What we do

Modern life places constant demands on our attention, health, relationships and recovery. Our practical, evidence-informed programs help people better understand how they're operating, develop healthier habits, and build a more sustainable way of living and working.

Delivered in small groups, our programs combine science, practical application and shared experience to create meaningful change through conversation, accountability and genuine connection.

Hear from our clients

My long-term trainer Stu Smith has had as much, if not more, of an influence on my career than anyone.

Daniel Ricciardo

F1 Driver

I’ve been working with Stu Smith for 5 years now and it was the best decision I ever made.

Jock Landale

NBA Basketballer

He's (Dave) one of the most insightful people when it comes to asking the right questions. Even if you give a superficial answer, he'll dig deeper — to the ultimate source of whatever's plaguing you.

Mohendra Moodley

Managing Director, Capricorn

Stuart for sure has changed my life across the board… he has navigated me through everything that was previously unknown and really helped me reach my absolute maximum potential in life and sport.

Scotty James

World leading snowboarder

He (Dave) gave me specific, measurable targets, but was also really good at helping me deal with the bigger pieces — the inertia, the fear.

Madhur Singhal

Managing Director, Origo Capital

After 30 years working within Financial Services, I have been lucky enough to be placed on various training courses, I can safely say that the consultation with Stuart over the past 12 weeks was one of the most impactful I have been associated with.

CFO

Investment bank

I am at the point now where my work with Stuart makes me a better human being. I consider him a world class practitioner and what sets him apart and why I enjoy working with him is because of his university qualifications and the experience he has gained from some of the top athletes in the world, which is why I go all in with him and his work.

John Moore

ex CEO / TD Securities (Asia Pacific)

He (Dave) changed the course of my life in a short period of time.

Rob Knight

CEO, Pure Foods Tasmania Ltd (ASX:PFT)

It’s made me more effective in my workplace, but also more empathetic and understanding.

Sam Davies

Strategy Principal, Telstra

Our story

Across our combined backgrounds in elite sport and high-performance environments — including Formula 1, the NBA, Australian cricket, Olympic programs, clinical practice, nutrition, exercise physiology, and performance coaching for hedge fund professionals — we repeatedly observed the same pattern: when people were supported in an integrated and human way, they experienced significant improvements not only in performance, but also in wellbeing, relationships, and overall engagement with life.

At the same time, we recognised that these principles were often reserved for elite performers, despite the growing pressures faced by everyday professionals, leaders, business owners, parents, and teams. Vitalis was created to bring these evidence-informed, holistic concepts to the wider community in a practical and accessible way. We wanted a way to get these effective strategies to a much wider audience, hence the reason we started Vitalis.

The Directors

Together, Dave and Stu combine the science of human performance with decades of practical experience working with people operating in demanding environments.

Stuart Smith

From the pitlanes of F1 around the world to assisting multiple portfolio managers in Europe, America and the UK manage over 1 billion individually in capital per year, Stuart Smith has had almost unrivalled experiences at the coal face of pressure situations.

Stuart's work has seen him also traverse the globe and consult with full time professionals in Rugby, Cricket, AFL, Snowboarding, Basketball and Extreme Sports and with multiple CEO’s, Executive Committes and C-suite executives. His practice is always informed by science and is underpinned by Masters Degrees in Physiology and Psychology.

David Hobart

David Hobart is a performance coach and former hedge fund manager whose career spans more than 30 years. Beginning as a trader in 1994, he developed a unique expertise in risk management under uncertainty—a foundation that now informs his transformative coaching approach.

Since 2006, David has partnered with founders, investment professionals, corporate executives, and athletes, helping them build resilience, clarity, and consistency in high-stakes environments.

Our Methodology

Vitalis takes a holistic and integrated approach to wellbeing and performance because physical health, mental clarity, emotional regulation, recovery, relationships, and agency are deeply interconnected.

Mental

Develop self-awareness, quiet the inner critic, and strengthen focus and emotional regulation.

Physical

Build energy, strength, and resilience through intelligent movement, aerobic conditioning, and strength fundamentals.

Relationships

Learn frameworks for authentic connection, integrity, and communication that deepen personal and professional bonds.

Agency

Clarify your values, align actions with purpose, and regain a sense of control and direction in your life.

Recovery

Create sustainable routines for sleep, stress, and nervous system regulation that support high performance.

Our Offerings

Vitalis Reset

A two-day immersive experience with six weeks of follow-up coaching, helping busy people build greater clarity, energy and capacity for work and life.

Visit the Vitalis Reset page

Workshops

Practical, evidence-informed workshops that help teams build greater clarity, resilience and performance in demanding environments.

Keynote Presentations

Engaging keynotes that bring practical insights from high-performance environments to the challenges of modern work and life.

Build greater capacity for the way you live and work.

Lessons from elite sport and business applied directly to your life.

How are you currently operating?

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