Main Summit

Tom is Head of Sports Investment at Republic Europe, the world’s largest investment platform. He has supported hundreds of successful investment rounds, including pioneering fan ownership raises for leading sports clubs. Alongside his work in sports, Tom spent eight years as a founder, successfully exiting two businesses in sustainable disinfection technology, and contributed a chapter on sustainable entrepreneurship to the book Exploring the Green Economy.

Rohan is Gravity Media’s Director of ESG. He spearheads all the organisation’s environmental, social and governance initiatives to ensure that the company operates ethically, sustainably and responsibly.

Rohan has over 30 years’ experience in the broadcast industry. He joined us in 2015 having spent 17 years as a Senior Technical Producer at Formula One Management Ltd.

Rohan’s goal is to position Gravity Media as industry leader in ESG and to implement his initiatives across all our global teams.

Rohan is passionate about driving positive change that benefits those within the organisation, its stakeholders and wider society, and minimises impact on the environment.

Tom Harding believes in helping others realise their potential to create a more positive and sustainable world for all. He has spent twelve years at in financial services, leading commercial client facing teams across the South of England before transitioning into a strategic role to lead Aldermore’s ESG & Sustainability activities. Since being established in 2009 as one of the first challenger banks, Aldermore has helped the underserved to access finance across its chosen markets. Tom take’s great pride in helping measure and broaden this societal impact through the coordination of the Group’s work in ESG reporting, Net Zero and Social Mobility.

Riikka Rakic is currently the Head of Strategy, Sustainability and Governance at the International Biathlon Union, where she also manages the implementation of the IBU’s strategic plan.

Prior to joining the IBU, she led the communications function at the International Ski Federation from 2005-2013. She then went on to implement an ISO 20121 certified sustainability program at the 2019 FIS Alpine Worlds and advised candidates for the 2022 and 2024 Games on topics related to sustainability and legacy. From 2017- 2020, Riikka led an FIS project known as “Get into Snow Sports” designed to promote snow sports in China while serving as Director of IF Relations at the World Academy of Sports.

Daisy Hill-Norton is a non-profit co-founder, community-builder, and advocate for equity and empowerment. She is dedicated to creating opportunities where they are hardest to find, with the vision of building a more just, joyful, and inclusive future.

Four years ago, Daisy co-founded Surf Cerrito, a non-profit based in Northern Peru that harnesses the power of surfing to empower young people. Since its inception, she has led a team of local and international volunteers to engage local youth living in situations of vulnerability through surf therapy sessions, workshops, and community events. Under her leadership, Surf Cerrito has become a safe and vibrant space where young people connect with sport, nature, and mental health resources – tools that inspire them to step into their own power and shape the futures of both themselves and their communities.

She currently serves as the Director of the Regenerative Surf Conference, which she will host in Peru this year. The conference will bring together around 100 organisations, professionals, and leaders from across Latin America who are working to regenerate their communities and ecosystems. Daisy’s vision is to spark lasting spaces of learning and collaboration, equipping social leaders with networks and resources that help them grow their impact long after the event concludes.

Daisy draws inspiration from the strength, talent, and humanity of the people she works alongside. That inspiration fuels her commitment to supporting others in unlocking their potential and creating lives defined by purpose, opportunity, and joy.

 

 

Robin has worked within the sports sector for the past fifteen years, starting his football journey in 2015, when he began working at Derby County Football Club, he left his role as Head of Broadcast to join the EFL as The Senior Broadcast Operations Manager in 2022. Robin now helps co-ordinate and develop all broadcast and production operational requirements for The Football League. He manages several supplier and stakeholder relationships, whilst ensuring the smooth and efficient running of The Leagues Live Match output. He works closely with Production and Broadcast partners to help develop and consolidate The EFL’s digital output, whilst maintaining strong relationships with all seventy-two member Clubs.

With over six years of experience in technical roles across food product development, nutrition, and sustainability, Susie brings a combination of industry insight and practical experience to the evolving landscape of sustainable food systems.

