Re-imagining Asia's sports and entertainment destinations #SAS25

Sara has been with Zaha Hadid Architects for 21 years. She has been with Zaha Hadid Architects for 21 years and had key roles on several major ZHA cultural, civic and infrastructure scheme projects throughout Europe and internationally, including the MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome, the London Aquatics Centre and the Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art in Cincinnati.

Sara was a project architect for the London Aquatics Centre, a key venue for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. She is currently the design director of the Forest Green Rovers Eco Park Stadium in Stroud, UK. Embodying low-carbon construction methods and operational processes, the Eco Park Stadium will be the first all-wood football stadium, with almost every element made of sustainably sourced timber.

In educational developments, Sara was responsible for the development of the double-curved external cladding on the award-winning Investcorp Building for the University of Oxford, recognised for its architectural sensitivity and distinction.

Zaha Hadid Architects has just completed a 60k FIFA stadium in Xi’an, and currently has two 60k stadiums under construction in China.

Janice joined Populous in 2019, fulfilling her aspirations to work within a global firm specialising in innovative sports architecture and design. Prior to joining Populous, she gained over five years of design coordination experience in various retail, transport orientated development and mixed-use projects across China.

Based in Hong Kong, Janice is currently working on the world class entertainment facilities of Kai Tak Sports Park. As a UK Registered Architect, she has been the Design Lead for the Construction Phase of the South Precinct along with a member of the Design Development team for the 50,000 seat Main Stadium. The Main Stadium is an International standard facility with a retractable roof and a flexible and transformable pitch system capable in hosting wide range of international sports events like Rugby 7’s and concerts without being affected by different weather conditions.

Janice has personal interests in public infrastructure projects and master planning, Janice has found her passion for architecture, while also volunteering her time to renovate a community project in Hong Kong. She completed her Masters in Architecture at University College London – Bartlett School of Architecture, where she also gained her Bachelor of Architecture.

Paul is 42-year venue management veteran, with in excess of 5,500 major events safely and successfully managed, with the support of many focussed and highly motivated people.

Venues managed include Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena, Principality Stadium and Parc y Scarlets in the UK, Suncorp Stadium, Marvel Stadium and Qudos Bank Arena in Australia. Paul is now responsible for managing ASM Global’s management services at Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong (50,000 cap stadium, 10,000 arena, 5,000 athletics stadium, 10,000 festival site), Kuala Lumpur Sports City, Malaysia (87,000 stadium, 16,000 arena, 10,000 hockey stadium), Shenzhen World, China(13,000 arena, 1,750 plenary hall, 400,000sqm exhibition centre), UOB Live (6,000 hall) and Bangkok Arena (18,000 arena), Thailand.

As a former Olympian (1984 Los Angeles) and Asian Games medalist, Jin Teik’s illustrious 32-years professional career spanned both private and public sectors in multiple industries, with residence in USA, China, and Singapore. He is a trusted, people-centric senior leader who specializes in business turnaround, mega project ideation-startup-operations, place making in mixed use developments, data- driven digital transformation, and complex stakeholder management (including public-private-people partnerships).

between 1999 and 2019, he led the conceptualisation, launch, operations, & management of Singapore Sports Hub – the world’s largest & most complex PPP (public private partnership) social infrastructure DBFO project across 35 hectares. A pioneer in the mixed use development for a sports entertainment lifestyle city with world class facilities (programming, event services, venue/facility management, retail operations, etc). By end Year 4 2018 & working with a complex network of stakeholders (B2G, B2B, B2C), we delivered 220 events & attracted 3 million attendees/users with a total of 15 million footfall.

Prior to his Sports Hub role, he spent six years as CEO of Sport Singapore where he implemented the national blueprint for Sporting Singapore across 3 thrusts, 6 targets, 40 strategies; thereby delivering national economic returns (GDP contribution) from S$300 million (2000) to S$1 billion (2008) and resulting in Singapore winning: 1) Gold for Sports City Award @International Sports Events Management Awards 2010; 2) Runners-Up for Ultimate Sports City Award @Sport Accord Convention 2010.

Today, Jin Teik operates his own consultancy business, namely in board advisory and strategic business management, after serving as CEO at American Ethane Capital, Singapore Sports Hub, Hyflux China, Singapore Sports Council, and other senior leadership roles in National Starch (Ingredion) and DuPont Company. Presently, he is Regional Managing Director for Ascention Consulting, Asia Pacific’s leading Clean Data experts in Data Management, Strategy, Culture, and Enablement.

Other roles include: Chairman & Non-Executive Director (Approved Technology Solutions, UK), Senior Advisor (Xctuality, ASICS Asia, eSports Players League, Singapore Rowing), and Board Member (Beyond Sport, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Science Centre, Health Promotion Board).

Jin Teik has an MBA & BSc Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University, USA. He attended Executive Education classes at Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania, USA), Kellogg Business School (Northwestern University, USA), 6th Leaders in Administration Program (Civil Service College, Public Service Division, Singapore), and Advanced Leaders Program-Future China (Business China, Nanyang Business School Singapore.)

Brett Wightman is a Senior Principal and Director of Populous with extensive experience in designing large-scale sports, entertainment and aviation facilities that draw people together.

Based in Singapore, Brett possesses strong Asian-based experience working across complex construction programs with multiple stakeholders. He has a solid understanding of the construction process and an ability to deliver world-class design projects. He has played instrumental leadership roles on recent COEX, Transit-Oriented Development and Aviation projects across Macau, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand. Brett also leads Populous’ Asia Pacific Aviation division.

Travel and exploration are at the heart of Brett’s design philosophy. By engaging, living and adapting to local cultures and traditions, he is able to design spaces that are regionally authentic whilst fulfilling the financial aspirations of international stakeholders.

