SEA Summit 2024 Speakers
Wednesday 17 April | Marvel Stadium
Click here to view the #SEA Summit 24 Program
The #SEASummit will feature an exciting line-up of national {sport & planet} leaders live on stage,
as well as global experts via pre-recorded messages.
The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee is a key delivery partner of the Elevate 2042 Legacy Strategy and we’re delighted the Merrilee will be sharing some highlights and opportunities from the Strategy as we progress towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 – and beyond.
Merrilee has worked across myriad layers of sport, including club through to national level sport, sport stadia, athlete management, sponsorship, education, government and mega sporting events. In her previous roles, Merrilee has provided guidance to the Australian sport sector to bolster the capability of its workforce to bring about sustainable, organisational change, particularly in the areas of safe, fair and inclusive sport.
In her current role as Head of Games Impact and Legacy, Merrilee is committed to ensuring the Games are a catalyst to delivering a safe, inclusive and sustainable experience for all stakeholders, particularly those from marginalised and disadvantaged communities.
Merrilee Barnes GAICD
Head of Games Impact and Legacy for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee
Marcus is a qualified lawyer with 20 years of commercial and sports management experience in New Zealand and England. He is the former CEO of Forest Green Rovers, who are recognised by FIFA as the greenest football club in the world. A critical component of this role was ensuring that the clubs’ values, culture and behaviours were aligned, particularly around their position as a global leader in environmental sustainability.
Marcus Reynolds
Former CEO
Forest Green Rovers Football Club
Join Sheila as she speaks around the lessons learnt from the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 with her keynote entitled: Learning what can work through intention, discipline, and a little bit of madness.
Sheila was Head of Sustainability for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and is also co-founder and current board director of Sports Environment Alliance and we’re absolutely delighted that she will be joining us.
Sheila will be speaking around the lessons learnt from the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 with her keynote entitled: Learning what can work through intention, discipline, and a little bit of madness.
Sheila Nguyen
Former Head of Sustainability for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and is also co-founder and current board director of Sports Environment Alliance
Graduating with a BA Applied Science from RMIT and having spent her industry-based year with Spotless Services Limited at the MCG, Jo comes full circle now working in Australia’s leading sporting industry, the Australian Football League.
After spending 4 years in London working with the Virgin Group, Jo commenced her career in Australia within leading global ad agencies such as Ogilvy and JWT championing the experiential side of consumer engagement within the marketing mix for top tier brands such as Ford, Kellogg’s, L’Oreal and Nestle. Jo then moved brand side leading Sponsorships and Brand Activation at National Australia Bank for 5 years and General Motors Holden for a year as they transitioned from local manufacturing.
Jo Gilbert began her career at AFL over 5.5 years ago leading the Commercial Partnerships, Events and Match Day experience team. Over her time in the role, Jo oversaw the transformation of her portfolio from transactional sponsorships to strategically aligned and value driven partnerships.
In 2023, Jo transitioned to the newly created role of Head of Sustainability at AFL. This is a crucial role for the business in its commencement of their Environmental Sustainability journey. Jo’s remit includes working with experts to establish the baseline carbon audit for the AFL right through to providing strategic direction and leading collaboration across the entire industry including Clubs and Players to drive climate positive outcomes.
Jo is also Board Member of the Ladder Foundation, a charity organisation backed by the AFL Players Association that delivers tailored development and mentoring programs that support young people in need to change their lives for the better.
Jo Gilbert
Head of Sustainability, Australian Football League
Alexia Morgan is a passionate sustainability professional, determined to lead anyone who will listen on their sustainability journey. Alexia believes that everyone can make a positive difference to the way their business, sporting club or household operates environmentally. Whether it’s simple initiatives like recycling, or more complex carbon emissions boundaries, it’s just a matter of getting started and then continually improving.
Alexia has worked the majority of her career in the sport, recreation and aquatics industry. Alexia is a Life Member of Aquatics and Recreation Vicotria after serving on their board for over 13 years.
Alexia has an MBA and is currently completing her Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University.
