PARKROYAL Parramatta - 30 Phillip Street, Parramatta
The 4th Ticketing Australia Conference was held at the PARKROYAL Parramatta on November 13th & 14th 2024.
Thank you to the Speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and delegates that joined us to make 2024 our biggest conference yet.
DIGONEX | LEAP EVENT TECHNOLOGY | PROTECT GROUP | SECURE MY BOOKING | SPEKTRIX | TESSITURA |
TICKETSEARCH | TIXTRACK | VATIC | VIVATICKET
Tyrone has served as the Ticketing Manager for Tennis Australia since 2015, overseeing ticketing operations for the Australian Open and managing ticketing for the lead-up ATP and WTA tournaments across Australia during the Summer of Tennis. His experience includes navigating the COVID-impacted events during 2021 and 2022.
With extensive background in ticketing industry, Tyrone has held roles across client management, business development, event programming, sales and customer relations within Ticketek, Ticketmaster, and the Australian Turf Club. He has also worked closely with arenas, stadiums and theatre venues across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Steven has been with the Sydney Opera House since 2008 and leads a team of eighty ticketing professionals to oversee ticketing services across eight resident arts companies, numerous commercial and community hirers, a high volume guided tours business and extensive in-house programming across talks, contemporary music, screen, children and family and contemporary performance. With over 40 shows a week, the Opera House box office services local and out of town visitors. His role includes carriage of the Opera House’s Voice of Customer program which informs the business and drives customer led decision making.
Prior to this, Steven spent 13 years Ticketek from 1995, initially in frontline and helpdesk roles. From there, he held an operations role for Ticketek at the Fox Studios precinct (now EQ) before moving into client liaison in event and account management positions. In 2005, Steven took up the position of Account Director – Concerts, Music & Lifestyle and then State Manager Ticketek NSW.
Steven is passionate live events, client and customer service and the role the ticketing industry plays in connecting audiences with performances.
Born and bred in wild Patagonia, Gus Balbontin never allowed his small town and humble beginnings get in the way of his big dreams. A healthy disrespect for authority and a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out) landed him in Australia at the young age of 17.
By the age of 22 he had dropped out of uni, hitchhiked South America, set up his first business and landed his dream job at Lonely Planet. Fast forward a few more years and he was leading the company globally, working with companies such as Google X, Nokia and Amazon on the latest technology, creative cultures and high performing teams.
Seeking a change from corporate life, he hung up his boots as the executive director and CTO of Lonely Planet and decided to move back to his entrepreneurial roots, becoming an investor, founder and mentor across the start-up ecosystem in Melbourne. He loves sharing a story, but loves even more, knowing those stories make a difference to people, helping them in their own business and life.
Over the last 3 years Gus Balbontin has presented to audiences of 10 across regional Australia and New Zealand, to audiences of 10,000 across North America, Europe, South America and Asia. To him there’s no difference. Small, large, private, public, board room to mail room, his lessons hit a chord, his simplicity disarms you, his energy infects you and his counterintuitive way of looking at the world will motivate you to do things different.
Often thought as futurist, not because he predicts the future, but instead because he helps you focus on what you can control to deal with any future. Gus helps audiences cut through the hype to focus on what the real human impact really is. Still want to talk trends? Sure! Gus Balbontin loves as much as the next person trying to imagine a world run by AI, but he warns that getting too distracted with future guesses will only take time away from you and your company to actually do something about the future.
Emma is a proud Autistic woman who works as a senior consultant, advocate and researcher with Aspect’s Autism Friendly team. As an Autistic advocate, Emma provides valued insight and input into a wide range of projects and is involved in all stages of development and delivery.
Emma is also a founding member of the Aspect Think Tank, a remunerated group Autistic adults who provide advice for Aspect on day-to-day autism practice.
Emma is a keen advocate for the rights and needs autistic people through sharing her lived experience and her expertise in providing support for children of all abilities.
Emma holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care.
Samuel is a dedicated theatre professional with a 20-year background in both non-profit and commercial arts and theatre venues. He’s delighted to be speaking at Ticketing Australia for the first time!
Prior to working as Marketing and Partnerships Manager at Secure My Booking, he was Head of Marketing and Communications for Mercury Theatre, a regional producing venue in his hometown of Colchester. Other roles have included Ticketing Operations Manager, Head of Audiences and Commercial and Sales Manager at venues around the UK. Same also installed and ran the box office for Monopoly Lifesized, a immersive board game experience, when it first opened in London.
