Join us for a free online panel on performance pillars that can help you achieve your personal best.

Date: 18th April, 2024

Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM AEST

Presented by Southern Cross University and the Gold Coast Marathon, this online panel will bring together experts and insights on combining nutrition, physiotherapy and psychology to achieve your best race result.

Attendees will have the chance to ask questions and hear from speakers, including record-breaking runner and Gold Coast Marathon Ambassador Erchana Murray-Bartlett, Southern Cross University Chair of Health Sciences Dr Chris Stevens, Professor of Physiotherapy Dr Maria Constantinou, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Scott Goddard.

Speakers:

- Dr Chris Stevens, Chair of Human Sciences - Southern Cross University

Dr Chris Stevens is an Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science and the Chair of Human Sciences in the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University. He is an Accredited Sports Scientist with Exercise and Sports Science Australia and the International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance Associate Editor. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed research articles, predominantly focused on improving endurance performance in hot conditions through the use of cooling strategies, heat acclimation training, and nutritional supplements. He has worked closely with elite race-walking athletes in their preparation for major championships, supporting them in implementing performance-enhancing strategies to give them an edge in their competition.

- Erchana Murray-Bartlett, Gold Coast Marathon Ambassador, run coach and nutritionist

Erchana has taken marathon running to another level, completing 150 marathons in 150 consecutive days on her record-breaking run from Cape York to Melbourne. She traversed the entire East Coast of Australia on foot and successfully raised over $130,000 for at-risk Australian wildlife while inspiring thousands of people from around the world to lace up and get moving. Since finishing this expedition in 2023, Erchana splits her attention between her passions: conservation and elevating human performance through run coaching and sports nutrition on the Gold Coast.

- Dr Maria Constantinou, Professor of Physiotherapy - Southern Cross University

Dr Maria Constantinou is a Professor of Physiotherapy at Southern Cross University with extensive clinical, teaching, and research experience. Maria is an Australian Physiotherapy Association Titled Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist, a Fellow of the Australian Sports Medicine Federation, and a Registered International Sports Physical Therapist. Maria previously served on the Executive Board of the International Federation of Sports Physical Therapy (2011-2019) and the Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Australia committee (2008-2023). Maria worked at several sporting events, including the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the Melbourne 2006 and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, where she was the Polyclinic and Team Physiotherapy Programs Coordinator, the Port Moresby 2015 Pacific and Vanuatu 2017 Mini Games. Maria’s publications include the book ‘Therapeutic Taping for Musculoskeletal Conditions,’ translated into several languages. Maria’s academic teaching and research career spans over 25 years, and she has taught or presented in over 25 countries. Her research interests comprise sports injury prevention and surveillance, sports and therapeutic taping, and gait and function in hip osteoarthritis.

- Dr Scott Goddard, Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Southern Cross University

Dr Scott Goddard is a Research Fellow in the Physical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research (PASER) Theme at Southern Cross University. He earned his PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology from the same institution in 2022, which focused on developing a flow intervention for runners – for which he won the Chancellor’s Medal. His research interests also include goal-setting, physical activity promotion and adherence, and optimal psychological states in sport and exercise. Throughout his postdoctoral work, Scott has led the design and delivery of physical activity interventions based on open goals. He has also led a research project funded by the Australian Institute of Sport in partnership with Athletics Australia, which examined optimal performance states in elite athletes. His research has been featured on national news outlets and discussed on several high-profile podcasts.