Our Speakers, Panelists, Advisors and Judges
We’re thrilled to be guided by expert advisors and judges – and to welcome such a diverse, experienced and engaging line-up of speakers and panelists to the Forum
Phoebe Cleghorn
UK Sales & Marketing Generalist, DynamO Pricing
Phoebe Cleghorn
UK Sales & Marketing Generalist
Phoebe Cleghorn is a professional actor, BFI-shortlisted writer and digital marketing consultant with 10 years of experience in digital and 6 years specialising in arts and culture. Phoebe works in UK Sales & Marketing for DynamO: a pricing technology provider helping live entertainment and cultural organisations increase revenue and maximise attendance. Her work with DynamO is focussed on developing partnerships and client relationships across the culture sector.
Leon Gray
Head of Ticketing & Audience Experience, Edinburgh International Festival
Leon Gray
Head of Ticketing & Audience Experience
Following a successful freelance career in children’s publishing, Leon started working for Aberdeen Performing Arts in September 2005. Leon moved up through the box office to become Head of Business Transformation in 2016. In August 2020, Leon took up a new role as Head of Ticketing & Audience Experience at Edinburgh International Festival, where he acts as the strategic lead for ticketing and revenue management, customer services and front of house, access initiatives, and audience insights and evaluation.
Rita Namora
Head of Ticketing, UEFA
Rita Namora
Head of Ticketing
Rita Namora is Head of Ticketing at UEFA, with more than 20 years of experience in delivering ticketing operations for Europe’s most prestigious football competitions. She has played a pivotal role in modernising ticketing through the adoption of digital solutions, new technologies, and innovative methodologies, setting high standards for efficiency, security, and fan experience.
Rita oversees ticket allocation, sales and onsite operations across major UEFA events, including UEFA EUROs, UEFA Women’s EUROs, the UEFA Champions League Final, and the UEFA Nations League Finals. Her work is driven by a strong customer centric mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring seamless access for fans and stakeholders at large scale sporting events.
Nikolas Gross
Director Digital & Projects, FC Schalke 04
Nikolas Gross
Director Digital & Projects
Nikolas Gross leads IT & Digital at FC Schalke 04, home of the 62,000-capacity VELTINS-Arena and one of Germany’s largest football fanbases. He has driven the club’s digital transformation from the inside — shipping NFC-enabled season passes, a modern integrated ticket exchange, and most recently a club-wide overhaul of the Schalke 04 digital cosmos, including the app.
Sana Ali Aamir
RGM - Northern Europe, Fever
Sana Ali Aamir
RGM – Northern Europe
Sana Ali Aamir is Regional GM at Fever, the world’s leading technology platform for live entertainment. Powering over 150,000 experiences globally across music, theatre, culture, sports, and immersive formats, Fever’s data-driven technology generates demand for live events, unlocks new revenue streams, and optimizes marketing strategies to elevate the fan experience. Sana works closely with key players in the entertainment space across Northern Europe, delivering and scaling world-class events and generating value for stadiums, leagues, clubs, cultural institutions, festivals, and global brands.
She holds a degree in Economics from Macalester College and an MBA from London Business School. A regular speaker at international forums, Sana is recognized for her thought leadership in the experience economy. In 2023, she was shortlisted for Adweek Europe’s Future is Female Awards, presented by LinkedIn.
Aaron Lampkin
Vice President - Head of Ticketing, LA28 - 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Aaron Lampkin
Vice President – Head of Ticketing
Aaron Lampkin serves as Vice President of Ticketing for LA28, the Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. In this role, he is responsible for driving revenue across the largest sports program in Games history. Lampkin brings extensive front office experience from various NBA, NHL, and MLS teams, where he has led innovative fan engagement strategies designed to optimize revenue and fill stadiums.
Prior to LA28, Lampkin led strategy at the NHL League Office for the NHL’s second largest revenue vertical (Ticketing & Premium Seating) across all 32 NHL Clubs. Originally from Spokane, WA, Aaron is a 2013 graduate of Johnson & Wales University (Denver) with a BS in Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management with a focus on Sports Marketing.