In 2021, Samuel was nominated for the International Ticketing Association award for Young Ticketing Professional of the Year. Sadly he’s now too old to be nominated for this again!
Ticketing isn’t Samuel’s only career, he worked as a dancer and singer for Carnival Cruise Lines (and also was Wardrobe Master for several contracts!) for several years and enjoyed a life at sea before returning to venue life.
In his spare time he also runs an LGBTQ+ inclusive rugby team, Colchester Kings RFC competing across the UK and in tournaments across the world. Bingham Cup Brisbane 2026 here we come!
Lizzie is the co-founder of TicketHive, a dynamic consultancy helping the entertainment industry navigate the art and science of ticketing and sales.
With over 15 years of experience in producing, venue operations and ticketing management, she has overseen a diverse portfolio of events spanning Australia, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and South Africa. From heritage venues to circus tents, grand classical ballets to rock shows, and everything in between, Lizzie is recognised for being driven and hard-working, with a passion for people, results, ticketing and the entertainment industry.
Phil Day is a distinguished marketing strategist and industry leader with a remarkable career spanning over two decades. Known for his innovative approach and ability to drive significant growth, Phil has substantially contributed substantially to the marketing and live entertainment sectors.
Phil has extensive experience in the international live entertainment industry, having held senior roles with prominent organisations such as the Really Useful Group (RUG) and Live Nation. At RUG, he was instrumental in promoting some of the world’s most iconic theatrical productions, enhancing their global reach and audience engagement. During his tenure at Live Nation, Phil played a key role in marketing major live events and concerts, helping to establish the company as a leader in the live entertainment market.
Currently serving as the Director of APAC Business Development at Moment Factory’s Singapore office, Jérôme de Baecque drives commercial development, partnerships, and network expansion. Formerly the company’s ambassador in Southeast Asia and ANZ, he has enriched his team with his experience in managing international offices and his knowledge of APAC markets.
With 25 years of experience in managing businesses in the digital, advertising, media, entertainment, and communication sectors, Jérôme, originally from Paris, successfully led three local enterprises. Passionate about transmedia storytelling and firm in his belief that creativity arises from human interactions, he ensures the best user experience across all platforms and prioritizes human relationships, fostering mutual trust with clients.
Since joining Moment Factory in 2019, he has made significant contributions to flagship projects such as Light Cycles, Mirror Mirror, Resonate, Changi T2, and Augmented Games, along with hundreds of presentations and events that have bolstered the company’s presence across Asia.
Kelly Degenhart has worked in the ticketing and entertainment industry for more than 20 years, gaining experience in marketing, branding, sales, and partner management. Before joining Digonex as Director of Marketing, she was Director of Partner Programs at Tessitura and has held marketing roles at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Universal Music, and EMI Music Marketing. Kelly lives in Chicago, IL and can often be found at one of the city’s world-class performance venues or museums.
Jeremy Dixon leads the talented team of 15 staff in Australia and New Zealand with responsibility for business development, implementations, data conversions, customisations, post implementation, support services, customer care and relationship management for the Tessitura users in the region.
Based in Rangiora, Aotearoa New Zealand, Jeremy regularly travels throughout the region to support the local user organisations, connect with arts and cultural sector leadership and represent Tessitura Network at key trade shows and industry conferences.
Jeremy joined Tessitura Network in March 2011, bringing with him extensive experience in creating strategic and operational business solutions to a broad spectrum of clients in manufacturing, IT, entertainment, finance, forestry, education, hospitality, and government ministries and agencies in Australia and New Zealand.
Matilda has been a theatre fan for as long as she can remember and since leaving university has pursued an active career in the arts. Since joining the Theatre Royal Sydney team in 2021, Matilda has worked her way up from Box Office Assistant to Ticketing Manager. Helping audience members have the best possible time at the theatre, and making sure they come back, is something she is truly passionate about. When not at work, Matilda can be found flexing her creative muscles with her local community theatre organisation, cooking up a storm, or hunting for the best new spot in town for a sunset cocktail.
Julia has over 25 years’ experience in leadership roles in the corporate, community and government sectors, including ten years working in senior roles for a range of influential not for profit organisations.
With experience in marketing, sales, fundraising and project management and a record of developing valuable relationships through stakeholder engagement, Julia is passionate about building collaborative support to fund research and mental health training programs for the Australian Entertainment Industry.
