Business is a Team Sport

The future of work isn’t built on job titles - it’s built on trust, expertise, and shared ambition.

At The Collective, we’re a team of independent thinkers who choose to work together. Each of us brings deep, global experience and a different lens on the health, fitness, and longevity space. One of us always leads the play, managing the client relationship from start to finish, while others tag in where their strengths can elevate the work.

We build every project team with intent, drawing from our inner circle of trusted independents and an extended global network of vetted specialists. The process is transparent, collaborative, and shaped around what the project really needs.

We’re proof that independence and collaboration aren’t opposites, they’re the new advantage.

Let's Work Together

Meet The Collective Core Team

The Collective harnesses the power of diverse minds to work efficiently, offering speed, agility and impact.

Jennifer Halsall
Founder, Advisory, Strategy, Speaker, Range Thinker.

Jennifer has spent more than 20 years shaping the global fitness and health industry. She has built and scaled businesses as both entrepreneur and intrapreneur, leading transformations inside major organisations while launching new ventures of her own.

She has driven measurable results across markets, quadrupling personal training revenues at GoodLife and Bally Total Fitness, designing service models for more than 1,200 clubs across five European markets with Basic-Fit, and serving on the core team that took Basic-Fit public. At the same time, she has created innovations that did not exist before, from omni-channel customer journeys for millions of members to accredited leadership programmes adopted by ACE, NASM, and CanFit Pro.

Today, through The Collective, Jennifer works with startups, scale-ups, and enterprise companies to launch innovations, integrate new leaders, and explore new markets. She co-created the LEAD programme (Leadership through Elevation, Awareness, and Discovery), which has helped hundreds of professionals connect with their purpose and potential.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and more than 30 certifications in personal training, nutrition, and coaching. A Canadian based in the Netherlands, she is fluent in English and proficient in Dutch and Spanish.

Susanne de Schepper
Founder, Cross-Cultural Leader, Connector

With over 20 years of experience in health, fitness, and customer service, Susanne is dedicated to developing leaders and helping companies grow and scale in new markets. She holds a degree in Sports Economics from Applied Sciences and has deep expertise in customer service, member engagement, project management, market expansion, sales, and operations.

Susanne held several strategic roles at Basic-Fit, establishing the Centralised International Customer Care department, designing the first member communication journey, and developing the international internal communication platform for millions of members and thousands of employees across Europe. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of France at Basic-Fit, overseeing the expansion to 800 fitness clubs, leading a team of 3,000, and helping position Basic-Fit as the largest operator in the European market.

Susanne is known for navigating complex challenges, creating clear paths forward, and inspiring others to align with her vision through empathy and strong relationships. A Dutch native now residing in France, Susanne is fluent in Dutch, English, and French. Her lifelong passion for team sports and people continues to guide her professionally and personally.

Dr. Lou Atkinson

Chief Scientific, Board Director, Behavioural Scientist, Researcher, Educator

With a career spanning over 25 years in Public Health, Fitness, Academia, and MedTech, Lou is a recognised leader in applying health psychology. She has dedicated her career to building and disseminating the scientific and translational evidence needed to create real-world change in physical activity, obesity, chronic conditions and women's health.

At The Collective, Lou oversees the curriculum development for leadership programmes and workshops and spearheading research into female consumer behaviour. She applies her deep understanding of human behaviour, motivation, and team dynamics to foster collaboration and evidence-based decision-making.

Lou has led and co-authored over 80 research papers and white papers, presenting her work at major global conferences such as the American College of Sports Medicine, the European Health Psychology Society, and the Association for the Study of Obesity. She is also a sought-after speaker and expert panellist, having been featured at international industry events, including FIBO and Elevate, as well as multiple podcasts, webinars, and fitness industry publications.

As a passionate advocate for gender equality, Lou co-founded a non-profit organisation that drives evidence-based change through pioneering research in the fitness sector. She also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of The Active Pregnancy Foundation, which promotes the benefits of physical activity during and after pregnancy.
Lou’s commitment to excellence and impact shapes every aspect of her work. She is dedicated to creating inclusive, empowering environments that encourage original thought and inspire collaboration, ensuring The Collective delivers lasting positive change for its clients and the wider industry.

