Exploring NextGen Spaces for Sports & Entertainment

Paul is the Chief Operating Officer at Portview. Portview is a leading interior fit-out partner that specialises in delivering extraordinary spaces for some of the world’s most recognisable brands. Portview has completed a wide range of significant stadium, venue, and arena projects over the last 15 years.

A 25-year qualified chartered accountant, Paul first joined Portview in 2001, before working in the building materials and equipment rental sectors and leading several private equity-backed transactions. He rejoined Portview in 2022 as a board director with a wide range of responsibilities, including new business development, with a focus on his favourite sector, sports & entertainment.

Since joining Heatherwick Studio in 2010, Eliot has proven instrumental in delivering innovative designs on numerous high-profile projects that focus on the human experience through form, craft, materiality, and sustainability. As a group leader, Eliot currently oversees a portfolio of projects that spans the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Projects include the transformation of the 14-acre Olympia London site and the Hainan Art Center in China, which will be home to three performance halls which seat 3,800 people; a new school for sustainable design for Universidad Ean in Bogotá, Colombia; and the creation of a major community space and new park at Harley
Davidson’s home in Milwaukee, US.

Past projects include a 3-million-square-foot campus for Google in Mountain View, California; the Bund Finance Centre, a 4-million-square-foot mixed-use development in the heart of Shanghai; and the Bombay Sapphire Distillery in Hampshire, a master plan that included the restoration of Grade II-listed buildings and the addition of two custom glasshouses, which became the first refurbishment project to have been awarded BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ for sustainability. In 2016, Eliot was awarded the RIBA Rising Star award in recognition of his design and leadership skills. Prior to the studio, Eliot previously worked at Fosters + Partners, where he was involved with projects including a masterplan for Sydney Harbour, a residential complex in Hong Kong, and a commercial tower in Moscow.

In Eliot’s role as a Group Leader at the studio, he is responsible for leading all aspects of a portfolio of projects from concept development through to delivery. Eliot is
also part of the studio’s senior management group, guiding business strategy, planning, and process.

Mark Fenwick is President and founder of Fenwick Iribarren Architects, a leading Madrid-based firm now part of Egis. With 35 years of experience, FIA has grown to be one of Spain’s largest firms, known for iconic national and international projects.

FIA has over 50 stadiums in its project references and achieved a World Cup hat trick with three stadiums for the FIFA™ World Cup 2022 in Qatar. These included Stadium 974 — the world’s first fully-demountable stadium made from shipping containers.

Mark co-authored UEFA’s Guide to Quality Stadiums and Sustainable Infrastructure Guidelines. A regular speaker at global conferences, he continues to innovate in sports architecture, always driven by new challenges around the world.

Martin leads Legends Global’s consulting business in Europe and has over 20 years’ experience in managing the development of sports and entertainment venues and elite training facilities.  He has played a pivotal role in some of the most high-profile stadium projects in Europe, including the redevelopment of the Bernabeu stadium with Real Madrid and the expansion of Anfield stadium with Liverpool Football Club.

Dirk Noy is Partner and General Manager Europe at WSDG, where he leads the Basel and Berlin offices and works internationally as an acoustician. He holds an M.Sc. in Experimental Solid State Physics and an Audio Technology Degree from Full Sail University, USA.

His work focuses on room acoustics, electroacoustics, and applied mathematical modeling for sports arenas, performing arts venues, recording studios and broadcast facilities. He is an active member of the AES (Audio Engineering Society) and a frequent lecturer at industry events.

Anthony Mundy joined the RFU in December 2024 and is responsible for venue operations, events, venue sales, member services, and commercial subsidiaries and holds a pivotal role in delivering the stadium master plan. He has worked in the sports and leisure industry for over 21 years, previously at Leicester City Football Club, Emirates Old Trafford, and Ricoh Arena. Anthony is an experienced large-scale event director, delivering complex events with multiple stakeholders across sports and entertainment.