Marek Borowik
Director of Fan Engagement and Event Experience, SailGP
Marek Borowik
Director of Fan Engagement and Event Experience
Marek Borowik is Director of Fan Engagement and Event Experience at SailGP. He has over 15 years of experience working in customer marketing and fan engagement roles across Telco, Entertainment, Media and Sport. He has extensive knowledge in delivering sustainable data growth, long-term customer engagement and revenue-generating programmes. Marek was Global Head of Fan Engagement at Formula 1 for the last 6 years, delivering extraordinary fanbase growth and powering the launch of F1 Unlocked. At SailGP, he is responsible for database growth, fan engagement, ticketing sales and enhancing the fan experience at events.
Vicky Cheevers
Head of Marketing & Communications, The Royal International Air Tattoo
Vicky Cheevers
Head of Marketing & Communications
Vicky is Head of Marketing for the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises, who are the team behind the world’s greatest airshow, the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT), which has seen record ticket sales for the past three years. She has over 20 years’ experience working in the events, sport, travel and retail industries here in the UK and in APAC. Vicky has extensive experience in customer engagement and revenue-generating campaigns, as well as managing ticketing and website UX. At RIAT, she is also responsible for public ticket sales and all facets of communications all year-round including media management and digital engagement.
Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg
Chief Executive Officer, TicketCo
Carl-Erik Michalsen Moberg
Chief Executive Officer
Carl-Erik is the driving force behind TicketCo, shaping its growth from a Norwegian start-up to a leading European challenger in the ticketing industry. An entrepreneur from a young age, he began by running events and ticket operations as a teenager and went on to build ventures across nightclubs, restaurants, and technology. In 2013, he founded TicketCo to modernise ticketing and payments for events, relentlessly driving innovation and expansion.
Known for his hands-on leadership, appetite for risk, and deep industry insight, Carl-Erik has established TicketCo as a trusted partner for clubs and organisers across multiple countries. His vision centres on delivering seamless matchday experiences, empowering customers with flexible tools, and ensuring TicketCo remains at the forefront of global ticketing innovation. Carl-Erik also hosts the podcast ‘Don’t Forget Your Tickets,’ where he spotlights the unsung heroes and leading voices in sports and live events, fostering collaboration and sharing insights that help drive innovation across the sector.
Lou Champion
Director of Ticketing
Lou Champion
Director of Ticketing
Lou Champion is a ticketing specialist with extensive experience across live music, festivals, outdoor events, and large‑scale ticketing operations. As the current Director of Ticketing at The O2, Lou leads strategic & operational leadership at the world’s busiest live music venue. Lou is a respected senior manager, collaborative team player, and forward-thinking problem solver. His reliability, operational expertise, and passion for audience experience continue to shape best practice in one of the sector’s most dynamic and challenging settings.
Iñaki Sánchez López
Co-Founder & CEO, Menta Tech
Iñaki Sánchez López
Co-Founder & CEO
Iñaki Sánchez López holds a degree in Business Administration from the Catholic University of Argentina (UCA) and brings more than a decade of experience across the music and live entertainment industries. As a songwriter and executive producer, he has worked extensively with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, contributing to viral tracks and major hits across Latin America.
As Chief Executive Officer of menta tech, he leads the company’s global strategy and growth, helping ticketing platforms activate official, compliant, and scalable resale as a core part of their primary infrastructure.
Julien Gathy
Co-Founder, Magma Collective
Julien Gathy
Co-Founder
Julien Gathy began his career at Universal Music Belgium. He later joined DBNR, the management agency behind artists such as Charlotte de Witte, Oscar and the Wolf, Bazart and Glints, where he worked as Communication & Label Relations Manager.
In 2021, he went independent and co-founded Magma alongside Sébastien Desprez. Based in Brussels, Magma operates as a promoter, record label, and management agency. They have organized or programmed over 60 events in 5 years. Magma showcases a broad alternative musical spectrum with the ambition of providing a platform for creative, innovative, and eclectic artists. Julien is also active as a producer and DJ under the name Umbra.
Jon Pallet
Head of Communications, Hong Kong China Rugby
Jon Pallet
Head of Communications
Jon is the Head of Communications for Hong Kong China Rugby, having moved to Asia in late 2023 and joined the union ahead of the 2024 Hong Kong Sevens. His career background includes work for professional sports teams and major events across different global markets, with roles at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Toronto Wolfpack Rugby League, Dragons Rugby and Glamorgan Cricket (UK), the Sydney Sixers and the London 2012 Olympic Games. His experience covers marketing, communications, digital, social and fan engagement.
