Innovation for the Future Summit

As Commercial Manager, Will Cowling is responsible for managing the development, implementation, and evaluation of integrated brand and marketing initiatives to achieve the growth and revenue goals of the business. Will brings new ideas and concepts forward to develop innovative and effective solutions to business and marketing challenges, whilst helping to grow the brand through building strategic partnerships and client relations across the globe.

Simon has over 20 years experience within active nutrition, with 10 years at Board Level. Simon started his career in the field at Maximuscle/Maxinutrition; focussing on innovation, product research and technical support for the sales/marketing teams. During Simon’s time at Maximuscle, the business grew significantly and was the clear UK market leader. Maximuscle went through exits of £10m then £70m, culminating in a £162m sale to GlaxoSmithKline.

Simon moved on to Bulk Powders/Bulk, and during his time there led Innovation, Regulatory, Food Safety & Quality, International Wholesale and UK Retail at Executive Board Level. The Bulk business grew from under £2m annual revenue to over £130m. Simon was also Vice-Chair at ESSNA, the leading trade association for the sector.

Simon is now consulting for fast growth businesses who are trying to optimise for scale, alongside food businesses across Innovation, Regs, Strategy, etc.

Educationally, Simon has an undergraduate degree in Sports Science, Postgraduate in Exercise & Nutrition Science and an MBA from the University of York.

Rafael is a seasoned expert in omega‑3 and innovative nutraceutical solutions, with a proven track record in creating value for clients worldwide. Over the years, he had held key roles at leading companies such as Roche Vitamins, Puleva, Capsugel, DSM, and KD Pharma, where he combined scientific expertise with strategic vision to deliver high‑impact results. His passion lies in developing differentiated health solutions that improve people’s well‑being while helping partners achieve sustainable growth. He is dedicated to building strong collaborations and turning scientific innovation into competitive advantages for the global market.

Isabel Gómez Suarez is the Global Strategic Marketing Manager at Lubrizol Nutraceuticals, with over 12 years of B2B marketing experience. She leads strategic initiatives that drive business growth across global markets. Isabel holds degrees in Chemical Engineering and Marketing and is passionate about bringing innovative nutraceutical ingredients like Magshape™ microcapsules to life through science-backed solutions.

Doing sport from a young age, Emily fell in love with nutrition during her undergraduate degree when she realised how vital nutrition is to optimising health and performance. She went on to gain a PhD in Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition whilst also taking an interest in eating disorders and working for the UK’s leading charity, Beat. As an AfN Registered Nutritionist, Emily has worked within a variety of roles within the nutrition industry from being a Lecturer in Nutrition, working with global nutrition companies such as Science in Sport, to consulting on nutrition education for British Cycling. She is currently working in professional cycling as a Nutritionist to one of the World Tour Men’s teams, Team Picnic PostNL. Emily is passionate about empowering individuals with the nutritional knowledge to make their own informed decisions about their nutrition, outside of work you’ll find her being a triathlon-loving mum trying to get the life balance right!

Robin has over 25 years of experience in professional rugby, both on the field and in high performance coaching.

Robin had a 10 year playing career at the elite level, representing Wales and being part of the 2005 and 2008 Grand Slam winning squads. After retiring from playing, Robin moved into coaching, spending six years as Head of Strength & Conditioning at Cardiff Rugby, where he helped the club secure a European title. In 2023, he joined the Wales National Rugby Squad as Strength & Conditioning Coach in preparation for the Rugby World Cup in France, a role he continues to hold today.

Alongside his coaching career, Robin founded ION Health & Wellness, a thriving business with two training facilities in South Wales. Through ION, he has also delivered Corporate Wellness workshops and services to leading companies including Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, CGI, and Heineken, while also driving a range of community focused initiatives that make health and fitness accessible to all.

Szilard’s true passion lies in fitness, sports, and exploring the intricacies of human performance, particularly from a biomechanics perspective. He has a strong interest in 3D motion capture technologies, including IMUs, as well as both marker-based and markerless systems such as Vicon and Theia. He recently completed a Master’s degree in Applied Sports Biomechanics and is currently interning at a biomechanics startup. Alongside this, Szilard has worked as a freelance strength and conditioning coach for nearly a decade. His primary focus is on the kinematic and kinetic aspects of various sports, with a particular interest in the knee joint and its surrounding musculature.

In his free time, Szilard enjoys cycling, trail running, indoor rock climbing, and participating in obstacle course races.

Maria is a marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications across multinational and local companies, focusing on health and nutrition in both B2C and B2B contexts. Starting her career in B2C marketing roles at Danone and Novartis, Maria developed a deep understanding of consumer behavior, enabling her to bring valuable consumer insights to her clients. She spent nearly 8 years at DSM, where she led the marketing communication activities for EMEA across various roles. Before joining Sirio, Maria expanded her strategic expertise as a senior strategy consultant at The Healthy Marketing Team, a leading marketing and branding consulting agency. With expertise spanning messaging, communication, branding, and positioning, Maria combines her B2C background with strategic acumen to help clients create impactful, consumer-focused solutions.

Alex has a degree in biotechnology and extensive professional experience spanning R&D, manufacturing, and sales in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. With a blend of technical knowledge and commercial acumen Alex drives business growth across Western Europe, leveraging over 14 years of expertise in strategic sales and business development.

Will Falleyn is a seasoned sales professional with over six years of experience in the health and wellbeing sector. Currently serving as the Western European Sales Manager at Sirio Europe, he is responsible for managing new business and large-scale customer accounts.

His career includes a focus on helping businesses, from start-ups to multinational brands, expand their market reach. Prior to Sirio Europe, he held sales management and account manager roles at Gnosis by Lesaffre and EuroCaps Ltd, where he cultivated strong customer relationships and drove growth. His professional journey also includes a background in medical and pharmaceutical sales, with roles at MSD.

Cress is an experienced commercial leader with 20+ years’ experience working within the health and wellbeing sector. She started her career in retail, working for leading British retailers including Superdrug and Holland & Barrett before moving into B2B where she has worked for a variety of leading contract manufacturers, suppliers, and wholesalers in the nutritional industry. Combining her technical and formulation expertise with her broad retail knowledge, Cress supports SIRIO’s retail and pharmacy chain customers in bringing their latest own brand innovation to market.