John has spent more than 30 years taking part in and coaching water sports. He is also the cofounder and director of a UK-based water-sports hire and activity company.
With over three decades of windsurfing experience, including competition under UKWA rules, John holds RYA Level 3 & 4 Windsurfing certification and RYA Powerboat Level 1 & 2. He is a trained Paddle-sport Leader and supports the training of kayak instructors. John is also a qualified, experienced lifeguard and First Aider.
Trained as a scientist, John was a post-doctoral research fellow at Oxford University and has spent the past few decades working in new drug development across the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, most recently helping start-up companies bring new therapeutics into the clinic. After his first degree, he taught at secondary school level in Cambridge. He also holds a third-dan black belt and has long served as a karate instructor at a dojo in West London.