Rob is a Partner at Buro Happold and leads the delivery of Sports and Entertainment projects which in recent years have included the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London and Coop Live Arena in Manchester.  Rob also leads the Buro Happold multi-discipline Sports and Entertainment team who are currently delivering a large portfolio of venue projects including the recently completed Hill Dickson Stadium for Everton Football Club, ongoing developments for the MCC at Lords cricket ground, new stands for Wrexham FC, Leeds United FC and Bath Rugby amongst others plus stadia and arenas internationally from Jamacia to Jeddah to Berlin.

Suzanne is a director at Keppie. She has 20 years of experience in delivering large-scale architectural, master planning, and urban design projects. A personal area of expertise is in commercial architecture with a focus on leisure, entertainment, and sports. Suzanne is passionate about live entertainment and designing inspirational places that draw people together.

Suzanne played a pivotal role in the development of The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), including the 15,000-capacity P&J Live Arena, which was completed in August 2019. She also played a vital part in the Hampden Vision project, which helped secure Hampden Park as the home of Scottish football in 2018.

Recent roles include the new Edinburgh Arena, the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) expansion plan, the Aberdeen Beachfront Masterplan, various improvements to Ibrox Stadium for Rangers Football Club, and a number of ongoing opportunities for the reimagining of iconic music venues for Live Nation & Academy Music Group.

Craig is a visionary sports executive with a proven history of successful leadership in dynamic sports-related environments, with expertise and success in strategy development, financial acumen, master planning, and delivering tangible business outcomes. With a demonstrated ability to drive meaningful change and embrace evolving landscapes, his approach emphasises working collaboratively with diverse stakeholder groups to inform effective, strategic decision-making.

He is currently Strategy Director at the iconic Warwickshire County Cricket Club (WCCC) and Edgbaston stadium, which delivers £35m of annual economic value and supports 1,000 full-time jobs from the 400,000 visitors it hosts every year. Within his role, Craig looks after the Stadium Masterplan and has successfully delivered the first two phases, including a new £32m pavilion, entrance piazza, and 375 BTR apartments. This work has now moved onto the £42m phase 3, including new stands, concourse areas, and a 146-bed Radisson RED hotel, which is due to open ahead of the 2027 Ashes series.

In addition, Craig is the general manager of the Birmingham Phoenix teams in the Hundred competition and led the project work to execute the recent investment by Knighthead Capital. Craig joined WCCC from Corporate Finance at EY, having originally qualified as a chartered accountant at KPMG. He lives in Solihull and is a keen sporting enthusiast, with running, cricket, golf and football being his main sporting passions. He is vice chair of the Derby County FC Supporters Board.

Stephanie Bax is a highly accomplished real estate development and project management professional with over 20 years of experience, including more than a decade focused on delivering world-class sports and entertainment venues. Before joining Live Nation earlier this year, Stephanie led the delivery teams for Moody Center in Austin, TX, and Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, UK. She has led major projects across Canada, the USA, the UK, and Italy, collaborating with elite clients such as Oak View Group, AC Milan, and the Toronto Raptors. Her experience also includes contributing to landmark events such as the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games and the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games. Stephanie is based in Tokyo, Japan.

Daniel Gidney is a distinguished venue leader with 19 years as a sports industry CEO, having overseen international football, rugby, and cricket. He joined Lancashire Cricket in 2012 and recently led the sale of Manchester Originals to RPSG Sports for a record £116m, achieving the second-highest revenue multiple after Lord’s.

Daniel spearheaded a £12m cricket bond to fund a 150-bedroom hotel development and a franchise agreement with Hilton Worldwide, with a subsequent 100-bedroom extension completed in 2023. Over his 13-year tenure, he transformed Lancashire Cricket, turning cumulative losses of £9m into record profits, securing the largest stadium naming rights in First Class cricket with Emirates, and growing turnover from £10m in 2012 to over £38m in 2023, with £35m in non-broadcast revenue. He has also secured major international matches, including the Ashes, ICC World Cup semi-final, and new 7-year international packages to 2031, and launched Lancashire TV, becoming the first English cricket team to stream live matches to India.