In her role as Chief Executive, Julia is determined to build awareness of Entertainment Assist and to work with the Board to ensure the organisation makes a positive contribution to the mental health and wellbeing of members of the Australian entertainment community.
Brooke’s 20+ year career in the arts began in Brisbane, where she honed her front of house skills at La Boite and QUT Gardens Theatre while earning a BA in Theatre Studies. After moving to the UK, Brooke led operations for a theatre in education company and then spent many years in ticketing and CRM management at ATG’s Richmond Theatre and at the National Theatre. Her work in the last decade has focused on bridging the gap between people and technology. She now leads on community engagement and creating impactful events that connect Spektrix users, partners and team members, enhancing audience engagement and driving revenue growth. She’s passionate about building strong relationships and delivering measurable results.
Born and raised in the Adelaide Hills, I look back on my journey and like to say I was a big fish in a small pond. This gave me a lot of opportunity to be seen and to play different positions. Other sports were played like netball, softball and swimming but once I picked up a basketball at 9 years of age, I never looked back.
From local rep teams to state teams to Australian Institute of Sport Selection. I learned to go with the flow and love the game of basketball while learning to be a pro. Which set me up for what has been a career of travel and living out of a bag! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Australian representation at U19 and U21 levels, winning a silver with the U21! To Opals selections along with 3 World Cup medals and an Olympic one. Nothing beats playing for Australia.
My journey also includes time spent playing in Europe, Asia and America. Last season winning a WNBA Championship with Las Vegas.
Currently competing in my 17th season in Australia in the WNBL with the Sydney Flames. With my 4 dogs, 2 year old and Husband all here to support me.
Jonny Hanratty is a highly experienced strategist with a deep expertise in behavioural science and its application to consumer insights, brand strategy, and innovation. Currently, Jonny serves as the Group Strategy Director at The Lab Insight & Strategy, where he focuses on behavioural change and creative strategy. With over a decade of experience, Jonny has worked across various industries, applying behavioural insights to improve customer experiences, develop product strategies, and drive communication campaigns.
Before joining The Lab, Jonny held senior roles at The Behavioural Architects, where he worked on a wide range of projects, including customer strategy, brand innovation, and not-for-profit behaviour change. His work consistently bridges research and strategic consultancy to create meaningful business impact. Jonny is passionate about understanding how economic and social factors, like the current cost-of-living crisis, influence consumer decisions and market trends.
Based in Sydney, Jonny brings a unique combination of academic knowledge and practical expertise, making him a key voice in discussions about consumer behaviour and market shifts.
With a career spanning more than 20 years, Roxanne Hopkins has led marketing strategy and teams at some of Queensland’s most recognised visitor experiences including Dreamworld, Whitewater World and South Bank as well as Brisbane Marketing (now Brisbane Economic Development Agency). Roxanne is currently Executive Director of Marketing and Ticketing at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), leading a period of technological innovation in ticketing, measurable business growth, and a focus on audience-led marketing and communications strategy.
Roxanne is passionate about developing innovative and effective marketing strategies driven by insightful interpretation of consumer-led research. Combining this with a pragmatic, real-world problem-solving style and extensive experience managing stakeholders, Roxanne is a respected business leader with a proven reputation for delivery.
Amalia Hordern is Tessitura Network’s Senior Director in Asia Pacific. With a focus on data supported customer relationship management, she leads Tessitura’s strategic practice, industry insights and sector development in the region.
After a career in dance, Amalia segued into arts management and prior to joining Tessitura, held diverse roles across performing arts organisations, venues and festivals.
Amalia spearheads Tessitura’s industry insights, through benchmarking projects that have evolved since 2017. This insight is applied in developing audience engagement models and methodologies, with the ultimate goal to help cultural organisations intentionally deepen connection with their audiences, visitors and donors.
With a passion for sector development, Amalia is proud to lead Tessitura programs and partnerships which grow skills and diversity across the arts and culture workforce.
Amalia holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University (History and Anthropology), a Master of Management from the University of South Australia and is based just outside Melbourne, on Wurundjeri land.
Jack Iacono is the Client Development Manager – Sport and Stadia for Ticketmaster Australia. He oversees the commercial obligations for Ticketmaster’s sport and stadium clients, including contract management, client satisfaction, revenue growth, strategic planning, and marketing opportunities.
With over seven years at Ticketmaster, Jack began his tenure in marketing before transitioning to client development with a focus on product adoption, ancillary growth, and client relationships.
