Exercise Science (QLD)

Belinda Beck is a Professor of Exercise Science at Griffith University (Gold Coast, QLD) and the Menzies Health Institute Queensland. Her work, primarily related to the effects of mechanical loading on bone, has involved both animal and human models, from basic to clinical research. Her particular focuses have been exercise interventions across the lifespan for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures, and the management of bone stress injuries in athletes and military recruits. She is founding Director of The Bone Clinic, a translational research facility and clinical practice providing evidence-based exercise (Onero) for people living with osteoporosis. She is a Fellow of Sports Medicine Australia (SMA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and Exercise Sports Science Australia (ESSA). She is Chair of the ESSA Research Committee and has served on the SMA QLD State Council and SMA and ESSA Conference Program Committees.

Podiatrist, Sports and Exercise Scientist, Academic (QLD)

Luke Kelly is an Associate Professor of Allied Health Research and Director of the Australian Centre for Precision Health & Technology, at Griffith University. He is a trained podiatrist (QUT) with a PhD in Biomechanics and Motor Control (University of Queensland). Luke served on the SMA conference committee from 2015 to 2024, co-chairing the committee from 2021 to 2024. He was previously a Director and Vice-President, Sports and Exercise Podiatry Australia (2017- 2024) and is currently an elected member of the Executive Council for the International Society of Biomechanics.

Sport and Exercise Psychologist, Clinical Health Psychologist (VIC)

Dr Samantha McLeod is dually Endorsed practitioner and AHPRA approved supervisor in Sport and Exercise Psychology and Clinical Health Psychology and a long-term member of SMA. She is an APS Fellow of both the College of Sport & Exercise Psychology and the College of Health Psychology, and member of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) and the Applied Association of Sport Psychology (AASP).

Her Ph.D researched the psychological predictors of injury risk and recovery in professional athletes. Samantha has decades of guest lecturer experience teaching within undergraduate and post-graduate tertiary courses across multiple disciplines (psychology, physiotherapy, medical, public health and sports medicine.

Samantha has been self-employed in private practice and managed her high-performance sport and clinical health consultancy company for over 30 years. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of The SAM Centre.

She is an experienced clinical leader within sport and health peak bodies (previously TAC Clinical Panel, WorkSafe Medical Panel, APS Private Practice Senior Project Officer), supervisor (academic and peers), former Chair (WNBL Melbourne Boomers, APS Steering Committees) and business mentor.

Samantha’s current sports consultancies include, AFL Richmond Club Psychologist, AIS (Psychology Peer Supervisory Network – Supervisor), FIBA (Mental Health Committee Advisor to Medical Commission), New Zealand National Basketball Team (2DegreesTall Ferns), VIS Performance Psychologist (Swimming),

Samantha’s mission is to shift the paradigm of performance health to better serve the people who drive high performance, as well as the athletes or workforce. She believes in a holistic, integrated, and collaborative performance health framework that makes human wellbeing and potential the priority and driver of success. Samantha aims to empower leaders, performers, practitioners and organisations to thrive—not just during their careers, but also when they transition out of the sport, work or business.