Gabriela Gandolfini
Director of Customer Strategy and Retail
Gabriela Gandolfini
Director of Customer Strategy and Retail
Paul Bohunsky
Technical Product Manager, CTS Eventim
Paul Bohunsky
Technical Product Manager
Paul Bohunsky is Technical Product Manager at CTS EVENTIM AG & Co. KGaA, with more than 17 years of experience across EVENTIM’s proprietary ticketing systems. For almost his entire career, he has worked on international projects, spanning major event delivery and transition projects in multiple countries. He specializes in technical architecture, integrations, and operational stability, most recently on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and is currently working full time on LA 2028.
Shah-Zeib Ahmed
Director
Shah-Zeib Ahmed
Director
Glosancon - Sports
Shah-Zeib Ahmed, or, Shah, as we know him, is a #TBF regular and a known name in the world of sports ticketing. Having worn all types of hats one can wear in the industry, he is now in the third year of running his ticketing consultancy, glosancon-sports, which has taken him to some of the biggest and best events out there including FIFA World Cups, Olympics, Paralympics and many more. Offering over a decade of experience spanning the globe, Shah personifies the ticketing chameleon that can be dropped in any environment, where he continues to add value for his clients and make memories – one ticket at a time.
Shah, having found his calling in the world of sports ticketing has now made it his mission to bring ticketing closer to those, who aspire to work in the world of sports business by lecturing at numerous academic institutions and through his CPD-accredited online course that could not be named better: “Sold Out – An Introduction to Ticketing Sports Events”. This year Shah also joins us as a judge at the Ticketing Business Awards 2025 to recognize and celebrate those, who make a difference in our industry.
Mikael Ungerholm
Founder & CEO, ZipperTic
Mikael Ungerholm
Founder & CEO
Mikael Ungerholm is the CEO and founder of ZipperTic, a patented ticketing platform built to eliminate ticket scalping and fraud through verified digital identity. He founded Codiqo AB in 2019 and leads the development of identity-linked ticketing solutions for the enterprise and public sector.
Prior to ZipperTic, Mikael held multiple senior executive roles at Ericsson for more than 20 years, including Vice President positions in Europe and North America. His background spans large-scale telecom and digital infrastructure, business model innovation, managed services, and global service operations, with extensive experience in working with customers and partners across international markets.
Sybolt Ettema
Head of Product, Ormer ICT - Tymes4
Sybolt Ettema
Head of Product
Sybolt Ettema is Head of Product at Ormer ICT, where he is responsible for the strategy and development of Tymes4, a SaaS ticketing platform used by professional football clubs. With a background in product management, digital transformation, and ticketing technology, Sybolt has over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology, customer value, and large-scale operations.
A key area of attention in his work is identity-based ticketing and data security, ensuring secure access, responsible data use, and trust across the entire ticketing ecosystem. He has previously held senior product and consulting roles in the digital and ticketing sector and brings a strong focus on value-driven development, compliance, and scalable platform architecture.
Greg Makarchuk
Co-Founder & CEO, Up
Greg Makarchuk
Co-Founder & CEO
Greg Makarchuk is the co-founder & CEO of Up, a Focal Top 22 startup reshaping how venues and producers engage with and monetise audiences after the point of purchase. Greg works closely with partners to turn tickets and pre-visit comms into interactive, content-first experiences that enhance audience engagement and drive secondary spend across the post-purchase journey.
Stuart Whittick
Head of Finance, RFU/Allianz Stadium
Stuart Whittick
Head of Finance
Stuart Whittick is Head of Finance at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, with over 25 years’ experience across sport, hospitality, and major venues. He brings a strong commercial focus, using finance to support smarter decision-making and drive business performance.
His career spans football, rugby, cricket, horseracing, motorsport, and golf, giving him a broad understanding of the challenges facing live event businesses, particularly around ticketing, fan behaviour, and revenue optimisation. He offers a practical perspective on how connected systems and real-time data can unlock value across the customer journey, from ticket purchase to in-venue spend, and is passionate about how technology and innovation can enhance both revenue and the fan experience.
Anthony Escott-Lawrence
Head of Product, Nuweb Group
Anthony Escott-Lawrence
Head of Product
Over the last six years at Nuweb Group, Anthony has played a pivotal role in rearchitecting the platform from the ground up – transforming it into a versatile ticketing engine that supports diverse sectors worldwide. Anthony championed the product path for high-throughput successes like the Puskas Arena and led the vision on native resale solutions. Working at the intersection of long-term product strategy and operational delivery, Anthony brings key insights on building high-trust systems for a global audience.
