People

Marc Woods

Co-founder and senior partner at Starling Woods, Marc represented Great Britain as a swimmer at European and World Championships and Paralympic Games. In 17 years of competition he won 12 Paralympic medals from five Games, including four Gold medals. Marc also won a further 21 medals from European and World Championships.

Now retired from international swimming Marc is one of the most sought after inspirational speakers working around the world, working for a range of leading organisations including IBM, Pfizer, Visa and the Department for Work and Pensions.

"I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your talk at our event. Suffice to say it was easily the high point of the day, and everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY who attended that I've spoken to feel exactly the same. You made clear links to your experiences and what we need to do as a business."
Colin Witton: Manager, Strategy & Analysis, Recoveries. HBOS

In 2006 Marc wrote his first book, Personal Best to great acclaim, and it is his experiences in writing the book, as well as talking to businesses during his international speaking work, to senior executives and HR teams, that inspired Marc to set up Starling Woods.

Marc is also a board member of the Youth Sport Trust and an Ambassador for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Matt Heath

With a degree in Sports Science, majoring in Sports Psychology, and with an in depth knowledge of strength and conditioning Matt has worked with international athletes from the sports of Rugby, Rowing, Cricket, Triathlon, Cycling, Swimming and Karate. From Olympic medalists to World Champions, All Blacks to Ironmen Matt has advised people on not only how to be physically fit but mentally tough too.

"When I met Matt I was in my build up to the Olympic trials in March 1996. I had been competing in Europe, became ill with a severe virus and my form fell away disastrously at a crucial time. It is no disrespect to my coach or my parents that I felt desperate and no matter how hard I tried things did not seem to improve. Matt was engaged to provide an objective overview and he quietly slipped into my swimming equation without causing offence to anyone. He eased my desperation, liaised with my parents, coach and doctor and in no small measure must take some considerable credit for the fact that I did get selected and was the youngest member of the NZ Atlanta team."
Sarah Catherwood New Zealand Swimming Team.

After seven years working primarily with elite athletes, the corporate world began to approach Matt for his services. Whilst still using his sport psychology background, and as a qualified RYA Offshore Yacht master and a RNZCGF Ocean Yacht master, he skippered yachts to run sailing and team building courses. He also worked as a professional crew member within the multi million pound Super Yacht industry, including crewing on board a classic Americas Cup yacht.

At the same time as running his own business, Matt has trained for, and competed in, many endurance and triathlon events, and in doing so has achieved a 14 hour finish in the original Coast to Coast 220km challenge in New Zealand, and a six hour finish in the Wimbleball Lake UK Half Ironman.

As a director and the lead consultant for Starling Woods, whilst Matt still appears occasionally on BBC radio advising people on their health and lifestyle, he is predominately focused on ensuring people are fit for corporate life.

Steve Parry

"Steve is the epitome of persistence. To be able to stay in the sport as long as he has and win an Olympic medal in your final year says a lot about the resilience and drive of an athlete."
Bill Sweetenham on Steve Parry GB Swim Captain Athens 2004.

Steve's success at Athens was preceded by mixed fortunes over years of competitive swimming. He won a Gold medal at the Junior European championships aged 17. Then, at 18, moved to the United States, where he excelled, first winning the prestigious American Collegiate National Title, and then gaining selection for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Although bitterly disappointed to finish narrowly out of the medal places with a 4th place in the 200m Butterfly, Steve did experience success with World and European Championship medals as well as three Commonwealth medals.

For the Athens Olympics in 2004 Steve concentrated on the journey, not just the result. He finished ahead of Michael Phelps in the semi-final of the 200m Butterfly race, becoming one of only three people in the world to beat him. Then in the Butterfly final, on Tuesday 17th of, August Stephen finished in bronze medal position, breaking the British and Commonwealth record in doing so.

One of the most successful British swimmers of all time, Steve now brings his determined pursuit of excellence and rich life experiences to Starling Woods as a lead consultant of the business - and his speeches provide an invaluable resource for delegates attending courses.