Conference 2026

Adam Spencer

Laugh and learn with one of Australia’s most dynamic and engaging minds, Adam Spencer is the iconic star of radio and television and now a leading conference MC and keynote speaker on artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, the future of work, and the Chat GPT revolution.

Adam has hosted award-winning breakfast radio shows in Australia’s toughest markets and live current affairs TV. He shared the 2013 TED stage in California with Elon Musk, Ben Affleck and Bono. He has won improvised theatre competitions and once interviewed John Travolta in front of 75,000 people. Whether it’s a technically demanding event with dozens of moving parts, or flying by the seat of your pants, Adam prides himself on the high level of energy, engagement and entertainment that he provides whenever on stage, set or screen.

With 25 years experience in television, radio and events, Adam loves curating challenging and thought-provoking conversations and keynote presentations. As a leading conference speaker on artificial intelligence (AI), cyber security, the future of work, and the Chat GPT revolution, he's informative, fun and guaranteed to impart take- aways you’ve never heard before.

As an MC and conference host, Adam loves doing the research and crafting the narrative that helps people tell their story - just watch what he can get out of them. He has interviewed prime ministers, Hollywood stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, Nobel Prize-winning scientists and Australians of the Year… and he was also the first person in the world to ever interview our legendary Thai cave rescuers. All done with an obsessive focus on keeping to time that only 15 years of working in breakfast radio can bring.

Ali Cassim

At BridgeClimb, she has played a key role in the evolution of the business, leading major commercial, pricing and product initiatives designed to balance customer value, demand and sustainable revenue growth. This includes the development and launch of the new BridgeMuseum within the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Passionate about creating meaningful visitor experiences, Ali combines strategic thinking with a deep understanding of storytelling, destination marketing and digital innovation to connect local and international audiences with one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

Brendan O’Sullivan

Brendan O’Sullivan is Manager, Pricing and Revenue at Tennis Australia, leading sales optimisation and revenue growth for flagship event, the Australian Open, as well as the wider Summer Series portfolio. Through a period of exponential growth, Brendan has overseen Tennis Australia’s dynamic pricing strategy which balances revenue, attendance and affordability objectives.

Brendan has a strong reporting and analysis background, which is now applied via a commercial lens to identify sales trends and opportunities, formulate budgets and ticket forecasts, track key performance metrics and communicate these to key internal stakeholders.

Prior to joining Tennis Australia in 2021, Brendan spent 10 years at the AFL in Membership Shared Services, working collaboratively with club membership departments to deliver optimal fan experience, operational and commercial outcomes. This provided valuable experience in operational ticketing systems, database management and analysis which has transferred well to his current role at TA. Working at the AFL was also a dream come true for a footy tragic and (long suffering) St Kilda supporter!

Laura Prunty

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 The Lion King, Pretty Woman, A Beautiful Noise 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.  

Nick Falzon

Nick Falzon serves as General Manager and chief executive of the newly formed Australian company, InTown, focused on developing audiences through innovation in ticketing, tourism and technology. Prior to transitioning to Melbourne, Australia, Nick was based in New York as Vice President, Sales & Analytics for Disney Theatrical Group where he drove advances across digital marketing, tourism cultivation, group sales, yield management, dynamic pricing, ticketing operations and consumer relationship management for nearly twenty years. In that time, Nick oversaw THE LION KING's pricing and sales strategy, which has been featured in the New York Times ("Ticket Pricing Puts THE LION KING Atop Broadway's Circle of Life" - 17 March 2014), helping it become the highest grossing global entertainment property ever. While breaking multiple records across numerous North American productions for Disney, Nick’s most fulfilling work was to support countless international productions worldwide from Australia to Japan to Mexico. Nick earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory & Composition from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, is a graduate of The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and holds a Certificate in Hotel Revenue Management from Cornell’s School of Hospitality Administration. As an educator, he served on the faculty of Columbia’s School of the Arts for almost a decade. While Nick is in Australia now, his wife Laura, sons Asher and Axson and daughter Nora will all be calling Melbourne home at the start of 2027 - chronicling their travels on YouTube through the channel Five Hungry Travelers.

