EMEA

Born and raised in the Dolomites, she is an environmental sociologist with a master’s degree in urban planning. Since 2001, she has worked on environmental and social sustainability for major international events, particularly sporting events, including the Winter Olympics, Asian Games, Universiade and World Ski Championships. From 2018 to 2021, she served as Sustainability Director for the World Alpine Ski Championships Cortina 2021. She then spent two years as Head of Sustainability for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. In July 2023, she joined the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) as its first-ever Sustainability Director.

Björn Sandström is a project manager and sustainability consultant focused on climate activism and athlete advocacy. Alongside a 15-year career as an elite cross-country skier, including participation in two World Championships, he brings deep insight into the structure, culture and operational complexisty of sport and major sporting events.

He has an academic background in Environmental Science and has worked as a sustainability project manger focusing on climate accounting and reporting for sporting federations.

Björn is an experienced public speaker, regularly delivering lectures and participating in palen discussions on climate and sustainability where he focuses on driving organisational change through stakeholder dialogue, diplomacy, and cross-sector collaboration.

Ben Read is Managing Director of Volume 1 Climbing and High Sports Climbing, 2 climbing centres based in the South East. Having spent most of my professional career working in climbing and the outdoor industry, I have spent the last 7 years running my own facilities alongside my wife and business partner, Katie. We are trying to open climbing up to as many people as possible through a values led business approach that prioritises providing the best possible customer experience over profit.

Yoan Noguier is a social entrepreneur whose career spans international sport, social business and inclusive entrepreneurship. After leading Procurement for the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, he worked internationally on the social potential of major sporting events before co-founding Yunus Sports Hub with Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus, followed by Yunus France.

In this role has developed partnerships with the major players in the sport, sport business and sport for development sectors, built a global network of more than 5,000 experts and partners across 150+ countries and co-created the most succesful social procurement program for mega events. His work focuses on using business, sport and innovation to address poverty, unemployment and the climate crisis. He also lectures and speaks internationally on social innovation.

Aoife Burns is Head of Social and Environmental Sustainability at League of Ireland Club Drogheda United. She has been working and volunteering within the League for the last 7 years with roles including Child Welfare & Protection, Community Engagement and Head Coach for summer camps. In 2024 she moved into Social and Environmental Sustainability and in 2025 took on the role as Head of Social and Environmental Sustainability with current club Drogheda United. Aoife developed and published Drogheda United’s first Social and Environmental Sustainability Strategy Plan 2025-2029 which outlines the clubs’ commitments and measurable goals for the next five years.

Greta Bodino obtained a Master of Art in Translation from the University of Geneva. Starting from 2001, she embarked on a path in the field of Human Resources, where she held the position at BNP PARIBAS Group with increasing responsibility, until she became HR Project Leader – Vice Head of Training.

From 2007 until 2010, she joined Michael Page International, as HR Business Partner. Later on, her career continued in prestigious companies such as: Nyrstar Sales & Marketing AG, Coutts & Co. Ltd, TEAM Marketing AG (as Head of Human Resources) and ECA (European Club Association), in which she held the position of Director of Staff and Operations.

In August 2021, she joins Juventus in the role of “Chief People & Culture Officer”. Currently, she holds the position of Chief People, Culture and ESG Officer.

Aston Villa’s Social Impact and Community Director Guy Rippon has over 25 years of experience in the sports, community, and social responsibility industry. Early in his career held various management and leadership roles in local government before taking up regional manager positions with The Football Foundation and The Football League Trust.

In 2011 Guy moved into the work of football club Foundations, initially as Director at Coventry City’s Sky Blues in the Community before joining Aston Villa as Head of Foundation in 2016 where he has overseen a sustained period of growth and impact of the club’s community work.

Guy completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Aston University in 2024 and in early 2026 was appointed Social Impact and Community Director at Aston Villa FC. This newly created role sees Guy continue to oversee the clubs Foundation whilst shaping and leading the club’s wider ESG strategy and agenda.

Born in the vibrant city of Istanbul in 1968, Ebru Köksal’s journey from the bustling streets of New York to the heart of Turkish football is nothing short of inspiring. She kicked off her career as a financial analyst at Morgan Stanley, navigating the fast-paced world of finance with finesse. Her return to Turkey saw her rise through the ranks at Citibank, where she honed her skills as a senior manager.

In 1999, Ebru took a bold leap into the world of private equity with AIG, before making a game-changing move to Galatasaray Sports Club in 2001. As CFO, and later CEO, she steered the club through a transformative era of growth and international success.

Ebru’s influence extended beyond Turkey when she was appointed General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation in 2011. Her expertise was sought after by FIFA and UEFA, where she served as a consultant from 2012 to 2018. She returned to Galatasaray as a Board Member, continuing to shape the future of football.

Today, Ebru Köksal is a Board Member and Business Development Director at J Stern & Co., Chair of Women in Football, UK, Board Director at A-Leagues Australia, INED at the Professional Footballers Association UK, and an INED at the International Tennis Integrity Agency. Her accolades include the Executive of the Year Award 2011 by Stadium Business Awards, the first-ever Making a Difference Award by HBS Executive Education in 2018 and the inaugural Leaders in Sport Trailblazer Award in 2024.

A graduate of Brown University with dual degrees in Economics and International Relations, and an alumna of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program, Ebru is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Ebru’s story is a testament to her unwavering dedication and pioneering spirit in the world of sports and finance. She has significantly impacted the representation of women in sports globally through her pioneering leadership and advocacy. She broke numerous glass ceilings, becoming the first woman on the Executive Board of the European Club Association and the first female General Secretary of the Turkish Football Federation. As Chair of Women in Football, she champions gender equality, creating opportunities and raising awareness about challenges women face in sports. Ebru’s journey inspires women and girls worldwide to pursue careers in sports, and her work with various organizations promotes diversity and inclusion, making her a key figure in creating a more equitable sports environment.

Gaia Pretner joined EFC in May 2023 as Head of Sustainability and launched ECA’s first sustainability strategy in April 2024.

She is a sustainability management expert with experience in different sectors from major events, MNCs, Federations and trade associations. Before joining ECA she worked as Sustainable Procurement Manager for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, Sustainability and Circular Economy researcher and consultant for Bocconi University and as Sustainability expert for EXPO Milano 2015 and UNI

I have worked with ESG, sustainability and CSRD at F.C. Copenhagen since 2024. During this time, I have led the delivery of two CSRD reports and worked to strategically embed sustainability into the club’s everyday operations and initiatives, both as a football club and as a stadium.