Dr Siona Fernandes OLY

Interdisciplinary researcher (PhD Exercise, Sport, Health) • Olympian • Accredited Exercise Professional

Bridging sport, movement, and culture to foster health, wellbeing, and belonging.

I work at the intersection of sport, exercise, and health. I bring together research, practice, and lived experience to advance wellbeing and belonging. This work is shaped by my experiences as a professional Bharatanatyam artist (BA Performing Arts), elite Olympic boxer, and academic scholar across India (MSc Psychology), New Zealand (MSc Sport & Exercise), and Australia.

This is a space where the fragments of my journey are progressively being pieced together under one platform – my website. Together with my web design skills, the platform is a work in progress. As my story continues to evolve, this platform will evolve with it.

My ‘journey’ starts in India, through New Zealand, and into Australia. Built around themes of sport, classical Indian dance, and elite Olympic participation, I briefly capture that journey at each transition, and embed some media highlights at the end for those who may be interested. An image gallery is a likely future addition to expand on this journey.

I also use this website as a platform to share my original research publications, including journal articles, reports, and related work, in accessible formats. I aim to make the information available to fellow academics, policymakers and those interested in evidence of sport and physical activity among the Indian migrant population across New Zealand and Australia.

Bridging theoretical evidence into practical solutions that support the health and wellbeing of individuals is something I am passionate about. I highlight that commitment through my continued service of coaching adults and mentoring youth as an accredited exercise practitioner. Serving in and through the exercise and fitness industry for over 15 years remains my most fulfilling contribution to the health and wellbeing of people and of places.

From time to time, I like to share my reflections from the in‑between places: the transitions, the questions, the lessons that come from (re)building a life across continents and countries shaped by years in sport, study, and the ongoing work of becoming myself. I write slowly, but with intention, and everything shared in this space comes from a place of learning, failing, growing; the lived experience. Some pieces appear as blog posts, others as interview transcripts, and in time, images could also tell the story. I welcome your thoughts, so feel free to leave your comments.

Thank you for stopping by to discover some of my work. 

Recently Featured by AusActive: View