Previously CEO at the Ricoh Arena, Daniel turned a £3.2m loss into £3m+ EBITDA, secured Olympic Games events, and developed a £10m+ conferencing business. He has received multiple awards, including Midlands Businessperson of the Year, Trafford Businessperson of the Year, and Stadium Business Awards Outstanding Contribution. Daniel holds an MBA from Durham and was the youngest ever elected district councillor for Stratford upon Avon at 25.

Mike is Global Application Lead for Signify (formerly known as Philips Lighting) and supports projects from concept to completion. With a wide experience of over 48 years in the profession he has a specialisation in sports from Recreational to major Stadia. He worked on the London Olympic venues for 2012 and advised on the lighting for subsequent games in Sochi, Rio, PyeongChang, Tokyo and Beijing. Currently he works with venue designers to ensure they are compatible with the needs of broadcasters and offer enhanced spectator experiences

He is convenor for the European standard for Sportslighting and chaired 3 revisions of the CIBSE Sports Lighting Guide. He teaches on the MSc in Light and Architecture at the UCL and is a past president of the Institution of Lighting Engineers, the Society of Light and Lighting and CIBSE. In 2016 he was nominated as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering with a citation for his work on Olympic lighting.

Rob is the Venues Lead for UK & Europe at Mott MacDonald, overseeing building projects across elite sport, entertainment arenas, and cultural venues.

With more than 25 years of experience in the sector, he has played a pivotal role in transformative projects, including the Twickenham Stadium upgrade programme, London Stadium, Cardiff Arena, Everton Stadium, and Brighton & Hove Albion’s training facility.

Rob’s expertise spans advisory, design, and delivery across venues, with a focus on helping owners, operators, and rights holders unlock the full potential of their assets and enhance community impact. He works in close partnership with architects and contractors across the industry to embed sustainability and accessibility into venue design.

Over a distinguished 20+ year career in China, Greg Turner has become one of the country’s most accomplished live event and venue executives. He holds the unique distinction of being the only foreigner to have run three separate major venues in China. His expertise spans the full project lifecycle, from concept to execution, a skill highlighted by his role spearheading the USD $120 million STU Sports Park development for the Li Ka Shing Foundation. This extensive experience provides him with invaluable insights into critical government-business dynamics and a deep understanding of the unique cultural drivers shaping major markets across East Asia.

Greg is fuelled by the unparalleled energy of a great live event. He is passionate about the intricate process of bringing new venues online and driven by the opportunity to transform an idea into a future home for the excitement and joy shared by thousands.

Luke is a project director at the multi-award-winning AJ100 architecture practice KSS Design Group. His focus is primarily on the sports sector, and he has played a key role in several high-profile projects, including the Main Stand Development at Anfield for Liverpool FC, the Crystal Palace FC Academy, and the recent BHAFC Tunnel Club.

With over 18 years of experience, Luke is driven by a commitment to understanding and interpreting client needs. He is passionate about creating buildings and spaces that enrich the experience of the people who use them.

Andrew is Head of Infrastructure Delivery for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club; he worked in the project delivery team for the Spur’s Stadium from inception to completion & continues to lead the Club’s construction projects both in & around the Stadium & at the Training Centre. Andrew previously worked on the Emirates Stadium & 2012 London Olympic Stadium before moving to Tottenham Hotspur.

Aidan serves as the Strategy and Projects Director at Wrexham AFC, where he leads all long-term projects, including infrastructure work on the Kop Stand development, women’s facility, academy facility, and training ground, amongst others. Prior to this, Aidan spent several years at Everton FC as part of the club’s internal project team, successfully delivering the Hill Dickinson Stadium. 