Nicholas is a Registered Architect in Singapore with over a decade of experience working on diverse projects in the Sports, Aviation, Convention Centre and Hospitality sectors.

Nicholas currently leads the team in working closely in collaboration with Architect partners on Toa Payoh Integrated Development (TPID), a mixed-use integrated sports facility, consisting of a football stadium, sports halls, and an aquatic centre for both community and athlete use.

At Populous, Nicholas is able to combine his love of sports and passion for designing experiences together to explore ways in creating large scale venues that are diverse, inclusive, and which people love to gather.

Darren is ASM Global’s Executive Director of Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong. Expected to be completed in the second half of 2024, the 28  hectare precinct comprises a 50,000 seat stadium, 10,000 capacity arena, 5,000 seat public sports ground, 66,000 m2 of retail space, and public open spaces. Darren leads the team who will ultimately operate this US$3.8bn project.

Prior to his current role Darren was a consultant for the New South Wales Government, leading the business case for the redevelopment of Stadium Australia (now known as Accor Stadium) in Sydney and prior to that as an operations adviser for the development of Bankwest Stadium in Western Sydney.

Until July 2018 Darren spent nearly five years as Chief Executive of Vbase, manager of Christchurch’s leading venues including Horncastle Arena, AMI Stadium, Hagley Oval, Air Force Museum Wigram, and the Christchurch Town Hall.

Before moving to Vbase Darren spent seven years in Dunedin, firstly working as the Chief Executive of the trust established to masterplan and build Forsyth Barr Stadium in time for Rugby World Cup 2011.  Latterly he was the Chief Executive of Dunedin Venues, operator of the stadium as well as the Dunedin Centre and Town Hall.

The Sam Kerr Football Centre is a World-Class high-performance football facility located 15 minutes from the Perth CBD, the 16-hectare site currently includes two full size elite hybrid pitches (soon to be four pitches), three 5-side pitches, state of the art strength and conditioning area, hydrotherapy treatment pools, café, bar and meeting/function room facilities. It is also the home of Football West’ administration offices.

As General Manager, Jeremy oversees the management and delivery of event and non-event day operations at the Sam Kerr Football Centre,  ensuring a high-quality customer and stakeholder experience whilst improving venue optimisation and maximising financial returns. A key aspect to the role is developing, and maintaining relationships with our partners, community groups, promoters, sporting bodies, venue hires and event service providers to ensure Football West and the Sam Kerr Football Centre can deliver a world class sporting and or hospitality experience for the user and player group. Jeremy also acts up as a Project Manger to oversee any venue improvements, amendments and ensures the facility is maintained and well presented at all times”.

Victoria is an Assistant Executive on Edelman’s Corporate team, working mostly with financial services and fintech clients. She is a player for Tai Po Dragon RFC, a local rugby football club in the HKCR Women‘s Championship League. She enjoys watching international and domestic rugby union and rugby 7s games, and occasionally follows football and fencing as a former épée fencer.

Robbie is the Executive Manager, Charities (Sports) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Prior to that he spent 21 years with Hong Kong China Rugby, and was CEO from May 2017 to July 2024.

He arrived in Hong Kong in 1992 and served 11 years in the Hong Kong Police Force, where he served in a number of roles including presenter of the “Police Report” TV show.

He has a MA (Oxon) and completed a PGC in Sports & Recreation Management at HKU Space in 2001.

He was a founding Director of local charity Operation Breakthrough and was instrumental in setting up the Rugby for Good Foundation, both of which use sport as a medium to tackle social issues.

He was awarded a MBE in 2019 for services to philanthropy and UK-Hong Kong relations, and a HKSAR Chief Executive’s Commendation for Community Service in 2024.

Commercial executive with a proven track record of driving business outcomes by bringing together multidisciplinary teams and diverse projects toward a common goal. James is a passionate leader who has led teams to deliver stakeholders’ varied needs across events and venues. 

Over twenty years, James has developed broad commercial acumen across the sporting and entertainment landscape. Built successful partnerships with major brands to deliver strong commercial outcomes across all aspects of programming, ticketing, marketing and communications for a number of world leading entities including Wembley National Stadium Ltd, The O2 Arena (London), 2011 Rugby World Cup (New Zealand), and ASM Global’s family of managed venues in Australia. 

James is Director (Commercial) of Kai Tak Sports Park, the incredible Hong Kong infrastructure project due for completion by the end of 2024. He has direct responsibility across event procurement (sport/non-sport), commercial rights, ticketing, and marketing/communications.

Ian Nuttall is the owner and founder of TheStadiumBusiness, presented by his Xperiology events business. Since 2010, TheStadiumBusiness has delivered the leading international business conference for the sector (TheStadiumBusiness Summit), the number one projects meeting for the sector (TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit) along with annual Awards programmes and the daily news channel TheStadiumBusiness.com.

His working life began in sports hospitality events management (including Formula 1, horse racing and Wimbledon) before pursuing an award-winning career in B2B magazine publishing. He has co-launched and edited numerous business titles (ranging from energy and industrial processes through to airport design and Intelligent Transportation Systems). Ian has also founded many of the sport business sector’s most respected publications, events and news sources.

In addition to TheStadiumBusiness family of events and publications, Xperiology also owns TheTicketingBusiness – with its Awards, Forum and TheTicketingBusiness.com news channel. Across its portfolio the company reaches over 100,000 professionals in sports, arts, music, entertainment and experiences across the planet.

In addition to his ongoing commitments as a sports business writer and speaker, Ian provides highly-valued, specialist consultancy to the sports and entertainment venue sector. He lives in West Sussex (England) and Cortona (Italy) with his family and dogs – occasionally climbing the odd scary mountain in between events.