Mark Williams

Mark Williams’ background

He is one of the most published scientists globally in areas associated with talent identification and development, the psychology of excellence and how to develop optimal learning environments for skill development.

He has published almost 500 articles in numerous fields including sports science, psychology, neuroscience, medicine and education. He has written 17 academic books and delivered more than 200 keynote and invited lectures in over 30 countries. His first popular science book, titled ‘The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made’, will be out in 2020, published by Nicholas Brealey/Hachette in London (Aug) and Boston (Dec). The Best reveals how the most incredible sportspeople in the world get to the top and stay there. It is a unique look at the path to sporting greatness; a story of origins, serendipity, practice, genetics and the psychology of excellence, as well as of sports science and cutting-edge technology. The book explains how the best athletes develop the extraordinary skills that allow them to perform remarkable feats under severe pressure.

In addition to his impact as an academic and educator, he has worked extensively in high-performance sport as an applied sports scientist and as a coach educator. He has delivered courses and services for numerous national governing bodies across the globe, including UEFA, IOC, FIFA, The FA, as well as a multitude of professional sports teams in the Premier League, Premiership Rugby, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, and several Olympic sports including GB Hockey and Sailing and the US Ski Team.  He has also advised various armed forces and government agencies on educational policy.

He is a Chartered Psychologist and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, as well as the European College and Sports Science and the National Academy of Kinesiology in the US, and is a Fellow of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science, where he has been accredited to work as a skill acquisition specialist in high-performance sport. He is Editor-in-Chief of three of the top journals in his field globally, including the Journal of Sports Sciences.

He has wide experience of working on radio and television, having been involved in documentaries for several broadcasters including the BBC, CNN, Sky and the History Channel and his work has been reported by many newspapers including The Times (London and New York), Daily Telegraph and Daily Express. He has undertaken radio work for BBC radio 2, 4, 5, and the Voice of America as well as several other channels globally.

He is able to speak on a range of topics related to expertise and skill development in sport and across other professional domains such as business, education, healthcare and the military.