Amy leads the growing international Business Development team at ES Global. ES GLOBAL is a lead contractor for major events and projects around the world, designing and delivering relocatable architecture and structures; with its head office in East London and staging hub in the Midlands, it also has branches in the US, Japan, France, Australia and the Middle East. ES Global was an official supplier to the Paris2024 Games and is delivering four pavilions for the World Expo 2025 in Japan. Amy’s experience in the private and public sector spans senior roles at Homes England, ES Global Brazil, the Premier League and in the UK Civil Service.

I was born in Turin (ITA) in 1970. After a bachelor’s in economics and management at the University of Turin, I worked as a project manager at “Gruppo Soges” for 5 years (Gruppo Soges was one of the most important European organizations operating in the consultancy and training fields). In 2000, I began working in football as general manager of AC Bellinzona. After one year at AC Como, I moved to FC Sion, where I started managing the sports side of the club and subsequently became the CEO. In 2020, I began overseeing certain real estate projects of my president (Christian Constantin SA), specifically:

• Hotel Terrasses des Lavaux in the Canton of Vaud.
• Capo San Martino in Lugano, Ticino
• Restaurant in Gandria, Ticino
• Apartments in Bissone, Ticino
• FC Sion Academy
• FC Sion’s new stadium project.

Djordje Bajilo has more than 20 years of professional experience. His area of ​​expertise includes, but is not limited to, architectural development, project and construction management. His current position is owner and director of DBA. The main field of work within the company DBA doo is the coordination and management of the company and the creation of a complete business policy of the company that works on a series of complex projects in the country and the region. In his previous work, he gained professional experience working in the Office of the City Architect of Barcelona in 2002, and after that, for 4 years in the Center for Urban Planning in Novi Sad until 2007. After that, he founded the company “DBA” doo. Since 2005, he has been a regular member of the UIA Sport & Leisure program and a member of the IAKS. The company DBA currently has more than 50 full-time engineers, along with many permanent associates of various professions and specialities, depending on the type and location of projects or construction sites.

So far, DBA has been involved in some of the most famous and respected projects of sports facilities in Serbia and the region of Southeast Europe, such as the IAKS award-winning Bemax Arena project in Podgorica; a large number of indoor and outdoor swimming pools and stadiums; training centers; a rowing track and indoor athletics hall project; and the latest UEFA category 4 stadium project in Novi Sad. In addition to sports facilities, there is a large list of references of healthcare projects, commercial and hotel facilities, as well as educational facilities around the region. All this is realized through specialized DBA teams working on projects following the latest global trends.

In the last few years, there has been a high level of involvement in the implementation of public space projects, which is why the Theater Square project in Novi Sad, the Architizer-awarded megaproject of the Almaš neighbourhood, as well as projects of public parks, landscaping of riverbanks, and the like, were successfully implemented. In addition to the IAKS award for 2021, Djordje Bajilo and his team won prestigious awards such as Architizer, IF Design, ICONIC, Architecture Masterprize, BLT Design Award, DNA, finalists of The Plan award, and the BIG SEE regional award.

Colin is the Head of Data Insights and Strategy for Populous in EMEA, based in London. In a 25+ year career in design, events, and venue strategy, Colin has built a stellar reputation for building and implementing client-driven solutions.

He leads the strategy group within Populous EMEA to create data-driven, commercially sustainable solutions around sports and entertainment venues and events. The aim is to drive a strategy that enables a complete turnkey approach, from initial insights through fan experience, final design and operation.

Chris leads the Food & Beverage division for Jump Studios and Populous, with a focus on driving revenue and enhancing the overall guest experience across all EMEA projects. With extensive experience working closely with architecture and interior design teams, Chris ensures that food & beverage spaces are not only aligned with the ethos of the venue but are also key drivers of commercial performance.

Understanding that catering is central to the financial success of sports and entertainment venues, Chris has been instrumental in maximising the commercial revenue potential of these areas, from premium hospitality offerings to high-volume concessions. His expertise spans iconic venues such as Climate Pledge Arena, Co-op Live, Wembley Stadium, the London Olympic Stadium, and The Gherkin, where his strategies have contributed to improved customer engagement and profitability.

