The True Athlete Project
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OUR TEAM

A diverse coalition
We're a diverse team of athletes, coaches, clinical and sport psychologists, mindfulness teachers, social pioneers and policymakers. Together, we work toward our vision of a more compassionate world through sport.

​Our
 UK entity and the US entity serve to strengthen one another but have distinct strategies and are independent of one another.
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Sam Parfitt
Founder and CEO 
​Sport for social change pioneer.
​Former tennis player, coach and mindfulness teacher.
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Leanne Kruger
Head of Finance
​& EA to CEO

Experienced EA with a background in finance and sustainable development.
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Kirstie Urwin
Head of Holistic Development
Professional sailor, coach, mental health advocate, sport psychology MSc.
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Ozana Marginean
Head of
​Community

Movement coach & practitioner, sport psychology MSc,  basketball player.
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Laurence Halsted
Director of Mentoring & Leadership Programmes
Two-time Olympian. Former performance director at Danish Fencing.
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Anne MacDonald
Coach Development 
​
Performance psychologist. Phd in mindfulness for organisations.
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Dr Davies Banda
Impact Consultant
Sport for Development practitioner. Dir. of Learning and Teaching at the Univ. Edinburgh.
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Anna Turney
Mentor Liaison & Safeguarding Lead
Para alpine ski racer, lead athlete mentor at DKHT, executive coach.
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Matilda Mayne
Athlete Development
Performance Psychologist, Yin Yoga teacher, Ironman enthusiast.
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Talan Skeels-Piggins
Athlete Development 
​World champion, paralympian, children's author, mentor and coach
moRE OF OUR team
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Dr. Nicole Gabana
Consultant
​
Dir. of sport psychology at the University of Massachusetts and gratitude researcher. 
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Cloie Parfitt
Consultant
Counselling psychotherapist with specialty in neurodivergence. Former dancer.
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Todd Iarussi 
Consultant
​
Brown University research associate. Executive coach and former baseball player.
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Yong Oh
Consultant
​Insight meditation and mindfulness teacher. Community Dharma Leader at Spirit Rock, California.
 
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Mark Hawkins
Mentor Liaison
Former professional handball player in Denmark and Iceland. Olympian and coach.
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Victoria Kingstone
Mentor Liaison
GB para-archer, wheelchair basketball classifier and sport psychology student.
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Charlotte Henshaw
Mentor Liaison
Paracanoe Paralympic Champion. 7 x World Champion. Paralympic Swimming Medallist.
UK Board Members
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Julia Sobik
Chair of UK Trustees
Fundraising specialist. Head of Sporting Events & Volunteering at Alzheimer's Research UK.
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Sarah Keyes
UK Trustee
Exec. director of organisational development at the General Dental Council.

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Tom Hartley
UK Trustee
Coaching lead at UK Coaching.
​Football coach, tutor and coach developer.
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Krishna Sood
UK Trustee
Senior legal leader at Microsoft. Football referee. Assistant Coach (England Cricket Board).
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Christina Lindquist
UK Trustee
Global Marketing Director at Rapha. Women in Cycling mentor.​
Adventurer.
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Julia Nasi
UK Trustee
​Sports Partnerships Consultant. Women's Sport & Exercise Sci Mentor. Mindfulness practitioner.
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Sian Morgan
UK Trustee
Sport Investment Manager UK Sport, chartered accountant, Commonwealth Games swimmer.
Us Board members
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Dr. Mike Johnson
US Board President Clinical & performance psychologist for US special operations forces. Former WADA consultant.
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Josh Morin
US Board of Directors
Corporate finance officer. Triathlon coach and athlete.
​

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Jennifer Hoff
US Board of Directors
President of Skye Strategies. Co-founder of the Chattanooga
writer's guild.
​
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Ryan McMaster
US Board of Directors
Deputy Director for North America (Global Policy & Advocacy); Gates Foundation.
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Tim Chakwin
US Board of Directors
​Co-founder of Chattanooga Lacrosse. Dean of students at McCallie School, TN.
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Maddie Dunn
US Board of Directors
Sports Director at the International Federation of Sport Climbing. 

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David Elliott
US Board of Directors
Intl health, business & immigration attorney advocating for those in need in Tennessee.
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Advisors AND AMBASSADORS
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​Dr. Cath Bishop
Advisor
Olympic silver medalist, leadership coach & former diplomat. Author, The Long WIn.
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Shauna Coxey
Ambassador
World champion climber and Olympian. Mental health advocate.
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Kely Nascimento
Advisor
Storyteller, public speaker, and advocate for sports diplomacy, development, equity and peace.
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Jazz Sawyers
Ambassador
European champion long jumper. Inaugural Powered by Purpose cohort.
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Sir Norman Lamb
​Advisor
​Former MP & UK health minister. Founder of the Norman Lamb Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund.
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​Our team also includes elite athlete mentors from more than 50 sports. To read more about the athletes on our global mentoring programme, click here.

And finally, we also want to recognise and say a huge thank you to all of our TAP Butterflies, who are as much a part of the team as those listed individually above!

Join our Team as a TAP Butterfly

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BECOME A TAP ADVOCATE

Staff / Volunteer Vacancies

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VACANCIES
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
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Contact Us
Legal
Privacy
FAQs
The True Athlete Project is formed of two independent legal entities: The True Athlete Project (US), which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation under US federal tax guidelines, and The True Athlete Project Ltd (UK), which is a UK charity, registration number: 1198569.

The UK entity and the US entity serve to strengthen one another but have distinct strategies and are independent of one another.

The True Athlete Project (US): Tax ID: 81-1063080
The True Athlete Project Ltd. Companies House No: 12416150 
​© Copyright 2024. The True Athlete Project. All rights reserved.
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  • VISION
    • Our Vision
    • Our Story
    • Our Butterfly
    • Our Mindful Approach
  • Team
  • Programs
    • View All Programs
    • MEMBERSHIP
    • Public Workshops
    • For Athletes
    • For Coaches & Support Staff
    • For Teams, Schools, Colleges
    • For Governing Bodies & International Federations
    • Our Sangha
    • Impact Portfolio
  • SUPPORT
    • Mindful Miles
    • Charity Runs
    • Mentoring Fundraiser
    • Become a TAP Butterfly
  • TAP Merch
  • Blog
  • Press & Praise
  • Contact Us