of women’s football and the development of the next generation of coaches, combining expertise in performance, leadership and systems change to help create better experiences for both athletes and practitioners.
Ivi Casagrande is a high-performance coach, coach developer and consultant specialising in women’s football, coaching systems and athlete development. Originally from Brazil, Ivi has built an international career spanning elite performance environments, coach education and leadership development across multiple countries and sporting systems.
A former professional footballer, she has worked extensively in women’s football as a sport scientist, strength and conditioning coach and performance practitioner, supporting athletes and teams at both club and international level. Her experience includes roles within elite women’s football, national team environments and international consultancy projects focused on performance and coach development.
Ivi is the Founder of the Casagrande Coaching Academy, an innovative coach development initiative dedicated to transforming coaching culture and creating stronger pathways for coaches within the women’s game. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between education and practice, helping coaches develop the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills required to thrive in modern sporting environments.
Known for her progressive approach to coach development, Ivi advocates for learning environments that foster creativity, reflection and innovation. Through her coaching, consultancy and educational programmes, she challenges traditional approaches to coach education and supports practitioners in creating more effective, athlete-centred environments.
Today, Ivi works internationally with coaches, clubs and organisations to support the growth of women’s football and the development of the next generation of coaches, combining expertise in performance, leadership and systems change to help create better experiences for both athletes and practitioners.
Camella Lydia Ameli 🇰🇪🏊♀️🚴♀️🏃♀️
Camella Lydia Ameli is a World Triathlon Level 2 Certified Coach and Head Coach of Team Kenya Triathlon, with a keen eye on sports development and high-performance coaching. Camella has spent more than six years working with elite, junior, youth, female, and para-athletes, guiding them through structured development pathways to compete at continental and global levels.
Camella has led triathlon national teams at major international events, including the Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games, World University Championships, and multiple African Cup competitions and championships, where our athletes have delivered strong performances with several podium finishes. Her coaching focuses on performance excellence, race strategy, and long-term athlete development.
Camella also serves as a Member and Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya’s Elite Youth Development Commission and as Chairperson of the Nairobi County Triathlon Association, alongside her work advocating for female and youth athlete empowerment.
Camella is a former Team Kenya duathlon age group athlete and national Triathlon team captain 2018/19 season, bringing a strong athlete-to-coach perspective, combining technical expertise, mentorship, and a deep commitment to developing the next generation of athletes.
Camella Lydia Ameli is a World Triathlon Level 2 Certified Coach and Head Coach of Team Kenya Triathlon, with a keen eye on sports development and high-performance coaching. Camella has spent more than six years working with elite, junior, youth, female, and para-athletes, guiding them through structured development pathways to compete at continental and global levels.
Camella has led triathlon national teams at major international events, including the Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games, World University Championships, and multiple African Cup competitions and championships, where our athletes have delivered strong performances with several podium finishes. Her coaching focuses on performance excellence, race strategy, and long-term athlete development.
Camella also serves as a Member and Secretary of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya’s Elite Youth Development Commission and as Chairperson of the Nairobi County Triathlon Association, alongside her work advocating for female and youth athlete empowerment.
Camella is a former Team Kenya duathlon age group athlete and national Triathlon team captain 2018/19 season, bringing a strong athlete-to-coach perspective, combining technical expertise, mentorship, and a deep commitment to developing the next generation of athletes.
Anula Costa 🇱🇰🏃♀️
Bio coming soon...
Cody Royle 🇦🇺🏉
Cody Royle coaches head coaches in elite sport. After a decade coaching Canada's men's AFL national team, he now mentors a dozen head coaches across professional soccer, basketball, baseball, rugby league, international rugby, college field hockey, ice hockey, and Australian football. Cody has written three books, including The Tough Stuff, an Amazon bestseller that chronicles the emotional toll of coaching in professional sport. His most recent effort, Second Set Of Eyes, sets its sights on the head coaches who are gaining a competitive edge by being coached themselves.
Cody Royle coaches head coaches in elite sport. After a decade coaching Canada's men's AFL national team, he now mentors a dozen head coaches across professional soccer, basketball, baseball, rugby league, international rugby, college field hockey, ice hockey, and Australian football. Cody has written three books, including The Tough Stuff, an Amazon bestseller that chronicles the emotional toll of coaching in professional sport. His most recent effort, Second Set Of Eyes, sets its sights on the head coaches who are gaining a competitive edge by being coached themselves.
Nicolai Morris 🇦🇺🏋️♀️
Nicolai Morris is a highly respected strength and conditioning coach, coach developer and high-performance practitioner with more than 17 years of experience working across elite sport. Her career has spanned a wide range of sports and performance environments, including athletics, hockey, rowing, swimming and rugby, supporting athletes and teams to achieve success at the highest level.