César Esparza is the Founder & CEO of Juego de Pelota, a pioneer in reimagining stadiums as mixed-use, multi-purpose venues that serve as modern cathedrals of community and culture. His work integrates environmental (planet), social (people), and economic (prosperity) sustainability into every project. A serial entrepreneur, César is also the author of the book Juego Cathedrals 2026, a collector’s visual tribute that celebrates the cities, people, and stadiums hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Dan Boulger is the Projects and Mobilisation Director, leading strategic venue development projects and mobilisation initiatives within the Legends Global European portfolio. After more than twenty years with NEC Group, involved in major arena upgrades and a key figure in the development of Bradford Live, his attention has recently been on the mobilisation of Legends Global’s newest venue operating contract at Vaillant Live in Derby, and he is now leading the venue upgrade programme at Utilita Arena Sheffield. With a strong focus on sustainable design and operational excellence, Dan is an advocate for innovation, accessibility, and excellent customer experiences in arena design, being the basis of any commercial project.

Ross Noonan is the Technical Marketing & Training Manager at digiLED, a leading provider of turnkey LED screen solutions. The company has delivered some of the most ambitious large-format display projects in global sport and entertainment.

With nearly two decades in the technology sector, Ross’s career spans product design, manufacturing, production line management, and AV system design. His expertise in complex projection and large-scale LED display systems naturally led him to a role in marketing, where he focuses on making display technology more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.

Having previously specified and purchased digiLED products, Ross now champions the brand from within. He showcases their most prestigious stadium installations and helps new audiences understand what is possible with LED.

Ian joined L-Acoustics at the beginning of 2025 to lead the company’s business development efforts in the sports facilities market. He’s been engaged in the sports industry in the Americas since completing internships in college athletics over two decades ago at the Utah Utes and Florida Gators. His professional work includes time at sports technology industry leaders Daktronics, Samsung, and Ephesus Sports Lighting. He has leveraged his technical expertise to provide consulting support to other businesses that play in the sports vertical. He added to his experience with a sports-focused MBA from The George Washington University, where he participated in experiential programs focusing on the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Ian has a strong passion for sports and views his engagement with sports facilities from the perspective of a consultant, looking to help venue managers optimize ROI, reduce the total cost of technology ownership, and developing win-win solutions that optimize the 365-day per year use of their venue.

Patrick is Managing Director for Daktronics UK. With over 18 years of experience in the LED display industry, Patrick is responsible for strategic market development in the UK and Europe. Daktronics is a global leader in LED displays and has been informing and entertaining audiences for over 50 years. They have been responsible for delivering many milestone projects in the UK, including the installation of one of the first large-format digital roadside billboards, Piccadilly Lights, the landmark 4K display on Piccadilly Circus, London, and the supply and installation of the LED technology throughout the new groundbreaking Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

With eight years at Architen Landrell, Leigh has built a wealth of experience in the highly specialised world of tensile architecture and ETFE technology, learning the craft from the ground up. Now Sales & Marketing Manager, Leigh leads high-profile international projects across the UK and globally. Known for clear communication and collaborative problem solving, she thrives on the unusual and the different, helping architects realise bold design visions through precision engineering and a commitment to making fabric structures both beautiful and achievable.

Thad Sheely brings over 30 years of experience at the intersection of real estate and sports. He has led the planning and development of over $20 billion of development across North America—including new/renovated sports facilities for the Miami Heat, New York Jets, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Commanders, as well as large mixed-use projects for Hudson Yards, Centennial Yards, and the RFK Campus. He is currently an operating partner for Arctos, building their real estate platform alongside their sports investment strategy.

As a d&b audiotechnik Director since 2002, Stephen has intimate knowledge of the company, its technologies and positioning in the market. Starting his career as a sound engineer and joining d&b in 1998, more recently in the role of Head of Sports Projects, Stephen has overseen the positioning of d&b audiotechnik in the Stadia and Arena segment where his desire to deliver the perfect audio experience can be matched with a passion for all sporting disciplines.

