Profile
Jamie's passion in life has always been sport specifically in the swimming pool. Before joining Loughborough Jamie won a bronze medal in the 17/18 years 200-metre butterfly at the British Championships and has represented England internationally.
Academic background
Jaime studied an undergraduate degree in Geography in 2018 at Loughborough University. Balancing his studies with over 20 hours of training per week, Jamie won medals at BUCS in the 200m fly and competed at the British Championships in 2019.
Following completion of his Bachelor's, Jamie embarked on a master’s degree studying Climate Change, Politics and Policy at Loughborough. His dissertation "The Impact of Climate Change on Professional and Grassroots Rugby Union" won the prize for the highest grade across Climate Change subjects. During this period, he worked as a marketing assistant at Leicester Tigers, undertook sustainability audits of small and medium-sized businesses in Leicestershire, and was a volunteer coach for the performance swimming team in Loughborough. He is currently a member of his local Rugby Club Effingham and Leatherhead RFC.
PhD research
Jamie's research titled “Synergies and trade-offs of implementing climate mitigation and adaptation practices in professional Rugby Union”, aims to investigate how the tension between sporting performance, increasing commercial revenues and climate mitigation and adaptation is managed.
A recent World Rugby Report has recognised the impacts of climate change on the game. At the same time, three Premiership clubs (Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish) recently entered administration. This has led to calls from ex-players, journalists and academics to alter the model of Professional Rugby to ensure the viability of the club game. Jamie believes climate change is a cultural issue. Therefore, his research aims to understand the institutional and cultural underpinnings that shape professional Rugby's responses to climate change. Jamie is particularly interested in athlete and coach perspectives on climate change.
Awards, grants or scholarships received
Jamie’s research is funded through the Vice-Chancellors Studentship, granted by Loughborough University.
Interests and activities
Jamie is a member of the Sport for Climate Action and Nature Group and Climate and Ecological Transitions/ Sport for Climate Action and Nature Research and Innovation Hubs.