The 2027 conference welcomes an outstanding lineup of speakers from across the globe, spanning ecological dynamics, motor development, physical literacy, sports vision and coaching science.
Keith Davids
Professor Keith Davids of Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom) is a world leading authority on ecological dynamics and skill acquisition. As the longstanding conference president of the Motor Skills Acquisition series, his extensive international network has been instrumental in attracting top researchers and practitioners to Kisakallio since the very first edition. His work on constraints led approaches to coaching and nonlinear pedagogy has had a profound influence on how sport practitioners design training environments worldwide.
Isaac Estevan
Associate Professor Isaac Estevan works in the Department of Teaching of Physical Education, Arts and Music at the University of Valencia (Spain). He is co head of the AFIPS research group (Physical Activity and Health Promotion) and the EFYPS teaching innovation group. As a member at large of the International Motor Development Research Consortium (IMDRC), his research centres on fostering children's and adolescents' physical literacy and motor competence. He examines physical activity participation, actual and perceived motor competence, and the association with holistic health related factors such as motivation, social support and cognitive performance. Isaac has published more than 80 impact factor papers and holds an h index of 23 in Web of Science.
Rob Gray
Rob Gray is a professor at Arizona State University who has been conducting research on and teaching courses related to perceptual-motor control and learning for over 25 years. He received his MS and Ph.D. from York University in Canada with a focus on the visual control of movement. He has served as an expert consultant/skill acquisition specialist with Nissan Motor Corp, the US Air Force, the Boston Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs, and several other sports teams and organizations (NFL, NBA, EPL, NHL, Olympics). In 2007, he was awarded the Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Association. He is the author of the best-selling books on skill acquisition, How We Learn to Move: A Revolution in the Way We Coach & Practice Sports Skills, Learning to Optimize Movement: Harnessing the Power of the Athlete-Environment Relationship, and Learning to be an “Ecological Coach”: Developing Attuned & Adaptable Coaching Skills. In 2025, his book “How We Learn to Move” was included on the list of the Best Skill Building Books of All Time by Book Authority. Finally, he hosts and produces the popular Perception & Action Podcast. Explore the > 550 episodes at https://perceptionaction.com/. Rob has previously presented at the Motor Skills Acquisition conference as a keynote speaker in 2022.
David Stodden
Professor David Stodden of the University of South Carolina (United States) is the current President of the International Motor Development Research Consortium (IMDRC). His research focuses on understanding the developmental mechanisms and causal pathways that shape long term trajectories of health, wellbeing and human performance across the lifespan. He places particular emphasis on the role of motor competence in physical, psychological and cognitive health outcomes. With an h index of 55 and approximately 4.3 million US dollars in research funding secured, he is one of the most influential voices in motor development research globally.
Arja Sääkslahti
Professor Arja Sääkslahti holds the chair in Physical Education Pedagogy at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland). Her research focuses on early childhood motor development, physical activity behaviours and play based learning, with a particular interest in socio ecological approaches to movement in childcare and school environments. She has contributed to the development of assessment tools for motor creativity and motor competence, and is a regular collaborator on Nordic wide physical activity and pedagogy projects. With over 190 publications and an h index of 21, she brings a strong evidence base in early years physical education to the conference.
Zöe Wimshurst
Dr. Zöe Wimshurst is a leading expert in visual performance and cognitive psychology, recognised internationally for her pioneering work in applying sports vision science to elite athletic performance. She holds a BSc from the University of Surrey and an MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Loughborough University. In 2012 she became one of the first people to achieve a PhD in the study of Sports Vision in Elite Athletes. As Founder and Director of Performance Vision Ltd, Dr. Wimshurst has spent over two decades working with some of the world’s most accomplished athletes and teams - including Cristiano Ronaldo, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, Harlequins RFC, Southampton FC, British Olympic Association, Great Britain Hockey, and British Shooting. Her applied work has contributed to multiple Olympic, World, and European Championship successes. Alongside her applied practice, Dr. Wimshurst is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Health Sciences University, where she leads the UK’s only specialist module in Sports Vision for sports practitioners. Her research explores perceptual-cognitive expertise, eye tracking, and the optimisation of visual-cognitive skills in high-performance environments.
Nicola Hodges
Dr Nicola Hodges (Professor), School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Canada. Nicola’s research examines the mechanics of practice and how people acquire motor skills over the short and long term. She has a particular interest in understanding processes of action observation and prediction and their relevance for learning and performance, particularly in sport. She co-edited the popular book, “Skill Acquisition in Sport: Research, Theory and Practice”, which is currently in its 3rd edition. She has published widely in the field, with over 150 journal articles and book chapters.
Further speakers will be announced in the coming months.
