Richard Bailey is a leading international authority on the relationship between human development and sport. He works with a diverse group of agencies to help translate research into evidence-based practice, and he is currently a research consultant for both Nike Inc, and the International Red Cross.  In the past, he has worked with the International Olympic Committee, the World Health Organisation, the English, Scottish and Dutch governments, the Professional Golfers Association, Sport England, and UK Sport. He has led most of the international studies of the outcomes and benefits of sport, and recently produced the most thorough review ever undertaken, on behalf of Nike.  His work with the Red Cross focuses on the use of sport with traumatized people in post-disaster settings.

Previously a Professor at Birmingham, Roehampton and Canterbury Universities, he is now director of a specialist sport research company. Richard is currently completing a book on the radical Summerhill School, and another on the seemingly unstoppable rise of bullshit in schools. Richard was the co-creator of the talent development strategy for Physical Education for English schools, and the Rapporteur of UNESCO’s ‘Athens Declaration for Sport’.

Richard currently coaches at a Professional Boxing and Kickboxing gym in Kent.