Rosanna Cooney is an award-winning journalist and author based in Dublin. Her forthcoming book, Sweathouse: The New and Ancient Irish Sauna Tradition, explores Ireland's 3,000-year-old sweat bathing heritage, uncovering the cultural and healing practices of traditional Irish sweat houses. Rosanna is also the co-founder of the Sweat House Festival, an annual event celebrating sauna culture in Ireland and Europe.

Nick Cassenbaum is a UK-based theatre maker, playwright, and performer whose work delves into Jewish identity and heritage. His acclaimed solo show, Bubble Schmeisis, is a semi-autobiographical piece centered around the Canning Town Schvitz, East London's last authentic Jewish bathhouse. Through storytelling and klezmer music, Nick brings to life the rituals and camaraderie of the schvitz, reflecting on themes of belonging and tradition.

Malcolm Shifrin, a retired educational librarian, is a historian and author specialising in the study of Victorian-era Turkish baths in the UK. His research sheds light on the architectural, social, and cultural significance of these establishments during the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting their role in public health and leisure. Malcolm's work provides a comprehensive look at how Turkish baths became an integral part of Victorian society.

Shirley Fitzpatrick is the founder of Bosca Beatha, a mobile sauna initiative that brings the traditional Irish sweat bathing experience to contemporary audiences and co-founder of Sweat House Festival. Through Bosca Beatha, Shirley aims to reconnect communities with the ancient practices of heat therapy and communal bathing, emphasizing wellness and cultural heritage. Her work bridges the gap between historical traditions and modern-day wellness practices.

Mikkel Aaland is a Norwegian-American author, photographer, and filmmaker celebrated for his pioneering work on global sweat bathing traditions. His landmark 1978 book Sweat remains a definitive guide to sauna and sweat cultures around the world, from the Finnish sauna to the Native American sweat lodge. He is also the creator of the Perfect Sweat documentary series, which explores the cultural, spiritual, and health aspects of sweat bathing across continents.

Professor Mike Tipton MBE is an internationally recognised expert in thermoregulation and environmental physiology, with over 40 years of research experience. Based at the University of Portsmouth’s Extreme Environments Laboratory, his work focuses on human responses to heat, cold, and survival in extreme conditions. He has authored over 750 scientific publications and several books, including The Essentials of Sea Survival. Mike has advised organisations including the Royal Air Force, UKSport, and the RNLI, and is a Fellow and Trustee of The Physiological Society. His contributions have been recognised with multiple awards, including an MBE for services to physiological research.

Dr Caroline Coch is a climate change researcher by training, now working in the non-profit sector as a project manager. She holds a PhD focused on Arctic environments and has a strong background in science communication, with a long-standing interest in the relationship between people, nature, and wellbeing. In 2023, she co-founded Sawna Bach – The Scenic Sauna, the first beach sauna in North Wales, which expanded to a lakeside site in 2024. Sawna Bach is the first UK sauna to collaborate with a university, working with Bangor University to develop evidence-based sauna guidelines and deepen our understanding of how sauna bathing affects the body.

Sam is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Sciences and the Director of the Institute for Applied Human Physiology at Bangor University. His research explores how exercise, diet, sleep, and environmental stress influence human health and performance. This work has impacted wilderness and emergency medicine clinical practice guidelines and has modified the practices of athletes, and emergency service personnel. While completing this work, Sam has collaborated with many business and industry partners, including most recently with Sawna Bach - The Scenic Sauna.

Emmie has over 25 years’ experience in lifesaving and education both in the UK and overseas which includes work in drowning prevention, training beach lifeguards and education development. Based in North Cornwall, she is a Regional representative on the RNLI’s Water Safety Delivery Support team, training and supporting Water Safety Volunteers as well contributing to the design and delivery of Water Safety programmes and initiatives to help Save Lives At Sea. With a background in Sport and Exercise Sciences, Emmie is a passionate outdoor activity enthusiast, enjoying a wide range of ocean-based sports and activities, specifically surf lifesaving and open water swimming.

Gabrielle Reason is a Director and Council Representative of the British Sauna Society, and previously co-founded the Hackney Wick Sauna Baths in 2022. Gabrielle has a MA in Psychology, Physiology and Philosophy from the University of Oxford and is a passionate advocate for the physical, mental and social health benefits of regular sauna use, emphasising its role in enhancing wellbeing, promoting health and longevity, and fostering community connections. She is also a trustee for Your Leisure, a local health and wellbeing trust in Kent.