Dr James Hewitt is the speaker you book when you want measurable performance gains without sacrificing wellbeing. James is a human performance scientist, keynote speaker, and trusted advisor to leaders who are navigating high demands, rapid change, and the pressure to deliver. He brings a rare combination of academic depth and real-world credibility, translating performance science into practical actions teams can apply immediately. If your audience is tired, overloaded, or stuck in reactive mode, James helps them reset how they work, recover, and lead so results become sustainable.
James’ story starts with sport. As a former full-time racing cyclist, he learned early that effort alone is not enough, progress depends on smart training, recovery, and the right systems. That experience sparked a bigger question that now shapes his work, what does it take to achieve extraordinary performance without compromising health. James went on to earn a PhD in Performance Science from Loughborough University, and his research explores how modern working patterns affect behaviour, cognition, and wellbeing. He is known for making complex science feel usable, clear, and relevant, especially for leaders who want better outcomes without empty motivation.
Across his career, James has held senior roles at the intersection of innovation, wellbeing, and performance. He served as Chief Innovation Officer at OPTIVIO, helping shape a stress-management workplace wellbeing platform that uses wearable and work-pattern data to support healthier performance. Before that, he held leadership positions at Hintsa Performance, including Chief Innovation Officer, Head of Science and Innovation, and Science and Development Director, building evidence-led programmes and guiding strategy for high-performing clients. He also founded The Knowledge Work Lab, a consultancy that supports organisations with trustworthy insight, benchmarking, and expert guidance so they can build cultures where people thrive and performance follows.
On stage, James delivers grounded motivation backed by science, with frameworks audiences can act on the same week. He has spoken in over 30 countries, including three World Economic Forum Annual Meetings in Davos, and major business and leadership events, plus top international business schools. A practical example, James might show a leadership team how to protect deep work time, reduce cognitive overload from constant messaging, and build short recovery habits into the day, improving focus and decision quality without extending hours. James’ message lands because it respects ambition, it also gives people a better way to sustain it.
