Operations, Technology & Sustainability

A member of Huddersfield Town Football Club’s Senior Leadership Team, Robyn is an industry leader in football in the field of fan engagement, and is the strategic lead in the important area of supporter experience. Robyn’s 19 years with Huddersfield Town has seen her impact all areas of the business, with her work recognised as amongst the best in football, demonstrated by multiple industry awards including the EFL Gold Standard for Family Excellence and a recent EFL Award win for female supporter engagement.

 

Robyn is a key part of the club’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion work, which has seen the club recognised with both the Premier League’s Advanced Level in their PLEDIS scheme as well as the EFL’s Code of Practice Gold Standard; one of only two clubs in the 72 to achieve that accolade. She is also a proud Trustee of the Huddersfield Town Foundation and works with multiple local and national good causes to help make a positive difference to the lives of people in her community.

Pete is responsible for leading and influencing sustainable development, operations and events with a wide-ranging social, environmental and commercial programme that engages all parts of the Club – and CFG –  and its work, its fans, communities and partners, measuring and reporting the impacts transparently and consistently.​

Pete has worked in the sport and leisure field since the mid-1970s with key roles in leisure management, sports development, health education, strategic regeneration and in sustainable development.​

Working in the UK and overseas, Pete has developed his career to help build strong and successful organisational structures and responsible change and development.​

Born and educated in Manchester; a swimmer and water polo player ‘by trade’, Pete attended his first Manchester City match in 1963. An alumni of Hulme’s Birley High School and (Masters) of the University of Leicester.​

A published author – a Mancunian through and through – Pete is confident that the spirit of industry, invention, innovation and change is alive and well – creating wide ranging benefits and opportunities with security in learning, health and wellbeing above all – so that we prosper – together.

Eve is the Technology Manager at Ascot Racecourse, where she leads the IT team and drives innovative tech initiatives that support one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues. With a passion for operational excellence and digital transformation, Eve plays a key role in shaping how technology enhances both the guest experience and behind-the-scenes operations at major events

Lee Lih Long leads the Precinct Team at Singapore Sports Hub, one of the world’s first fully integrated sports, entertainment, and lifestyle destinations. He oversees a dynamic team responsible for enhancing patron experiences across the 42-hectare precinct, with a focus on seamless ingress and egress at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and National Stadium. The unique egress protocol he introduced—which involves creating a party atmosphere while patrons wait to enter the train station in controlled batches—has earned him the moniker “DJ Lih Long” and fame on XiaoHongShu. Under Lih Long’s leadership, patron safety and exceptional experiences in the precinct go hand in hand at the Singapore Sports Hub.

There are few events that take place in arenas, theatres, or other venues that Lee Zeidman has not been involved with during his career. As President of Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater and L.A. LIVE the sports, residential and entertainment district, Lee oversees the venues event operations, production, including guest services, booking, box office, event security, event staffing, guest relations, facility presentation, marketing, communications, hospitality and food and beverage services. Along with his hard-working team of employees Lee also supervises Crypto.com Arena’s overall day-to-day support for its tenants, sponsors, clients, and partners including the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Sparks franchises hosting seven NBA Finals, two Stanley Cup Finals and five WNBA Finals in which the home teams won seven NBA Championships, two Stanley Cup Championships and three WNBA Championships.

In June 2018, Lee was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the Stadium Business Awards in Manchester, England, which recognizes an individual who has shown exceptional commitment to service and leadership in the stadium industry over a sustained period of time. In October 2020, Lee was selected by the Association of Luxury Suite Directors (ALSD) to receive their prestigious ALSD Bill Dorsey Visionary Award, an annual venue industry award presented to a respected executive for his innovation, vision, character and loyalty and whose lifetime of leadership and achievement merits the sports and entertainment industry Association’s highest individual honor. In May 2022, Lee was recognized by the Innovation Institute for Fan Experience (IIFX) for his distinguished meritorious service to the sports and entertainment industry and was inducted into the IIFX Hall of Fame’s Inaugural Class. In June 2022, Lee was presented with the Eli Sherman Pillar of Achievement Award and inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame at their 30^th year induction ceremony in Los Angeles. Most recently, in June 2024, Lee received the Environmental Leadership Award from the Green Sports Alliance during the 14^th annual Green Sports Alliance Summit.