His expertise in Australia’s sporting landscape plays a key role in developing relationships, increasing revenue, and boosting ticket sales for major events such as the Australian Open, Formula 1 Grand Prix, AFL, Big Bash League, and major horse racing events.
Vicky Iliopoulos is the Director of Lucky Star Media, a leading publicity company specialising in arts and entertainment serving the Australian entertainment sector. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Vicky began her career working with major record companies, gaining a wealth of knowledge and connections in music and promotions.
Over the years, her passion for the industry is evident by her work history as she expanded her expertise, collaborating with major touring companies, promoters, commercial musical theatre producers, and high-profile music artists.
Under her leadership, Lucky Star Media has become a go-to boutique agency for dynamic publicity strategies that drive successful campaigns across various entertainment sectors. Vicky’s deep industry insights, creative approach, and unwavering dedication have cemented her reputation as a leading figure in entertainment publicity. Vicky prides herself on her honest attitude and enthusiastic work ethic, which has assisted in developing and maintaining great relationships within the media, respected clients and wider entertainment community.
As Coordinator Audience and Engagement, Bendigo Venues and Events, Jacoba brings 16 years of experience in arts and culture sector with the City of Greater Bendigo.
Her expertise in ticketing has been instrumental in the success of Bendigo’s performing arts venues Ulumbarra Theatre and The Capital as well as major events like Bendigo Ring Cycle and Bendigo Art Gallery international exhibitions including: Paris Impressions of Life, Elvis: Direct from Graceland, Marilyn Monroe, Mary Quant, Tudors to Windsors, Marimekko, and Edith Head.
Jordan Kerry is the Head of Business Development and Partnerships at VenuesLive, leading VL Events, a division of VenuesLive dedicated to Event Promotion, Management, and Delivery. With over 10 years of experience in the events industry, Jordan began his career in Venue and Event Management at Accor Stadium and CommBank Stadium, overseeing some of Australia’s largest sporting and entertainment events. He then transitioned to a head office role at VenuesLive, focusing on driving new business and partnerships across the industry. Jordan collaborates closely with VenuesLive’s internal divisions across VL Consulting, VL Workforce, VL Catering, VL Connect, and VL Experiences.
David has an extensive background in executive management positions in live entertainment, arts, hospitality, tourism, media and sports spanning in excess of thirty years. In 2007 David established Krug Consulting, providing services including strategy, business development, client and relationship management, negotiation and business intelligence to many diverse clients.
David holds several Directorships in both a professional and volunteer capacity and has worked extensively in the live entertainment, arts, sports & ticketing community. This includes working and collaborating with a multiplicity of venues, sporting administrators, arts companies, arts centres, ticketing agencies, ticketing software vendors, media outlets, government instrumentalities, promoters, producers, resellers, and arts marketing companies.
Undeniably, David’s proudest achievements (with more than a little assistance from his wife) are his not so little “Mini-Me’s”, Toby and Ruby.
For Karen, tourism is more than just a career—it’s a passion. With over 9 years of experience in various roles, including her time at Booking.com, she is a dedicated advocate for the industry, serving on the committee for Youth Tourism NSW.
Since joining Headout mid-2023, Karen is thrilled to transition from hotels to experiences, leveraging her expertise in e-commerce and distribution. She covers NSW, ACT, QLD, NT, and WA, focusing on empowering local and global tour operators, venues, and producers to thrive with Headout.
Originally from New Zealand, Karen now calls Sydney home. She’s excited to speak for the first time at Ticketing Australia. When she’s not traveling the world—most recently to South Korea—she enjoys staying active with her local run club
Jessica is the Director of Ticket Operations for the Atlanta Braves and Truist Park. This is her thirteenth season in professional baseball and her ninth with the Atlanta Braves. She previously spent time with the Houston Astros, AAA Gwinnett Braves and SMG – Pittsburgh at the then CONSOL Energy Center (now PPG Paints Arena). In addition to baseball, Jessica oversees all non-baseball ticketed events at Truist Park. She is currently serving on the INTIX Board of Directors, has served on the board for the Georgia Professional Ticketing Association (GaPTA), is a member of the Atlanta Braves DE&I Committee and Women in Baseball Leadership Team, and was part of Leadership Cobb’s class of 2023. Jessica was born and raised in Atlanta and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Sport and Entertainment Management.
