SportNXT 2025 to address key issues facing sport

SportNXT, Melbourne’s annual global sport business summit, has released details of the issues and many of the speakers that will feature at the fourth edition of what has become the one of the world’s pre-eminent sport conferences.

Being held from 12th to 14th March, SportNXT will bring together leaders from across the globe to share insights, ignite conversations, generate business and discuss what will shape the future of the sports industry for the more than 1,000 delegates expected to attend.

SportNXT is a three-day summit and not-to-be missed nursery of professional development and business networking opportunities.

The two-day live conference features a forward-facing agenda and the most credentialed voices in world sport and business tackling the threats and opportunities facing the sports industry.

Around the conference are a series of business networking events, offering delegates the chance to connect, create new relationships and explore business development opportunities.

The third and final day of SportNXT is reserved for a series of optional site visits program exploring Melbourne’s sporting infrastructure.

Key speakers addressing SportNXT are Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive, Electronic Arts; Francois-Xavier Bonnaillie of the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee; AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon and Liz Ellis, Chair of Netball Australia.

They, and other speakers at the leading global sport business gathering, will feature in a program considering:

The State of Sport - macro trends and the critical issues facing sport

• Capital Investment Trends

• The Evolution of Women’s Sport

• Sport Venues of the Future

• Reflections on Paris 2024 and the Future of Major Events

• SportNXT will also feature content breakout streams and interactive workshops focused on:

• Commercial & Revenue

• Brands & Marketing

• Fan Experience

• Emerging Technology

While the full agenda and speaker list is yet to released, confirmed speakers include:

• Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner, WNBA

• Rob Manfred, Commissioner, MLB

• Andrew Wilson, Chief Executive, Electronic Arts

• Katie Page. Chief Executive, Harvey Norman

• Francois-Xavier Bonnaillie. Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee

• Nina Walsh, Global Leader, Business Development, AWS

• PKSV Sagar, President, GMR Group

• Deepthi Bopaiah, Chief Executive, GoSports Foundation

• Larry Kestelman, Founder, LK Group

• Thayer Lavielle, Managing Director, The Collective

• Paul Sergeant OBE, Executive Vice President, Asia & MENA, ASM Global

• Len Perna, Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive, TurnkeyZRG

• Andrew Dillon, Chief Executive, AFL

• Liz Ellis AO, Chair, Netball Australia

• Rowena Samarasinhe, Managing Director, GenSport; Partner, LEVEL

• Leanne Bats, Head of Digital & Innovation, Sport Waikato

• Sarah Walsh, Chief Commercial Officer, AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026

• David Stevenson, Chief Executive, NBL

• Kylie Rogers, Chief Executive, Victoria Racing Club

• Ed Sanders, Chief Commercial Officer, Cricket Australia

• Marissa Pace, Consultant

• Margot Foster AM, Boardroom Excellence Australia

• Simon Tyrrell, Head of Product, iReel

• Adam Karg, Professor, Deakin University

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Images: Delegates at SportNXT 2023 (top) and SportNXT host Eddie MacGuire (below).