Keynote Speaker

Josh Barney, CEO of SEAT Conference, is a leader in sports, tech, and esports with a strong background in digital transformation and innovation.

Previously, he was the Director of Technology for the Utah Jazz, overseeing consumer-facing technologies at the Delta Center and pioneering Jazz Gaming, the NBA 2K League team.

With extensive experience in esports, technology infrastructure, and business growth, Josh is passionate about creating immersive fan experiences and driving the future of sports and entertainment through technology. He holds a BS in Telecommunications Administration from Weber State University.

Kate qualified as a lawyer in private practice in Oxford and began in motorsport working for Tom Walkinshaw at the TWR Group – a renowned automotive consultancy, racing group and owner of the Arrows Formula 1 Team.

In 2003, Kate was recruited by Bernie Ecclestone at Formula One Management where she worked in various commercial and legal capacities around, brand protection, brand licencing, partnerships, hospitality and CSR including the creation of the F1 in Schools programme – now the world’s biggest school aged STEM challenge.

In 2017, Kate was appointed Global Director of the Hospitality and Experiences division, where she set out to re-invent high end hospitality in Formula 1 including new initiatives such as the hugely successful ‘F1 Experiences’ concept.

Kate left Formula 1 in 2021 and set up New Quebec Advisory where she works with existing and new sponsors, suppliers and investors across sport.

Kate is most proud to have helped found (and is Main Board Advisor to) More Than Equal; a game changing not for profit organisation founded by David Coulthard and Karel Komarek and whose purpose is to find and develop the first female Formula 1 World Champion.

She is also Deputy Chair (Europe) for the Sport Integrity Global Alliance.

Over 25 years ago in 1999, I joined Dawnvale ‘on the tools’ installing bars and commercial kitchens. Looking for a new challenge I then progressed into the role of Site Manager, followed by Contracts Director and now – Managing Director. Over the years it has been my vision to transform Dawnvale into a premium full-service main contractor that specialises in fast-track hospitality projects.

Working with clients such as TGI Fridays, Hickory's, Living Ventures and Tattu I noticed how our operations were negatively impacted by relying on external contractors. From this, we decided to take control and handle all main contract work in-house. This strategic move 20 years ago allowed Dawnvale to offer a faster, more efficient service across all projects.

Over the past six years, Dawnvale has successfully delivered high-profile, on-time projects for MCFC, BCFC, MUFC, and ASFC. BCFC’s Alliance Lounge and MCFC’s Ardwick pub were two multimillion-pound projects that we completed in just 4 weeks.

With the future of Dawnvale in mind, our focus is to collaborate with more elite Sports Clubs and design practices, helping to enhance the fan's and guest experience with innovative, accessible hospitality spaces. I look forward to continuing to lead my fantastic team, delivering many more projects on tight timelines and bringing seamless experiences for clients and fans around the UK.

Paul Birk is Commercial Manager at Humanforce.

Humanforce provides the best-in-one human capital management (HCM) suite for venues and event workforces globally. Its market leading, highly configurable, cloud-based solution is employee-centered, intelligent and compliant. Humanforce offers a cloud-based platform for employers and managers, and a user-friendly mobile app, specifically designed for employees in their flow of work.

Tel: +44 (0)800 014 8841 (UK Office)

Ruairi Boyce, the culinary virtuoso at Croke Park Stadium, elevates the dining experience to new heights every day of the week. As the Executive Chef, Ruairi infuses brilliance and creativity into every dish, setting the standard for stadium food innovation. His passion for culinary excellence is not only evident in his creations but also mirrored by the exceptionally talented team at Aramark that he leads.

Together, Ruairi and his team are on a mission to transform the perception of stadium food, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in event catering and sustainable culinary practices. The commitment to excellence is not only seen in the delectable flavors that grace the plates but also in the dedication to sourcing the finest ingredients.

Ruairi and his award-winning team have pioneered the "50 Mile Menu" concept, redefining the meaning of locally sourced ingredients. This initiative has not only delighted the taste buds of stadium-goers but has also established a profound connection between the stadium kitchen and the local farming community.

Constantly exploring new ideas and collaborating with artisan suppliers, Ruairi's team ensures that every dish tells a story of quality, sustainability, and the vibrant flavors of the region. Under Ruairi's culinary leadership, Croke Park Stadium has become a culinary destination where food is not just a necessity but an integral part of the overall experience, reflecting the commitment to excellence and innovation in every bite.

Karl Boyle is the Director of Development with Connacht Rugby. He is responsible for the redevelopment project of Dexcom Stadium. Karl has been instrumental in the project from its genesis; guiding it through planning; design; fundraising; and now construction. 

