Dr Neil Gibson
Dr Neil Gibson is the Precinct Director for Blacktown International Sports Park.
Formerly Director of Sport, Performance and Health at Oriam: Scotland's sports performance centre and consultant football scientist to the Scottish Football Association.
Neil studied undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate masters (MSc) level qualifications at Sheffield Hallam University in the area of Exercise Physiology.
Following a year providing Physiology support services to Paralympic athletes prior to the 2004 Olympiad, Neil commenced employment with Heart of Midlothian Football Club where he spent 10 seasons progressing to the role of Head of Performance. In this role, Neil was responsible for oversight and management of support services including medical, sport science and performance analysis to all teams within the club’s structure including first team who were competing in the Scottish Premiership. During his time at the club Heart of Midlothian won the Scottish Cup twice and qualified for the European Champions League.
After leaving the club, Neil worked as a consultant for the English Football Association, Great Britain Water Polo team, the Scottish Football Association and Team Scotland (Commonwealth Games) before taking a position at Heriot-Watt University.
Neil attended two Commonwealth Games competitions in Glasgow and Gold Coast with responsibility for overseeing medical, coaching and sport science support services to athletes competing in the games.
For the Scottish Football Association, Neil was responsible for performance services to the men’s National team as well as overseeing a program of applied research within schools and clubs.
At Heriot-Watt University, Neil was responsible for the design and development of Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, the home base for the nations Football (Soccer) and Rugby teams delivering facilities including a full-size indoor pitch, gym, aquatics, medical facilities, changing room and office accommodation. Neil also developed a project that resulted in the construction of a four storey commercial hotel within the University campus grounds. Neil was also responsible for designing and implementing 2 postgraduate courses on the topic of management in sport along with supervising post graduate research students.
Neil started work for Blacktown City Council in 2020 in a role with responsibility for delivering a new research, education, health and sport facility within an Olympic legacy site.
He is now responsible for the operations of Blacktown International Sports Park, Joe McAleer Oval and the Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology Hub.
Qualifications
• Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Pacing during intermittent high intensity exercise
• Master of Science Sport Physiology, Sport and Exercise Physiology
• Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology
Key projects
• Scotland’s National Sports Performance Centre – $35 million
• Redevelopment of the Inverclyde disability sports centre – $12 million
• Blacktown Exercise Sport and Technology Hub – $100 million
• Blacktown Disability Sport Centre – $15 million