Puneet Khunger is a leading expert in stadium architecture and kinetic engineering systems for sport and entertainment venues. He heads ARX, the stadia-focused division of Kinetic Solutions Group.

With a career dedicated to pushing the boundaries of venue design and engineering, Puneet combines technical excellence with a deep understanding of how world-class sports venues must perform for fans, athletes, and operators alike. His leadership ensures ARX continues to pioneer innovative, reliable, and iconic moving structures that transform stadium experiences. Approachable and collaborative, Puneet builds strong partnerships with architects, engineers, and clients worldwide, driving ARX’s reputation as the go-to specialist for kinetic stadia solutions.

Michael Vekich is an experienced senior executive known for innovative and effective leadership of complex organizations with a proven track record of providing business and financial counsel. Also known as Minnesota’s “go-to guy.” He has consistently demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, finance, compliance, governance, succession planning, and resource alignment. Vekich was appointed to the BNCCORP, INC. Board of Directors in March 2017 and named chair in December 2019 and chair and a director of the BNC National Bank in January 2020. From 1998 through the present, Mr. Vekich has been the Chief Executive Officer of Vekich Chartered, a management advisor specializing in investment banking, strategic planning, repositioning organizations and governance. He was the Executive Chairman of Skyline Exhibits, designers of trade show exhibits, from 2000 – 2010. Mr. Vekich has also served three terms as the Chair and a member of the Board of Trustees of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the Chair of the Managing Committee, the Chair for CAP-HC, and President of the National Association of Corporate Directors – Minnesota Chapter. In July 2017, Mr. Vekich was appointed by the Governor of Minnesota to serve as Chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. He has significant prior experience serving as a board member for several banking companies, including serving as Chair of the board of directors of HF Financial Corp. and Chair of the board of its wholly owned subsidiary, Home Federal Bank, and is a founder and served on the board of directors of Tradition Capital Bank and as Chair of the Bank Holding Company Association. In 2021, Mr. Vekich was named as one of the Top 100 Public Company Directors by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Mr. Vekich received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Global Management Accountant, and Certified Board Advisor, and he holds a Certificate in Cybersecurity Oversight.

Matthew Birchall is a chartered engineer and management consultant providing independent high-level advice to owners, investors, and other stakeholders involved in the construction industry. The mission of Birchall Advisory is to make new stadium and arena developments leaner and quicker and to achieve a better return. Matthew was formerly a partner at Buro Happold, leading their sports and entertainment business for a decade, delivering a dozen new venues—including those for Everton, Qatar 2022, and London 2012.

He is also a former international athlete, a part-time life coach and trainee psychotherapist, describes himself as ‘vaguely northern,’ and is dually autistic and ADHD.

Born in 1968, Patrik Meyer started his career as a professional drummer before entering the business as a financial director for a local promoter in Cologne. He worked on shows with The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, and Luciano Pavarotti. In 1997, he began working for the Koelnarena Management GmbH as director for the financial department and ticketing and controlling, both during the pre-opening and the operating period.

From 2005 until 2020, Patrik Meyer was managing director of the operation company for the Commerzbank-Arena—the World Cup stadium in Frankfurt. The stadium is the leading event stadium in Germany and hosts an average of 30–40 major events per year. Since 2020, he has been managing director of Eintracht Frankfurt Stadion GmbH—the new operator for the stadium in Frankfurt (Deutsche Bank Park). In combination with his previous role at the former operator, Patrik has now been managing director of the stadium in Frankfurt for almost 20 years.

Tim Thomas, Global Specification Manager for Sika, graduated with a B.Eng in Civil Engineering and is a Certified Surveyor in Structural Waterproofing (CSSW) and LEED Green Associate. Tim has 9 years of construction site experience and 28 years of experience in technical sales and marketing, mainly focusing on construction chemicals for international projects. The majority of Tim’s career has been in the UK, apart from 2007–2014 in Dubai, UAE, and he has worked in a variety of roles, including product manager, regional sales manager, business development manager, technical sales representative, and job site engineer. Tim likes cooking and reading.

