Inside the Game: Sports Industry Surgery

Warren Gregson PhD MBA

Warren has over 25 years’ experience operating at the intersection of science and technology in the global football industry. Previous roles include senior academic research positions and strategic and operational roles in English Premier league clubs, national football associations and key technology providers. Over the last decade, Warren served as Head of Performance Science & R&D at Aspire Academy and Qatar FA supporting the countries preparations for hosting the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Warren is currently Professor of Applied Physiology at the Institute of Sport, Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is responsible for leading a large-scale research and innovation partnership with Manchester United FC. Warren also serves as an advisor to sports technology accelerators and several sports technology startups.

Rachel is Business Engagement Manager for the Faculty of Humanities, within the University of Manchester’s specialist Business Engagement & Knowledge Exchange (BEKE) team; she is also the Business Engagement Lead across the University for FinTech, LegalTech, and Digital Trust & Security themes. The BEKE function provides a mechanism for improved information flow between universities and the wider-world, facilitating collaboration with business partners, to inform research and increase economic & societal impacts.

Beyond this Rachel is a Non-executive board director for business networking association Pro Manchester and a keen traveller and running nerd, acting as coach for her running club and as a regular Run Director for a local Parkrun.

I am a Partner in the Family team at Slater Heelis and Head of our Manchester office. I also sit on the management board and am helping to shape the culture and development of our firm as a whole.  I am a member of the Manchester Resolution Committee a collaboratively trained lawyer with bundles of common sense – always looking for alternative routes to resolving issues. I am a recognised ‘key lawyer’ in Legal 500 and Chambers directory of leading solicitors and have provided expert commentary on family law matters to a number of national news outlets, having recently featured in the “Women in Business” in Cheshire Life and Red Carpet magazine commenting on pre-nuptial agreements.

I represent clients at the highest level across the entire range of family law matters including complex high-net worth financial cases and intricate children disputes. I am genuinely committed to helping others, clients and colleagues alike. I am the lead on the firm’s Wellness and Wellbeing internally and externally the lead on the partnership with Rugby League Cares, which helped to secure the firm as providers of legal support for the Rugby League World Cup in 2022. My involvement with and leadership of local youth organisations, including Wigan Youth Zone (where I sit on the board of trustees) helps promote and deliver the aims of these charities.

Chris is Sport Bidding Manager at Marketing Manchester, a role he has held since 2020.  He works collaboratively with other partner organisations to bring major sporting events and conferences to the city-region.  His role sees him working closely with Manchester City Council Events Team and Manchester Active to identify priority events and in recent years he has helped to attract events such as the Davis Cup Tennis 2023-24, UEFA Euro 2028 and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.  Prior to taking on this role, Chris spent 14 years working in sport event planning and sports development with Manchester City Council, working closely with several sporting national governing bodies.

Colin joined Manchester FA in 2009/10 season following a career in financial accounting with the Cooperative Group.  Colin is responsible for the game across Greater Manchester which includes the development, governance and regulation of the grassroots game and the connectivity and collaboration with the professional game.  Colin also represents football across Greater Manchester on the FA Council.