On 22 June 2022, Edinburgh Napier University hosted the AtLAS Conference. Here is a review of the event.
The morning of the conference sought to illustrate European models of dual career support. Introduced by the opening of Susan Brown (Edinburgh Napier University) & Elizabeta Valentic (FH Joanneum), the speech of Wolfgang Stockinger (TW1N) analyzed European dimensions of dual career.
Subsequently, the following speakers and international approaches took center stage:
- Petra Robnik, NOC Slovenia
- Dennis van Vlaanderen, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Corrado Lupo, University of Turin
- Morten Munch Mindegaard & Adriana Maria Hansen, The Kitchen
- Tom Campbell, Edinburgh Napier University
A virtual speech of Scotland international rugby union player Simon Berghan added the important athlete voice to the discussion. Concluding the first part of the day, a high-class podium with the panellists Ali Collins, Ben Atiga and Sean McPartlin reflected upon the presentations and the programmatic challenges in dual career support of athletes.
Avataneo and Collins win AtLAS pitch
The afternoon of the conference was dedicated to the AtLAS business pitch of international high-performance athletes. Five elected national winners during the AtLAS program had been awarded a travel to Edinburgh where they had the opportunity to present their business idea to an international audience. Rasmus Gotke (Denmark), Ali Collins (Scotland), Gianpiero Avataneo (Italy), Jelte Boersma (The Netherlands) and Norbert Dürauer (Austria) pitched in front of an expert jury, consisting of Nick Fannon and Peter McLean of Bright Red Triangle (a hub for enterprise practice at Edinburgh Napier University) and Maggie Anderson of The Edinburgh Napier Business School.
In a very tight race for the win, Ali Collins and Gianpiero Avataneo could finally secure a Scottish-Italian double victory. Given the high quality of both delivery and ideas, Bright Red Triangle offered to help all of the finalists with professional guidance to further their entrepreneurial ideas.
Thanks you to athletes, experts and attendees to make the AtLAS Conference a success.