Nathan Hyland

Strategist, Longevity Expert, Coach, Athlete

With a global track record in health, fitness, sports medicine, and biotech, Nathan is a leader in business strategy and the future of wellness. As Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Lapaix Hyland Global Business Consultants, he works with multinational organisations and early-stage companies to accelerate innovation, unlock growth opportunities, and bring transformative solutions to underserved communities worldwide.

At The Collective, Nathan leads business development and strategic partnerships, supporting clients in navigating complex growth challenges and aligning commercial vision with long-term impact. He brings a cross-sector perspective shaped by work in over 60 countries and a strong belief in the power of movement, mindset, and mission-driven leadership.

Nathan’s diverse achievements include receiving NASM & CalU’s Pursuit of Excellence Award, being named Health & Fitness Association’s Rising Star, and being an executive producer for Rage in the Cage, a nationally syndicated MMA television series. He is also a lifelong athlete and three-time IBJJF American National Champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He holds an MBA, an MS in Exercise Science, and over twenty business and fitness credentials, including NASM CPT, PES, CNC, and a Pharmaceutical Management Executive Diploma from Rutgers Business School. He is currently expanding his knowledge through the NCSF Certified Strength Coach programme.

Nathan’s drive, curiosity, and collaborative style help connect ideas to execution—creating real-world results for purpose-driven businesses and the communities they serve.

Meet Our Specialist Crew

Vetted experts that we love to work with!

  • Andie Boyd | #projectmanagement #sixthsigma

    With over a decade of experience across various industries, Andie has honed a versatile skill set focused on project management, leadership development, and customer service. Andie excels in leading and overseeing projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. Andie excels at cultivating sincere and insightful partnerships with clients, guiding them towards realizing their professional potential. She is equipped with a robust skill set in project management, leadership development, and customer-centric operations.

  • Andy Brees | #strategy #gotomarket #operations

    Andy Brees is a dynamic leader known for creating challenging, interactive, and creative work environments. With over 25 years of experience at SportCity/FitForFree, including roles as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, Andy has honed his skills in strategy, operations, and customer loyalty. Currently, he is the founder of Brees Consulting, where he supports startups, entrepreneurs, and established businesses with their Go-To-Market strategies and emphasizes the balance of People, Planet, and Profit. Andy's extensive experience and motivational approach drive teams to exceed their goals and achieve success.

  • Ashley Brown | #artdirector #brandstrategy #design

    Ashley is an ardent creative with an exceptional eye for design and a passion for her craft. With over two decades of experience in art direction, design, and creative consulting, she has worked with top brands like Nike, Adidas and Li-Ning, as well as multi-brand stalwarts Procter & Gamble. Ashley's expertise lies in strategic design direction, creating immersive branded experiences, and innovative corporate identities. Her innate love of design coupled with a collaborative mindset leads her to transform creative ideas into visually stunning functional realities.

  • Beau de Leeuw | #weightliftingcoach #inclusion #lgbtqia+ #transexpert

    Beau de Leeuw is a distinguished non-binary weightlifter and coach with extensive experience in the sports industry. Currently working with the Dutch Olympic Committee and the John Blankenstein Foundation on the Erasmus+ project All-In & Win, Beau focuses on diversity and inclusion within sports. Their unique perspective, blending personal and professional experiences, enables them to create safe and inclusive environments for all athletes. Beau’s commitment to fostering equality and support in sports makes them an invaluable advocate for diversity and inclusion.

  • Sarah-Jane Threipland | #communications #creative #brandstrategy #campaigns

    Descrarah-Jane (SJ) is a brand and communications specialist with a passion for heartfelt, inspiring strategy at its core. She delivers the ideal creative comms for many international clients, layered with industry and audience-led insight. SJ has rebranded the H’art Museum Amsterdam, as they launched a new collaboration with world-famous museum partners. She helped craft comms for a new sub-brand of Gen Z-focused lingerie for Hunkemoller. And she has consulted on many campaign/ brand strategies for other clients like Adidas, Ikea, Body&Fit, Asics, and citizenM hotel. She loves both conceptual creativity and multi-channel writing itself.iption goes here