Agenda

Don’t miss our special welcome video for SportNXT 2025 and our opening addresses to start the summit.

Shifting viewer habits, emerging platforms, mergers, acquisitions, and AI-everything. Just a sampling of the challenges facing media executives traversing opportunities across sport’s vast and diverse landscape. Join this panel for an insider’s perspective on the forces and directions shaping the future of sports media for rights holders and their media partners.

MODERATOR: GLENN LOVETT - CEO & Global MD, Denstu Sports Analytics

SPEAKERS:

• KYLIE WATSON-WHEELER – SVP & Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company (AU/NZ)
• JAMES RUSHTON – Co-Founder, DAZN
• HAMISH TURNER – Director 9Now & Programming, Nine

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person) Please note: Matt Stanton - Acting CEO, NINE has been replaced by Hamish Turner - Director 9Now & Programming, Nine

Industry leaders discuss trends influencing the future of sport and unpack the most critical issues facing sport today, from the future of revenue and partnerships and navigating changing markets to organisational futureproofing, capitalisation, and more.

MODERATOR: NEROLI MEADOWS - Sport Presenter & Journalist
SPEAKERS:

• LIZ ELLIS AO – Chair, Netball Australia
• JOHN WYLIE AC – Founder & CEO, Tanarra Capital

TIM CAHILL AO – International Sports Advisor, Aspire Academy, QFA, Qatar

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Firmly established in hearts and minds over this century's first quarter, the business of women's sport continues to strive toward a commercially sustainable, resiliant future. What will define the next level of aspiration for women's sport, and what are the drivers from within and without required to get there?

MODERATOR: SARAH STYLES - Director, Office for Women In Sport & Recreation

SPEAKERS:

• KATIE PAGE – CEO, Harvey Norman
• LARRY KESTELMAN – Executive Group Chairman, LK Group
• THAYER LAVIELLE – Managing Director, The Collective

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

The battle for capital in sport has never been more fierce or diverse. What should teams, leagues and federations be considering to ensure their survival and deliver long term growth? Key leaders from across the investment landscape give their perspectives on the evolving strategies, trends and themes that will shape capital investment in sport over the next decade..

MODERATOR: KATIE MCNAMARA - Director, Sports, Events and Venues, Australia, Ernst & Young

SPEAKERS:

• PKSV SAGAR – President, GMR Sports
• DANNY TOWNSEND – CEO, SURJ Sports Investment
• ANDREW CROKER – Advisory Board Chair, Oakwell Sports Advisory

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

From a core of world-class sport and fan experiences to commerce, community, and sustainability, what did Paris and other major events of the past year portend for the future and competitiveness of major events?

MODERATOR: TRACEY HOLMES - Host & Executive Producer, The Sports Ambassador

SPEAKERS:

• THE HON. ANIKA WELLS – Minister for Sport, Australian Federal Government
• FRANCOIS-XAVIER BONNAILLIE – CCO, Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee
• CRAIG TILEY – CEO, Tennis Australia
• JAMES JOHNSON – CEO, Football Australia

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Formula 1 is revolutionising fan engagement through digital innovation, immersive experiences and story telling. Donna Birkett Baida shares how F1's strategies - from social media to 'Drive to Survive' - are expanding the sports global reach and reshaping fan experience.

DONNA BIRKETT BAIDA - Global Marketing Director, Formula 1
LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Join international sports executive search experts Len Perna and Troy de Haas as they share global insights and industry trends on mastering interviews from both sides of the table. Discover expert strategies to ensure insightful, impactful, and successful outcomes.

SPEAKERS: LEN PERNA - Chairman, Founder and CEO, TurnkeyZRG TROY DE HAAS - Managing Director, APAC, TurnkeyZRG
LOCATION: TENNIS HQ (In Person)

From scalable services to advanced analytics, fan engagement and agile operations, Amazon Web Services has been integral to the digital transformation of sport for over a decade. Paul Devlin, Global Sport BDM at AWS, explores innovations across cloud, data, AI, and more, reimagining the future of sport, from grassroots to the globe.

PAUL DEVLIN - Global Sport BDM, AWS
LOCATION: AUDITORIUM (In Person)

Athletes have long been role models, but their influence on health and wellbeing extends far beyond the final siren. This interactive session will explore the dynamic relationship between athlete wellbeing and their communities — how one drives the other and the role sport plays in shaping attitudes and behaviour on and off the field. This session brings together world leaders in sport and mental health exploring opportunities to build mental fitness, bring sporting role models into communities and build the wellbeing of current and future athletes.

