Jake Humphrey & Damian Hughes Keynote Speaker

No.1 Sunday Times bestselling authors, High Performance
Hosts of chart-topping “High Performance” podcast & live shows
Chair (Norwich CSF) & Professor (MMU, since 2010)

Jake Humphrey & Damian Hughes's Biography

Jake Humphrey & Damian Hughes power High Performance—a global platform turning elite habits into everyday tools. Through a chart-topping podcast, bestselling books and live experiences, they translate the mindsets of world-class performers for leaders and teams. Their titles include High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best, High Performance: The Daily Journal, and How to Change Your Life.

Jake is one of the UK’s most respected sports broadcasters. He joined CBBC in 2001, fronted Sportsround from 2005, and covered the 2006 Commonwealth Games, the FIFA World Cup and the Cricket World Cup. From 2006 he presented Football Focus and Final Score, becoming the youngest host of Match of the Day. He led BBC Sport’s Formula 1 coverage (2009–2012), presented UEFA Euro 2012 and the London Olympics, then fronted BT Sport’s Premier League and UEFA Champions League coverage (2013–2023).

A founder at heart, Jake co-created Whisper in 2011, scaling it into a BAFTA-winning producer with 100+ staff and acclaimed Formula 1 coverage. Beyond broadcasting, he serves as Chair of Norwich City Community Sports Foundation and Vice President of Young Lives vs Cancer, and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk in 2020.

Damian is an organisational psychologist and bestselling author whose books on culture, leadership and change are translated into ten languages. Appointed Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2010, he advises elite teams and blue-chip businesses on embedding “trademark behaviours” and commitment cultures. His work blends rigorous research with case studies from sport and high-stakes environments.

Together, they deliver energising keynotes and interactive live podcast sessions that equip audiences with simple habits, shared language and repeatable systems. Their community spans stadiums, boardrooms and classrooms, with new High Performance Live dates across the UK in 2025.

Building high-performance cultures and “trademark behaviours”

Leadership under pressure: lessons from elite sport and business

Resilience, mindset and sustainable peak performance

Team cohesion, trust and psychological safety

Change, disruption and continuous improvement

They bring proven authority on elite performance through High Performance, translating world-class mindsets from sport, business and culture into practical habits leaders can apply immediately.
They combine front-line broadcasting craft with organisational psychology, pairing Jake Humphrey’s decades of live, high-stakes presenting with Damian Hughes’ evidence-based work on culture and change.
They turn complex ideas into simple systems and shared language, helping teams build “trademark behaviours” that strengthen accountability, energy and execution.
They deliver high-impact experiences across keynotes and interactive live podcast formats, creating the conditions for honest conversation, collective learning and measurable momentum.
They connect with audiences at scale through chart-topping content, bestselling books and live events, equipping organisations to sustain performance long after the applause.