Prior to AEG and Crypto.com Arena, Lee was the Great Western Forum’s Vice-President, Operations, overseeing all areas of that facility’s management.  During his 10-year tenure, he coordinated operations for all Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers games, concerts and special events.  Previously, he directed operations for the 6,000-seat special event center at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, and graduate of California State University, Northridge, Lee currently resides in Venice, California. After 45 years in the industry, opening various venues and overseeing approximately 6,500 events, Lee will retire in October 2025.

Pelle de Laaf is a finance and sustainability professional based in the Netherlands. He currently serves as Head of Finance & Reporting at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. The largest venue for football, events and concerts in the Netherlands. Where he plays a pivotal role in integrating financial strategy with the venue’s sustainability initiatives. On this topic he also gives lectures at Nyenrode Business University.

Beyond his primary role, Pelle is actively involved in several organizations dedicated to environmental and social impact. He is member of the Board of Trustees at Breadline Africa NL and serves on the Board of the Green Business Amsterdam Zuidoost.

His multifaceted involvement underscores his commitment to advancing sustainability both within the sports industry and in broader societal contexts.​

Peter has over 25 years’ experience in venue operations across football, sport, music and cultural events. Throughout his career, he has supported the commercial negotiation, operational planning, and successful delivery, of numerous high profile events including UEFA Finals & European Championships, International Football, Domestic Cup Finals, The Commonwealth Games, Olympic Events, Rugby, American Football, Athletics, Boxing, and full capacity Rock Concerts.

He has also served senior management teams across stadium refurbishment projects, retail, catering and facilities management. As a Board Member of The Scottish Football Museum Trust, Peter was instrumental in the creation and foundation of the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

After two decades working with the executive team at Hampden, Scotland’s National Stadium, including a decade as Managing Director, Peter is now the Venue and Operations Director at the iconic Ibrox Stadium in Glasgow.

Ricky Ma is a seasoned Human Resources leader with extensive experience across industries such as airline, banking, hospitality, and construction. Renowned for his expertise in HR System Implementation, Compensation & Benefits, Workforce Analytics, and General HR Management, Ricky has a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives that empower organizations to thrive.

As the Head of Human Resources at AsiaWorld-Expo, Ricky spearheads talent strategies aligned with the company’s vision as Asia’s leading venue for world-class events. His leadership fosters innovation, workforce excellence, and a culture of collaboration, making him a driving force behind organizational success.

Jay has spent the past 20 years working in a variety of live event venues, from West End theatres to The Roundhouse in Camden, and most recently as Head of Guest Experience for The O2.

During his time working in some of the most iconic venues in London, Jay has held roles covering General Management & Operations, but more recently has been focussed on delivering best-in-class fan experiences and improving accessibility. As a passionate advocate of inclusivity, Jay oversaw the venue becoming the UK’s first arena to achieve Platinum status with Attitude is Everything in 2024.

As a strong advocate for blending technology and human interaction to deliver memorable experiences,  Jay is always looking for new ways to drive innovation in guest experience.

With over 17 years of experience in hospitality and live events, David Hill brings a unique blend of financial expertise, operational insight, and a passion for technology-led transformation. As Head of Data and Systems at Sodexo Live!, he plays a pivotal role in identifying, implementing, and integrating systems that enhance operational efficiency and control across some of the UK’s most iconic venues. His ability to bridge finance, IT, and operations makes him a trusted partner in delivering exceptional event-day experiences at scale.

Víctor Marín is the director of communication and marketing at C.D. Leganés, a graduate in communication at Rey Juan Carlos University, and a master’s in corporate and institutional communication at Carlos III University. He began his work in media such as Agencia EFE, Europa Press, or Cadena COPE and has been linked to the communication and marketing department of C.D. Leganés for more than 15 years. In 2023 he led the department that won the national marketing award in the innovation and technology category.