MODERATOR: TOM MULVANEY - Director, Australasian Young Men's Health, Movember
SPEAKERS

• OWEN BRIGSTOCK-BARRON - Director of Global Sports Health Initiatives, Movember
• NICKY COUSTON – Head of Talent Pathways, AFL
• ISABELLE CONNOR – Team USA Rhythmic Gymnast, Olympian

LOCATION: TENNIS HQ (In Person)

Women’s basketball is experiencing a seismic shift here in Australia and around the world. How can the WNBL and women’s basketball seize this opportunity to scale and inspire the next generation of basketball fans? The session explores how storytelling is the secret to scaling and catalyst for change by bringing together incoming WNBL CEO, Jennie Sager, and basketball legend Lauren Jackson. For sports marketing professionals wanting to learn how to identify the unique stories within their own league/club/organisation, challenges and opportunities for nurturing talent, how to establish and nurture relationships with key journalists and build a brand to reach new audiences and one that is centered on players empowered to share their stories and experience.

MODERATOR: JESSICA ROBINSON - Journalist and Digital Producer, CODE Sports SPEAKERS:

• JENNIE SAGER – CEO, WNBL
• LAUREN JACKSON AO OLY – Special Advisor, WNBL

LOCATION: AUDITORIUM

As one of the world's most attended sports leagues and bolstered by lucrative TV rights deals and partnerships, the AFL is Australia's strongest commercial league. On the eve of another season, join AFL CEO Andrew Dillon for a wide ranging discussion to understand the leagues growth ambition and what the future holds.

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

With owned, partner, social, and third-party platforms all looking to lead, this panel takes on the many issues surrounding personalised engagement and audience aggregation in an increasingly fragmented and dynamic digital landscape.

MODERATOR: VALERIO VEO - Co-Founder, Three Tomorrows

• LEANNE BATS – Leanne Bats - Head of Digital Innovation, Sport Waikato
• CAMERON HOY – Chief Operating Officer & Global Head of Ticketing - Ticketek
• NICK FORWARD – GM Digital, AFL

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

From local clubs to elite teams, sport needs space—but competing land-use interests, changing social expectations, and shifting investment priorities are putting pressure on the grounds, pitches, courts, courses, and pools across the nation where we play, train, and compete. What does this mean for the future of both community participation and high-performance success? This interactive workshop, using case studies, dives into the challenges and explores who should take the lead and what must change to enable sport not only to survive but thrive.

MODERATORS:

• MARGOT FOSTER AM - Founder, Boardroom Excellence Australia
• THE HON. GABRIELLE UPTON - Director, Netball Australia

LOCATION: TENNIS HQ (In Person)

Media, in all its forms, is habitually one of emerging tech's earliest adopters, and often its most impacted sector. AI is no exception. We dive into current forays and project the opportunities and challenges of media + AI across sport and entertainment.

MODERATOR: SCOTT DINSDALE - MD, FutureNext

• SIMON TYRRELL – Head of Product, iReel
• RICKY SUTTON – Founder, Future Media,
• JOHN GLEASURE – Founder & Director, DAZN; Executive Director, The Sporting News

LOCATION: Auditorium (In Person)

With India's leading 2036 bid and Australia hosting in 2032, both nations will look to local champions to generate enthusiasm and excitement above and beyond the events themselves building on histories and expectations that could not be more different.

MODERATORS:

• MATTI CLEMENTS – EGM, AIS Performance, Australian Sports Commission
• DEEPTHI BOPAIAH – CEO, GoSports Foundation

LOCATION: TENNIS HQ

Social media continues to transform and challenge across content, purpose and mix. What's are the best strategies to deliver results today, and stay relevant into tomorrow?

MODERATOR: MARISSA PACE - Former CMO - Formula 1, World Rugby, Rugby Australia; Consultant

• KARREN ROGERS – Sports Partnerships Lead ANZ & Korea, Meta
• CARLO KASPARIAN – GM Digital Marketing & Content, Football Australia
• EMILIE JIRSCH – CMO, Dabble

LOCATION: AUDITORIUM (In Person)

Shaping innovative and adaptable sponsorships in today’s hyper-competitive, value-driven economy is an increasingly critical challenge. Through the lens of leading brands, this session explores the key issues shaping the future of sports sponsorship, from shifts in fan engagement to navigating economic pressures and addressing calls for greater inclusivity and sustainability.