Angus Macdonald is a seasoned professional in venue management and consumer business, currently serving as the Consumer Business Lead at Stadiums Queensland. With nearly two decades of experience in the sports and entertainment industry, Angus has honed his skills in client relations, operational management, and strategic planning.
Angus is responsible for shaping and leading the strategic direction and operational execution of Stadiums Queensland’s consumer business functions, specifically ticketing and membership, at some of Queensland’s premier venues, including The Gabba, Suncorp Stadium, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, and Cbus Super Stadium. More specifically, Angus is responsible for the procurement of ticketing services at venues and overseeing contract and performance management of Ticketing Service Provider agreements to maximise business outcomes and achieve sustainable success.
Prior to his current position, Angus held various key roles within Stadiums Queensland’s high performance venue portfolio, including Venue Manager of Sleeman Sports Complex and QSAC. His leadership was crucial during this time at QSAC and Sleeman Sports Complex, where he successfully navigated complex operational challenges through the height of COVID. His experience also extends to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, where he managed client relationships and venue hire, showcasing his versatility across different aspects of venue operations.
Angus’ love of ticketing began when he joined Ticketmaster in 2011, where he served as Senior Client Manager and then as State Manager for Queensland, further developing his expertise in client management and business operations. With a strong foundation in both operational and strategic roles, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the industry. Angus is passionate about focussing on true partnerships with venue hirers and ticketing providers to create memorable experiences for audiences and is dedicated to driving innovation within the industry.
Kate is a dynamic leader and strategist with 17 years of experience in the live entertainment space. Having worked extensively as a producer, project manager, company manager, and marketer, she’s honed well-rounded capabilities in building influential campaigns to achieve market-leading outcomes while driving ticket sales. With a wealth of expertise in both local and international markets, Kate is a trusted expert in the Australian entertainment industry.
As Partner of Marketing and Operations at Anthem, Australia’s leading marketing consultancy for arts and culture, her detail-oriented approach and passion for people and culture have seen Kate lead the client services team through many successful campaigns. She is passionate about sharing her marketing and ticketing expertise with her team and the industry to ensure the continued growth of the Australian live entertainment sector.
Amy Maiden is an accomplished arts and entertainment executive with over 20 years of experience in the arts, entertainment, and cultural industries. As Managing Partner of Anthem, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the agency’s presence, driving commercial growth, and rebuilding the business post-pandemic. Amy leads a national team of arts marketing specialists, delivering full-service marketing solutions, from media buying to digital strategy and creative execution.
Previously, Amy held senior leadership roles at Sydney Festival, where she was responsible for business development and marketing, and Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), where she served as General Manager. She has extensive experience managing large-scale productions, advocating for arts funding, and delivering strategic business plans for both not-for-profit and commercial organisations.
In addition to her work at Anthem, Amy serves on the board of the TarraWarra Museum of Art, furthering her commitment to supporting Australia’s cultural landscape. Her expertise spans project management, relationship development, strategic leadership, and creative vision, making her a key figure in the arts and entertainment sectors. Amy’s contributions have helped shape the trajectory of several prestigious organisations, and her leadership continues to influence the industry on both a national and international scale.
Jason Mastrine is a strategic and visionary business leader with a long track record in the North American entertainment ticketing industry. An intuitive translator of ideas, an active listener, and an engaging communicator, Jason has a unique perspective on how integrated tech solutions can improve fan experiences and engagement while optimizing revenue and internal operations. He is currently part of the senior leadership team at UK-based Protect Group leading their global ticketing strategy, and lives in Denver, Colorado with his three teens and dog Winny.
With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, co-founding Eventfinda almost 20 years ago, James has dedicated much of his career to revolutionising the event and ticketing industry and fostering business networks across the Asia Pacific region.
Over more than a decade as CEO of Eventfinda, serving as its CTO for the first seven years, James spearheaded the development of its world-class integrated event marketing, syndication, and ticketing platform. Under his leadership, Eventfinda has become New Zealand’s leading source for event information, boasting partnerships with major media outlets and expanding our presence globally.
His journey in entrepreneurship began with the founding of Entertainz in 1997, one of New Zealand’s pioneering web-hosting firms. Through hands-on experience, James honed skills in operations, sales, and customer service, eventually overseeing the successful acquisition of the company by Dante Group. James also began Nerds Inc. in 2005, a web development firm catering to prominent clients such as Lion Nathan and Warner Bros.
