SPORTNXT 2024 AMPLIFIES ITS SPEAKER LINE-UP WITH FIVE ADDITIONAL TRAILBLAZING FEMALE SPORTS EXECUTIVES AND KEY INDUSTRY LEADERS
15 Feb 2024
MELBOURNE, FEBRUARY 13, 2024
MELBOURNE, February 14, 2024
SportNXT, the annual global sport business summit held March 19-21, 2024, in Melbourne, today announces a significant expansion of its speaker roster, led by an esteemed group of international and domestic female sports executives. These leaders are set to bring their unique insights and powerful impact to the forefront of the summit, engaging with over 1,000+ delegates.
Among the new wave of speakers, SportNXT is honoured to confirm:
- Julie Uhrman is the co-founder and president of Angel City Football Club. Flying in from Los Angeles, Uhrman founded the team with Academy Award-winning actor and activist Natalie Portman and VC Kara Nortman. ACFC was recently named the most highly-valued women’s sports team based on valuation, sponsorship dollars, impact on the local community, and brand recognition. Uhrman said, “I spoke virtually at SportNXT a couple of years ago, and it was a great experience. So, when they came to me again, I jumped at the chance as I could attend in person this year. I spent a few weeks in Australia last year during the Women’s World Cup and fell in love with the country. I was blown away by the sports fans that showed up at every game. I love how sport plays such a huge role in the Australian culture, and I am excited to get back!”
- Raelene Castle, a distinguished leader who has reshaped the sports landscape through her roles at the helm of several sports organisations, is known for her strategic vision and commitment to excellence. Currently the Group Chief Executive of Sport New Zealand, she was previously Chief Executive of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL followed by CEO of Rugby Australia from 2017 to 2020.
- Kim Anderson was Head of Marketing for the hugely successful FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Anderson’s strategic marketing prowess led to a transformational tournament, achieving unprecedented global viewership and fan engagement.
- Stephanie Beltrame is one of Australia’s most accomplished sports media executives, having overseen transformational commercial growth in Australian cricket, led the growth of Australian cricket’s global media rights sales over the past decade and been a trail blazer in advancing women’s cricket, driving the broadcast coverage and equity agenda.
- Alex Hamilton is theChief Event Operations Officer for Tennis Australia, responsible for the operational delivery and world-class event experience of the record-breaking Australian Open.
Additional speakers announced today include: Nick Garcia – A-Leagues, Stuart Morgan – Australian Sports Commission, and Alistair Dobson – Cricket Australia.
SportNXT CEO Hamish Anderson
“The inclusion of these extraordinary women, alongside those already announced, is a testament to their undeniable influence on the sports industry. SportNXT 2024 is poised to be our most significant event to date and the insights from these influential women will be invaluable to anyone involved in the sports industry.”
Today’s announced speakers join an already impressive list of thought leaders previously confirmed, including:
- Jimmy Pitaro – Chairman of ESPN (virtual)
- Andrew Liveris AO – President of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
- Casey Wasserman – Chair of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles (virtual)
- Kylie Watson-Wheeler – SVP and Managing Director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand and President of the AFL’s Western Bulldogs FC.
- Alan Gilpin – CEO of World Rugby
- Brett Gosper – Head of Europe and APAC, NFL
- Catherine Carlson – EVP of Global Partnerships at BSE Global, owners of the Brooklyn Nets, NY Liberty, and Barclays Center
- Dame Valerie Adams DNZM – Chair of World Athletics Athletes’ Commission and retired New Zealand shot putter/Olympian.
- Shaun Harvey – strategic advisor to the board and is the current director of Wrexham AFC.
- Kieren Perkins OAM – Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Sports Commission.
- Domestic sports leaders include Andrew Dillon, Travis Auld, Jennifer Watt, James Sutherland, and many more.
The complete list of confirmed speakers can be found below. Further speaker and agenda announcements are forthcoming.
