Why GPNi® Was Created: A Message From Founder Drew Campbell, CISSN Founder, Global Performance Nutrition Institute

“In a world of certifications built by marketers and mass platforms, I created GPNi® to bring back credibility, science, and mentorship to the next generation of sports nutrition professionals.”

- Drew Campbell, CISSN

If you’ve ever searched for a nutrition certification, you’ve probably seen the same promises repeated everywhere: “evidence-based,” “globally recognized,” “career-changing.”

But after spending decades inside the sports nutrition industry, I’ve learned something most people only realize after they’ve invested time and money into the wrong course:

Many certifications aren’t built by experts.
Many don’t teach real science.
And most won’t meaningfully move your career forward.

That’s why I built GPNi®.

From the Field to the Future of Sports Nutrition

For over 30 years, I’ve worked across nearly every layer of this industry, including:

• Retail sports nutrition
• Research and development
• Global brand building
• Clinical and performance coaching
• Innovation in sports nutrition technologies
• Mentoring professionals across more than 40 countries

Through all of that work, my mission has always been clear:

To make credible sports nutrition education accessible, taught by real professionals, grounded in real science.

One student put it perfectly:

“I have no prior background in nutrition, but the way the GPNi® course connects research, structure, and expert teaching gave me clarity and confidence.”

- Claudia Sachse, GPNi® Student

Why GPNi® Had to Exist

As sports nutrition became more popular, I noticed a trend that should concern anyone serious about building a credible career:

Certifications were becoming faster, cheaper, and increasingly disconnected from expertise.

Too often, what was sold as “education” was actually:

• Simplified PDFs
• Slides written by marketers
• Curriculum with little grounding in peer-reviewed science

"Students were being sold convenience, not credibility and I knew the industry needed something better."

- Drew Campbell, CISSN

Built in Partnership with the ISSN

One of the most important foundations of GPNi® is our partnership with the ISSN- The International Society of Sports Nutrition.

The ISSN is globally respected for a reason:

• It sets scientific standards in sports nutrition research
• It publishes peer-reviewed position stands
• It supports elite coaches and scientists worldwide

GPNi® is the exclusive global education partner of the ISSN, licensed to deliver structured, multilingual ISSN education to a global audience.

As one graduate shared:

“The ISSN-SNS certification by GPNi® goes above and beyond. It will truly set you apart as a fitness professional.”

- Holly Priestland

Learn from Faculty Who Live the Science

This is one of the biggest differences between GPNi® and most certifications. Our instructors aren’t just educators. They are active contributors to the field practitioners, researchers, and real-world professionals who understand both science and application.

“I’ve worked in the trenches with elite athletes, general clients, and nutrition product companies for over 25 years. GPNi® is the first certification I’ve seen that brings all those worlds together.”

- Rich White, Performance Nutritionist and GPNi® Faculty

“As an educator and scientist, I believe in giving students more than definitions and protocols. GPNi® challenges them to think, apply, and understand the science at a professional level.”

- Dr. Zack Murray, PhD, ISSN Advisory Board Member

Students often describe the experience as deeper and more engaging than what they expected:

“The live online tutorials combined with world-class instructors made the course experience incredibly rich.”

Lenka Suta

A Global Platform With Real Impact

Today, GPNi® supports over 50,000 students and ISSN members across 50+ countries, and is delivered in:

• English
• Chinese
• Japanese

Our students apply their learning in:

• Elite sport and coaching
• Product formulation and performance innovation
• Clinical and health settings
• Higher education and academia

“As a qualified nutritionist, I was shocked how much more I learned. The level of science, expert access, and structure was far beyond expectations.”

- Ana Terra

Connected to the Real Industry

Because I remain actively involved in formulation, research, and product innovation, the curriculum stays aligned with what matters in the real world, including:

• Evidence-based supplement design
• Ingredient systems and bioavailability
• Recovery, endurance, and performance nutrition
• How research becomes formulation
• How professionals apply science in real practice

“Being certified by the global leaders in sports nutrition GPNi® and the ISSN helped me take my career and business to the next level.”

- Darren Wong, Gym Owner and Coach

My Promise to You

GPNi® is not a shortcutand it was never meant to be.

It exists for people who:

• Want to be recognized as credible
• Believe that science matters
• Seek mentorship and mastery, not marketing

One student’s story shows what’s possible:

“I lost 35kg, but only because I learned how to do it properly. GPNi® gave me the tools to transform my life and now others’ too.”

- James Thompson

“If you want to elevate your coaching or nutrition practice, this course isn’t optional. It’s foundational.”

- Emanuele Mediati

Final Words

Choosing a certification isn’t only about the information you learn. It’s about what kind of professional you become.

At GPNi®, we help students grow into:

• Trusted practitioners
• Credible advisors
• Professionals backed by real science, not slogans

If that’s your goal, welcome to GPNi®.

Drew Campbell, CISSN
Founder, GPNi®
Global Sports Nutrition Educator | Innovation Leader | Mentor