Alistair Spiers
Head of Commercial, Blackpool FC
Alistair Spiers
Head of Commercial
A veteran TBF attendee, Alistair brings his multidisciplinary experience of commercial operations to the judging panel for the 2026 awards. Alistair has almost thirty years’ experience in the sports industry, with clubs, venues and events as diverse as Wembley Stadium, Paris St-Germain, the Americas Cup in Bermuda and currently as Head of Commercial at Blackpool FC. Innovation and efficiency in ticketing operations are what he admires most, citing the complicated and intricate (and successful!) system built for AC35 in 2017 and the opening of Wembley Stadium in 2007 as standout moments in his career.
Mike van Gaasbeek
Founder & CEO, Stager
Mike van Gaasbeek
Founder & CEO
Mike van Gaasbeek is a Rotterdam-based entrepreneur and the founder of Stager, an all-in-one event management and ticketing platform. His vision was shaped during his fourteen-year tenure as Managing Director of the avant-garde arts venue WORM, where he grew frustrated by the inefficiency of using disconnected systems for ticketing, scheduling, and communication. Under his leadership, Stager has evolved into a disruptive international force and a leading platform for hundreds of clubs, festivals, and theaters across Europe. A passionate advocate for ‘honest ticketing’ and technical efficiency, Mike is committed to helping organizers professionalize their operations and regain control over their data, their revenue, and their sanity.
Victoria Born
Senior Ticketing Project Manager, FIFA
Victoria Born
Senior Ticketing Project Manager
Victoria Born brings over 20 years of experience delivering world-class international football events for FIFA and UEFA. She was Ticketing Project Lead for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and is currently preparing the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, in 2027. Her expertise spans ticketing, marketing operations, and event delivery across football, basketball, rugby, and athletics.
Chris Crossley
COO, Line-Up
Chris Crossley
COO
Chris Crossley’s background is in product design, and he has over fifteen years of experience in designing and developing digital products that have been used by millions worldwide. As COO and co-founder of Line-Up, Chris has led Line-Up’s commercial and sales operations as the company has grown from a startup to an international platform processing more than £300 million worth of tickets each year. Chris is driven by a belief that great design and smart technology can simplify the complex and create exceptional customer experiences.
Corinne Lefebvre
Founder, BILL-A
Corinne Lefebvre
Founder
Corinne Lefebvre is the founder of BILL-A, the first Qualiopi-certified training organisation dedicated to the ticketing profession. For over 20 years, she has been recruiting, training, and managing teams for major cultural events and institutions, from Lille 2004 to the Mucem, via lille3000 and Le Centquatre or Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection. A specialist in ticketing software, she now supports stakeholders in the visual and performing arts in their digital and organisational transformation, with the aim of making ticketing more inclusive and accessible, serving all audiences.
Atil Aykar
General Manager, PASSO
Atil Aykar
General Manager
With two decades of experience across sports, live entertainment and venue management, Atıl Aykar has held senior commercial and marketing leadership roles at major football clubs, leading venues and promoter companies. After joining PASSO in 2019, Atıl led the transformation of digital ticketing into a multi-vertical SuperApp ecosystem. Under his leadership, PASSO has grown into one of Turkey’s largest digital platforms in sports and entertainment, managing a database of 12 million unique users and expanding far beyond traditional ticket sales.
With the vision that the ticket should be the beginning of the fan journey, not the end of a transaction, he continues to drive PASSO’s evolution by integrating ticketing with e-commerce, fintech services, fan engagement and sponsor ecosystems — creating a 365-day relationship between rights holders and their audiences, focused on sustainable monetisation and long-term engagement.
Clare Kenny
CCO, TicketCo
Clare Kenny
CCO
Clare is a globally respected marketer and communications strategist with deep expertise in the sports industry. Based in the UK, she has built a storied career spanning every corner of the football business and beyond. She began at The FA, later contributing to their England 2018 project, and was the first female Deputy General Secretary at the Asian Football Confederation, overseeing both Commercial and Communications as well as launching and driving the AFC Champions League. Her international experience extends to strategic leadership with FIFA. At TicketCo, Clare leads commercial strategy and growth initiatives, with a particular focus on expanding the company’s presence in the UK market. She also co-hosts ‘Don’t Forget Your Tickets’ podcast.