Amy Blake

Tom Nickson

Head of Consumer | AFL

Patrice Rielly

Ticketing Services Coordinator | Glen Street Theatre

Patrice is a ticketing professional with over a decade of experience in people leadership, ticketing, and CRM systems. Since joining Glen Street Theatre in 2021, she has played a key role in transforming the venue into a more modern and connected space for both audiences and clients.

As Ticketing Services Coordinator, Patrice oversees all aspects of ticketing and box office operations, with a strong focus on accessibility and delivering a seamless patron and client experience. She works collaboratively with marketing and venue services to ensure every visit is welcoming and memorable. Patrice led the successful migration and digitisation of Glen Street Theatre’s ticketing systems, streamlining operations and strengthening audience engagement. Her strategic approach to platform optimisation and digital transformation, was recognised with the Northern Beaches Council Ignite Business Award.

Karly Mejlak

Box Office & Front of House Officer | Glasshouse Port Macquarie

Karly began her career in the performing arts industry in 2009 as a Customer Service Officer at the Glasshouse Port Macquarie, joining the team during the venue’s first year of operation. In 2014, she was appointed the role of Box Office and Front of House Officer, to which she has held since.

Driven by commitment to audience experience and operational excellence, Karly has also contributed within acting and support roles across the organisation, including Front of House Coordinator, Event Services Officer, and Marketing Support Officer. Her cross-functional experience has fostered a deep understanding of venue operations and strengthened her impact on the Glasshouse’s reputation as a leading cultural destination.

Kristina Reddaway

Kris comes from a background of 10 years in digital advertising before joining The Art House team in 2019 as Box Office and Marketing Coordinator. In 2023 she was appointed to the role of Marketing & Development Manager. 

Driven by a personal arts practice and belief in the importance of the performing arts to community wellbeing, Kris approaches the role with energy, bold thinking, and pride to be part of the Central Coasts most exciting arts venue.

Kayely Marriner ​​​​​

Kayely Marriner is an Australian entrepreneur and business leader with more than 30 years of experience building and leading businesses across a range of industries. Beginning her career in finance, she has gone on to establish and grow numerous ventures throughout Australia, driven by a passion for innovation and leading sustainable businesses. Today, Kayely is Joint Owner and Managing Director of Marriner Group, Australia's largest commercial theatre company. Through its portfolio of iconic Melbourne venues, including the Princess Theatre, Regent Theatre, Comedy Theatre, Forum Melbourne and the Plaza Ballroom, the group welcomes more than one million patrons each year to enjoy theatre, live music and events. Over the course of her career, Kayely has already played a role in creating experiences for more than 30 million guests. Most recently, Kayely has been instrumental in the launch of InTown, an Australian-first platform designed to make theatre more accessible by bringing productions from across the country together all in one place. The platform allows audiences to discover shows, stay informed and easily plan their next theatre experience – including booking tickets, travel, accommodation and dining. A strong advocate for preserving Australia's cultural heritage, Kayely is particularly passionate about the restoration and revitalisation of historic venues, ensuring they can continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. Leading a team of more than 700 staff, she enjoys bringing people together, developing high-performing teams and turning new ideas into reality. Her approach is grounded in a commitment to continuous improvement, thoughtful leadership and embracing change as an opportunity for growth.

Matthew Lazarus-Hall

Matthew Lazarus-Hall is a dynamic entertainment executive with over 30 years of experience in live entertainment. He is currently the General Manager of Afterpay Arena in Sydney. He also served as interim Chief Commercial Officer for Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong, where his programming leadership helped the venue sell over two million tickets in its first year, ranking it the third busiest stadium in the world according to Pollstar. Previously, Matthew was Senior Vice President Asia for global entertainment company AEG, overseeing all concerts, festivals and sporting events across the Asia Pacific region. Before that, he spent 13 years as CEO of Chugg Entertainment, one of Australia's preeminent touring companies, leading it to become the sixth biggest promoter in the world in 2010. Over his career as a promoter, Matthew has staged hundreds of concerts and festivals and sold multiple millions of tickets, and he has helped build two of Australia's biggest festivals from the ground up — both now more than 15 years old. Matthew also founded Square Circles Creative Solutions, an Australian-based consultancy providing strategic advice across touring, festivals, exhibitions and sport. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Ticketek, Australia's largest ticketing agency, serving as Operations Director and overseeing major marquee events including the Sydney Olympic Games, the Rugby World Cup, and numerous other events and theatrical concerts. A widely respected figure in global live entertainment, Matthew has toured and worked with artists including Elton John, Robbie Williams, Radiohead, Coldplay, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Bette Midler, Pearl Jam and AC/DC. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Marketing and a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Production Management and Organisational Control.