Amy is highly passionate about improving accessibility for disabled people within sport and the wider society and has been at AccessibAll for nine years. She manages relations with disabled fans and Disabled Supporters Associations (DSAs) to highlight the crucial roles disabled people play across football through fan-related projects and research, and is often the first point of contact with disabled fans and works to answer questions and queries regarding accessibility at football stadia. She leads projects such as the access appraisals of stadia for UEFA and clubs, offering advice on how access and inclusion can be improved, and AccessibAll’s fan-related projects ahead of UEFA club competition finals and tournaments, such as the Accessibility Monitor programme. Amy also has vast experience of attending live matches across the UK and Europe as a disabled fan.

I have enjoyed a long and diverse career in IT, starting in large mainframes in the 70s through international support roles, then various management roles, including software and database design. Later, moving to project management of global software solutions using the Microsoft stack to support education examinations, elections, and litigation disciplines.

I have been fortunate to have worked in areas that I have also enjoyed, and my last 6 years working for the Stadium have been the most rewarding and exciting, building new IT teams and working with a football club, a Hotel, a Radio station, and the Sports Education Trust.

In my spare time, I like to invent, repair, and build, mostly in the areas of Electronics, PIC and Pi Microprocessors, 3D Printing, and Laser cutting.

Arana and other Innovate / DSIT 5G projects have helped push the boundaries of technology, and I have been fortunate to have been involved in these projects.

Josh Dean is the visionary CEO of Audiebant, a leading provider of mass communication solutions enhancing safety at large venues and public spaces. With his extensive experience in communication technology, Josh has driven Audiebant to the forefront of event preparedness in response to evolving legislation such as Martyn’s Law. Under Josh’s leadership, Audiebant has pioneered zoned mass communication systems, enabling venues to deliver clear, location-specific emergency instructions, ensuring calm and clarity when needed most. As a recognised thought leader, Josh frequently speaks at industry events, showcasing how tailored, multi-channel broadcasts can reduce risk, boost public confidence, and enable smarter, real-time decision-making. Josh’s expertise has helped organisations across both public and private sectors — including education, healthcare, corporate, and local authorities — transition from outdated systems to modern, real-time solutions, improving both efficiency and safety compliance. His commitment to innovation has solidified Audiebant as a trusted partner in raising safety standards for venues nationwide.

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.

Tim is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience across the exhibitions, events, major venues, and hospitality industries. He has also held positions on both industry and corporate boards, contributing strategic insight and leadership at a high level. As CEO, Tim leads Swiftpos through ongoing operational transformation while shaping strategic plans that drive growth, expand market presence, and deliver strong financial performance. His leadership is instrumental as the company integrates into the broader Oolio Group of companies. Tim is passionate about enabling meaningful change.

He fosters a winning culture by empowering his team to deliver impactful solutions. Under his guidance, the focus remains on enhancing customer experience and retention, improving operational efficiency and safety, and driving profitability. Tim holds a Bachelor of Design and a Master of Business Administration, Strategy and Management (MBA) from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Jay has spent 20 years in the sports and leisure industry, starting at Flemington Racecourse Australia and working his way through almost every role and job the cleaning industry has to offer, including working on 4 separate continents and 3 Olympic Games. Jay is currently the Director of Operations for CleanEvent Services, which is proud to be the Official Cleaning Partner of Lancashire Cricket Club

Ed leads the UK and Ireland commercial team at Amadeus Hospitality, supporting hotels and venues with technology solutions across the entire customer journey. Before joining Amadeus, Ed worked on the Google Travel Team for 10 years, consulting with many of Google’s largest hospitality partners and leading the Accommodation team. Ed sits on the Advisory Board of Women in Travel.