Prior to joining Connacht Rugby, Karl held the position of Chief Executive of Mountaineering Ireland, having previously served as a Captain in the Irish Defence Forces.

James Bradshaw has over a decade of experience leading the development, design, and delivery of iconic real estate projects across the UK and Europe. His work with organisations such as ASM Global, AEG, and the Ambassador Theatre Group has seen him shape landmark venues like The O2, AO Arena Manchester, and OVO Arena Wembley. James has led large-scale redevelopment and refurbishment projects, including a £50 million renovation of AO Arena and the £130 million expansion of The O2’s Entertainment District.

With a focus on strategic planning, innovation, and collaborative leadership mixed with a love of venues and live entertainment, James founded James Bradshaw Consulting to help clients realise their visions for transformative real estate projects. His bespoke advisory services are tailored to each client’s needs, ensuring that every project creates long-term value and drives strategic growth.

Tom is a tenured sales leader with a passion for driving business outcomes and change through innovation and technology. He has 15+ years selling and advising on cloud and technology solutions to a diverse portfolio of clients and verticals.

Francis Casado is one of the founders of Mobile Media Content, who comercialises the 3D Digital Venue platform and is currently serving as Head of Business Development. Prior to founding MMC- 3D Digital Venue, that revolutionized Interactive Digital Venue Management for Sports and Entertainment Venue Industry, Francis made his career around the beneficial application of 3D Technology and Virtual Reality for various sectors, including Mobile apps, real state and pharma, amongst others.

A true entrepreneur, skilled in the domains of visualizing and pursuing new innovative business opportunities, creating, coaching and leading teams; Francis has led Mobile Media Content from the front bringing in multiple accolades and awards in fields of innovation and growth from all around the world. Apart from the successes in his academic and professional field, Francis has been having a favorable run as an Associate Professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship with Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscasado/

Cassandra Calleja is the Head of Business Development & Client Relations at Sports Venue Business and SVB LIVE. She brings over 20 years of experience, working exclusively within the sports industry.

Throughout her career, Cassandra has become a specialist in sports technology. Her leadership was instrumental in establishing the ECAL North American Office in Los Angeles. She has contributed her expertise to sports tech companies such as VenueNext and EngageRM, with her client portfolio including major leagues and teams like the Australian Football League, Cricket Australia, the NBA, NBL, EPL, NFL, NHL, and MLS. Her roles have spanned business development, ticket strategy, fan and client engagement and retention, as well as special event planning.

In addition to driving business growth and managing client relationships, Cassandra spearheads the implementation of SVB LIVE's engagement platform and takes the lead in strategic planning. She leads SVB LIVE networking events across Australia, fostering key industry connections. She is an active blogger and social media user, focusing on the premium hospitality experiences in sports. Through her publications, she provides deep insights into the niche world of sports and live entertainment.

Fiona Cronin is the Meeting & Events Department Manager at Croke Park Stadium, one of Europe’s most iconic venues.

With over a decade of experience in the hospitality and events industry, Fiona plays a pivotal role in managing the stadium’s expansive event operations, which host over 1,100 events each year across 110 versatile spaces. Since joining Croke Park over five years ago, Fiona has been instrumental in elevating the stadium's reputation as a premier event destination. Her leadership ensures that every event, whether a small meeting, corporate conference, social gathering, or large-scale exhibition, is executed with the highest level of professionalism and attention to detail.

Fiona’s background includes a degree in Event Management from Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) and significant roles with top-tier companies such as CWT Meeting & Events and the Hilton Hotel group. Her experience spans event sales, client relationship management, and the coordination of complex logistics, all of which contribute to the seamless delivery of events at Croke Park.

Under Fiona’s leadership, the Meeting & Events team at Croke Park remains committed to delivering exceptional service, maintaining the highest standards, and consistently exceeding client expectations.

Scott Cullimore is first and foremost a sports fan who happens to have spent the last 17 years within the security industry. He sees Sport as a platform to test yourself, to see if the solution to the challenge could be found and to see if the desired result or performance could be obtained or improved. This, for him, is no different for Security solutions.

For the early part of his career, at Chelsea Football Club, he provided solutions to performers and athletes through listening, coaching, and mentoring to achieve goals and targets. Security solutions are very similar in that they are about listening, coaching, teamwork and understanding how each individual element of the solution plugs together, the effects these individual elements can have on each other and the desired result everyone shares.

Scott currently serves Channel Director EMEA as well as being the international lead for Sports Events at Evolv Technology.

Scott has travelled the world providing security solutions for iconic events and venues including The London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games, Mineirão, Mané Garrincha & Maracanã in Brazil, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, Sochi 2014, Melbourne Cricket Club, UEFA Finals and Major Events in 2024.

