Inspire. Educate. Empower.

Dr Brian Hanley is a Reader in Sport & Exercise Biomechanics at Leeds Beckett University in the United Kingdom. Brian is actively engaged in research on the science of athletics, including pacing profiles in distance running, biomechanics of endurance events, and sports technology and competition structure.

Brian led on the scientific aspects of the Biomechanics Research Projects at the IAAF World Championships in London in 2017 and the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in 2018. Brian is the external consultant for European Athletics on their High Performance development programmes and has provided biomechanical support to athletes from around the world over the past 20 years.

Andrew M Jones PhD DSc is Professor of Applied Physiology and Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Quality and Impact at the University of Exeter, UK.
Prof Jones is internationally recognized for his expertise in the following areas:

• Control of, and limitations to, human skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism
• Causes of exercise intolerance in health and disease
• Respiratory physiology, particularly the kinetics of pulmonary gas exchange during exercise
• Sports performance physiology and nutrition

Geoff Wightman finished sixth in the European Chanpionship Marathon in 1990, the same year that he took his coaching qualifications.

He has worked as a lawyer, sports agent, Puma marketing manager, CEO of scottishathletics and Head of Road Running at British Athletics. He has also been stadium announcer at the last six World Athletics Champiosnhips outdoors.

He began coaching his son Jake in 2010 when the latter was 15 years old and ranked 26th in Scotland for u17 1500m. In 2022, Jake became World Champion over 1500m in Oregon. Geoff’s presentation in Belgrade is intended to give advice and guidance, secrets and key learnings on that journey from promising junior to elite senior.

Tina Kefalas comes to Endurance Academy as Product Advisor to our partner EndoGusto, drawing on a running career that included a Greek national record in the steeplechase, a 2009 Balkan cross-country title in Belgrade, and participating in the 2012 Olympic Games in the marathon.

A graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Communications, she also holds a Greek coaching license and focuses on working with U18–U20 athletes. She has consulted for the Greek Athletics Federation and the Athens Marathon and, together with her husband, organizes youth distance camps in the mountains of Greece.

Iñigo Mujika earned Ph.D.s in Biology of Muscular Exercise (University of Saint-Etienne, France) and Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (University of The Basque Country). He is also a Level III Swimming and Triathlon Coach. Iñigo has exceptional ability to translate scientific research into every day coaching and advice for athletes and coaches. His main research interests include training methods and recovery, tapering, detraining, overtraining and nutrition. Iñigo has published 206 articles in peer reviewed journals, eight books and 48 book chapters, and has given 496 lectures and communications in international conferences and meetings.

Iñigo was Senior Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport, Team Selector for Triathlon Australia, Head of Research and Development at Athletic Club Bilbao Professional Football Club, Head of Physiology and Training at Euskaltel Euskadi World Tour Cycling Team, and Head of Sport Sciences and Performance Support at the Spanish Swimming Federation. He is now Advisor for the Japan High Performance Sport Center, Director of the IOC Diploma in Strength & Conditioning, Associate Professor at the University of the Basque Country, Adjunct Professor at Finis Terrae University in Chile, and Associate Editor for the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance.

Having worked across multiple sports and countries in the domains of coaching, science, education and consulting, Iñigo brings unique perspectives on how individual athletes, teams and nations can best prepare for competition.

Book information: HERE - scroll down to peek into the book.

Prof. Dr Marija Anđelković is a medical doctor and clinical pharmacologist with a PhD in sports medicine physiology and a Master’s degree in nutrition and supplementation. She also completed the IOC program in sports nutrition.

She leads the Center for Sports Nutrition and Supplementation, where she has supported more than 400 professional athletes for over a decade. For the past 17 years, she has been actively involved in national and international anti-doping organisations, participating in multiple Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as European and World Championships across various sports.

Prof. Anđelković teaches sports nutrition and clinical pharmacology at the College of Sports and Health in Belgrade and serves as an assistant professor at Singidunum University, Belgrade. She is a member of the Sports Medicine Association of Serbia and the author of numerous books and scientific papers in sports medicine and nutrition.

Massimo Magnani has dedicated his life to athletics as both an elite competitor and coach. He represented Italy in two Olympic marathons (13th in Montreal 1976, 8th in Moscow 1980) and won the first European Marathon Cup.

As a coach, he has guided top athletes including Giacomo Leone, Daniele Meucci, Ruggero Pertile, and Neka Crippa, helping them achieve national records, European titles, and podium finishes at major championships.

Beyond coaching, Massimo has led major competitions as Technical and Organizational Director, including the World Cross Country Championships, European Cross Country Championships, Milano Marathon, and Winter Olympic Games.

With decades of experience as an athlete, coach, and sports leader, Massimo brings unparalleled insight into endurance performance and athlete development.

Edin Zuković is the professional selector of the Serbian Athletics Federation, responsible for choosing and leading the national team.

Since 2018, he has overseen both junior and senior athletes, helping Serbia achieve historic results at European and World Championships.

Originally from Novi Pazar, he now works full-time from Belgrade, focusing on athlete development and national team success.

Mina Smiljanić is a project manager, public speaking coach, and conference host with over 12 years of experience leading large-scale events across Europe. She has moderated and managed conferences in the fields of digital innovation, marketing, and sports, and has worked on the organization of major international competitions such as the World Athletics Indoor Championships and European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade.

She’s also a former passionate runner and half-marathon finisher.

Mr. Lu Yijia is the General Manager of Running Business Unit at Xtep, a role he has held since 2023. With extensive experience in sports apparel and footwear innovation, he has led the end-to-end development and launch of Xtep’s high-performance running shoes, including the 160X6.0 Pro, 160X6.0, 160X7.0 Pro, 160X7.0, and 160X Jet models.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Lu served as General Manager of Xtep Energy Sports (2021–2022), Director of Xtep Apparel (2020–2021), and Director of Saucony Running Apparel (2019–2020) — demonstrating a strong track record in performance design, R&D leadership, and strategic product development within the running industry.