Nick Draper

I am a Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Canterbury.

My research is focused in the areas of health and physical activity and elite sports performance from an exercise physiology perspective.

I have extensive experience in leading research teams, managing budgets in research projects and have served as PI/CoPI on projects for bodies such as HRC, MBIE, Sport England and UK Sport, with grant income of more than NZ$10-million.

Having stepped out of my previous academic leadership roles, I am involved in a number of national and international research projects. These include projects on (a) rugby – headgear, player performance/recovery and rugby fans physical activity interventions, (b) motor development for children, (c) the physiological benefits of trampolining, (d) cooling suits and (e) performance assessment in rock climbing.

In my research leadership roles, I continue as an invited member of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on a Fit and Healthy Childhood. In this role, I have contributed to two national reports on play and the national obesity framework and served as the lead academic on a national report on Physical Education.

I am the current Chair for Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand.