Deloitters deliver opening address at sporting summit SportNXT

Deloitte director Lisa Walton and global sports practice head Pete Giorgio have delivered the opening address of the inaugural SportNXT conference, which aims to become the world’s biggest.

Destined to be dubbed the ‘Davos of Sport’, a massive gathering of the world’s leading sports’ stakeholders is underway in Melbourne for the inaugural SportNXT summit, with Deloitte duo Lisa Walton and Pete Giorgio delivering the opening keynote address.

The pair feature alongside more than one hundred speakers, including Adam Silver, Stefano Domenicali and Sebastian Coe – the respective heads of the NBA, Formula One and World Athletics.

Curated in part by sports futurist and former Accenture APAC media & entertainment lead Scott Dinsdale, this year’s agenda looks into the current state of sport and the forces that will shape what comes next, along with subjects such as future sports media rights and data & tech innovation, women in sport and sport in society, the future of fan engagement and the fan experience, and emerging trends – from the rise of Asia to evolving investment models.

Kicking off three days of presentations, panel discussions and industry field trips to coincide with the Melbourne Grand Prix, Walton and via video-link Boston-based Giorgio outlined “the good, the bad and the ugly” of the current state of global sport and the trends that will determine its future.

SportNXT’s chair, former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire, stated the organisation’s aim was to create the world’s preeminent sports leadership conference; “There has never been a more important time for our industry to connect, engage and inspire. We will bring together Australia’s brightest minds, alongside global sports thought-leaders, to tackle the challenges we face and to share ideas about the future of the industry.”

Punctuating those remarks is a truly impressive assemblage of guests. Other speakers include high-profile US national women’s soccer team captain Megan Rapinoe and World Rugby head Alan Gilpin, as well as the CEOs of Australia’s most popular sports; AFL boss Gillon McLachlan, Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan, and Cricket and Tennis Australia chiefs Nick Hockley and Craig Tilley – both who have recently been navigating current headwinds.

Deloitte’s Walton is a former NZ hockey Olympian and director with Deloitte Digital who joined the firm in Sydney from PwC last year, while Giorgio is Deloitte’s global sports practice lead.

After the talks conclude, the last day of the conference will see SportNXT collaborate with the Victorian government to showcase the state’s world-class sporting facilities to a range of international delegates, including a track-side tour of the Albert Park Formula One circuit along with guided tours of the iconic MCG and visits to Marvel Stadium, Flemington Raceway, and AAMI Park – one of the primary hosts for next year’s FIFA women’s World Cup.

“On and off the sporting arena, sport and recreation is the lifeblood of Victoria, injecting $9.2 billion into our economy and generating more than 70,000 full-time jobs from stadia designers to sports administrators,” said Martin Pakula, the state minister for tourism and major events.

“The SportNXT Conference will provide the perfect opportunity to further promote the internationally renowned expertise of Victorian sport sector-based industries on a global stage.”