Lukas C.C. Hempel
CEO & Founder, bookingkit
Lukas C.C. Hempel
CEO & Founder
Lukas Hempel is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor, having founded seven successful tech companies and raised multi-million-dollar funding from top-tier investors. As the founder of bookingkit, Europe’s largest booking and operating system for attractions, Lukas is at the forefront of integrating AI-driven automation to help operators streamline their business and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Juan Pablo Santa María
Chief Revenue Officer
Juan Pablo Santa Marí
Chief Revenue Officer
menta tech
Juan Pablo Santa María is Chief Revenue Officer at menta tech, a white-label resale infrastructure company helping primary ticketing platforms run official fan-to-fan resale inside their own ecosystems. With a background in law and a master’s degree in digital business, he brings a strong combination of regulatory insight, commercial leadership, and deep industry knowledge.
As part of menta tech’s founding team, Juan Pablo has played a key role in shaping the company’s growth and commercial strategy, working closely with ticketing platforms across Latin America, the United States, and Europe. His work sits at the intersection of regulation, technology, and fan experience, helping platforms build resale models that are more controlled, transparent, and operationally sound.
Today, he leads menta tech’s global revenue strategy, supporting the company’s expansion as more ticketing platforms look for better ways to bring resale back inside the primary ecosystem.
Carly Straughan
Director, QLINE Consulting
Carly Straughan
Director
Carly Straughan has over 15 years experience working with the world’s largest visitor attractions brands in ticketing, commercial operations and financial management. Carly specialises in ticketing transformation projects, systems implementations and customer experience development for new and existing attractions. Her work at QLINE Consulting supports tourist attractions in finding partners to grow their business for the future by attracting new visitors and increasing revenue.
Yazed Osman
Group Head, Events & Placemaking, The Kallang Group
Yazed Osman
Group Head, Events & Placemaking / Place Management
Yazed is the Group Head of Events, Placemaking and Place-management at The Kallang Group. He leads teams responsible for curating meaningful content and the smooth operation of venues and facilities across The Kallang. Yazed’s expertise lies in taking projects from initial concept to reality and driving collaborative partnerships among stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes and experiences. Since joining the company in Dec 2022, Yazed and his teams have successfully delivered many high profile sport, entertainment, community and lifestyle events including the WTA Singapore Tennis Open, HSBC SVNS Singapore; multi-day concerts by music icons including Blackpink, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift; and lifestyle and community celebrations on occasions like Singapore’s National Day and New Year’s Eve.
Will Kerr
Ticketing & Membership Manager, Edgbaston Stadium
Will Kerr
Ticketing & Membership Manager
Will Kerr is the Ticketing & Membership Manager at Edgbaston Stadium (Warwickshire County Cricket Club). He helps to oversee ticketing strategy and supporter engagement for a venue that hosts many major sporting events, from T20 Finals Day to Ashes Test Matches, alongside a wide range of other high-profile sporting occasions. He is passionate about working in live events and thrives on the energy they create.
Matthew Thorley
Visitor Attractions Sales & Planning Manager, Tottenham Hotspur FC
Matthew Thorley
Visitor Attractions Sales & Planning Manager
Matt Thorley is the Sales & Planning Manager for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium’s visitor attractions, overseeing three world-class experiences within one of Europe’s most innovative sports and entertainment venues. He drives revenue growth through smart product, pricing, and system development, working closely with colleagues and suppliers to enhance the visitor journey and increase multi-attraction visits. Since 2006, Matt has worked across visitor experience and ticketing at Tate Galleries, Alton Towers Resort, rail, museums, and a nature reserve, deepening his understanding of how people connect with places.
Mark Davyd
CEO, Music Venue Trust
Mark Davyd
CEO
Mark Davyd is the CEO and Founder of Music Venue Trust, the UK Registered Charity at the forefront of the international campaign to protect, secure and improve Grassroots Music Venues. Mark promoted his first show at the age of 17, and has since then taken on almost every backstage, background role in the music industry, from band manager through venue owner with a side order of music charity boss. He was awarded the NME’s Person of the Year Award 2020, and is a regular speaker at international music conferences and events.