Naoki Tsukushi is one of the leading stadium advisors in Japan, having worked on numerous J-League stadium and NPB (professional baseball) ballpark projects, both redevelopment and new builds, through the country’s first-ever dedicated stadium media hub/consultancy, THE STADIUM HUB, of which he is a founding member.

Naoki’s venue operation expertise extends to his long associations with OBS and NHK as a venue broadcast production coordinator, having worked in multiple stadia and arenas across 5 Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cups, and Pan-Pacific Swimming Championships over the last 25 years. He was also appointed a Community Ambassador of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup Australia and won the AFC Asian Cup Achievement Award for his community marketing project involving the Newcastle Stadium.

Naoki is currently leading Fukuyama City FC’s new stadium project as Stadium Development Director.

Ben Veenbrink is one of the leading stadium experts in the world with nearly 25 years of experience in the venue industry. Building on his experience as a member of the management team of the Johan Cruyff Arena, Europe’s first multifunctional stadium, he founded The Stadium Consultancy in 2006. During the last 19 years, The Stadium Consultancy successfully realised more than 150 projects in 4 continents under its leadership, ranging from small community stadiums to FIFA World Cup stadiums.

Ben has been appointed a member of UEFA’s Expert Panel on Stadium Construction & Management since 2006, and he has been a consultant to FIFA’s Forward Program since 2015. He was co-author of various stadium requirements and good practices, most recently the new FIFA Stadium Guidelines 2023. He has been a regular speaker at international stadium conferences.

Brian Burgess led the project to develop the original vision and business plan and obtain planning permission for a new community stadium for Brentford FC. As Chairman of the Brentford supporters’ trust, Bees United, Brian led the takeover of the Football Club in January 2006 and served as Deputy Chair of Brentford FC. In 2005, he helped to set up the Brentford FC Community Sports Trust as an independent charity and continues to serve as one of the founder trustees.

From 2012 to 2017, Brian was Chair of Supporters Direct, the national umbrella body for supporters’ trusts, operating in football in England and Wales, Scotland, and Europe and also in Rugby League in the UK. Brian previously enjoyed a successful international career in engineering and construction project management, followed by consultancy work in the development of social enterprises and multi-purpose community hubs linking sport, health, education, and social inclusion. In 2020, he was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for his voluntary service to football.

Freemans Event Partners has named Natasha Thiebaut as its new chief commercial officer. She has spent her 25-year career working with sports and entertainment venues to maximize revenues from premium seating, partnerships, catering, and ticketing.

Thiebaut will sit on the company’s executive board and has been tasked with delivering its five-year strategic plan. She has previously worked at Everton, FC Porto, Leinster Rugby, Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium, and Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana.

Thiebaut previously served as vice-president of IMG’s stadium division, playing a leading role in the opening of Wembley Stadium and developing Club Wembley. She also led IMG’s advisory work for stadium development ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

With extensive experience leading large multidisciplinary project teams across multiple sectors and regions internationally, Rob has delivered a variety of challenging projects throughout his career. He has led significant sports and entertainments projects, such as the Education City Stadium for the Fifa 2022 World Cup.

Rob is passionate about design and innovation and is part of our global innovation and technology steering groups. He has broad experience across sectors and regions, but he still applies his depth of knowledge in structural engineering, project delivery, and technology (as one of the co-founders of the BHoM open-source code framework).

Ali Çelikkıran completed an electrical & electronics engineering education. He has experience in energy distribution, building management, project management, and consultancy in the first 10 years of his 24-year business life. He has been working at Galatasaray SK for the last 14 years, since the opening of the Ali Sami Yen Stadium, and his current position is the Stadium Operating Director. He took part in many events and tournaments held at the stadium. (2013 U20 World Cup, UCL and UEL competitions, stadium concerts (Madonna and Bon Jovi), 2022 Amputee World Cup final, etc.) One of his most important works is leading the most powerful solar power plant project built on a stadium, which is included in the Guinness World Records Book.

