Prior to joining The Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Edwards held senior academic roles in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Most recently, he was Professor of Sport and Exercise Science and Head of the School of Psychology and Life Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) in the UK, where he also served as Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research & Enterprise in a pan-university role. He holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology and retains links with CCCU as a collaborator and Visiting Professor.

Internationally recognised in exercise physiology and psychophysiology, Professor Edwards has published extensively on how individuals regulate physical effort and performance. His work places a distinctive focus on pacing, time perception, and the interaction between internal sensations and external environmental or technological cues. Recent research into time perception during exercise has received wide international media attention, featuring in The Times, The Guardian, and across BBC radio platforms.

Ongoing research increasingly explores how technologies such as virtual reality, wearables, music, and immersive environments can be used to enhance motivation, distract from sensations of fatigue, and positively influence time perception. These approaches are being applied both to improve public engagement with physical activity and to optimise performance in elite sporting contexts.

Professional recognition includes Fellowship of the British Association of Sport & Exercise Sciences (BASES) and the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), alongside professional accreditation as a Sport and Exercise Scientist. Professor Edwards has advised professional football clubs and collaborated with national sport institutes and public health organisations. In 2025, he will present an invited symposium at the ECSS Annual Congress in Italy.

In addition to his research and professional consultancy, Professor Edwards has been acknowledged for sector-wide leadership in teaching and learning through the award of Principal Fellowship of the UK’s Higher Education Academy (PFHEA). His academic career began in physical education, having trained as a PE teacher, and he continues to advocate for excellence in teacher education and curriculum innovation in the field.

Exercise Physiology

Sport and Exercise Performance and Training

Psychophysiology of Sport and Exercise

Elite Sport and Physiology

Visiting Professor, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

Associate Editorial Board Member, Journal of Sport Sciences