Jason Mastrine
Global Head of Strategy, Protect Group
Jason Mastrine
Global Head of Strategy
Jason Mastrine is a strategic and visionary business leader with a long track record in the North American entertainment ticketing industry. An intuitive translator of ideas, an active listener, and an engaging communicator, Jason has a unique perspective on how integrated tech solutions can improve fan experiences and engagement while optimizing revenue and internal operations. He is currently part of the senior leadership team at UK-based Protect Group, leading their global ticketing strategy, and lives in Denver, Colorado.
Steve Rimmer
Founder and CEO, Tickets for Good
Steve Rimmer
Founder and CEO
Steve Rimmer is the Founder and CEO of Tickets for Good, a for-profit-with-purpose ticketing platform and social impact business making live events more accessible for people who give back to their communities. Tickets for Good partners with venues, promoters and rights-holders to distribute free and heavily discounted tickets to NHS workers, charity staff, teachers and other key workers — helping broaden access to culture while supporting audience development across the live events sector. With a background across music, technology and social impact, Steve leads the business with a focus on access, innovation, social impact and long-term partnerships.
Jose San Miguel
Managing Director, Nuweb Group
Jose San Miguel
Managing Director
Jose is the founder of Nuweb Group and has more than 15 years of experience across the events and ticketing industry. He began his career at Fatsoma, before founding Nuweb Group in 2010 with the aim to facilitate scalable event technology worldwide. Having worked with ticketing platforms, organisers, and promoters in multiple international markets, he brings a broad perspective on the commercial, operational, and technical realities shaping the sector today.
Martin Haigh
Chief of Business Development, Menta Tech
Martin Haigh
Chief of Business Development
Martin Haigh has built his career at the intersection of live events, technology, and fan experience. He’s worked across sports, music, theatre, and attractions, helping organisers reach more fans and sell more tickets. His experience includes helping launch the Ticketmaster brand in Asia, leading enterprise ticketing sales across Asia, Europe, and North America, and working closely with promoters, venues, and festivals. Now at Menta Tech, Martin focuses on helping rights-holders and venues take a more thoughtful approach to ticket resale – turning a long-standing challenge into something that creates value for both fans and organisers.
Charles Bruner
Commercial Director, Motorsport Events
Charles Bruner
Commercial Director
Charles Bruner works at the intersection of live events, ticketing, and commercial growth, focusing on scaling sales and enhancing the customer experience. Across sport, theatre, and ticketing technology — including the Premier League, London’s West End, and venues worldwide — he’s helped organisers sharpen propositions, improve distribution, and turn demand into sustainable revenue while keeping the fan journey simple, fair, and reliable. He now works for Motorsport Events, combining ticketing, travel, and temporary accommodation to get fans closer to the action at iconic events like the Silverstone GP and the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Linda Turner
Head of Ticketing
Linda Turner
Head of Ticketing
Linda Turner – Head of Ticketing, currently spearheading the ticketing programme for Kai Tak Sport Park Hong Kong, which opened in March 2025. Comprises 50,000 stadium, 10,000 arena, 5,000 public sports ground, plus retail. Linda brings extensive experience as a Head of Ticketing and International Ticketing Pre‑Opening Specialist, having delivered ticketing systems and services for high‑profile projects including Coca‑Cola Arena Dubai, Echo Arena, BT Convention Centre, The Auditorium Liverpool, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, and TicketQuarter(Ticket Agent) in the UK. She also served three years as an elected director of STAR, the UK’s self‑regulatory body for the entertainment ticket industry.
Laura Pallarès Bertran
Head of Ticketing
Laura Pallarès Bertran
Head of Ticketing
Simon Weber
Co-Founder
Simon Weber
Co-Founder
Simon helps live event organizers and rights holders transition from legacy ticketing models to independent open architectures. He focuses on empowering organizations to leverage best-in-class tools to control their data, maximize the fan lifecycle, and own their financial destiny.
Su Jella
Executive & Advisor
Su Jella
Executive & Advisor
Charles Bruner works at the intersection of live events, ticketing, and commercial growth, focusing on scaling sales and enhancing the customer experience. Across sport, theatre, and ticketing technology — including the Premier League, London’s West End, and venues worldwide — he’s helped organisers sharpen propositions, improve distribution, and turn demand into sustainable revenue while keeping the fan journey simple, fair, and reliable. He now works for Motorsport Events, combining ticketing, travel, and temporary accommodation to get fans closer to the action at iconic events like the Silverstone GP and the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Chris Webb
Associate Director Business Development
Chris Webb
Associate Director Business Development
Prior to Cover Genius, Chris worked as a Business Development Manager for a global leader in refund protection, Booking Protect where he managed prospects and pipelines. Chris holds a degree in Business Studies from Worcester College.