Currently working within Australian Athletics, Nicolai leads initiatives focused on coach and official development while continuing to work directly with elite athletes. She is widely recognised for her innovative and athlete-centred approach to performance, drawing on expertise in strength and conditioning, movement, gymnastics and long-term athlete development.
Nicolai is perhaps best known as the long-term strength and conditioning coach of World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers. Having worked with Olyslagers for almost a decade, Nicolai has played a key role in developing the physical preparation strategies that have supported her rise to the top of world athletics. Her work is renowned for its creativity, attention to detail and commitment to helping athletes better understand and develop their movement capabilities.
Alongside her performance work, Nicolai is a passionate advocate for women in sport and coach development. She is committed to creating more equitable, inclusive and sustainable environments for coaches and practitioners, regularly contributing to research, education and industry conversations focused on improving the coaching profession.
Through her coaching, leadership and advocacy, Nicolai continues to influence the future of high-performance sport, helping athletes, coaches and organisations unlock their potential while creating environments where people can thrive.
Nicolai Morris is a highly respected strength and conditioning coach, coach developer and high-performance practitioner with more than 17 years of experience working across elite sport. Her career has spanned a wide range of sports and performance environments, including athletics, hockey, rowing, swimming and rugby, supporting athletes and teams to achieve success at the highest level.
Currently working within Australian Athletics, Nicolai leads initiatives focused on coach and official development while continuing to work directly with elite athletes. She is widely recognised for her innovative and athlete-centred approach to performance, drawing on expertise in strength and conditioning, movement, gymnastics and long-term athlete development.
Nicolai is perhaps best known as the long-term strength and conditioning coach of World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers. Having worked with Olyslagers for almost a decade, Nicolai has played a key role in developing the physical preparation strategies that have supported her rise to the top of world athletics. Her work is renowned for its creativity, attention to detail and commitment to helping athletes better understand and develop their movement capabilities.
Alongside her performance work, Nicolai is a passionate advocate for women in sport and coach development. She is committed to creating more equitable, inclusive and sustainable environments for coaches and practitioners, regularly contributing to research, education and industry conversations focused on improving the coaching profession.
Through her coaching, leadership and advocacy, Nicolai continues to influence the future of high-performance sport, helping athletes, coaches and organisations unlock their potential while creating environments where people can thrive.
Kira Reeves 🇬🇧🏉
Bio Coming Soon...
Panel two
FCN | Academy - Pathways & Governance Panel
This panel brings together a small group of experienced leaders and systems thinkers from across the global sporting landscape. Members include individuals who have operated at senior levels, from CEOs and team owners to researchers and those who have led and influenced change within coaching systems.
Each member brings a deep understanding of how coaching operates within wider structures, pathways, and governance, alongside a track record of shaping more effective, inclusive, and sustainable systems.
The panel plays a key role in supporting the FCN Academy to connect into the broader sporting ecosystem, offering strategic insight, challenge, and perspective to help influence the future of coaching at both a system and organisational level.
System Leaders and High Performance Thinkers
Professor Leanne Norman 🇬🇧
Leanne is a Professor of Women in Sport and Academic Lead for the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University. Her work focuses on advancing gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in sport—particularly within coaching and organisational cultures. She leads a sector-leading research programme, has led national and international projects, and works as an academic expert with sport bodies, governing organisations, and charities. Through this, she drives impactful knowledge exchange and public engagement, including programmes that support women coaches and help organisations build more inclusive leadership and coaching workforces.
Leanne is a Professor of Women in Sport and Academic Lead for the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University. Her work focuses on advancing gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in sport—particularly within coaching and organisational cultures. She leads a sector-leading research programme, has led national and international projects, and works as an academic expert with sport bodies, governing organisations, and charities. Through this, she drives impactful knowledge exchange and public engagement, including programmes that support women coaches and help organisations build more inclusive leadership and coaching workforces.
Michelle De Highden 🇦🇺
Michelle is the High Performance Coach Development Senior Lead at Australian Institute of Sport. She is an experienced high performance coach and coach developer, passionate about facilitating coach development at the high performance level. Coaching at both the development and World Championships level has enabled Michelle to understand both the athlete and coach development pathway from grassroots to international success. With over 40 years’ experience coaching, she is also a qualified teacher and coach developer; working in educational, club, state and national sport settings. Michelle has led the collaborative design and implementation of athlete-centered development systems and blended learning designs for coach learning.