Jo Polson is the CEO of Vindico, a forward-thinking software and innovation company driving digital transformation across sectors including sports, venues, and sustainability. With a passion for practical, user-first technology, Jo champions the use of AI to solve real-world operational challenges and create more connected, human-centric systems.

Tapio Rosenius is a Finnish designer, technologist, and entrepreneur working at the forefront of spatial innovation. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Poet Creator Software, a real-time control platform that merges data, light, media, and sensing to shape how people experience places. With a background in architectural lighting and a career spanning over two decades, Rosenius has pioneered the use of ambient communication—the seamless integration of digital content into physical environments—to influence behaviour, emotion, and engagement.

The award-winning work of his team has been applied globally across stadiums, cultural institutions, and venues, enabling spaces to sense and respond to people in real time adding tangible value to built infrastructure. At Poet Creator, he guides a multidisciplinary force driving the evolution of intelligent environments for the world’s most forward-thinking operators, developers, and experience architects.

At the Stadium Business Summit, Tapio will share how activating spaces for fan experience with real-time data, light, and media creates new revenue streams.

Scott was appointed General Manager of Marvel Stadium in November 2023 and joined the Stadium Board in November 2024. In his first year, Scott led the unveiling of the $225m Marvel Stadium Upgrade which delivered a suite of world-leading upgrades focused on guest experience, accessibility, and creating a 365-day destination for entertainment.  2024 saw Marvel Stadium experience unprecedented growth in attendance events through the curation of an exceptional content calendar, with over 2.5m guests attending the venue across 66 major arena events. 

This included over 1 million attendees at the 23 concerts & special events – close to 600,000 in October and November alone – culminating in Marvel Stadium being recognized as billboard magazine’s busiest entertainment venue in the world for October 2024.  The biggest acts in the world called Marvel Stadium home in 2024 including Pink, Pearl Jam, Cold Play, The Weeknd, Stray Kids and Travis Scott. 

Beyond traditional event days, Marvel Stadium has brought to life a range of activations, events, and experiences that have driven significant non-event day visitation to the Stadium Precinct.  These include a Christmas Immersive Cinema, Stadium Golf, Diwali & other cultural festivals, an Immersive Lightscape Labyrinth, International Sporting Event Live Sites, and even a range of bars & restaurants operating 7 days a week. Scott has had an extensive career in elite sport having previously led the Australian Football League’s consumer business portfolio with responsibility for the league’s key fan revenue streams including ticketing, membership, hospitality, F&B, and stadia revenues.  Scott also has significant experience at Club level, having led the commercial portfolios at both the Port Adelaide and St Kilda Football Clubs prior to his time at the AFL.

Santiago is an experienced sports operations leader with a proven track record of excellence in international and domestic sports organizations. Currently serving as Director of Operations at Club Atlético River Plate, he oversees operations for the stadium and its multifaceted activities, including sports and educational programs. Under his leadership, the club reached the 2024 Libertadores Cup Final and successfully managed operations amidst ongoing stadium construction.

Previously, Santiago was the General Manager of Dallas Jackals, where he built a competitive Major League Rugby team by implementing cost-effective and efficient processes. He also served as a consultant at Club River Plate and worked with various sports organizations as a Board Member for Evolt Sports, focusing on operational efficiency and organizational growth.

Earlier in his career, Santiago played a crucial role in Rugby Atlanta’s rapid success, creating a high-performance structure that led to Conference Championship victories. With a background in business development, he has also significantly contributed to sports tech companies like STATSports and Mac-Lloyd GPS.

A former rugby player and coach, Santiago holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Business.

Nuno Guerreiro is a top-level executive with over 24 years of experience in the design, development, and management of sports, cultural, and leisure infrastructures. He is currently the CEO of Algarve Stadium, where he has implemented innovative strategies that have established the stadium as one of the most profitable infrastructures in the country.

Throughout his career, he has been directly involved in the planning, financing, and construction of Algarve Stadium for the UEFA Euro 2004. More recently, he led the creation of the High-Performance Training Center at Parque das Cidades, a strategic project that enhances Stadium Algarve’s capabilities, fosters synergies, racks investment, and strengthens the region’s sports and economic dynamics.

