Meet the newest CASES Fellows

In August 2025, CASES congratulated five professional members as they were awarded CASES Fellowship.

CASES Fellowship is considered an accolade that individuals aspire to and an honour that people are proud of and is valued. For 'FCASES' to be placed after someone's name, it should denote a passion and commitment to CASES and Sport and Exercise Sciences. It is expected that CASES Fellows will act as leaders and ambassadors for the Association.

Here is an introduction to the newly awarded Fellows:

Dr Alex Bliss FCASES, University of Brighton

Dr Alex Bliss is a research-active sport and exercise scientist and strength and conditioning coach. Alex is currently Editor-in-Chief at the International Journal of Golf Science and board member for Golf Science and the European Tour and Ladies European Tour Research and Scientific Advisory Committee. He has worked for England Golf for over 10 years as a strength and conditioning coach for the South East region and has supported hundreds of aspiring golfers, ranging from local professionals and amateurs through to winners on the European Tour.

From an academic perspective, Alex is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and was previously Associate Professor and Subject Lead of Strength and Conditioning Science at St. Mary's University, Twickenham. He has recently joined the University of Brighton as an academic staff member in the School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences. His research interests primarily revolve around golf science and he has been publishing research in this area since 2014. Alex obtained his PhD in 2024 entitled The practical application of strength and conditioning in golf: rationalising, planning and integrating physical training for improved performance. He also published the first academic textbook specifically related to strength and conditioning for golfers in 2022 via Routledge.

Alex has been an accredited member (physiology - support and research) of CASES since 2012 and has supported numerous candidates through the SE and direct application pathways.

Dr Christopher Kirk FCASES, Sheffield Hallam University

Chris is Senior Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Physiology and CASES Registered Laboratory Director at Sheffield Hallam University. He has been lecturing since 2007, spending 10 years in FE before moving into HE in 2018. His research focusses on performance, training, and brain trauma in combat sports. He has consulted for the International MMA Federation, was an invited speaker at the Association of Boxing Commissions 2022, at BASES Conference 2023, and he has had research cited in UN General Council reports. His private practice has supported athletes from a range of performance standards and sports. He has been a CASES member since 2009, sits on the TSES Editorial Board, the CASES Sport and Performance Divisional board, and is supervisor or reviewer for several CASES SE practitioners.

Dr Jane Lomax FCASES, Consultant

"I have been an accredited member of CASES (was BASES) since 1995, combining University based lecturing, most recently as Head of Sports Coaching at the University of Chichester, with support work for performers, officials and coaches throughout a range of sport settings. I have trained PE teachers and sport coaches for over 25 years, working with NGBs to support their coach education and development systems within the UK and Europe as well as supporting individual coaches. 

"My research and publications have been within this sport coach development domain, applying theory to practice for practitioners and my doctorate supported World Netball with a global comparative study of national coach education systems. I have also maintained active coaching roles across participation, performance and high performance/elite domains."

Dr Patricia Jackman FCASES, University of Lincoln

Dr Trish Jackman is Associate Professor in Sport and Exercise Psychology at the University of Lincoln. She spent two years in the roles of CPD Representative and Deputy Chair of the CASES Psychology Division, before becoming Chair of the Division in 2025. 

Dr Jackman has organised CASES Division Days and webinars for the Psychology Division and written articles for The Sport and Exercise Scientist. Alongside being an active researcher, she is also an applied practitioner and completed her training on the CASES Sport and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR).

Dr Ian Sadler FCASES, Liverpool John Moores University

Ian is Associate Professor and Subject Head in Sport and Exercise Science Education in the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University. He teaches exercise physiology and nutrition and he is an accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist (CASES) and a Chartered Scientist (Science Council). Within his leadership role in the School of Sport and Exercise Science, Ian is responsible for curriculum development, evaluation and enhancement of the student experience. He has designed and led several projects, particularly in relation to assessment and feedback, that have had a positive impact on student outcome and experience metrics. 

Ian has championed excellence in teaching and assessment through development of policy and the delivery of academic development for colleagues. Ian has an active role within the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES). He is co-chair of the HE Endorsement Advisory Group who are responsible for setting standards and reviewing applications for sport and exercise science programmes to gain professional body endorsement. This shapes the curriculum and standards of sport and exercise degree programmes in the UK. Also, as a member of the Accreditation Advisory group, he reviews applications and has provided support through webinars and publications for members applying for individual accreditation as a sport and exercise scientist (Pedagogy).

He is also an active member of the Education and Teaching Special Interest Group (SIG) where he has delivered several webinars and sessions with his research on teacher development, assessment and feedback in higher education informing this work. More recent research and an edited book focusses on academic standards in higher education, which is based on his work with AdvanceHE on the Degree Standards project (2016-21). Through this project, along with six other international experts in assessment, Ian has helped to shape the national landscape for professional development of external examiners. 

He has developed and delivered a course that several thousand academics have undertaken to support their understanding of academic standards in their roles as ‘guardians of national standards’ in higher education. He has also designed and been invited to facilitate workshops on calibration of academic standards in multiple subject areas. Ian has recently been awarded National Teaching Fellowship by AdvanceHE.

Awarding CASES Fellows

All new Fellows will be officially awarded their certificate and pin badge within the 2026 CASES Conference in June.