Over the years, James played pivotal roles in various organisations, including serving as President of the New Zealand chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), where he led a community of business owners towards mutual growth and success. His involvement in governance roles within EO and the Young Manager Advisory Board reflects his commitment to fostering leadership and development opportunities.
Glenn McGuinness, has over 25 years’ experience in the Arts and Entertainment Industry in senior executive positions working with ticketing companies, venues and retail. Following seven years managing art galleries on the east coast of Australia, Glenn joined Ticketmaster in 1998. Over the following decade, Glenn held several general management roles overseeing business development, marketing, and operations. During his tenure at Ticketmaster, Glenn oversaw the entry of Ticketmaster into several new markets including Western Australia, South Australia, and New Zealand. In 2005/6, Glenn managed the commercial and operational components for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games selling a record 1.67million tickets.
In 2010, Glenn joined Marriner Group as General Manager overseeing operations at the Regent, Princess, Comedy and Forum Theatres. Over the next seven years the venues played host to a diverse range of shows including musicals such as The Lion King, Matilda, Book of Mormon and King Kong as well as numerous concerts by local and international artists such as Madonna, Pink and Paul Kelly. Glenn has also worked as a consultant to ticketing companies, promoters, producers and venues across Australia providing specialist advice on ticketing, audience development, programming and maximising commercial outcomes
Glenn holds the position of Head of Business Affairs for the Michael Cassel Group and is also responsible for the set up and management of Tixtrack Australasia.
Amy Miliauskas is an M365 Global Black Belt at Microsoft, focusing on large-scale commercial clients throughout Australia and New Zealand. She specializes in Copilot for M365 and its capabilities to support the modern workplace. With her comprehensive knowledge of the tools and intricacies involved in Change management, Amy provides valuable insights for customers starting the Generative AI journey or looking to expand their investment. Her extensive background of over two decades in project and change management, as well as implementation projects as a Microsoft Customer, endows her with a thorough understanding of how consolidated platforms can bring about efficiency and cost savings. Amy is passionate about guiding customers toward digital and AI transformation enabling them for success long into the future.
Sean is a recent addition to the Fever family, having joined at the end of 2022 as part of Fever’s exciting focus on growth in the APAC region.
Sean’s role covers Australia and New Zealand and is focused on supporting local producers, IP owners and venues to leverage Fever’s tech and data capabilities to support their growth, and also bring the best of our partners overseas to these shores.
Arriving in Australia in 2017, Sean joined McKinsey & Company and enjoyed over 5 years in strategy consulting, before the exciting prospect of joining Fever came his way. Prior to McKinsey, Sean played both codes of rugby back in his native England before injury forced him to hang up his boots, and seek a new chapter down under.
Larissa’s work across the Australian sports industry extends over two decades.
Unashamedly obsessed with sports attendances, Larissa has managed complex consumer business teams across membership, ticketing, communications, and marketing for some of Australia’s largest sporting brands, including the Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust, Sydney Swans, Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast SUNS, and is a leader in driving the commercialisation of sports fan bases.
As Cricket Australia’s Senior Manager, Consumer Growth for the Big Bash Leagues, Larissa is leading a game-changing team tasked with growing Big Bash attendances to unprecedented new heights.
Tom Nolan is Head of Global Ecosystem at Spektrix, overseeing the development of technical partner solutions and relationships with industry experts to enable the Spektrix community to achieve even more, and to maximize innovation using Spektrix tools. Before joining Spektrix, Tom worked in ticketing and operations roles at arts and cultural organisations across the UK. Working at Spektrix gives him the opportunity to combine these two passions – technology and the arts.
Maria is a pioneer of Australasian ticketing and a true industry leader. As Chairman of Ticketmaster in Australia and New Zealand, Maria has played an integral part in establishing ticketing as a viable industry in the region.
With a career spanning more than 40 years, Maria has seen – and introduced – major changes and innovations in the ticketing industry, most notably the move to digitisation and online ticketing in Australia.
As a leading woman in the industry, Maria has worked tirelessly to promote gender equality, raising important issues and advocating for women within the industry. Maria continues to be a mentor for many colleagues and women in the company and across the world.
With over two decades of experience in the global live entertainment and major events industries, Lyndell Pond has built a stellar career around transforming complex business challenges into commercial growth opportunities. Known for her expertise in marketing, acquisition and operations, Lyndell’s leadership has driven success for some of the world’s most iconic brands and rights holders across the international sports and entertainment landscapes.
