It’s an adage that sports fans know all too well: Australians punch well above their population weight when it comes to sport. Yet what’s often overlooked is that Australia is perhaps even more impressive in sport’s boardrooms, with its history of innovation.
SportNXT, Australia’s pre-eminent sports business conference, captures that essence in a two-day summit covering every angle of the future of sport in Melbourne this March. It’s an event that has quickly become a must-attend for sports administrators globally since its inaugural event four years ago.
An all-star lineup
2025 will be no exception, with the best Australian minds in sport sharing the stage with international heavyweights:
• WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert* will speak about the WNBA’s extraordinary rise in the US and beyond, as evidenced by increased attendance, ratings, and revenue across her five-year tenure.
• With the joint venture of Disney and Reliance and the creation of Jiostar, a new broadcast powerhouse in India and world sport has emerged. Sport CEO Sanjog Gupta will give an insider’s look at what’s next for India, its ambitious 2036 Olympics bid, and his take on the latest in sport, media and innovation.
• MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred* will discuss how America’s favourite pastime has adapted to the new world, diminishing attention spans, and capitalised on superstar Shohei Ohtani’s global appeal.
• Paris Olympics Game executive Francois Xavier Bonnaillie will share what he learned from the Paris Games and the run towards 2032 in his new role with the Brisbane Olympics. Meanwhile, a panel exploring the future of broadcasting will feature DAZN Co-Founder James Rushton & Acting Nine Network CEO Matt Stanton.
• NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum* will offer insights into the NBA’s global business strategy, drawing from over two decades of leadership in expanding the league’s international reach, partnerships, and commercial growth.
• Formula 1 marketing guru, Donna Birkett Baida, will share how F1’s strategies – from social media to ‘Drive to Survive’ – are expanding the sports global reach and reshaping fan experience.
• With the competition for capital investment in sport having never been more fierce, a fascinating panel lead by SURJ Sport CEO Danny Townsend will dive into the key themes shaping the investment landscape.
Australian expertise comes to the fore
Looking at the upcoming calendar of Australian sporting events confirms Australia’s strength. Alongside the annual F1 Grand Prix, Australian Open tennis grand slam, international cricket, and domestic sporting leagues, there are NFL games in 2026, and the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Less than two years ago there was a record-breaking FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Australia simply would not have the capacity to boast such an impressive schedule without the local administrative talent that puts on the show. The Australian sports leaders who’ll be featured include:
• Andrew Dillon* – CEO of Australia’s biggest sporting league, the AFL.
• Kylie Rogers – CEO of the VRC, which stages the globally-renowned Melbourne Cup horse race.
• Larry Kestelman – the businessman that has resurrected Australia’s National Basketball League.
• Liz Ellis AO – former netball great and now chair of Netball Australia.
• Christine McLoughlin AM – co-founder and chair of the Minerva Network that is helping revolutionise the success of women athletes’ post-careers in Australia.
The world’s greatest sporting precinct
The staging of SportNXT in what many term the world’s greatest sporting precinct makes the event even more attractive to international visitors. Home of the Australian Open, Melbourne & Olympic Park, a short stroll across a walkway takes you to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the other direction are the city’s major stadiums for basketball, netball, football and rugby. And it’s all within walking distance to the heart of Melbourne’s central business district.
Beyond the conference itself, SportNXT also offers an optional third-day program that takes delegates on exclusive site visits to some of Melbourne’s framed sporting infrastructure. These behind-the-scenes tours provide a unique glimpse into the operations, innovation and history that makes Melbourne one of the world’s greatest sporting cities.
SportNXT grows its international presence yearly, and the 2025 edition promises to attract more international attendees than ever. To find out more information, head to the website.