Beyond his role at Algarve Stadium, he serves as an executive manager at the Associa on of Municipali es of Loulé/Faro (AMLF) and has extensive experience in strategic consulting, finance, and public procurement. Holding a degree in Financial Management from the University of Algarve, he stands out for his strategic vision, innovation on capacity, and leadership, establishing himself as a benchmark in the efficient and sustainable management of sports and leisure infrastructures.

Jon is a true industry professional with 40 years of venue management experience gained at numerous venues including Wembley Arena, The Dome, The Odyssey Arena Belfast, Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, and most recently Tottenham Hotspur Football Club where he has held the position of Stadium Director for the past 23 years. Jon is a member of the Club’s Senior Leadership Team, sits on the European Stadium & Safety Managers Association’s Executive Committee, and was recognised as the Stadium Business Awards Executive of the Year in 2024.

After obtaining a degree in Modern Languages and Literatures from the University of Turin, Francesco Gianello started his professional career in the field of commerce and public relations, with a particular focus on the foreign market, thanks to his excellent knowledge of English, Russian, German, and French.

In December 1998, Gianello joined Juventus as the secretary of the Youth Sector. With the transfer of the corporate headquarters to Corso Galileo Ferraris, the Sports Secretariat Department was established, where he worked until he reached the position of Manager.

Starting from October 2010, Gianello took on the role of Head of Stadium, and in October 2018, he was promoted to Head of Stadium and Facilities, with the aim of ensuring high standards of efficiency and service for all operations related to facilities company venues. This role was completed in 2020 with his current promotion to Facilities Management Director. Starting from 2024 he’s president of ESSMA, joined in 2018 as a member of the Advisory Committee.

After graduating from HEC, I began my career at IMG McCormack in the Major Sporting and Cultural Events Production department. Over nine years, events such as the PGA Golf Tournaments, ATP Tennis Tournaments, the Albertville Winter Olympics, and Luciano Pavarotti’s concert on the Champ de Mars strengthened my passion and expertise in producing large-scale events.

In 1997, I joined the Stade de France as Deputy General Manager and President of Stade de France Production, dedicated to creating and producing large shows. For 14 years, I oversaw the hosting and organization of all the biggest sporting events and concerts, as well as the creation of 55 shows across various genres: classical music, electronic music, rap & R&B, Celtic music, motorsports, and family-friendly productions like Ben Hur and Excalibur. These productions were characterized by their ability to embrace the vast scale of the venues, featuring 360-degree staging across more than 30,000 square meters.

In 2013, I joined France Galop as Deputy General Manager, where I led the reconstruction of the Longchamp racecourse over five years and established a new operational business model for racecourses.

In 2018, I was appointed CEO of the French Tennis Federation, tasked with developing and executing a strategic plan to revitalize tennis’s appeal in France.

In 2019, I founded Live Stadium with a dual mission:

• To create and produce original shows tailored to large-capacity venues.
• To advise cities, stadiums, and arenas on developing their programming.

“The importance of the transformative value of the experience, with larger, more immersive, and more interactive shows, is also increasingly at the center of our concerns.” JC Giletta

Everette Bacon is a globally recognized advocate, executive leader, and accessibility strategist who serves as Chief of Blindness Initiatives at Aira, the global leader in visual interpreting services. A proud blind professional and technology enthusiast, Everette works to ensure that access to visual information is treated as a human right, not a privilege. His work at Aira supports the integration of cutting-edge accessibility tools into daily life, especially in high-impact environments like stadiums and arenas.

Everette brings more than two decades of experience in vision rehabilitation, assistive technology, and disability rights leadership. He earned his Master’s degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy from Western Michigan University and has spent much of his career in the public sector, leading outreach and field services for the Utah Division of Services for the Blind. His efforts have empowered countless individuals to live more independently through access to technology and inclusive services.