With over two decades of experience in VIP hospitality and sales, Innes has built a distinguished career focused on creating unforgettable guest experiences and optimising business processes.

Since August 2010, Innes has served as the Senior VIP Coordinator and Sales Account Manager at be•at Venues in Antwerp. In this role, she is responsible for recruiting, planning, and managing the hospitality staff in the VIP areas. Her duties include crafting customised event proposals, coordinating the pre-production of the VIP Experience, and maintaining valuable relationships with suppliers.

Vicki is a Commercial & Marketing professional specialising in Sponsorship & Partnerships and has worked within the sporting, entertainment & events industry for over 20 years. She currently leads the Commercial Department of Horse Racing Ireland Racecourses which has responsibility for Leopardstown, Fairyhouse, Navan & Tipperary Racecourses. Her department are responsible for driving growth and innovation in the areas of Sponsorship & Partnerships, Sales & Business Development and Hospitality Experience at both horseracing fixtures and outside of race meetings as event venues.

Vicki has a passion for originating and executing innovative sponsorship partnership opportunities and activations which simultaneously enhance customer experience. She is adept at identifying new revenue streams and creating business development strategies to deliver these, alongside overseeing marketing and events in the Sports and Entertainment industry.

Catherine Downes is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at usheru, where she oversees Client Success and Operations, ensuring the roll-out of the company vision and innovative solutions to our partners in 21 countries with a laser focus on usheru's renowned and responsive service, smooth operations and overall happy live entertainment clients.

True long-term partnerships are what usheru considers a win-win as it scales globally.

Lenny is Culinary Director at Levy Ireland and Executive Chef at The CCD.

Max has been in the sports and venues industry for over a decade, predominantly advising large blue-chip companies and high worth individuals on Premium Experiences.

He started his professional life cutting his teeth in the fiercely competitive world of recruitment, before starting in the industry at the Goodwood Estate on the Sussex Downs.

From there, the World's Most Famous Racecourse, Ascot, came a knocking, and Max relocated to the Berkshire town to take on this new challenge.

After 9 years, 4 promotions and multiple 'Sales Person of the Year' awards, he took on looking after a team within the Premium department at the market-leading Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

From here, Max elevated his career to the position of Director of Sales at Formula 1®️ for ELEVATE, focusing on generating new clients for the most curated experiences in world sport, at races across the globe.

Recently, Max has moved into the new position of Director of International Business Development for ELEVATE, concentrating fully on enhancing their ever-growing portfolio of clients worldwide.

Max founded a network during Covid to support those working in the sports & venues industry, called #BEAGOODSPORT, which now hosts a series of popular networking events.

Robert Fitzpatrick is Chief Executive Officer of the Odyssey Trust. Situated in the heart of Belfast’s iconic Titanic Quarter, The SSE Arena, Belfast, is an indoor multi-purpose venue, with an audience capacity of up to 10,800. Welcoming upwards of 800,000 visitors every year, The SSE Arena, Belfast has attracted countless international performers, sporting events, exhibitions and conferences, and has established itself as key location on major European and World tours.

Tom is an accomplished strategic business leader with a history of driving growth, innovation, and profitability across food, beverage, leisure, and hospitality sectors.

With extensive experience crafting memorable experiences at renowned sports and entertainment venues, Tom currently oversees Marketing, Retail, Communications, Health, Wellbeing, and Nutrition for Aramark UK & Global Offshore.

Having worked across significant experience transformations in spaces such as Tottenham Hotspur and The O2, Tom is currently working collaboratively with Everton FC on the customer experience design for food, drink and experiences at their new Stadium in Bramley-Moore Dock.

A former goalkeeper at KRC Genk, Sem Franssen has returned in 2022 to a club which has a special place in his heart. First as 'Technical Coordinator of Football', he then become the new Director of Business Development at KRC Genk. In his current role, he has been taking charge of the commercial department, fan services and the communications department.

Leighton Griffiths is the Global Domain Lead for Sports and Venues at Verizon Business Group. He has over 25 years of experience across the telecommunications industry in both start-up and corporate organisations.

With a real passion for the Sports and Entertainment industry, Leighton is responsible for developing and executing the Verizon go-to market strategy by leveraging the extensive strategic partnerships and professional services capabilities across the Verizon group.

Claire Harkness is the Operations Director at the Coventry Building Society Arena (CBS Arena), in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The venue has a 32,600 capacity stadium and a 10,000 capacity arena and conference centre.

Claire joined the arena in July 2023. The pitch management, events and exhibition management, IT, operations, safety and security teams all report into her.

Previously her roles have included Venue Director at Ibrox Stadium, the home of Rangers Football Club and Venue Manager at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool.