Sam Shemtob
Director
Sam Shemtob
Director
Sam Shemtob is a director of the Face-value European Alliance for Ticketing (FEAT), which he launched in 2019 together with some of Europe’s leading promoters to fight for a fairer ticket resale ecosystem. FEAT was instrumental in uniting the live sector to fight for landmark regulation of online secondary ticketing marketplaces in the Digital Services Act, which came into force in 2024. Sam has also led FEAT’s development of industry resources on how to tackle unauthorised ticket reselling. Prior to helping establish FEAT, Sam founded leading communications consultancy Name PR, which counted the Society of Ticket Agents and Resellers (STAR), the Association of Independent Festivals, Twickets and Eventbrite among its clients. Sam contributes to the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ticket Abuse.
Eleonora Mihova
CEO
Eleonora Mihova
CEO
Eleonora Mihova is the CEO of Ticket Station Bulgaria, one of the country’s leading ticketing companies and the exclusive ticketing partner of the largest live entertainment promoter in Bulgaria.
Founded in 2020, Ticket Station has rapidly established itself as a key player in the market. Since 2023, the company has been responsible for 100% of ticket sales for the country’s largest and most high-profile live events, including stadium concerts by global artists such as Ed Sheeran, Guns N’ Roses, Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and Enrique Iglesias.
With a strong background in event management and large-scale live operations, Eleonora combines strategic leadership with hands-on industry expertise. Her work focuses on optimizing ticketing performance, enhancing fan experience and leveraging data-driven approaches to sales and audience engagement.
As a professional deeply involved in both the operational and strategic sides of the business, she brings a comprehensive perspective on the evolving dynamics of ticketing within the global live entertainment industry.
Nigel Shipley
Head of Commercial Performance
Nigel Shipley
Head of Commercial Performance
Nigel has worked within the cinema industry for over 20 years. Joining as a graduate trainee cinema manager and built his career through roles within finance, property, operations, and commercial to his current role. As Head of Commercial Performance, he is responsible for all market, competitor, and share analysis building appropriate strategic responses. He is also responsible for all pricing strategy and management across the 116 cinemas, this includes working with the digital team to build out frictionless and intuitive customer journeys and collaborating with marketing on price communication and promotion. Nigel’s role works alongside the Head of Sales in delivering promotions and offers with 3rd parties to ensure an effective ticket mix and range of purchasing channels for ODEON guests.
Grant Wyatt
Sales Director, FEP PAY
Grant Wyatt
Sales Director
Grant Wyatt is Sales Director at FEP PAY, where he works with major event venues, ticketing partners and hospitality brands to deliver smarter, more efficient payment solutions. He helps clients connect the customer journey, unlocking richer data and actionable insights through FEP PAY’s unique orchestrated payments platform. Grant brings extensive banking experience and senior fintech leadership expertise, and began his career at Santander UK as a Branch Director, building a strong foundation in retail banking and operations that underpins his partnership-led approach.
Patrick Walsh
CEO, Digonex
Patrick Walsh
CEO
Patrick Walsh is Chief Executive Officer of Digonex Technologies, an innovative dynamic pricing technology platform that serves performing arts venues, zoos, aquariums, observation decks and theme parks with pricing intelligence IP solutions developed by PhD economists. Walsh also serves as President and sits on the Board of Directors at Indianapolis-based Emmis Communications (NASDAQ: EMMS), Digonex’s parent company. Walsh earned a BBA with high honors from the University of Michigan and an MBA with honors from Harvard Business School and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Ahmed Nimale
Co-Founder & CEO, TIX and KYD Labs
Ahmed Nimale
Co-Founder & CEO
Ahmed Nimale is the Co-Founder and CEO of TIX, the financial settlement infrastructure transforming how live-event ticketing and financing work, and KYD Labs, the first production platform built on TIX. Under Ahmed’s leadership, TIX has powered over 300,000 tickets, handled $8M+ in ticket sales, and originated $2M in venue financing with zero defaults. Prior to TIX/KYD, Ahmed held senior product roles at Live Nation Entertainment and Vivid Seats, and also worked at Yelp.
