Main Summit

Currently serving her second term as Director of Communications, Marketing, and Olympic Values at the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), Manoela Penna established the organization’s Sustainability Department in 2020. She has worked as a consultant for the Association of National Olympic Committees and served as both consultant and representative in France for the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee for Paris 2024. Manoela is also a lecturer in the Executive Masters in Sports Organisations Management (MEMOS), a program endorsed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). A former rowing athlete, she is a highly regarded professional in the field, with awards from the Cannes Lions Festival, SABRE Awards, Wave Festival, and Aberje Awards.

Dani Stern, Sr. Director – Product Management for Commercial Real Estate, Honeywell Building Technologies, leading the CRE vertical including the Sports and Entertainment sub-vertical globally. He oversees a team of engineers, product managers, quality assurance, cyber security experts, and UX researchers while driving strategic initiatives for world-class venues including professional sports stadiums, arenas, and entertainment facilities.

In addition to product leadership, Dani is responsible for global strategy within the Sports and Entertainment vertical, new product introductions, market expansions, and customer discovery with top-tier venues worldwide. He works closely with venue operators, facility managers, and technology leaders to develop AI-driven solutions that enhance fan experiences, optimize operations, and drive revenue growth.

Dani is passionate about a deep persona-led approach to solving customer pain points and working with key customers to understand business outcomes better while spending ‘time on the ground’ at customer facilities – from NFL stadiums to NBA arenas.

Dani is originally from Israel and holds an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to Honeywell, he spent six years leading IOT products in the smart buildings world across commercial real estate, education, airports and high-traffic venues.

Florin Șari’s professional history includes, between 2001 and 2015, positions of program coordinator and financia manager in the German political foundations Konrad Adenauer and Friedrich Naumann, with an extensive experience in Romania, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and the EU. Between 2015 and 2021 he was the Leader of the Local Organizing Structure of UEFA Euro 2020 in Romania, the most important sports event in Romanian history. A graduate of the Faculty of Journalism in Sibiu, he also holds a diploma in Leadership and Management in Football, the Certificate in Management in Football from the University of Lausanne and the Certificate of the Sustainability Compact Course of UEFA and Bocconi University of Milan, thus consolidating his skills in football management and sustainability in sport. He also followed a postgraduate course in International Relations at the Romanian Diplomatic Institute and obtained a Master of Science in Project Management from the Politehnica University of Bucharest.

Katherine Cook is a Sustainability and Environmental Manager at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, where she leads innovative projects aimed at delivering the team’s net zero and broader sustainability targets. Her work spans both the factory and the travelling operation, trialling and implementing cutting-edge solutions to decarbonise business operations.

Katherine studied Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Cambridge from 2015 to 2019. She began her career in the Formula 1 industry, gaining experience across multiple departments and applying cross-functional insights to drive operational efficiencies. In 2022, she shifted her focus to business sustainability, exploring how sustainable practices can create tangible value through efficiency and innovation.

Joining Mercedes in September 2024, Katherine brings a unique blend of technical expertise and strategic thinking to her role. She believes sustainability is not only essential for the planet but also a powerful driver of business performance. With Formula 1 as a dynamic platform for testing and showcasing sustainable innovation, Katherine is passionate about pushing boundaries and delivering impactful change.

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.

Jeremy is the Head of Sustainability at ITV, the leading UK commercial broadcaster and international production group.

He drives all aspects of the environmental strategy for the company, including shaping the roadmap to net zero, ensuring business resilience by managing climate-related risks and engaging audiences on the sustainability transition through content and advertising.

He drives change across sectors through industry collaboration projects and currently sits on the Board of BAFTA albert.

He transitioned into sustainability roles in 2014 after a decade working as a sport TV producer and retains a great passion for the world of sport and its potential to be a force for good in the world.

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.