Having a career in event management in both sport and entertainment across stadiums and venues, she has worked on Commonwealth Games, Olympic football, The EUROs, Champions League Finals and major concerts by Harry Styles, Bon Jovi, P!nk, Take That, Cold Play, the Killers and Calvin Harris.

With a special interest in stadium design and safety, she is developing a number of improvements across the venue.

Caroline James is the General Manager of Utilita Arena Newcastle, part of the ASM Global portfolio, which includes over 350 venues around the world.

Originally from London, UK, Caroline began her journey in hospitality during her gap year. She later emigrated to New Zealand, where she owned and managed a 250-cover fine dining restaurant, overseeing a team of over 100 staff and delivering a wide range of events, from weddings to parties.

Her career continued across diverse venues, including theatres, arenas, stadiums, and community spaces in the UK, New Zealand, and Doha, with vast expertise in event management, operations, sales and marketing, business development, catering, and hospitality. Caroline worked across many facets of the entertainment and events industry, including sport, music, live shows, television productions, and corporate events.

In 2018, Caroline relocated to Newcastle, joining the team at Utilita Arena Newcastle. By January 2023, she had risen to the position of General Manager, where she now leads the venue through a busy calendar of high-profile events, including sell-out shows by artists such as Sam Fender, Girls Aloud, and Lewis Capaldi. Under her leadership, the arena is now undergoing a £1.75 million refurbishment in celebration of its 30th anniversary, further cementing its status as Newcastle’s premier live entertainment destination.

Vicky has worked in the stadium and venues industry for over 15 years, specialising in Premium Sales Strategy for transformative renovations and new build projects.

She leads the ‘ALL’ Bars, Restaurants and Experiences proposition at Everton’s impressive new 52,888-seater home, opening in 2025.

Previous projects include M&S Bank Arena, and Liverpool FC’s Main Stand redevelopment.

Vicky has a passion for innovation across Premium Sales and Experiences, and is driven by shaping customer journeys that appeal to a wider range of fan profiles. She enjoys contributing to industry conferences and discussions across a range of topics, believing that collaboration across the stadia and venues industry inspires best-in-class delivery.

Michael has supported HPE Aruba Networking’s Sports Venue practice for 12 years, leading the experience-based technology adoption for public facing enterprises all over the globe. 

With more than 20 years of advanced technology solutioning, Michael specialises in the digital transformation of sports venues in this new era of data-first business operations.   

michael.johnston@hpe.com

+1 602-820-8549

HPE Aruba Networking

HPE.com

Denise has over 14 years of experience in the hospitality and stadium design and fit-

out industry, where she has built a strong reputation for her expertise in sales,

marketing, and trend analysis. At Dawnvale, she plays a crucial role in driving business

growth by overseeing sales and marketing strategies, while also closely monitoring

industry trends to ensure the company remains at the forefront of innovation for both

existing and new clients.

Before joining Dawnvale, Denise was the Head of the Hotel Division at her previous

company, where she successfully led the development and implementation of cutting-

edge technologies aimed at enhancing the guest experience. She was responsible not

only for improving the technology available to staying customers but also for optimising

front-of-house operations to boost efficiency and service quality. Denise’s extensive

background and strategic approach have made her an invaluable asset in delivering

exceptional solutions that meet the evolving needs of the hospitality sector.

As Director at RESULT Sports, Gordon leads the delivery of innovative and effective digital media solutions for sports organisations around the world.

With over 15 years of experience in the sports industry, among which leading the sales team of Celtic FC and Burnley FC, Gordon has a proven track record of developing and executing successful commercial, sponsorship, and social media strategies for elite clubs and associations.

Mark joined the group in 2014 as Chief Operations Officer for Ashton Gate Limited (AGL) with accountability for the operational delivery of the £50m live stadium redevelopment, which was completed in 2016.

In 2017, he took over the role of Managing Director of AGL and the following year it expanded to a dual role as Managing Director of Bristol Sport Limited (BSL).

In 2023, Mark was appointed Director Of Global Property Investment for Pula to concentrate solely on the venue and property side of Pula’s interest. These include Ashton Gate and the £130m Sporting Quarter development; £50m redevelopment of Guernsey’s premier golf and spa hotel La Grande Mare and the management of Pula’s “Mashatu Africa” – a luxury safari holiday destination.

Mark has a wealth of experience in international commercial brands (UK, Ireland, USA and Africa) and hotel rebrands as well as multi-million-pound venue transformations. He has a BA (hons) in Business Management from Birmingham University and a PgDip in Business Leadership with a specialty in Business Psychology from Warwick Business School. He sits on the company boards of: Pula, Ashton Gate and Bristol Flyers.