Prior to joining Levy in 2024, Susie led the B-Corp certification process at the plant-based food brand BOL Foods, where she also developed and launched the company’s first sustainability strategy. After nearly six years in FMCG within food retail, she transitioned to the food service sector, joining Levy’s central sustainability team to help drive impactful change at scale.

At Levy, the market leader in sports and entertainment hospitality, Susie works closely with London venues like The Oval and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, supporting teams to decarbonise food and beverage operations. She partners with culinary and procurement teams to identify suppliers and products that reduce Levy’s F&B emissions. She also delivers sustainability workshops and drives engagement across venue teams, placing climate action at the heart of food service.

Susie is passionate about embedding sustainability into hospitality operations and helps advance Levy’s ambitious climate agenda across more than 60 world-renowned venues.

Tim grew up on the shores of Lough Neagh and has always had an affinity with the biodiversity of Ireland.

From summer eves spent at Castors Bay in County Armagh, with his grandfather to autumn walks along the salmon river in Co. Fermanagh with his mother, he has always known how special the land and the wildlife it supports is.  Tim has spent the last 15 years working in the environmental sector. 13 of those years were with Europe’s largest conservation organisation the RSPB.

Now working with Ulster GAA Tim is working to ensure that the biodiversity and wildlife at over 30 GAA clubs are given a chance to thrive. Through the creation of habitat and relevant species monitoring involving club members Ulster GAA are ensuring community buy in within each club’s area across six of Ulster’s nine counties. A huge task but one which is already reaping rewards with just over 7 months into the project.

Sofi Armenakian is an award-winning sustainability executive and recognized changemaker in sports and entertainment. Guided by the belief that “we are all part of the solution,” she has pioneered industry-first strategies that transformed how major venues approach zero waste and climate action.

Most recently, Sofi served as the Head of Sustainability for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, where she oversaw conversion, uniform, housekeeping departments, and work order systems while leading the franchise’s groundbreaking sustainability initiatives. She was the first person in the NBA to hold the title of Head of Sustainability, setting a precedent for the league and industry.

Under her leadership, State Farm Arena became the first sports and entertainment venue in the world to earn TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification for zero waste in April 2022. She also spearheaded the first-ever zero-waste NBA All-Star Game (2021) and delivered the world’s first TRUE-certified sporting event (Hawks Eastern Conference First Round Game 4 versus the New York Knicks, May 30, 2021).

Previously, Sofi was the Manager of Sustainability and Conversions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (AMB Sports & Entertainment), where she created the stadium’s first sustainability department and launched the acclaimed “Recycle & Win” fan engagement program. Her leadership helped embed zero-waste practices into every major event, including Super Bowl LIII, the 2018 MLS Cup and MLS All-Star Games, the 2018 College Football National Championship, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United home games, and global concert tours.

Her work has received national recognition. In 2024, Senator Raphael Warnock honored Sofi with the Change Maker Award and a formal letter of recognition for her leadership in advancing sustainability across industries. She was also named among the “Top Sustainability Executives to Know” by Sports Business Journal, further cementing her status as a thought leader in the field.

Earlier in her career, Sofi worked with ESSEX Consulting Group Inc. as Business Development and Marketing Director, specializing in data-driven sustainability solutions, and in retail as a general manager, district trainer, and recruiter.

An Armenian and trilingual (English, German, Armenian), Sofi is a graduate of Georgia State University and resides in Atlanta.

Steffen Lindenmaier has been working for VfB Stuttgart for 15 years and has headed the club’s Sustainability Department since 2022, reporting directly to the CEO. He also serves as Managing Director of the club’s foundation Brustring der Herzen, established in 2023, which brings together VfB’s social initiatives – a commitment that has been deeply rooted in the club since the 1990s.

With many years of experience in professional football, he pursues a holistic sustainability approach that combines ecological, social, and economic responsibility. A key focus lies in further developing VfB’s sustainability strategy and making it tangible through a wide range of initiatives – both in the stadium and throughout the club’s wider environment.

Key topics such as biodiversity, environmental and climate protection are brought to life through concrete projects – including the ecological enhancement of club facilities, the integration of sustainability into infrastructure planning, and efforts to support the renaturation of a moor. The goal: to act credibly, impactfully, and create social value.