Michelle is the High Performance Coach Development Senior Lead at Australian Institute of Sport. She is an experienced high performance coach and coach developer, passionate about facilitating coach development at the high performance level. Coaching at both the development and World Championships level has enabled Michelle to understand both the athlete and coach development pathway from grassroots to international success. With over 40 years’ experience coaching, she is also a qualified teacher and coach developer; working in educational, club, state and national sport settings. Michelle has led the collaborative design and implementation of athlete-centered development systems and blended learning designs for coach learning.
Jackie Newton 🇬🇧🇩🇰
Jackie Newton is a highly experienced high-performance sport leader with over 20 years’ success in coaching, system development, and strategic leadership. She specialises in building integrated, athlete- and coach-centred environments that drive performance, progression, and sustainable success across talent and elite pathways. Currently Sports Director (Sportschef) at Dansk Atletik, Jackie leads the strategic and operational development of athletics in Denmark, shaping high-performance systems, talent pathways, and international success. Alongside this, she contributes to coach development at the Sport Ireland Institute, supporting Olympic-cycle coaches toward LA 2028. Previously, Jackie has held senior leadership roles including Head of Coaching Development at UK Athletics and Performance Lead at Mountaineering Ireland, where she has consistently delivered culture change, system alignment, and performance impact. Her work is characterised by strong relationship building, evidence-informed strategy, and a deep commitment to empowering athletes, coaches, and practitioners.
Jackie Newton is a highly experienced high-performance sport leader with over 20 years’ success in coaching, system development, and strategic leadership. She specialises in building integrated, athlete- and coach-centred environments that drive performance, progression, and sustainable success across talent and elite pathways. Currently Sports Director (Sportschef) at Dansk Atletik, Jackie leads the strategic and operational development of athletics in Denmark, shaping high-performance systems, talent pathways, and international success. Alongside this, she contributes to coach development at the Sport Ireland Institute, supporting Olympic-cycle coaches toward LA 2028. Previously, Jackie has held senior leadership roles including Head of Coaching Development at UK Athletics and Performance Lead at Mountaineering Ireland, where she has consistently delivered culture change, system alignment, and performance impact. Her work is characterised by strong relationship building, evidence-informed strategy, and a deep commitment to empowering athletes, coaches, and practitioners.
Jennifer Browning 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Bio Coming Soon...
Linda Nicholson 🇬🇧 🏴
Linda is a coach based in Scotland with a long history of developing youngsters from local to national level in netball and athletics. She was awarded a British Empire Medal for establishing netball leagues and clubs in the Scottish Borders, including 2 CWGs players and 1 World Cup player emerging from just one local school. Her endeavours in youth development have brought Governing Body accolades of Coach of the Year in both netball and athletics. In the latter she has coached to European Junior final level with her athletes winning age group and senior medals at Scottish, English and British championships over several decades.
Linda was also a member of the UKA Expert Advisory Group on Jumps, and is currently on the Scottish Athletics Focus Group on Coaching. She has been SA National Team Coach for both Senior and age group internationals and has delivered their Jumps Development Days over several years.
A former Government researcher, Linda moved to the private sector and Directed her own research company, undertaking many studies for Government and Health Services on a wide variety of topics including sport and physical activity.
Linda is a coach based in Scotland with a long history of developing youngsters from local to national level in netball and athletics. She was awarded a British Empire Medal for establishing netball leagues and clubs in the Scottish Borders, including 2 CWGs players and 1 World Cup player emerging from just one local school. Her endeavours in youth development have brought Governing Body accolades of Coach of the Year in both netball and athletics. In the latter she has coached to European Junior final level with her athletes winning age group and senior medals at Scottish, English and British championships over several decades.
Linda was also a member of the UKA Expert Advisory Group on Jumps, and is currently on the Scottish Athletics Focus Group on Coaching. She has been SA National Team Coach for both Senior and age group internationals and has delivered their Jumps Development Days over several years.
A former Government researcher, Linda moved to the private sector and Directed her own research company, undertaking many studies for Government and Health Services on a wide variety of topics including sport and physical activity.
TBC
Bio Coming Soon...
TBC
Bio Coming Soon...
TBC
Bio Coming Soon...
Connected perspectives.
Lasting change.
A stronger future for female coaching.
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The Advisory Panels support the FCN Academy at key moments, offering insight, perspective, and expertise as the Academy evolves. Their contribution is intentionally flexible, shaped by what the Academy needs and grounded in what coaches actually experience.
Together, they ensure the FCN Academy remains connected to the people and systems it exists to serve, bringing informed insight, constructive challenge, and diverse perspectives to shape its direction and impact.
Join the FCN Academy
The FCN Academy is the world's only e-learning coach education platform built specifically by female coaches.
Designed for coaches who want to grow, and for federations who want to retain and develop their female coaching talent. Two membership types. One mission.
Connect, Share and Develop with Female Coaches around the Globe