Lyndell is currently working with The Australian Ballet, leading the marketing and sales teams through an exciting period of ambitious artistic vision and business growth.
Her extensive experience spans brand development, media, tourism, event acquisition sponsorship, partnerships, sales, and ticketing. Whether on the client or agency side, she has built a reputation for delivering data-driven, audience-focused strategies that that drive both engagement and revenue.
Lyndell’s signature approach is calm and methodical, with an extraordinary talent for nurturing teams and unlocking their full potential. She thrives in high-pressure environments where financial stakes are high, and reputational risks are real, remaining cool-headed and solution-oriented.
Beyond her corporate role, Lyndell is deeply committed to her position as a board member at Entertainment Assist, a charity dedicated to providing prevention-based programs for the mental health and well-being of the entertainment industry. She is particularly proud of her involvement in the inaugural Buckets of Love fundraising initiative, held October 2024, which has bought the entertainment community together in a very special way.
As the General Manager of specialist ticketing consultancy Antix Management, Laura brings more than 16 years of expertise in the ticketing and events sector.
Prior to joining Antix Management Laura held positions with major Australian concert promoter Chugg Entertainment, Australia’s largest ticketing company Ticketek Pty Ltd, MTV Networks and M Agency.
Laura has broad experience managing ticketing strategies for concert tours, musicals, festivals and venues, having worked on the Australian tours of artists such as Radiohead, Coldplay, Prince and Elton John.
Since joining Antix Management, Laura has overseen strategy for a range of first-class musicals including Les Misérables, Disney’s Aladdin the Musical, and TINA – The Tina Turner Musical.
Laura is committed to driving innovation and change while helping her team to achieve success on behalf of Antix Management’s broad stable of clients.
A self-confessed musical theatre junkie who finds immense joy in the magic of live theatre, Tina is a dedicated professional with over 45 years of experience in box office and ticketing operations.
Tina was a founding committee member for the Australian Ticketing Professionals Conference working alongside such greats as Tim Roberts, Nic Clark and Vicki Allpress Hill. She also held the position of Chair of VAPAC’s Box Office Managers Network for 3 terms and has spent the best part of the last 15 years on their committee.
She is passionate about accounting, problem solving, people management and customer service and loves ticketing because it is the best of all these worlds. With her passion for ticketing and a grassroots view of needs from a venue perspective, she is thrilled to be part of the panel to talk about procuring a new ticketing system.
Reez Saidin has almost two decades of international experience in ticketing operations and management. His expertise lies in inventory management and revenue optimisation strategies to support promoters and theatre producers in achieving their commercial success.
He started his own business regroupnow.com.au specialising in group booking service for schools and theatre patrons with the aim to revitalise and nurture groups as a sales channel in Australia. ReGroup clients include Disney Theatrical Productions and Cirque du Soleil.
Prior to establishing ReGroup, Reez held senior positions with Ticketek, Antix Management and The Australian Ballet.
After a decade as triple j Marketing Manager, in 2008 Louis left the ABC and began his ticketing career in sales and marketing with Moshtix. Since then Louis has moved on to represent a small handful of ticketing platforms (Oztix, IWannaTicket, and now Leap/Ticketbooth).
This year, Louis completed a Master of Applied Marketing degree, an acknowledgment of his extensive marketing experience across ticketing and other media.
Louis is an experienced ticketing professional that understands that selling tickets is only one part of the ticketing function, with event and product positioning, consumer communication and client relationships of vital importance.
Louis believes events provide visceral engagement with the product, and ticketing can be one of the most powerful expressions of connection the consumer has with the artist, event, or brand.
Hrefna has been with Tixly since 2017, starting as General Manager at a time when the company was just beginning to branch out internationally. She has been instrumental in the company’s international growth, now leading as Managing Director – having relocated to Munich to oversee Tixly’s recent venture into the DACH market.
Previously, she managed the box office at Harpa, Reykjavik’s renowned venue, where she oversaw their daily box office operations as well as customer service management. Hrefna’s practical leadership style and focus on customer satisfaction have been key to Tixly’s success in the performing arts & culture ticketing industry.
Jamie has worked in the theatre industry, specifically ticketing and audience and business development, for many years. Having started in the box office and worked his way up through Head of Ticketing to Business Development, he has experience at all levels of the industry. He has worked for festivals, ticket agents, theatres (including London’s West End), gift card schemes, as well as ticketing and CRM software suppliers and in marketing, giving him a breadth of knowledge and a wealth of experience.