Alexia Morgan
Group Manager, Business Improvement, Belgravia Health & Leisure Group
Adam is a dynamic and entrepreneurial senior sports executive with an impressive track record of delivering successful outcomes across the areas of community participation, high performance sport, and the events industry. Appointed to the CEO role at Athletics South Australia at the age of 25, Adam spent nearly a decade in this position transforming and growing the business before accepting an offer to take up the Interim High Performance Director role at Athletics Australia. Following athletics’ highly successful 2018 Commonwealth Games campaign, Adam moved to his current role of General Manager of Growth and Development at Athletics Australia where he is responsible for overseeing and developing a range of range of programs to facilitate the growth of athletics participation in Australia.
In addition to his employment, Adam is a member of a number of advisory groups including the World Athletics Development Commission, the AFL’s National Women and Girls Coaching Advisory Group, Oceania Athletic Development Commission, and La Trobe University’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact Advisory Group. Adam is also an experienced Non-Executive Director, having served 3 years on the board of a community disability services organisation during a period of significant organisational growth and governance reform.
Adam holds a Masters degree in Sports Administration, a Bachelor of Education with majors in physical education and English and is a graduate Fellow of the renowned Governor's Leadership Foundation program.
Adam is also a competitive athlete having won a National Junior 800m title before securing a college athletics scholarship in the USA and later going on to represent Australia at the World University Cross Country Championships.
Adam Bishop
General Manager Growth & Development, Athletics Australia
Camilla is Associate Director of Research and co-leader of Sport That Inspires research theme at VU’s Institute for Health and Sport. She is a transdisciplinary research specialist, working across sport science and sport management disciplines. Camilla oversees industry and community collaborations that provide a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to improve sport engagement, the development of inclusive and sustainable sport, and the mental health and wellbeing of sport participants.
Prof Camilla Brockett
Professor of Sport Systems Development /Associate Director of Research, Institute for Health and Sport (iHeS), Victoria University
Holly Tyrrell is the General Manager of Strategy and Social Impact for Water Polo Australia and led the introduction of their recent Social Impact Framework, inclusive of their Climate Action Strategy, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Strategy and Reconciliation Action Plan.
Holly has worked with WPA for 7 years and prior worked with a number of other NSO’s in roles including Sport development, participation, sponsorship and event management. An Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate, MBA holder, and possessing 15+ years in national sports management.
Beyond her professional life, she's a dedicated mother to two young daughters and is passionate about the impact that can be created through sport and physical activity, on a person’s health, their behaviours, the community they interact with and the environments they live in.
Holly Tyrrell
General Manager of Strategy and Social Impact, Water Polo Australia
Jeremy is a Principal Consultant at leading for-purpose corporate affairs agency Bastion Reputation. He has extensive sport experience including broadcast roles with Network 10, and held senior communications roles within the AFL, Cricket Australia and the A-League, and as a consultant on major events including the Melbourne Cup, Australian Open and the Australian Grand Prix.
Jeremy Arnold
Associate Principal Consultant,
Bastion Reputation
Rebekah Cheney is the Climate Governance Lead for Deloitte Australia, a member of the World Economic Forum Global Community of Climate Governance Experts, a member of the Climate Governance Initiative Australia Council, and a fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia. She has considerable experience engaging boards of directors regarding climate and sustainability topics, and comprehensive knowledge of the current and emerging sustainability issues, focus areas, and priorities of relevance to corporate leaders.
Rebekah Cheney
Climate Governance Lead,
Deloitte Australia
Peter has been responsible for one of the world’s largest sporting stadiums - the MCG, since 2006. He is responsible for the strategic and operational performance of the built assets and environmental sustainability initiatives which have led to the MCG’s becoming one of the world’s most sustainable stadiums. Peter has advised on stadium design and operations both nationally and internationally. Peter was a founding member of the Sports Environment Alliance and is a past member of Deakin University Sports Management Industry Advisory Board.
Peter Wearne
General Manager - Facilities,
Melbourne Cricket Club
Jennifer is a skilled environmental engagement specialist with expertise in community building around sustainability and environmental concerns. She supports businesses in bolstering their ability to drive positive environmental results by facilitating a deeper understanding of the impacts of responsible sourcing through FSC certified supply chains, thereby advocating for the protection of forest ecosystems.
Jennifer Nicita
Trademarks and Partnerships Manager,
Forest Stewardship Council
Owen is the Finance Manager for the South Australian Aquatic & Leisure Centre. Before this, he worked at multiple professional service firms spanning private and public practice. Owen is a provisional Chartered Accountant with Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand. Alongside his studying and working commitments, Owen competed in Canoe Sprint and Canoe Marathon disciplines nationally and internationally and grew up as a Surf Lifesaver.