A Chief Information Officer with 25+ years’ experience in complex projects across the Live Events, Media, Education and Culture industries.

Guillaume was Head of Technology for the Rugby World Cup in France and has a strong experience in Technology (IT, AV, Broadcast) integration in buildings design and construction/renovation projects, including the Accor Arena, LDLC Arena, Stade Brestois, TV5Monde, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

He was IT Director at Accor Arena for 5 years, during its €130m renovation.

Jon Lee is Creative Director and Board Director at 20.20 Ltd, responsible for setting the vision and direction of our creative offer. He is a powerful advocate of our collaborative and strategic approach.

As well as overseeing the creative direction of the business, Jon is instrumental in the success of our projects, from leading the transformation of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium for over 15 years, he has led the branding and Arsenalisation of the entire stadium, including creating the masterplan and design for each of the world leading hospitality experiences at the club.

His expertise in developing successful fan engagement and brand experiences has given Jon the opportunity to lead amazing projects on both sides of the Atlantic. From Manchester City FC, Liverpool FC, Wembley Stadium to West Ham United’s new home at the London Stadium. He has been responsible for changing Ascot Racecourse’s approach to hospitality with the On5 restaurant; and subsequently redefining the brand experience across all the hospitality areas at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Kentucky. Jon has been working closely with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in Toronto on the rebranding and experience definition of the Scotiabank Arena.

His influence is also helping redefine the retail and leisure industry, from the reimagining of Odeon’s flagship cinema at Leicester Square London; defining a new retail platform for mobile operator Three; to redefining the world of affordable fitness with the rebranded experience of UK market leaders PureGym.

jon.lee@20.20.co.uk

www.20.20.co.uk

Marc is currently the Sales Manager for Principality Stadium Experience (PSE) having joined the business in 2017. Formed in 2014 as a joint venture between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Compass Group, Principality Stadium Experience (PSE) is the only official provider of match day hospitality, conference and events and the delivery and provision of food and beverage to all spectators at all events within the grounds of Principality Stadium.

PSE have an exceptional track record in delivering world class events and boast an unrivalled knowledge of the hospitality & public retail market within the UK. The team have successfully organised the logistics and catering for all events held at the stadium since opening in 1999. Including but not limited to; UEFA Champions League Final 2017, Rugby World Cup fixtures, Six Nations tournaments, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) shows, World Championship Boxing and major concerts, including a record-breaking 4 nights of back-to-back sold-out Ed Sheeran concerts and the upcoming Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Prior to his current role, Marc spent just under 6 years working for Manchester United in a Business Development role.

Victoria Matthews is the Executive Officer of the European Arenas Association (EAA), where she is responsible for strategy implementation and day-to-day management.

Victoria began working for the EAA in 2012 as co-general manager under the Madrid presidency. In 2015 she moved to London to set up SEMA4 Consulting, a venue customer experience company, while continuing to work for the EAA managing the EU Subgroup, which transformed into the Arena Resilience Alliance (ARA) during the pandemic.

Victoria has a Master’s degree in Business Communication and is a certified customer experience professional, CCXP.

Chris Mattner is a visionary leader in the stadia lighting industry, with over 20 years of experience driving innovation and excellence in the design and execution of high-impact lighting solutions for sports and entertainment venues worldwide. As the CEO of CME, Chris has been instrumental in positioning the company as a global leader, known for its ability to deliver complex projects that redefine industry standards.

Under Chris's leadership, CME has successfully completed numerous high-profile projects, including the recent upgrade of Adelaide Oval's LED Light Towers, a project that overcame significant logistical challenges to deliver a state-of-the-art lighting system on time. His commitment to quality and his ability to foster strong partnerships have earned CME a reputation as a trusted partner for stadia projects globally.

In 2024, Chris was honoured with the prestigious 40 Under 40 Inspiring Future Leaders award, recognising his outstanding contributions to the industry and his role as a forward-thinking leader while overcoming adversities. This accolade highlights his resilience, determination, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in stadia lighting.

Beyond his professional achievements, Chris is passionate about helping people unlock their mindset, empowering them to realise their full potential, overcome adversities and push their own personal limits through his mindset coaching. He is also actively involved in community initiatives, including raising awareness and fundraising efforts for children in need (Back Packs 4 SA Kids) and animals (RSPCA SA) and health and medical research, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact both within and outside the industry.

Contact:

Phone – +61 402 083 595

WhatsApp – +61 402 083 595

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mattner-50445883/https://www.linkedin.com/company/3491703

Website – www.cmegroup.com.au

With 25+ years experience in the business of sport, McIntyre first cut her teeth in the industry by running PanStadia magazine, where she was Publishing Editor, before spending 3 years as Publication Director on PanStadia & Arena Management magazine, which included working on the Stadia & Arena Asia Pacific event.

