Dr Ross Tucker has a PhD in Exercise Science from the University of Cape Town, where he studied fatigue and the role of the brain in performance.
He has also obtained a Post-Graduate in Sports Management from UCT and he spent three years working in the sports business industry, where he was responsible for strategic marketing and sponsorship packaging.
Dr. Tucker returned to sports science in 2010 and he is currently an Honorary Senior Lecturer at UCT as well as a consultant scientist to the Sports Science Institute of South Africa.
He is the high performance sports scientist to the South African Sevens Rugby and SA Kayaking.
Dr Ross Tucker has consulted to various sporting federations on their high performance strategies, including the International Rugby Board, the US Olympic Committee, the South African Olympic Committee, the English Rugby Union and the GB Olympic Sports Science departments.
Dr Ross Tucker is known for his forthright opinion and analysis of sporting events and stories and he has written articles for the New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian UK and Times of London (as well as numerous South African newspapers, magazines and media outlets).
He was recently short-listed as one of the Top 200 Most Influential South Africans by the Mail & Guardian newspaper in South Africa.
Dr Tucker talks with authority and insight gained from experience and analysis of the high performance sports world. He is a high performance consultant with various high performance teams and athletes, including the USA Olympic Committee, UK Sport, SA Olympic Confederation, South African rugby, SA Rowing, SA Kayaking.
Borrowing from his insights and experiences in high performance sport, Dr Ross Tucker shares the principles and concepts that can drive businesses and individuals to the next level.
His background of having a dual qualification in sports science and management/marketing positions him ideally to bridge the gap between data and strategy, science and commerce, to motivate and inspire leaders to seek the hidden advantages that can be gleaned from high performance sport.
Dr Ross Tucker is also a highly sought after speaker and opinion-leader, recently voted into the Mail and Guardian’s list of the top 200 Influential Young South Africans.
He has written articles for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian (UK), and Der Spiegl, and made numerous TV appearances as an expert contributor to news stations including CNN, Sky News, BBC News, SABC and e-TV.
He is known for his forthright views, engaging presentation style and ability to communicate critical concepts simply, accurately and entertainingly.
Dr Ross Tucker spoke to our Business Forum in Cape Town in April of this year. His scientific approach to setting and achieving goals and his content around the subject of outstanding performance was truly memorable and inspiring. It was a refreshing change for ‘inspiration’ and ‘personal achievement’ to be set within the context of known fact rather than the more vague and soft conceptual wrappings that “inspirational” presentations often attract.
Kathy English Brower ConsultingFounder & CEO, Kathy English Brower Consulting Cape Town South Africa
African Bank had the privilege to engage with Ross Tucker on three occasions. He is both inspiring and practical – which is essentially the combination we look for. As is the case with most organisations, I am sure, we look for speakers who appeal to both the heart and the mind. There are many highly skilled analytical minds, which need a level of academic stimulation and then there are those who need their heart strings to be tugged! Ross unequivocally meets these requirements