He is currently Head of Business Development at Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre, helping theatres across the UK develop new audiences and sell as many tickets as they can!
After graduating from Monash University, Dylan has worked in marketing roles across the arts, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality industries in France, Canada and Australia. He has a passion for travel and works to create memorable customer experiences both directly and through a professional network of his peers. He completed the Melbourne Tourism Industry Leadership Program in 2016.
At the MSO since 2017, Dylan works on promoting more than 160 concerts a year across Melbourne, regional Victoria as well as the Orchestra’s international touring schedule
Kim Tran is the Director, Policy & Governance at Live Performance Australia (LPA). LPA is the peak body for Australia’s live arts and entertainment industry, representing the interests of its 400+ members, including performing arts companies, promoters, producers, festivals, venues and ticketing companies. In her role, Kim is an industry advocate for public policy that support the sustainability of the live arts and entertainment industry. She also oversees the Ticketing Code of Practice, which sets out best practice industry-wide standards on ticketing-related matters, and is an industry advisor on regulatory changes that affect industry and ticketing practices.
Sam Strong is an award-winning theatre director and one of Australia’s preeminent cultural leaders. As Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre and Griffin, Sam achieved seven consecutive seasons of subscriber growth, set 50-year records for attendance at annual seasons and individual productions, and commissioned and programmed commercially and culturally significant world premieres, including Yve Blake’s FANGIRLS, Meyne Wyatt’s CITY OF GOLD, and the stage adaptation of Trent Dalton’s BOY SWALLOWS UNIVERSE. As an artist, Sam has directed productions for every Australian State theatre company, the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane International Festivals, Griffin and Belvoir. His body of mainstage work has been seen by over 500,000 people and grossed more than $25 million at the box office, and his most recent production Trent Dalton’s LOVE STORIES sold out its world premiere season at Brisbane Festival and QPAC. As a sector leader, Sam has been the Chair of Circa and Melbourne Fringe, as well as the Executive Director of Creative Industries at Creative Victoria (a role that encompassed performing arts, screen/digital games, contemporary music, fashion and design).
Carolyn Swindell is a Sydney-based comedian, writer and actor.
She is currently the host of the No Dribble podcast with sports legends Liz Ellis and Catherine Cox and regularly appears on ABC Radio.
She has twice been a finalist in the AACTA Reg Grundy Award (2022 and 2023) and her debut novel We Only Want What’s Best was released in 2023 and long-listed for the Davitt Award for crime writing.
Craig Thurmer is no newcomer to sales and technology development. You know he identifies a new trend, the industry quickly listens.
He knows how to make your sales tick and how to take the customer experience to the next level before and after the show. More importantly he has core skills in box office, marketing, philanthropy, and finance.
That is rare in this industry. He has worked for such leading companies as Sydney Opera House, Opera Australia, Carlson Marketing and City Recital Hall Angel Place.
He has worked for technology companies is Australia and UK. As Client Services Manager at Vivaticket, Craig concentrates on Project Management, Reports and Reporting and upskilling box office, marketing, philanthropy, and finance staff. Always with an eye on data, he is there ready to see our industry succeed.
Dr Tom Tutton is Executive Manager, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) supporting Aspect’s Autism Friendly work. Tom trained as a Clinical Psychologist in the UK and has worked for Aspect for 18 years supporting Autistic people in challenging situations in schools, family homes and communities through direct service, training, writing and research. Tom is passionate about working in partnership with Autistic people to deliver evidence-based supports that develop inclusive environments and communities that work for everyone.
Louise has been involved in many productions over 35yrs including Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, Ghost (West End, Broadway), Disney’s The Lion King (Singapore & New Zealand), We Will Rock You (Japan), Ghost (Korea), Moulin Rouge! (Australia), Billy Elliot (Korea & Japan), Dear Evan Hansen (West End), We Will Rock You (Australia & Japan), MAMMA MIA! (Australia & Asia), Matilda (Korea) & more.
Held positions of Director Adelaide Festival Centre, GM of Dainty Consolidated Theatrical Division, and Director Koan Marketing.
Since 2002, Louise has been a Producer in Australia of Matilda, MAMMA MIA!, Miss Saigon, Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You, Spamalot, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Fawlty Towers and SIX the Musical.
Louise serves on the Executive Council of Live Performance Australia.