Dr Claire M Nicholson is the immediate past head of the field of study, Physical Education, Sport and Human Movement Science, at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her research, teaching and professional contributions have been concerned with her performance enhancing advantage of exercise and physical activity in the context of education, therapy, leisure and high performance sport.

Claire has inspired the development of Move-It, Moving Matters^™ for school children and the talent harvesting programme. GASP™ (the "Get Ahead Sports Programme") which departs from the former programme. Move-It, Moving Matters^™ is a learner-driven, physical activity programme designed for application in outcomes-based curricula for the "intermediate phase" (8-12 years) learner. The latter is an extra-curricular, sport enrichment programme which is set up in "hub" (advantaged) schools. The purpose of the GASP™ is to advance motorically talented children, from within a region/district, into sport systems and structures thereby enabling these young performers gain access to the national "talent" network. Both programmes are unique concepts and both apply a sustainable model of delivery which is currently enjoying support from corporate sponsors willing to partner with independent schools to reach learners in less advantaged circumstances. The goal is to "level the playing fields" between the so called advantaged and disadvantaged child using movement, play and sport as the agent of change. The initiative has already significantly increased access and participation in regular, quality activity. Advances in both the health protection and the motor-physical competence of children, is being achieved.

Claire's academic expertise lies in the areas of: Neuromotor Control; Motor Skill Acquisition; Motor Development across the Lifespan; Exercise Prescription for the Elderly, and Management Practice for Professionals in the Exercise Science, Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Industries. She also teaches the Functional Assessment component in the Geriatrics module of the Family Medicine (Masters in Medicine) and the Age and Health module in the Graduate Education Medical Programme.

Over and above her teaching and research interests, Claire has also played an active role in Special Olympics (SA) and South African talent identification programme. As well, she has served on the National 15-member Ministerial Task Team for High Performance Sport and Implementation Task Team responsible for the management structures and the scientific services needed to sustain and advance sport in South Africa. Through this work she also contributed to the National Sport in Education initiative and has been the National Chairperson for the minimum standard generating body responsible for qualifications in the sport, fitness and recreation industries. She is the South African focal person for the World Sport Alliance and is the Vice-President for the Africa Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport and Dance.

Claire is an avid sport enthusiast and has represented her country as an athlete, a coach, a selector and administrator and a delegate. She currently plays golf off a 10 handicap and lives any opportunity to squeeze in a run, swim, a game of tennis or squash between and around the pleasurable demands of her growing children and family life.