Meet the experts at ISSF Academy

Robert Päkk, M.Sc., is a dual master’s graduate from the University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences in Finland. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Jyväskylä’s School of Business and Economics, Robert serves as the Leading Advisor in Mental Coaching for the Finnish Olympic Committee. In this role, he has been responsible for sport psychology at the Tokyo 2020, Beijing 2022, and Paris 2024 Olympics. With over a decade of international experience in sport psychology, Robert has focused his research on affect and emotions and their connection to performance. He has worked extensively with athletes across various disciplines, particularly in shooting sports, including shotgun and pistol, as well as sailing, cross-country skiing, and track and field. Additionally, he leads the ISSF Academy Sport Psychology Team.

Jack Bale is a former Team GB rifle shooter who competed internationally for several years and now specializes in skill acquisition within the ecological dynamics framework. Based in Australia, he is completing his PhD on the effects of task ambiguity and representative constraints on combat shooting performance. Jack applies his expertise to high-performance shooting, serving as the head ISSF rifle coach for Victoria State and consulting for Shooting Australia. HIs academic interest in ISSF shooting has led to published research with further work in progress. Holding a master’s degree in strength and conditioning coaching and a bachelor’s (Hons) in sports and exercise science, Jack bridges academic research and applied practice, advancing evidence-based training methods in shooting sports.

James Galea is a qualified Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon with interest in the health management aspects of athletes. Following a short career as a shotgun athlete with the Maltese National team, his sport career has since focused on coaching athletes in a holistic way. In 2017 he founded the elite shooting academy where different coaches (technical, mental, physical and health) are regularly invited to further the experience of training the athletes involved in the academy. His main focus now is the holistic health of shooting athletes and helping coaches achieving the full potential of their athletes maintaining the mental and physical wellbeing.

Jana Fogaca is an Associate Professor in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Long Beach. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Federal University of RS (Brazil). She also has two master’s degrees, one in Sport and Exercise Psychology from University of Jyväskylä (Finland) and one in Counseling from West Virginia University, where she also completed her PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Her research interests include professional development in sport psychology, applied sport psychology, and weight stigma. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and has experience working with multiple sports at various levels.

Paul Hughes HCPC CPsychol is a UK-based Sport Psychologist. He worked with his first shooter (Air Pistol) in 2008 and has worked exclusively in shooting sports since 2014. Paul led a team of Sport Psychologists for the GBR Olympic & Paralympic World Class Programmes 2014-2022. He attended and supported GBR shooters/coaches at 1 Paralympics and 3 Olympic Games (Rio, Tokyo and Paris). The focus was on developing a high-performance culture and assisting shooters and coaches in performing under pressure. Paul has worked as on independent Sport Psychologist in shooting since 2022, delivering his sport psychology method to shooters via his Shooting Mindset Academy online platform. He continues to support elite shooters 1:1 in pursuit of success at LA 2028 and beyond.

Sami Kalaja, PhD, Professor of practice in sport emeritus, University of Jyväskylä. Area of expertice is motor skills learning and coaching.

Tommi holds a BSc, majoring in Exercise Physiology. He is working as High-Performance Manager at Finnish Olympic Committee, with a strong background working in elite level sports as a strength and conditioning coach gaining diverse experience in elite level sports throughout his interesting career. Tommi has been involved in coaching and mentoring teams behind Olympic athletes and Olympic/World Championships. And he has worked as a performance coach for Sebastian Vettel (former F1 4-time World Champion), strength and conditioning coach for Team Finland in volleyball and as coach for two different Finnish premier league elite level hockey teams.