McIntyre launched Sports Venue Business (SVB) in September 2016, which quickly became the leading platform for the sector, delivering insightful interviews, in-depth feature articles and case studies, as well as video interviews, with more than 33,000+ industry professionals across the network.

Between 2018 and 2023, McIntyre and the Sports Venue Business team organised and delivered the ALSD International event on behalf of the ALSD, which grew from 120 attendees in the first year, to an astounding 450+ C-Suite executives by 2023.

For 2024, McIntyre and Sports Venue Business have launched SVB LIVE, featuring a series of global networking events and webinars, all culminating in the annual SVB LIVE Conference and Exhibition, with content driven by an Expert Council featuring industry experts from across the globe.

McIntyre boasts almost 30,000 connections in her LinkedIn account.

Brendan Meehan is the Commercial Director of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

John Morello is an experienced leader with extensive skills in multiple disciplines. John spent 6 years building scalable technology solutions at Madison Square Garden. Focused on both the customer and employee journey he led the successful Venue Systems implementation at the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas including; incident management, computer aided facility management systems, facial recognition, business process modelling, digital playbook, financial systems, workforce management and point of sale systems.

John has been able to help identify and drive improvements learned from both guest and employee insights, instilling a culture with greater focus on metrics and accountability.

John is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has led multiple global initiatives over the course of his career at GE Capital, MasterCard, and Cablevision where he served as the Vice President of Quality. At Cablevision, John’s mission was to “define good” leveraging best in class signal capture solutions to operationalize change and improve NPS. He also led the Closed Loop Feedback team that exceled in customer recovery efforts.

Along with his Six Sigma certification, John spent several years in public accounting with PWC and holds an MBA in Finance and Information Systems. In his spare time, John serves on the board of the NYS Amateur Hockey Association as the Director of Discipline and enjoys riding his motorcycle.

Paul is responsible for the strategy and delivery of all Commercial Activity at Kappture; including Sales, Marketing and Partnerships. He has an unswerving commitment to help Kappture’s customers enable their customers to experience more, shrinking transaction times and enhancing customer sentiment whilst boosting revenue.

Paul has spent his whole career vendor-side at SaaS businesses serving a global market, overseeing customer acquisition and retention strategies and the deployment of tech solutions into customers from SMEs to multinational financial institutions and huge Global brands.

Gillian has spearheaded multiple fan experience programmes and supported with the development of large-scale workforce programmes with a headcount of up to 15,000 at the world's greatest sporting events - exceeding pillars on diversity, inclusion, equality and upskilling local communities.

With a decade of experience in the wireless infrastructure industry, Gavin is a mobile connectivity expert, working closely with standout venues and mobile network operators to deliver high-speed mobile solutions in large-scale environments.

Gavin is responsible for driving Boldyn Networks’ venue strategy in the UK and Ireland, with a particular focus on delivering game changing connectivity for sports and entertainment venues.

Empowering venues to deliver unmatched visitor experiences, whilst unlocking new revenue streams and operational efficiency opportunities.

Boldyn Networks work with leading sports & entertainment venues to design connectivity solutions for high-density crowd environments. Proven in over 300+ marquee venues, delivering solutions that deliver consistent coverage and capacity in any environment.

Contact: Gavin.omeara@boldyn.com

Ciaran O’Morain, is co-founder and CEO of Qualflow Systems, the leading provider of high-speed beer dispense solutions, automated beer-line cleaning equipment and line clean monitoring apps to brand managers, brewers, stadium operators and the hospitality industry.

Whilst still quite fresh in the industry, Bethany Parr has been working on these types of conferences since 2018, when she was still a student at UCFB. She thoroughly enjoys seeing how the industry is growing and evolving.

Bethany's professional sports business journey began at Wembley Stadium, within the Capital Projects team, where she worked on various projects to improve the look and feel, customer journey, and health and safety within England's National Stadium. This role allowed her to work with many of the companies taking part in the SVB LIVE event.

Bethany currently works at Formula E, where she's an Event Project Manager, working on race weekends at circuits around the world, and seeing how events work in different markets.

Jacob Regan joined the Dawnvale team almost 10 years ago, following 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including managing a 5-star boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant. Jacob fell into the stadium and arena sector 8 years ago, leading to him managing key accounts such as Manchester City, Manchester United, and Birmingham City. He is also heavily involved in developing and refurbishing several arena venues.

