About Great Performance Ltd

At Great Performance we are committed to the promotion of physical activity for all, for life. In particular, we believe that walking is a safe, convenient and enormously beneficial form of activity, which has been consistently underrated in terms of its health promoting properties. The modern pedometer is a precision instrument which provides important feedback on activity patterns. Researchers from centres of excellence all over the world have shown that regular use of a pedometer promotes awareness and increases levels of physical activity in diverse populations.

Our aim at Great Performance is to bring the very best in pedometer technology and to support this with the best available scientific evidence and advice about physical activity. In this regard we are delighted to have as our Medical Adviser, Dr David Ashton, whose brief biography is given below. Following the biography are references to other key Great Performance personnel and their relevant healthcare background.

Dr David Ashton BSc, MD, PhD

David Ashton is Honorary Senior Lecturer in Clinical Epidemiology at Imperial College School of Medicine. After graduating with a medical sciences degree from the University of St Andrews, Dr Ashton underwent clinical and postgraduate training at the Victoria University of Manchester where he achieved several academic distinctions. He subsequently completed a doctorate in epidemiology and biostatistics at Imperial College School of Medicine, London, where he is now holds a senior academic appointment in the Cardiac Medicine Group. His research interests include the metabolic aspects of obesity, the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular diseases and the development and application of screening algorithms for cancer and coronary heart disease. Dr Ashton has wide experience of cardiovascular assessment, including exercise electrocardiography, measurement of aerobic capacity, cardiac rehabilitation and exercise prescription. Dr Ashton’s current interest is in the role of physical activity in the treatment of obesity and it’s co-morbidities.

He has written guidelines on physical activity for the World Health Organisation and is contributing editor to the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.

David Ashton is the author of numerous articles, scientific papers and book chapters. He is the co-author of “Why Exercise ?” (Blackwell 1986) and author of “The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women” (Random House 2000). He is a regular contributor to national and international scientific conferences, has made numerous television and radio appearances and frequently lectures on a wide variety of medical topics to both medical and lay audiences. His latest publication on Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity, was published in the Royal Society of Medicine and the Guardian newspaper. The full text for the Guardian article can be found here.

Dr Ashton’s interests outside medicine include the philosophy of science, cycling and – of course – walking!

Chrissie Twigg BA, MBA

Chrissie graduated in history from Bedford College, University of London and worked at the House of Commons, Reuters and Pan Books before receiving an ESRC award to study for an MBA at Warwick University. For eight years she worked for BMI Healthcare as Business Development Manager at The Priory Hospital in Birmingham.

Stephen Browne

Stephen has worked in the United Kingdom private healthcare sector for 15 years providing specialist health assessment and health promotion software and reporting systems to large private hospital groups and commercial occupational health organisations. Stephen has also contributed his expertise to scientific health studies and the development and application of screening algorithms for cancer and coronary heart disease. Stephen has also worked for the last ten years in the management of internet and intranet development projects, and the implementation of e-communication systems. He has specialist knowledge of the healthcare sector. Client projects have included Bupa Cromwell Hospital, The Lister Hospital, BMI Healthcare, Chartered Institute of Marketing Medical Marketing Group, National Association of Primary Care and Independent Healthcare Advisory Services.