An elected leader and influential policy voice, Everette was elected President of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah in 2012. Under his leadership, the affiliate championed the passage of Utah’s landmark “mini-508” law, which mandates accessibility compliance for state websites and technology procurement, with financial penalties for non-compliance. This significant legislative win showcases his commitment to transforming advocacy into tangible progress.

His expertise in digital accessibility led to his appointment in 2015 to the Federal Communications Commission’s Disability Advisory Committee, where he continues to serve in his fifth term. He also contributes nationally as a member of the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind’s Audio Equipment Advisory Committee (Western Region), the Utah Assistive Technology Council, and as chair of the Utah Library Advisory Board. In 2015, he was unanimously elected to the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind.

Though based in Salt Lake City with his wife Angela and their two dogs, Everette’s heart still belongs to his hometown team—the Dallas Cowboys. As a dedicated sports fan, he deeply understands the value of full inclusion in the game-day experience. Whether navigating a stadium, enjoying the sights, or simply finding your seat, Everette believes every fan deserves an equal experience.

Michael is a vastly experienced and passionate advocate of wider accessibility for disabled people within sport. He manages the day-to-day activities of the AccessibAll team and leads media and communication strategies within the organisation. His roles also include stakeholder development and partnership building, management of the annual #TotalAccess Week of Action campaign, and overseeing the expansion of audio-descriptive commentary for partially sighted and blind people. He has worked on numerous international tournaments and competition Finals, ensuring the availability of accessible facilities and services for disabled supporters, and provided training across the globe to advise on access improvements and effective communication with disabled people.

Javier Martinez is an Internationally renowned Tech, Sports, Leisure & Entertainment Senior Executive with a 25+ years solid track record delivering outstanding business results at world leading companies including The Walt Disney Company, Atlético de Madrid Football Club, Global Sports Innovation Center by MICROSOFT and Manchester City FC. Javier has returned to Madrid after almost four years in Riyadh at the heart of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he lead the strategic launch of Al Nassr FC ́s MR SOOL PARK STADIUM (currently Al-Awwal Park) where CR7 delights football fans. Having set the stadium as a country reference, he joined PIF ́s Gygaproject QIDDIYA as Sponsorship & Partnerships Executive Director, to finally lead the landing and development of FIFA and Formula 1 official Tech partner : GLOBANT, as Managing director for Middle East & North Africa.

Tony joined the Signature Systems team in 2010 and is based in the UK. With a strong focus on Worldwide Stadium Sales, Tony has successfully delivered composite matting and ground protection solutions for more than 15 world games, including the 2012 London Olympics, where he was responsible for the largest trackway contract in Olympic history.

He and his team have also negotiated and delivered ground protection systems for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the 2015 European Games in Azerbaijan, the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Tony continues to speak to stadia architects, engineers, operators, and event rental infrastructure companies globally and supplying natural, hybrid and artificial turf protection as well as athletics track protection solutions.  Signature manufactures all their products in-house in Orlando, Florida with Corporate Headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

Iain Wilkie is a seasoned veteran in the lighting industry, boasting an impressive 35-year career. Early on, he honed his skills as a Lighting Designer, investing six years in a UK-based lighting consultancy while pursuing formal education in Lighting and Electric Principles at Technical College. His passion for lighting deepened as he worked on live projects and gleaned wisdom from experienced mentors.

For the past 27 years, Iain has been an integral part of a prominent UK-based lighting manufacturer. During this tenure, he successfully managed the Lighting Design Department and the Quotations Team, solidifying his foundation in both technical and commercial aspects of the industry. This invaluable experience paved the way for a decade-long stint in Product Management, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership.

Today, Iain Wilkie works as a  Global Product Manager at Thorn Lighting and is based in the UK. He is an active member of CIBSE: Society of Light and Lighting and the Institute of Lighting Professionals (ILP). In his current role, Iain plays a pivotal role in enhancing the existing product portfolio and charting the course for future innovations in Sports and Floodlighting applications.

