Meet the team
At Optimum Performance Academy, our leadership team combines decades of expertise in sports science, genetics, neuroscience, and education to create evidence-based programmes that elevate human performance and professional coaching standards.
Our Team
Dave Sanders
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Applied Sports Scientist
Certified Personal Trainer
Applied Movement Neurology Practitioner
Practical Stress Resilience Coach
David Sanders is the CEO and Founder of Optimum Performance Academy, leading the integration of genetics, neuroscience, and performance coaching into a unified model of human optimisation.
With over 30 years of experience across sport science, personal training, and applied movement neurology, David has worked with athletes, teams, and individuals around the world to help them move better, think sharper, and perform stronger.
His philosophy combines evidence-based science with practical coaching, focusing on long-term empowerment through education, behavioural change, and nervous system awareness. David also mentors fitness professionals globally, developing multi-level education programmes that raise industry standards and bridge the gap between science and application.
“True performance isn’t about doing more, it’s about understanding how your body and brain work together to create lasting change.”
Andreas Chrysostomou
Chief Technology Officer
Certified Personal Trainer
Passionate about sport with a love for football and the NFL, Dray is fascinated by how athletes can enhance their performance through smart adjustments in training. He also enjoys clay shooting, a sport that demands precision and mental discipline.
With a strong belief that everyone should have access to the same training principles and programs that athletes use to perform at their best and prevent injury, he brings a practical perspective to performance and wellbeing.
Holding a Level 3 Personal Training qualification gained six years ago, he continues to build on his sporting passions with a focus on performance and resilience.
“I believe the principles that elevate athletes should be accessible to everyone, because peak performance isn’t just for professionals, it’s for anyone who wants to move, feel, and live better.”
Wes Pooley
Consulting Partner
Performance Director at Muhdo Health
Sports Scientist
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Educator
Wez Pooley is a Performance Consulting Partner at Optimum Performance Academy and Director at Muhdo, bringing over two decades of experience at the intersection of sport, science, and education.
Holding a Degree in Sports Science and a Master’s in Teaching and Learning, Wez combines academic expertise with real-world experience as a professional athlete, personal trainer, and coach for international rugby and football teams.
At Optimum Performance Academy, Wez plays a key role in shaping educational strategy and developing evidence-based learning programmes that connect genetics, health, and human performance.
His mission is to make advanced science accessible—turning data into decisions that drive real-world results for individuals and professionals alike.
“Education is the foundation of progress, when we understand how the body learns, we can unlock how it performs.”
Optimum Performance Academy Ltd
2026
Meet the team
At Optimum Performance Academy, our leadership team combines decades of expertise in sports science, genetics, neuroscience, and education to create evidence-based programmes that elevate human performance and professional coaching standards.
Our Team
Dave Sanders
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Applied Sports Scientist
Certified Personal Trainer
Applied Movement Neurology Practitioner
Practical Stress Resilience Coach
David Sanders is the CEO and Founder of Optimum Performance Academy, leading the integration of genetics, neuroscience, and performance coaching into a unified model of human optimisation.
With over 30 years of experience across sport science, personal training, and applied movement neurology, David has worked with athletes, teams, and individuals around the world to help them move better, think sharper, and perform stronger.
His philosophy combines evidence-based science with practical coaching, focusing on long-term empowerment through education, behavioural change, and nervous system awareness. David also mentors fitness professionals globally, developing multi-level education programmes that raise industry standards and bridge the gap between science and application.
“True performance isn’t about doing more, it’s about understanding how your body and brain work together to create lasting change.”
Andreas Chrysostomou
Chief Technology Officer
Certified Personal Trainer
Passionate about sport with a love for football and the NFL, Dray is fascinated by how athletes can enhance their performance through smart adjustments in training. He also enjoys clay shooting, a sport that demands precision and mental discipline.
With a strong belief that everyone should have access to the same training principles and programs that athletes use to perform at their best and prevent injury, he brings a practical perspective to performance and wellbeing.
Holding a Level 3 Personal Training qualification gained six years ago, he continues to build on his sporting passions with a focus on performance and resilience.
“True performance isn’t about doing more, it’s about understanding how your body and brain work together to create lasting change.”
Wes Pooley
Consulting Partner
Performance Director at Muhdo Health
Sports Scientist
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Educator
Wez Pooley is a Performance Consulting Partner at Optimum Performance Academy and Director at Muhdo, bringing over two decades of experience at the intersection of sport, science, and education.
Holding a Degree in Sports Science and a Master’s in Teaching and Learning, Wez combines academic expertise with real-world experience as a professional athlete, personal trainer, and coach for international rugby and football teams.
At Optimum Performance Academy, Wez plays a key role in shaping educational strategy and developing evidence-based learning programmes that connect genetics, health, and human performance.
His mission is to make advanced science accessible—turning data into decisions that drive real-world results for individuals and professionals alike.