Jacob specialises in fast-track turnkey projects and has an in-depth knowledge of operational design to maximise profitability. This fast-track approach has led to Jacob delivering several high-performing hospitality suites during short international breaks. This has allowed clubs to take advantage of a half-season rather than waiting for the summer window. One of his biggest achievements was delivering the Ardwick Pub within 21 days at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City.

Ben brings with him a wealth of knowledge from a number of key areas across the sports industry including digital fan engagement, fan data, commercialisation, in-stadia advertising, ticketing and venue access management.

At TEAMcard, Ben’s role is to work alongside some of the most iconic and recognisable sports venues in the world, supporting them with implementing advanced access solutions powered by TEAMcard’s unique secure venue technology.

TEAMcard is a specialist sports venue access solution provider, delivering end-to-end solutions across Access Control, Accreditation, Visitor Management, Verification and Loyalty.

The group of sports venue and event partners using TEAMcard access services include Silverstone Circuit, Wimbledon, the R&A, Goodwood and The Jockey Club, as well as fixed sports stadiums across the Premier League, EFL, SPFL, Cricket and Rugby.

Having recently joined the commercial team at Kappture, Fraser is responsible for growth into key sport and entertainment venues across the UK. His vast experience within the sporting industry enables him to assess, evaluate and strategise with existing and prospective clients, serving meaningful and effective technology solutions through Kappture's wide range of products and services. 

As Head of Technology, Harry is responsible for driving technological advancements across all Levy partner venues, evaluating and deploying new digital innovations to resolve known challenges and enhance the guest experience.

In 2023, Harry moved across from Levy’s parent company, Compass Group UK & Ireland, to be part of the wider BUILT by Levy team. In charge of the tech division, his team of experts explore a wide range of technologies, including frictionless solutions, automated beer walls, self-order screens, smart vending, robotics, IoT, AI overlays and unified payments to solve real challenges at venues.

Through their efforts, Harry and his team are continually pushing the boundaries of hospitality technology and delivering tangible benefits to guests, operators and clients.

Laura’s 23 years within the luxury events sector has seen her working for and with incredible brands such as the Goodwood Estate, where she headed the sales and operations for Horseracing and Motorsport Hospitality. A year working with Rolls Royce Motorcars’ Private Office as client services and events Manager, set an incredible standard for things to come.

Event Exec will be celebrating its 10th birthday in May 2025. Specialising in VIP tickets and hospitality for major sports, music and leisure events.

Globally, Event Exec have unrivalled access to the best events in the world, with an extraordinary level of customer service.

Declan Sharkey is currently a Senior Principal and Regional Board member within the EMEA region.

A creative and forward-thinking architect and industry leader, Sharkey has worked on a diverse portfolio of innovative projects across Europe. This includes multiple current stadium projects in Italy, as well as arenas in Munich, Cardiff, and Cork in his native Ireland. His most recent project, the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, is the largest in the UK and the most sustainable arena in Europe.

In addition to his architectural roles, Sharkey plays a key part in business development for all new arena and elite training facility projects within the EMEA region.

As part of the Senior Management set-up at the club, I oversee all aspects of the commercial business for Ulster Rugby, with key responsibilities set to include sponsor and partner relationship management; sustainable revenue generation; and driving commercial growth for the club to support both the professional and domestic game across the province.

Previous experience in the industry includes Entertainment, Retail, Tourism, Public Sector, Big4 Management Consultancy and an MBA in Strategic Management [Distinction]. Previous employers include Titanic Belfast, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), Aviva and KPMG.

Sammia Shakoor is the Head of Projects at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. The SEC is Scotland’s event destination and over the years has been home to major international flagship events from COP26 to Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games to Adele.

Sammia has worked at the SEC for 18 years, starting as an Accountant, where she discovered a passion for Projects. 

7 years ago she established a Projects Team, overseeing a diverse portfolio that began with the delivery of SECs Technology Strategy and since has expanded to include Construction and Infrastructure projects at the SEC. She is dedicated to ensuring that any changes brought about by these projects prioritises the needs and experiences of the end users.

Sammia live and works in Glasgow with her husband and daughter, loves travelling, crisps and a good boxset.

Gabriela Sobierajska holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and a background in Business Administration from Warsaw, Poland.

As Sales & Partnerships Manager at Ticketverse, she has forged strategic partnerships with high-profile organisations such as Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, F1 races, and Atletico Madrid. She leads efforts to expand the VIP hospitality client base in Europe and the Middle East, driving global sales growth and brand development for Ticketverse through collaborations with prestigious venues and football clubs worldwide.

Born and raised in Anderlecht, with a passion for football and a talent for sales, Lara Spaan seemed destined to join RSC Anderlecht.

