EUROPEACTIVE AND EDUCATION

Julian Berriman MA
Director

Julian Berriman holds an MA in Leisure Management and BSc (Hons) in Osteopathy. He is a qualified teacher and personal trainer and, over the last 25 years in the fitness industry has delivered training to aspiring instructors, personal trainers and therapists at all levels from industry entrants to high-level practitioners.

Julian was the Director of Research and Development at one of the UKs leading vocational training providers for more than 20 years and during this time was responsible for writing fitness qualifications at a range of levels on the National Qualifications Framework. He has also been a Director of an industry leading Awarding Organisation where he established a wide knowledge of the development of qualifications in line with national qualification framework requirements and the comprehensive quality assurance of the delivery of those qualifications.

As the Director of EuropeActive’s Professional Standards Committee Julian has responsibility for overseeing the development and review of EuropeActive’s Sector Qualifications Framework. These educational standards have been developed in wide consultation with the European fitness industry and are the basis for the accreditation of training providers and individual instructors and trainers across Europe, as part of the European Register of Exercise Professionals.

Julian continues to travel widely to build effective working relationships with fitness training providers, employers and national associations across Europe and the rest of the world. He is wholly committed to the PSC as the leading body in developing the occupations and registration of fitness professionals of the European health and fitness industry and to EuropeActive’s core vision and mission to get more people, more active, more often.

Dr. Anna Szumilewicz PhD
Deputy Director PSC

Anna Szumilewicz, PhD in Exercise Science, is an Associate Professor at Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport (AWFiS). Collaborating with EuropeActive since 2011, she shapes EA’s Standards across EQF levels and contributes to projects focusing on qualifications' relevance to the EQF and Skills Cooperation in Fitness Sector.

In Poland, Anna serves as the vice-chair of the Council for Education and Improvement of Physical Culture Staff at the Ministry of Sports and Tourism. She also cooperates with vocational training institutions and research institutes, both carrying out scientific research and describing educational standards and professional qualifications.  

Her research delves into exercise professionals' competencies and the impact of exercise on women’s health, particularly during the pre- and postnatal periods. Anna has developed the "FemFit Mama" and “HIIT Mama” training programs for pregnant and postpartum women, implemented in Polish fitness clubs and abroad. She also implemented the international educational project NEPPE (The New Era of Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise), involving representatives from 41 countries (2021-2023). Her numerous scientific papers on women's health-related physical activity reflect her dedication to advancing fitness education and women’s health.

For her activities, she was awarded, among others: by the President of the Republic of Poland (2019, 2023), the Minister of Education (2016), the Minister of Sport (2017, 2022) and the Women's Sports Commissions of the Polish Olympic Committee (2022).

Dr. Espen Arntzen

Espen is a Dr of Naprapathy from the Scandinavian College of Manual Medicine in Stockholm as well as having multiple certifications in Personal Training and Performance.

He has worked with both national teams and athletes in numerous sports as well as clients in health and fitness and has been doing education since 1994.

In 20024 he founded the Norwegian Academy For Personal Training (AFPT) and have educated over 10.000 students in personal training over the last 20 years and has proudly been building AFPT to become the largest private school in personal training in Scandinavia.

He is also CEO of Wellness Education and Technology where he is in charge of a team of over 70 people striving to provide quality education within health and fitness in Norway and Sweden and looking to expand both the company and its´influence and educations to new countries.

He is most importantly a devoted husband and a father of two children.

Ben Pratt MSc

Ben has been actively working in health, fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing since 1995, moving into related education in 2003.  He elevated his expertise and gained significant industry experience working for leading training providers, awarding organisations, charities, and fitness associations over more than two decades.

Ben is a seasoned presenter, tutor, assessor, and educator. A sought-after consultant and education developer, his training programmes, both in-person and online, have been delivered to thousands of students across the United Kingdom, Europe, and further afield.

Ben continues to influence the wider health and fitness industry and advocates for positive change and an increase in the quality of education and the standards of practice and professionalism needed in our industry.

George Xiros

George Xiros has been involved in the fitness industry for almost 30 years. He has perform many including running his own fitness education provider, gyms and online fitness platforms. As an international  speaker George has presented on some of the biggest fitness industry stages across Europe and beyond. George is a true fitness entrepreneur and his list of achievements include:

• Official Ambassador of the European Register of Exercise Professionals - EREPS (European Register of Exercise Professionals) since 2020.
• International presenter -  speaker in more than 20 countries worldwide and appearances on various TV shows, magazines, radios, awards in Greece and abroad
• Founder of the Fitness Training Organisation XAGON FITNESS.
• Founder and Director of Calisthenics Elite Training School.
• Founder of the Fitness Training Organisation STUDIO ONE.
• Founder and Director of the series of Group Fitness Programs & Personal Training "THE CONCEPT GROUP FITNESS BRANDS".
• Owner and General Director of THE CONCEPT TERMINAL gym 
• Co-owner and Lead Fitness Coach of the  www.thecoach.gr, the online Fitness on Demand platform in the Balkans (more than 70,000 subscribers).
• Co-founder and General Director of Frogmanfit, the innovative form of training based on the training methods of the  Special Forces (O.Y.K).
• Owner of the award-winning online training platform e-learning studioone.gr
• Co-ordinator for the biggest Fitness Festival in Southeast Europe, the ATHENS FITNESS FESTIVAL.
• Consultant of popular gyms chains in Greece and  abroad.