Prof Dr em Romain Meeusen (PhD) is former Vice-Rector Internationalisation and former head of the Human Physiology Research Group at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research interest is focused on “Exercise and the Brain in Health & Disease” exploring the influence of neurotransmitters on human performance, training, rehabilitation. Recent work is on Overtraining, Thermoregulation, Neurogenesis, Cognition, Nutrition and the brain in health & disease. He teaches on exercise physiology. Romain published ca 550 articles, abstracts, and book chapters in peer-reviewed national and international journals, 21 books on sport physiotherapy, and gave lectures at more than 1000 national and international conferences (Web of Science (01-2025): 412 papers; H-index: 74; >20.000 citations). He is past President of the Belgian Society of Kinesiology, and the Belgian Federation of Sports Physiotherapy. He is former Board member of the European College of Sport Science ECSS (2000–2013), and of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (2010–2013). In 2006 he gave the ‘presidents lecture’ at the annual meeting of ACSM. In 2009 he received the Belgian ‘Francqui Chair’ at the Université Libre de Bruxelles on ‘Exercise and the Brain’. In 2017 he received an honorary Fellowship of the society for the promotion of Science in Japan. In 2019 he received the price for ‘Science communication’ of the Royal Flemisch Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts together with the ‘Homo Roboticus team. He was holder of two named lecturing chairs (Lotto Cycling Chair) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2010–2018), and the ‘LIROMS’ research Chair (2021–2025).

Dean Kriellaars, PhD is the Scientific Director at the Human Potential Research Centre (HUPR *) in Montreal, Canada. His academic background is based on understanding movement combining neurophysiology, biomechanics, psychology and exercise science. Dean is a global leader in physical literacy research, knowledge translation and application in many sectors including physical education, sport, recreation, play, design and in the performing arts. He has numerous successful interventions based on physical literacy in communities including the use of circus and parkour. Dean was an original designer of the world’s first physical literacy assessment tools (PLAY tools). Dean has worked with many sport, community and global government organizations to improve active participation and performance excellence including National Circus School (CAN), Women’s Tennis Association, Canada Soccer (Women’s), Hockey USA, Public Health Agency of Canada, Swedish Cross-Country Ski, Cirque du Soleil, Change the Game (Sweden), Canada’s National Ballet School and others. Dean just completed his role as the Senior Lead for the development of the new Physical and Health Education curriculum based on physical literacy and health literacy. Dean has been recognized for his long-standing contributions through numerous awards and keynote invitations for research, teaching and service to communities

Prof. Dr. Claudio R. Nigg is Chair of the Health Science Department at the Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Switzerland. He received his education in Psychology and Kinesiology at the University of Calgary and Psychology at the University of Rhode Island. Prof. Dr. Nigg specializes in motivation of physical activity and multiple health behavior change in community and population settings. In his research projects he has worked with various populations representing different ethnic groups across the developmental lifespan, including children, youth, adults, and seniors. His scientific expertise is documented by his h-index of 67 and his number of citations of 20,221 (Google Scholar, October 2023).