Pablo Neirotti
UI/UX, Seats.io
Pablo Neirotti
UI/UX
Pablo Neirotti has been part of the core Seats.io team and at the heart of the product’s user experience for almost 9 years. Through intuition and his approach to design centred on user intent, he has distilled complex problems into clear, humane interfaces, often navigating uncharted territory in the seat-picking space. Balancing beauty and utility. Awe and simplicity.
Cat Nunes
Ticketing & Insight Manager
Cat Nunes
Ticketing & Insight Manager
Cat Nunes has been working in the Museum Heritage sector for 15 years.
She is currently the Ticketing and Insights Manager for The Postal Museum in London. Her experience ranges from delivering Ticketing and CRM projects to virtual Reality Projects, Donations, and Membership.
Tim Chambers
Mentor, Advisor & Consultant
Tim Chambers
Mentor, Advisor & Consultant
TJ Chambers, an independent consultant with over forty years of experience within the international ticketing and live entertainment sectors, specialising in corporate development and M&A.
Currently, mentor/advisor and non-executive to a portfolio of start-ups and emerging companies and consultative editor to ‘International Ticketing Report’ (IQ Magazine / ILMC).
Carolyn Sims
Director
Carolyn Sims
Director
Carolyn Sims is a seasoned marketing strategist and consultant with extensive experience in ticketing, audience engagement, and campaign management across both the commercial and charitable sectors. Known for her creative, collaborative approach, she has successfully led initiatives to build long-lasting relationships with stakeholders and deliver impactful, results-driven projects. Her freelance consultancy work since May 2021 has seen her contribute to high-profile organisations like The Roundhouse, Eden Project, and FKP Scorpio Entertainment, where she delivered projects ranging from venue pricing strategies to major capital fundraising and large-scale event marketing.
Edwin Suk
Group IT Director
Edwin Suk
Group IT Director
Georgia Bekyra
Event & Ticketing Consultant
Georgia Bekyra
Event & Ops Consultant
Georgia is a senior event and ticketing professional with extensive experience delivering sports and live events across the UK and internationally. She is the Founder and Director of GB Events Consulting, where she advises organisations on ticketing strategy and operational delivery, balancing commercial performance with exceptional fan experience. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Arsenal FC, Everton FC, UK Athletics, and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, contributing to stadium transitions and the delivery of major international championships.
Martin Austin MBE
Managing Director
Martin Austin MBE
Managing Director
Martin Austin MBE is the Founder and Managing Director of Nimbus Disability, a social enterprise focused on streamlining accessibility through practical innovation. He is the architect of the Access Card, a system that allows disabled people to communicate their needs to major international venues with ease. His work centers on removing the administrative barriers often faced by disabled people, focusing on dignity and privacy.
For his contributions to the sector, Martin was awarded an MBE and an Honorary Master’s degree. A former para-athlete, he remains a dedicated advocate for inclusion and tangible, solution-oriented change in the disability sector.
Francis Casado
Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer
Francis Casado
Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer
Francis Casado is Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at 3D Digital Venue, a global platform that helps sports and live event organizations enhance fan experiences and maximize revenue through advanced 3D visualization technology. Before launching 3D Digital Venue, Francis built his career applying 3D technology and virtual reality across industries such as mobile applications, real estate, and pharma.
Daniel Gidney
Chief Executive
Daniel Gidney
Chief Executive
An established sports industry CEO for over ten years now, Daniel Gidney launched the first ever cricket bond as part of an innovative £12m fundraising to develop and operate a new 150 bedroom Hilton hotel, which will open summer 2017. Daniel’s time at LCCC has generated record profits and the securing of the largest ever naming rights in First Class Cricket, with Emirates. He also secured ECB International matches, including an Ashes Test and a World Cup semi-final in 2019. Daniel was also the 2011 Midlands Business Person of the Year, and the 2014 Trafford Business Person of the Year.
Ian Nuttall
Founder
Ian Nuttall
Founder
Ian is the Owner and Founder of TheTicketingBusiness Forum and its news channel TheTicketingBusiness.com – both presented by his Xperiology events and marketing agency. His working life began in sports 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 B2B publications and meetings, 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 – including Stadia magazine, TheStadiumBusiness.com and TheStadiumBusiness Summit. In his downtime from family and worklife, he takes his dogs on the Downs, rides his (motor)bikes and treks up the occasional mountain.