Peter Bryan, Partner at TMG Partners, worked for the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2021 where he oversaw the final design, construction, and completion of Chase Center and surrounding development.  Chase Center is an 18,064-seat, state-of-the art sports and entertainment venue located in San Francisco, CA and home to the Golden State Warriors.  Chase Center opened 5 years ago to critical acclaim, receiving numerous awards both domestically and internationally.  Peter joined TMG Partners in August 2021 and continues to play a key role in San Francisco Bay Area development work.  TMG Partners is a local, privately owned, full service real estate company, specializing in urban infill projects across the Bay Area with over 30 million square feet under its belt and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Gené Willis is a seasoned senior operations manager with extensive expertise in health & safety and risk management. She previously served as Head of Stadium Operations at Sixways Stadium for over seven years, up until the unfortunate demise of Worcester Warriors. Currently, Gené is the general manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers, working for Levy—the Sport & Leisure division of Compass Group. Remaining within the sports industry, she has returned to her culinary roots, overseeing all Food & Beverage and Conference & Events operations across both the stadium and training ground day to day, as well as on matchdays.

In addition to her full-time role, in her spare time, Gené offers health & safety consultancy to various sporting or event venues, including the revived Worcester Warriors.

A passionate advocate for sustainability in sport and stadium operations, Gené is a regular delegate and panellist at the Stadium Business Summit, where her energy and insight consistently resonate with audiences. She was also the recipient of the ‘Event of the Year’ award at #SBS22 for her innovative ‘Convert to Zero’ Premiership Rugby match.

Mika Sulin has held prestigious positions throughout his career, including General Secretary of the Finnish Olympic Committee, General Secretary of the IIHF 2012 Ice Hockey World Championships, and leading the restructuring of Finnish sports and securing €9 million in sponsorships. He has successfully marketed and sold several brands across Europe and played key roles in developing major product and marketing concepts internationally. His experience includes General Manager of Nike Central and Eastern European countries, General Manager of Nike Nordics, and key roles in the development of the Nike Retail concept and the Nike Football category in CEE and Nordics. Mika has developed multipurpose arena concepts worth nearly 2 billion euros in various European cities, including Hamburg (Barclays Arena), Prague (O2 Arena), Helsinki, Riga Arena, Vilnius (Siemens Arena) and many others

In the past seven years, he has orchestrated the Tampere Deck and Arena project, a €550 million development that includes Nokia Arena, home to Finnish League teams Tappara and Ilves. This venue hosts significant international sports and cultural events, including the IIHF World Championships in 2022 and 2023. In 2007, Mr. Sulin established his advisory company to assist private investment and venture capitalist companies with internationalization and global development projects in the sporting goods industry, sports marketing, and stadiums and arenas. He has been involved in several European arena developments and feasibility studies. In December 2023, Mika joined PMY Group as a Global Advisor. He is also leading the Hakametsä Sport Campus project, the first European downtown city sport campus worth €500 million to be opened in 2027.

Ian Nuttall is the owner and founder of TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit, presented by his Xperiology events business. His working life began in sports hospitality events management (including Formula 1, horse racing and Wimbledon) before pursuing an award-winning career in B2B magazine publishing. He has co-launched and edited numerous business titles (ranging from energy and industrial processes through to airport design and Intelligent Transportation Systems). He has also founded many of the sports sector’s most respected publications and news sources – most recently TheStadiumBusiness News, delivering the all the latest Stadium Business news, blogs, videos, and up-to-the-minute media coverage from all the leading voices in the Stadium Business industry, all in one place. In addition to his ongoing commitments as a sports business writer and speaker, Ian provides highly-valued, specialist consultancy to the sports and entertainment venue sector.