Dr Emma Ross, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at The Well HQ, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Cardiff Metropolitan University.
A science communicator at heart, Emma has been a driving force in advancing female health in women’s sport for over 20 years, and founded The Well HQ in 2021 – an organisation on a mission to empower women in sport and help improve understanding around how female specific factors affect performance.
Emma spent the first ten years of her career teaching physiology to sports science, physiotherapy and medical students at Brunel and Brighton universities and went on to become Head of Physiology at the English Institute of Sport – leading sports scientists and supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
A Cardiff Met alumna, Emma holds a first-class degree in sports science, a master’s in sport and exercise physiology and a PhD in exercise neurophysiology. She has published over 30 scientific publications in sport and exercise science and was awarded The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Changemaker Award in 2021.
On receiving the Honorary Doctorate from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Emma said: “It is a real privilege to receive this honorary award from Cardiff Met, a university that holds a special place in my heart, not just for the part it played in nurturing my interest in sports science, but also because whilst here, I was part of the rugby team who played at Twickenham to win the, then named, BUSA championship – very special, and indelible memories.
“It has been brilliant to reconnect with the sports science and coaching staff here in more recent years, as Cardiff became an early adopter of driving real change in optimising support of female athletes.”
Since 2023, Emma, alongside the team at The Well HQ, has worked in partnership with Cardiff Met supporting the University’s ArcHER programme – which is improving women’s experience in sport by equipping its students and workforce with a better understanding of the female body. Emma and her team have delivered workshops and sessions to elite student athletes.
Ben O’Connell, Director of Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University said: “Emma has been an integral part of our ArcHER programme and its journey. Inspired by the work of The Well HQ, she has played a pivotal role in guiding and shaping our practice, while championing our commitment to creating lasting change for female student-athletes. Through her inspirational talks and workshops at ArcHER events, Emma has empowered our community and strengthened our mission – and it remains a real highlight for us to have her as such a passionate advocate for ArcHER.
“It is a great honour to present Emma with an Honorary Doctorate, and we look forward to continuing our work together in the future.”
During the graduation ceremony at Wales Millennium Centre, Emma gave advice to students from the School of Sport and Health Sciences: “Be brave, whether it is in the conversations you have, or the decisions you make. But remember, you can’t be comfortable and courageous at the same time – so choose to be bold, to challenge the status quo and pursue a life that brings you joy – that’s not always easy, but it is so worth it.”