Since January 2012, Marie Smyth has been an integral part of the historic Croke Park Stadium, currently serving as the Head of Venue Business. With a career spanning over a decade at this iconic Irish venue, Marie has played a key role in shaping and enhancing the stadium’s corporate offerings.

In her capacity as the Head of Venue Business, Marie spearheads sales initiatives and coordinates a myriad of activities for Croke Park Premium, showcasing her strategic acumen in the competitive events and hospitality industry. Her responsibilities extend to overseeing Meeting & Events, where she ensures seamless coordination and execution of diverse gatherings. Croke Park Stadium, with its storied history spanning over a century, holds a special place in Irish sporting heritage. Marie operates in a challenging yet thrilling environment with a capacity of 82,300, 110 event spaces, 94 suites, and over 8,700 premium seats under her purview. Her daily challenges are as diverse as the events hosted at the stadium. Leading a dynamic team, Marie manages a wide array of clients, ranging from internal and external to national and international, including corporate and association clients.

Marie Smyth’s tenure at Croke Park Stadium is characterized by her unwavering commitment to excellence, her strategic vision for business development, and her passion for creating memorable experiences in one of Ireland’s most iconic venues. Leading a dynamic team, Marie manages a wide array of clients, ranging from internal and external to national and international, including corporate and association clients. Marie Smyth’s tenure at Croke Park Stadium is characterized by her unwavering commitment to excellence, her strategic vision for business development, and her passion for creating memorable experiences in one of Ireland’s most iconic venues.

Peter Evans has 25 years of experience leading organizations’ digital transformation and innovation activities for customers in the telecom, cloud, SaaS, and security industries, both cyber and physical. With Xtract One, Peter is bolstering the physical security technology industry while not only maintaining but improving the customer experience – not just Xtract One’s customers, but their customers also. With an understanding of the operational challenges their customers face, Peter is driving the organization towards delivering solutions that replace outdated systems, augment current technology, and enhance existing resources.

With 15 years’ experience across including Live Nation, Cuffe & Taylor, and Escape to Freight Island, Gemma has built an extraordinary career. She has worked alongside music legends such as Faithless, Cliff Richard, Mariah Carey, and Britney Spears, bringing a unique perspective gained from her success as a promoter, marketer, and venue manager.

 

Gemma joined Legends/ASM Global in 2023 as Director of Sales and Marketing during a transformative period for AO Arena. Tasked with navigating the challenges of a £70 million redevelopment and launching The Mezz, the UK’s first celebrity chef-led restaurant and bar within a live music venue, she has led the AO Arena to redefine live entertainment and culinary excellence.

 

Gemma’s dedication to the city extends beyond the arena. As a board member of Brighter Sound and the Manchester Music City network, she actively contributes to strengthening Manchester’s reputation as a global hub for music and the arts.

Paul works with a wide range of sports, stadium, arena, and leisure organisations across the UK and Europe. He assists both large and mid-sized organisations in managing the complexities of their shift-based workforces. Paul will share insights into how flexible workforce strategies enable seamless delivery at major events, such as Royal Ascot.

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.

Rhiannon Martin is Head of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She has a vast experience delivering FIFA tournaments and events since 1997: including the FIFA World Cups 1998 – 2010; FIFA Women’s World Cups 2003, 2019 and 2023; Olympic Football Tournaments 2012; the FIFA Club World Cup 2000, 2015 – 2017; and a wide range of youth tournaments from 2011 – 2018.

Rhiannon is responsible for the strategic and operational planning and delivery of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (FWWC). She heads up the FWWC project team which is made up of experts across all departments within FIFA (from venue management to broadcast to team services to event budget etc….).

Rhiannon has dual British and Swiss nationality, is fluent in English and French, and speaks intermediate Brazilian Portuguese, German and Spanish.

Francis Casado is one of the founders of Mobile Media Content, who comercialises the 3D Digital Venue platform and is currently serving as Chief Revenue Officer. 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 estate and pharma, amongst others.

Ian Nuttall is the owner and founder of TheStadiumBusiness 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.