Owen McLeod
Finance Manager,
SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Michael has over 20 years’ experience in Operations and Event Management across major events and Venues, including but not limited to The Melbourne Cup Carnival, Major Music Events, World Cup Football Qualifying Matches, A-League Grand Finals and AFL Matches. In his role at the VRC, Michael oversees the Venue Presentation Partner (Cirka). The VRC and Cirka are committed to reducing waste, not only for major events but making the waste reduction a key pillar of the business.
Michael Kenny
Senior Manager Events & Workforce,
Victoria Racing Club
Tara has a long-standing passion for climate action and holds a MSc in Carbon Management from the University of Edinburgh. Tara utilises this expertise alongside her 10 years’ experience in sales to lead South Pole’s commercial team in Oceania, supporting a diverse range of clients across an array of climate solutions.
Tara Oakley
Head of Commercial, Oceania,
South Pole
Terry Muir, Founder and CEO of epar, leads the company’s compliance, climate, and risk services. With a Master of Science and Technology, certifications in climate change, net zero, SDG’s, as well as a background as an ex-EPA regulator and as a Detective, Terry develops and implements innovative solutions that help every sports business protect people, communities, and ecosystems.
Terry Muir
Founder and Director Compliance, Climate and Risk, epar
Rita is a sustainability, social impact, and governance professional. She is currently the Head of Sustainability at Richmond Football Club leading environmental and social sustainability strategies including the Club's Environmental Sustainability Action Plan. She also served as the Sustainability Manager at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Perth. Rita is a board member of Midsumma Festival and has been appointed by Victoria’s Office of Women as a Change Our Game Ambassador.
Rita Nehme
Head of Sustainability,
Richmond Football Club
Matt has been with Tennis Australia for over 9 years, first as Senior Legal Counsel and then as Head of Major Projects. Since October 2021, in this climate action role, Matt has responsibility for measuring and minimising the ecological impact of TA’s activities. This includes delivering on Tennis Australia’s climate action vision: “Maximum Play, Minimum Footprint” and compliance with TA’s commitment to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
Matthew Nicholas
Director of Sustainability,
Tennis Australia
Claire is the CEO and Founder of Sport Positive, supporting the global sports industry to increase action and ambition on climate change, sustainability, biodiversity and environmental justice; through direct support, community creation, the annual Sport Positive Summit, Sport Positive Leagues and The Climate of Sport podcast.
Claire Poole
Founder and CEO,
Sport Positive
Paul Kamphuis has 20 years’ experience in delivering world class sporting facilities across Australia and internationally. As General Manager of Polytan Asia Pacific, Paul has direct experience in delivering sports facilities for events including 6 Olympic Games, Hockey World Cups, Commonwealth Games and other international events. Paul’s passion lies in using major sporting events as an opportunity to develop innovative and sustainable synthetic sports surfaces that help drive change in the sporting landscape at a grassroots level. Through this passion and dedication, Paul is widely considered a global leader in the sports surfacing industry.
Paul Kamphuis
General Manager,
Polytan
Liam is an environmental sustainability engagement specialist with experience in both local government and the private sector. Liam joined the Quayclean team in 2023 during the lead up to the Australian Open and played a pivotal role in supporting Tennis Australia and Melbourne & Olympic Parks in their resource recovery efforts during the 2024 tournament. As Quayclean’s Resource Recovery Engagement Officer at the MCG and Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Liam is responsible for leading waste stream optimisation and resource recovery. His role is critical to Quayclean's goal of being the industry leader in sustainability.
Liam Gook
Resource Recovery Engagement Officer,
Quayclean
Alex is the CEO of SportsGrid - the industry leader in Australian’s sports club management ecosystem via the flagship product revolutioniseSPORT. Alex’s background in computer science, law & sport administration provide the career backdrop in modernising how volunteers manage their organisations including a view to managing sport in a changing climate.
Alex Mednis
CEO,
SportsGrid
Danny’s role is to seek and develop new opportunities for mutual outcomes. He commercialised BiobiN and organic waste management solutions across eight countries. A highlight is working with the FIFA World Cup – Qatar 2022 and other major sporting events in collecting organic waste, turning into compost and organic fertilisers – then putting back into the soils and grounds.
Danny Mitroussidis
Manager International Development.
BioBiN
