Industry leaders from across the globe will gather in Melbourne for the upcoming SportNXT 2024 – a conference that will bring together a selection of the sporting world’s top executives for in-depth discussions about the sector’s most timely topics.
Among the big-name speakers lined up for the conference from March 19-21 at the Melbourne & Olympic Parks precinct are representatives of numerous North American leagues and franchises who are ready to bring major league insights to a truly global gathering in the southern hemisphere.
NBA chief technology officer (CTO) Krishna Bhagavathula, BSE Global/Brooklyn Nets executive vice-president of global partnerships Catherine Carlson, Miami Heat senior vice-president (SVP) of strategy and data analytics Edson Crevecoeur, and Angel City FC co-founder and president Julie Uhrman will be in attendance to offer unmissable perspectives.
LA 2028 chair Casey Wasserman and ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro will also join the conference virtually to add to the North American speaking contingent.
“The US sports market is among the most developed and commercially successful globally, and insights from its leaders can provide valuable lessons and inspiration for our attendees,” SportNXT CEO Hamish Anderson says.
“But it’s not just the US; we have always had a commitment to delivering a truly global conference, and we will have senior leaders from the US, Canada, Europe, the UK, the Middle East, India and throughout the Asia-Pacific.”
The likes of Nikhil Bardia, Head of RISE Worldwide Limited, Formula 1 Director of Media Rights & Content Creation, Ian Holmes, World Rugby chief commercial officer Ben Slack, Board Advisor of Wrexham AFC, Shaun Harvey and Brett Gosper, the NFL’s head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, will contribute to the engaging programme’s international outlook.
Meanwhile stellar speakers from Australia and Oceania will strengthen regional representation at the global conference, including Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee president Andrew Liveris, Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins and Kylie Watson-Wheeler, SVP and managing director of The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand.
“With both global and domestic perspectives from leading organisations like the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympics, ESPN, the NBA, NFL, FIBA Media, Angel City FC, Wrexham AFC, The Walt Disney Company, Dentsu and many more, we ensure that attendees gain access to cutting-edge strategies, trends, and practices that can be applied in their own contexts,” Anderson adds.
“This global expertise is essential for fostering innovation and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
The SportNXT 2024 conference programme will cover a range of future-focused challenges and opportunities, including technology, artificial intelligence, social media, emerging markets and sustainability.
The ongoing development of women’s sport will also be a key topic of conversation, building on the record-breaking success of last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“At SportNXT, we curate our sessions to expose our guests to the greatest minds and opportunities shaping our industry,” Anderson adds.
“I fully expect streams of conversations around digital transformation and the impact of technology and AI, VR, AR and blockchain on the fan experience, as well as the growing importance of sustainability and social responsibility in sports.
“All of our discussions are centred around ‘what’s NXT?’ We bring our industry together to discuss and debate the critical issues that will shape the sports industry over the next decade and beyond.”