-Ends-
Confirmed Speakers to date for SportNXT 2024:
Alan Gilpin – CEO, World Rugby
Alex Hamilton – Chief Event Officer, Tennis Australia
Alexandra Chalat – Executive Director, Partnerships & Strategic Alignment, Qatar Foundation
Alistair Dobson – GM Big Bash Leagues, Cricket Australia
Andrew Dillon – CEO, AFL
Andrew McDonald – Coach, Australian Men’s Cricket Team
Andrew Ryan – Managing Director, FIBA Media
Andrew Liveris AO – President, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
Ann Duffy – Chief Sustainability Officer, MI Global Partners
Azmeena Hussain OAM – Director, Victorian Institute of Sport / ex-Director, Football Victoria
Ben Slack – CCO, World Rugby
Brett Gosper – Head of Europe & APAC, NFL
Casey Wasserman – Chairman LA28 (virtual)
Catherine Carlson – EVP, Global Partnerships, BSE Global / Brooklyn Nets
Christy Collier-Hill – Head of WNBL, Basketball Australia
Craig McRae – Coach, Collingwood FC
Dame Valerie Adams DNZM – Chair, World Athletics Athletes’ Commission
Echo Li – Global CCO, Dentsu Sports International
Edson Crevecoeur – SVP, Strategy & Data Analytics, Miami Heat
Emma Pocock – CEO & Co-Founder, FrontRunners
Glenn Lovett – Managing Director, Dentsu Sports Analytics
Jacqueline Comer – Co-Founder, Areto Labs
James Sutherland – CEO, Golf Australia
Jan Fitzgerald – CEO, Sport Environment Alliance
Jennifer Watt – CEO, North Melbourne FC
Jenny Simpson – CEO, Major Events Group Alliance; CTO, Football Australia
Jimmy Pitaro – Chairman, ESPN (virtual)
Prof. Johan Rockström – Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (virtual)
John Aloisi – Head Coach, Western United FC
Julie Uhrman – President & Co-Founder, Angel City FC
Ken Martin – Director, Global Sales, Cisco (Sports & Entertainment Solutions Group)
Kieren Perkins OAM – CEO, Australian Sports Commission
Kim Anderson – fmr Head of Marketing, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
Kylie Rogers – Chief Commercial & Customer Officer, AFL
Kylie Watson-Wheeler – Senior Vice President & Managing Director, The Walt Disney Company Australia & New Zealand
Luke Darcy – Founder, Aleda Group and Ex-AFL Western Bulldogs
Matt Scriven – CEO, Basketball Australia
Meegan Jones – Director, Institute for Sustainable Events
Michael Wilkins – MD, News Sport Network
Mike Dunlap – Fmr Championship Winning Assistant Coach, Milwaukee Bucks
Nick Garcia – Commissioner, A-Leagues
Nicki Kenyon – Director, Australian Grand Prix Corporation
Nikhil Bardia – Head of Sponsorship Sales & Talent, RISE Worldwide Ltd
Octavi Anoro – International Development Director, LaLiga
Raelene Castle – Group Chief Executive, Sport New Zealand
Rebecca McCloy – Commercial Director – Sport, Foxtel Group
Rowena Samarasinhe – Owner, GENSport
Sachin Kumar – GM, Product & Partnerships, News Sport Network
Sarah Styles – Director, Office for Women in Sport and Recreation
Sean Callanan – Founder, Sports Geek
Shaun Harvey – Strategic Board Advisor, Wrexham AFC
Skarpi Hedinsson – CTO, LA Rams
Steven Reynolds – SVP, Discover Qatar
Stephanie Beltrame – EGM Broadcasting & Commercial, Cricket Australia
Stuart Morgan – Lead Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation, Australian Institute of Sport
Tal Karp – CEO, Y Australia / Former Director, Australian Grand Prix Corporation
Tanya Hosch – EGM Inclusion and Social Policy, AFL
Travis Auld – CEO, Australian Grand Prix Corporation
NB: previously announced speakers Jono Oake (TikTok), Matthew Jafarian (Miami Heat), Rebecca Sowden (Correct the Internet), Arthur Gillion (Kinlab) and Finn Bradshaw (ICC) are no longer able to participate at SportNXT 2024.
ABOUT SPORTNXT
SportNXT is the leading sport business summit in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the world’s pre-eminent sport conferences. SportNXT 2023 attracted nearly 900 delegates from 21 countries, with over 50% comprising c-suite, board, and senior sport leaders, facilitating valuable networking opportunities with industry decision-makers. Renowned past speakers have included NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Formula 1® President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm, all Australian League Commissioners, and executives from the likes of News Corp Australia, J.P. Morgan, The Walt Disney Company, FIFA, Foxtel, Silver Lake, and ONE Championship.
For media enquiries, including interviews, please contact:
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Stephanie Rudnick, MKTG PR
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