Professor Cathy Speed

Professor Cathy Speed stands as a recognised pioneer and a preeminent figure at the intersection of extensive clinical expertise, cutting-edge technological innovation, rigorous academic insight, and peak human performance. With a distinguished career spanning decades, her work consistently redefines the boundaries of personalised health, human flourishing, and strategic advisory.

Professor Cathy Speed

Professor Cathy Speed stands as a recognised pioneer and a preeminent figure at the intersection of extensive clinical expertise, cutting-edge technological innovation, rigorous academic insight, and peak human performance. With a distinguished career spanning decades, her work consistently redefines the boundaries of personalised health, human flourishing, and strategic advisory.

Big Tech

Extensive experience in the strategic development of advanced health technologies, sensing, and large-scale data analytics. Senior Clinical Specialist at Google (to 31 May 2025); where she was Clinical Lead for Research across Products, Devices, and Platforms & Ecosystems; Lead for Human Performance Sciences; and Metabolic Health Lead. Directed programmes in generative AI for health, sensor R&D, and multi-modal data pipelines, with additional domain leadership in musculoskeletal health and personalised medicine.

Clinical

Dual Clinical Expertise: Professor Speed is a dually accredited physician with extensive clinical expertise in both Rheumatology and Sport & Exercise Medicine. Her clinical practice has notably focused on dealing with complex clinical challenges involving multiple overlapping conditions, showcasing her ability to navigate nuanced individual health profiles with precision.
Pioneering Leadership in Practice: A founding member of Fortius Clinic—now part of Affidea and internationally recognised for musculoskeletal, sports and performance medicine—she helped build a centre of excellence for integrated patient care. She is also a Founding Fellow of the Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine (UK).
Precision Human Performance: Over two decades as a medical lead in elite sport—including Chief Medical Officer to Olympic teams, Senior Physician at the English Institute of Sport, and roles at Lord’s Cricket Ground—give Professor Speed deep, applied expertise in performance under pressure. She now applies the same science, adapted for real-world constraints, to technology teams, investors, and individuals—work that is often more complex than in elite settings.

Academia & Teaching

Extensive Academic Training: Professor Speed’s robust academic foundation includes training at the University of Nottingham (BMedSci, BMBS), the University of Durham (PhD in Exercise Physiology and Bioengineering), and the University of Cambridge. At Cambridge, a globally impactful institution, she was an Isaac Newton Teaching Fellow and a Senior Research Associate, instilling a rigorous scientific approach and commitment to intellectual inquiry.
Strategic & Business Acumen: Further expanding her capabilities, Professor Speed has also trained at Oxford Saïd Business School (Certificate in Executive Strategy) and the London School of Economics (LSE) (Mini MBA). These qualifications underpin her capacity for high-level advisory in investment, product development, and corporate strategy within the health and performance sectors.
Leadership & Multidisciplinary Team Expertise: Professor Speed brings deep experience in leadership and working within multidisciplinary teams, honed throughout her diverse career.
Senior Educator & Communication Mastery: As a senior educator in the UK and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK), Professor Speed is renowned for her excellence in teaching and her exceptional ability to communicate complex health concepts.