ambassador

Dr Dean Burnett is a neuroscientist, author, and former lecturer who has spent years exploring how the brain works and how it can be impacted by injury. So when he was asked to collaborate on the BrainSafe programme, it felt like a perfect fit.

He has always believed that science should be accessible, especially when it comes to something as important as brain health. BrainSafe isn’t about scaremongering or stopping people from playing sport. It’s about understanding the brain, recognising the signs of potential injury and making informed choices that protect long-term wellbeing.

Dr Burnett has shared his insights with schools all over the UK, and many major educational organisations, like The Wellcome Trust, Education Workers Council, and TES.

He believes that if we can give young people the tools to look after their brains the same way they’d look after any other part of their body, we’re giving them a better chance at a healthier future.

Peter Fox is the Member of the Senedd for Monmouth and the Welsh Conservative’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Transport and Rural Affairs. His 13-year term as Leader of Monmouthshire County Council also saw him play an instrumental role in negotiating and securing the UK’s biggest city deal – worth £1.3 billion – for the Cardiff Capital Region, for which he was subsequently awarded an OBE. Mr Fox is also a livestock farmer in Monmouthshire.

Theo represented England at U18 and U20, and played over 50 first team games for London Irish and was forced to retire at the age of 24 due to multiple concussions.

He is a qualified nutritionist, psychology graduate, coffee shop manager and surfer.

Denis Betts is a retired English rugby league player, known for his time as a second-row forward with Wigan and the England national team. During his career, Betts won numerous titles, including six Challenge Cups and multiple league championships with Wigan. He earned 32 caps for Great Britain and 4 for England. After retiring from playing, Betts moved into coaching, taking roles with the Wigan Warriors and the England national team.

Tony spent over 14 years as a professional rugby player – playing for Saracens, Llanelli Scarlets, the Barbarians and Wales. Highlights included winning the then Five Nations in 1994 with Wales, representing the Barbarians in their centenary season.

He played in seven Welsh Cup finals and won the league on three occasions with the Scarlets, as well as being in the historic team that beat the world champions Australia in 1992.

In 1995 he was part of the Saracens squad that won the Tetley Bitter Cup in England. Also, in rugby he has been CEO at London Wasps, Managing Director at Harlequins, CEO at London Scottish and CEO at London Welsh.

Over the past few years, apart from continuing his work in the sport, he has led several performance coaching and business transformation projects with Fourth Dimension Expert Resource.

Kevin played rugby league for club and country for 20 years featuring in 4 Challenge cup finals, a Grand final and a World cup final. He retired in 2021 and currently works for various broadcasters as a commentator and pundit. He coaches at grassroots level and is passionate about both codes and making it even better and safer to participate in.

By Fleets – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Ian Gough is a Welsh Rugby Union player whose career spanned over 18 senior seasons playing over 450 games for teams including Ospreys, Gwent Dragons, London Irish, Toronto Nomads , Newport and Pontypridd.

He played 64 times for Wales over a 12 year period.

Part of the 2005 England 7s squad, Ben played rugby union across the amateur and professional era at Southland (NZ), Caerphilly, London Scottish, Saracens, Henley Hawks, and the Leopards in South Africa.

In addition to playing, Ben is a level 3 coach, studied Strength and Conditioning at the ASCA and worked as a coach with England 7s and as a coaching consultant to the WRU and in Super Rugby with the Melbourne Rebels and the Bulls.

One of the founding directors of the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare (PRPW), Ben is an active member of Head for Change and was part of the team that swam across the Channel to raise funds and awareness of the organisation’s work.

Alex Corbisiero is an American-born English rugby union International loosehead prop who last played for Premiership side, London Irish Northampton Saints, England and the British and Irish Lions.

By Charlie – https://www.flickr.com/photos/fearless_fred/9756484862/in/set-72157635532119196, CC BY 2.0, Link

Christopher Bryant is a Welsh politician and former priest who served as Deputy Leader of the House of Commons from 2008 to 2009 and Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Asia from 2009 to 2010. He later served in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Culture Secretary and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016. A member of the Labour Party, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Rhondda since 2001.

By UK Government – https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/sir-chris-bryant-speech-at-connected-britain-2024, OGL 3, Link

Lewis Moody MBE is a retired English rugby union player who played for Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby and was part of the 2003 World Cup winning side.

Victuallers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Ugochukwu “Ugo” Chiedozie Monye is an English sports pundit and former rugby union player, Monye played 14 times for England, 237 times for his only club, Harlequins, and played twice for the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa. Monye won both the second division and then the Premiership title with Harlequins, as well as winning the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

By Fearless Fred – Danny and UgoUploaded by Kafuffle, CC BY 2.0, Link