Brian oversees all guest facing departments at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, a 22,000 seat soccer stadium, which opened in 2018 and is home to LAFC (MLS), Angel City FC (NWSL), and also a top music destination. BMO Stadium was ranked the #5 stadium in the world in revenue in 2023 by Pollstar, while hosting more than 150 events.

Brian is responsible for the Security, Guest Experience, Box Office, and Transportation/Parking teams ensuring a guest first approach to every fan’s journey through the BMO Stadium ecosystem.

Brian has also been on the opening team of multiple venues in his career, including T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in 2016, and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles in 2020.

Lisa Turton is Head of Premium Sales & Hospitality at first direct arena Leeds - an ASM Global venue. She is a member of the senior management team at the 12,500-capacity venue and is charged with maximising revenue through sales of hospitality and conferencing.

Lisa has developed and brought to market new packages and products, and has achieved 96% client and partner retention year-on-year. She is also responsible for devising annual marketing plans to identify sales opportunities and plan market content.

Ben is CEO of independent Strategy and Technology consultancy PTI, based in the UK. PTI help sports and entertainment organisations become more profitable through a strategic approach to data and digital technology, driving revenue generation and operational efficiencies.

PTI clients include Arsenal, Aston Villa, Ascot Racecourse, Co-op Live/Oak View Group, Six Nations Rugby, British Cycling and Everton.

Francis Williams is a technology focused professional with over 15 years of experience in delivering cutting-edge stadium and arena technology solutions. His extensive expertise spans working with football clubs and venues across the spectrum, including prominent names in the Premier League.

Francis has a proven track record in the design, installation and implementation of multi-disciplined technology solutions, helping brands optimise their venues and stadiums through technology investments, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation.

John Williams founded game-changing design agency SpaceInvader in 2009.

Working across the commercial and hospitality markets, SpaceInvader has completed commercially-successful, popular and lauded stadia hospitality environments for clients such as Manchester City, Birmingham City and Accrington Stanley Football Clubs, as well as Headingley Stadium. Leading hotel clients include Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott, Accor, Tribe and Pullman.

John Williams is Founder/Director of SpaceInvader, the Manchester-based consultancy he set up in 2009 – and which is now one of the UK’s premier interiors agencies, with projects and insights covered worldwide in the design, property, hospitality, business and architectural media, and which have been nominated for or won over 40 creative awards to date.

John leads his creative team across many sectors, including stadia, hospitality, workplace, retail, developer residential and cultural, public-facing environments.

John is a member of the BCO, a BritList-nominated designer and a regular industry speaker, commentator, panellist and podcast guest. He is a strong advocate for a more sustainable future and a believer in design with demonstrable social value.

John believes in evolving and pushing design projects at every stage, whilst remaining loyal to the SpaceInvader ethos of collaboration and the creation of authentic, location-specific schemes.

When it comes to stadia design, SpaceInvader’s five points of difference are that:

We are storytellers

We bring redundant space to life

We are masters of transformation

We design for everyone, differently

We’re in it for the long term.

Geoff runs his own consultancy business, with a focus primarily on sport. Pre piously Head of Marketing and Communicataons at the Irish FA, Geoff now consults to a wide range of global sports organisations on areas such as strategic planning, marketing and communications, digital, fan engagement, public affairs, women’s football, league and club development, and knowledge-sharing/capacity-building programmes.

Geoff has created numerous academic models for the sports industry and has been to over 100 countries in various sports consultancy projects. He is on the Advisory Panel at the EFL, Chair of the Sports Council Trust (Sport England), and a Consultant to the AFC, Barca Innovation Hub, FIFA and FIBA.

Simon has over 35 years professional experience in the IT industry, with him joining HPE in March 2014 and moving across to Aruba in November 2017 as the UK & Ireland CTO.

He has held several leadership roles spanning UK and Ireland regions.

Simon sees it as a serious responsibility to help his customers cut through the techno-babble so they are clear on what technology can really do for them: “I’ve seen a swathe of technology come and go – and return once more, often with a new name, new use cases and a fresh dose of optimism. But affixing ‘smart’ or ‘software-defined’ doesn’t make a device or technology stack relevant. I take the time to truly listen to issues and elevate the conversation to value, focusing only on solutions that fully deliver the desired outcome.”

Before this, Simon was with Nortel/Avaya for sixteen years where he worked across product management, marketing and channel operations roles. His experience also spans network design and electronic engineering. Simon led the EMEA product marketing team and worked in the Global product marketing organisation in North America. Prior to that, he had worked in the SMB reseller market and in distribution.

Simon holds a BTEC in Engineering from Croydon Technical College.

Based on the Surrey/Sussex border, Simon’s time outside of the office is spent with his wife and two grown up sons. Simon’s hobbies include home automation, cycling and going to the gym.