Caroline Adams: A Leading Performance Innovation Consultant Transforming UK Elite Sport
Caroline Adams is a highly accomplished Performance Innovation Consultant known for her multidisciplinary expertise across engineering, sports technology, product design, and high-performance sport research. With a foundation built on world-class education from Loughborough University and extensive professional experience across Europe, she has become a key contributor to innovation within the UK Sports Institute. Her work focuses on advancing athlete performance, improving sports equipment, integrating engineering solutions, and driving applied research within elite sporting environments.
Caroline Adams: Professional Journey in Performance Innovation
Caroline Adams at the UK Sports Institute
Since April 2023, Caroline Adams has served as a Performance Innovation Consultant at the UK Sports Institute. In this role, she collaborates with coaches, performance analysts, and sport scientists to design and implement cutting-edge solutions that support elite athletes across the United Kingdom. Her engineering background enables her to bridge the gap between technology, research, and practical performance outcomes, ensuring athletes benefit from data-driven, innovative, and safe interventions.
Previous Role at the English Institute of Sport
Before joining the UK Sports Institute, Caroline Adams worked for one year and two months as a Performance Innovation Consultant at the English Institute of Sport. Here, she contributed to technical development projects, athlete-equipment interaction studies, and innovation strategies aimed at improving performance across national sporting programmes.
Academic Contributions: Lecturer and Researcher
Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University
From July 2020 to February 2022, Caroline Adams served as a Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her teaching contributions included sports engineering, human factors, product development, and biomechanics. Her academic background allowed her to integrate high-level research with real-world engineering applications, preparing students for advanced roles in sports technology and innovation.
PhD Research at Sheffield Hallam University
Caroline Adams completed her doctoral research between 2014 and 2018, focusing on The Efficacy of Snowboard Wrist Protectors.
Her PhD addressed a crucial gap in snowboarding safety:
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Wrist injuries are the most common upper-limb injuries in snowboarding.
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No international standard existed for testing wrist protectors.
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Her research established testing methodologies to improve equipment design and reduce injury risk.
This work positioned her as a specialist in injury prevention, biomechanics, and equipment standards in action sports.
Caroline Adams and Her Engineering Expertise
Development Engineer at Pentland Brands
From 2019 to 2020, she worked as a Development Engineer for Pentland Brands, contributing to new and seasonal innovations for:
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Speedo swim equipment
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Mitre sports accessories
Her responsibilities involved product testing, design refinement, and integrating athlete feedback into product engineering.
adidas Future Engineering Postgraduate Intern
At adidas in Germany, Caroline Adams worked with the adidas FUTURE Team, contributing to long-term innovation projects focusing on:
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Mechanical engineering
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Simulation-based design
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Footwear and apparel technologies projected for 3–7 years ahead
This role strengthened her ability to translate complex engineering insights into consumer-ready products and high-performance solutions.
Early Career Roles Contributing to Caroline Adams’ Expertise
Project Assistant at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
Between 2013 and 2014, she participated in the SO SMART EU project, focusing on socially sustainable manufacturing. She contributed to:
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Industry analyses
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Research dissemination
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Academic course writing
Her published research includes two notable papers presented at the Swedish Production Symposium.
Engineering and International Experience
Caroline Adams gained early industry exposure through several technical and international roles:
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Loughborough University Sports Technology – Research Student
Conducted experiments on tennis racket acoustics and athlete perception. -
HLAP Malaysia – Assistant Reinsurance Broker
Worked in a multicultural corporate environment analysing major project contracts. -
Tetra Engineering Group, France – Junior Engineer
Supported power plant consultancy through inspections, data analysis, and technical documentation.
Education of Caroline Adams: A Strong Foundation in Engineering
Loughborough University
Caroline Adams holds a First Class Master’s in Engineering (Hons) in Product Design Engineering, a dual-accredited programme recognised by both IMechE and IET. Here she developed a blend of:
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Aesthetic and technical design skills
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Engineering science knowledge
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Problem-solving and innovation competencies
Chalmers University of Technology
She completed an academic exchange in Industrial Design Engineering, further broadening her international and interdisciplinary expertise.
Why Caroline Adams Stands Out in UK Sport
Caroline Adams is distinguished by her ability to merge engineering precision, research excellence, and sporting performance innovation. Her journey from academia to global brands, and now to the UK Sports Institute, demonstrates her leadership in transforming how sports equipment is tested, how athlete safety is evaluated, and how innovation is applied in performance environments.
Her work continues to influence:
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Product development in elite sport
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Equipment safety standards
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Innovation strategy for high-performance teams
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Research-driven performance enhancement
Quick Info
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Caroline Adams |
| Current Role | Performance Innovation Consultant |
| Current Organisation | UK Sports Institute |
| Location | United Kingdom |
| Education | First Class MEng (Hons) – Product Design Engineering, Loughborough University |
| Additional Study | Industrial Design Engineering (Exchange), Chalmers University of Technology |
| Expertise Areas | Performance Innovation, Sports Engineering, Biomechanics, Product Design, Injury Prevention, Mechanical Engineering |
| Industry Experience | Elite Sport, Sports Technology, Product Development, Safety Research, Manufacturing, Engineering Consultancy |
| Years of Experience | 10+ years across engineering, research, and high-performance sport |
| Key Research Focus | Efficacy of Snowboard Wrist Protectors (PhD) |
| Notable Companies Worked For | UK Sports Institute, English Institute of Sport, adidas, Pentland Brands, Chalmers University, Health & Safety Executive |
| Academic Experience | Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University |
| Languages of Work | Technical English (UK), International research collaboration |
| Career Highlights | Developed sports equipment for Speedo & Mitre, contributed to EU sustainability research, advanced testing methods for sports safety gear |
Conclusion
Caroline Adams is a highly skilled and experienced Performance Innovation Consultant whose multidisciplinary background positions her as an influential figure in UK high-performance sport. Her contributions to engineering, research, athlete safety, and sports innovation make her a key professional shaping the future of athlete performance in the United Kingdom.