MODERATOR: MICHAEL DA COSTA-ALVES - GM Commercial, MKTG Sports + Entertainment

• DR MINH TRAN – VP APAC Partner Services Marketing, VISA
• FIONA HAROLD – CEO, World Netball
• RODDY CAMPBELL – Director Partnerships & International Business, Tennis Australia

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Sport continues to lead the way in ambition and controversy across the DEI spectrum. Two recognised leaders share their stories and experiences, illuminating where we've gotten it right so far and where we still lag.

MODERATORS:

• ROWENA SAMARASINHE – Managing Director, GenSport; Partner, LEVEL
• JAMAL ELSHEIKH - Co-Founder, Reflect Forward

LOCATION: TENNIS HQ

How do sports tech leaders successfully select and leverage the right technologies and priorities to optimally support codes, leagues, and teams? A panel of seasoned pros provide their insights and experiences in navigating the array of needs, technologies, partners, and limited resources.

MODERATOR: NADINE PARKINGTON - Strategic Digital and Data Advisor, Principal, Think Nimble

• PEGGY TNG – Regional Lead, APAC, Global Sports Innovation Centre
• KEVIN STAFFORD – CTO, Rugby Australia
• PAUL YEOMANS – CEO, PMY Group

LOCATION: AUDITORIUM (In Person)

At venue, at home, or out on the town, engaging with live is undergoing unprecedented levels of transformation. Where are the most compelling bets being placed in evolving the live experience?

MODERATOR: PROF. ADAM KARG - Director Sports Innovation & Technology Lab, Deakin University

SPEAKERS:

• DAVID STEVENSON – CEO, NBL Group
• ANTONIA BEGGS – Head of Australian Open, Golf Australia
• JAMES BULLEY – CEO, Trivandi

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Marketing leaders peer into their dreams and nightmares to reveal the what's keeping them up at night. Where are they putting their time and attention toward as they build the future of sports marketing?

MODERATOR: LEIGH LAVERY - Head of The Growth Distillery, NewsCorp Australia

• CHARLOTTE OFFORD – GM Australia & NZ, NFL
• KARINA BLOOMFIELD – GM Marketing, Hawthorn Football Club
• ELISE STACY – Head of Marcomms and Community Engagement, Beach Volleyball World Championships

LOCATION: AUDITORIUM (In Person)

The right thing to do, of course, but can sustainability be a catalyst for creating commercial value? Join us for a workshop that provides examples of why the answer is an emphatic yes!

MODERATORS:

• SEBASTIAN GRAY – CEO, Everclime

LOCATION: TENNIS HQ (In Person)

With challenges never more numerous, commercial organisations can't afford to simply rinse/repeat year-on-year. Easy to say, hard to do. How do industry leaders imagine, evaluate and execute intiatives focused beyond incremental growth?

MODERATOR: ROWENA SAMARASINHE - Managing Director, GenSport; Partner, LEVEL

• ED SANDERS – CCO, Cricket Australia
• KYLIE ROGERS – CEO, Victoria Racing Club
• JASON GRIFFITHS – VP Partnerships, LA Rams

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE

Player welfare is the backbone sport. Prominent industry leaders discuss lessons learned and going-forward strategies across this vast, vital and quickly evolving arena, pairing performance with well-being and supporting athletes toward a sustainable future.

MODERATOR: BART CAMPBELL - Co-Founder, SportNXT

• DR BRETT ROBINSON – Chair, World Rugby
• NICKI NICOL – CEO & Secretary General, NZ Olympic Committee
• TODD GREENBERG – CEO, Cricket Australia

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Exceeding expectations have never been more important or challenging. Learn how leading venues are using a deeper understanding of fan behaviour, technology, and design to optimise revenue, and operations and transform fan experience.

MODERATOR: DANIELLE BLEAZBY - Director of Venues, Melbourne Park

• MEAGAN WALKER – Group Director Arena Operations, ASM Global APAC
• JAMES HAMILTON – Director, Global Host Cities & Venues, Turner & Townsend
• TOM SLOANE – Managing Director, MI Global Partners

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)

Over the past decade, the NBA and NBL has forged close ties in the effort of elevating Australian basketball. Join this special fireside chat as we explore two leagues that continue to push the boundaries in fan experience, innovation, and global expansion.

MODERATOR: NEROLI MEADOWS - Presenter; Broadcaster, ESPN

• DAVID GRIFFIN – EVP, Basketball Operations, New Orleans Pelicans
• LARRY KESTELMAN – Owner, National Basketball League
• RAJAH CHAUDHRY – GM, Australian & New Zealand, National Basketball Association

LOCATION: MAIN STAGE (In Person)