Sean Free

Sean Free is the CEO of nLiven, Inc., a cloud-based reserved seating ticketing solution serving clients in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. With 30+ years of ticketing experience, he has led transformational change throughout his career. Some of Sean’s bigger projects include creating the first venue-owned digital lottery on Broadway, leading a committee to reopen Broadway post-COVID-19, and transitioning nine Nederlander theatres in NYC to nLiven. He is passionate about growth through optimising productivity and believes that with the RESET methodology and an empowered team, no organisational change is too big to accomplish successfully.

Angela Higgins

Founder | Antix Management With more than 25 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, Angela is recognised for her deep industry knowledge, global connections and data-driven insights on the Australian and New Zealand markets. Angela is known for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration within the entertainment sector. Angela formed Antix Management in 2007 to support international and domestic producers with sales and ticketing strategy for live events across Australia and New Zealand. Antix Management is currently contracted to provide sales strategy and ticketing management services to a range of first class live events, including Disney's The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Pretty Woman, SIX – The Musical, and A Beautiful Noise - The Neil Diamond Musical.

Grace Carruthers

Grace Carruthers is an experienced events and ticketing professional who thrives at the intersection of people, technology and live events. As Ticketing Operations Manager at Stadiums Queensland, Grace leads ticketing operations across key portfolio venues and events, from onsales and event builds through to event-day delivery, access control and customer experience. Having worked over the past fourteen years across major sporting organisations, international events and venue operations, ticketing has become Grace’s key passion.  Grace brings a strategic, collaborative and commercially focused approach to ticketing and is passionate about creating seamless fan experiences, solving complex operational challenges and finding smarter ways to do things. Always curious and energetic, Grace loves connecting with industry peers, sharing ideas and helping shape the future of ticketing.

Alex Edgar

With more than 10 years’ experience across ticketing, membership and consumer roles, Alex has built her career at the intersection of customer experience, commercial growth and professional sport, including roles with Ticketmaster, the AFL and leading Australian sporting clubs.

Alex helped shape one of Australia’s most successful and loved expansion clubs, the Tasmania JackJumpers. A foundational staff member ahead of its inaugural NBL season, Alex built the club’s membership and ticketing programs from the ground up before progressing into executive leadership of the consumer and commercial portfolios.

Alex led the JackJumpers’ fan growth and engagement strategy, selling out memberships in just 26 minutes, achieving league record sell-outs of home games, establishing a membership waitlist, and supporting the club through three finals campaigns, including an historic Grand Final appearance in its inaugural season and an NBL Championship just its third.

Alex is now a key member of the Tasmania Devils, leading the consumer portfolio across membership, ticketing and retail as the club captures the passion and services the fandom of a unique football heartland, building a strong and sustainable supporter base and fan engagement program in preparation for entry to the AFL in 2028.

Passionate about creating best-in-class, customer-first programs, Alex brings a strong commercial mindset to fan engagement, focused on building meaningful relationships with supporters while driving revenue, participation and long-term growth.

Ali Herborn

Ali Herborn is the Head of Membership and Ticketing at the Dolphins NRL, leading the membership and ticketing strategy for the NRL’s 17^th team. With more than a decade of cross-code experience in the Australian sporting landscape, spanning Super Rugby, A-League, AFL and NRL, Ali joined the Dolphins in March 2022 – exactly one year ahead of its historic entry into the competition in 2023.

A dream role for any ticketing professional, Ali was tasked with building the membership and ticketing program for the Dolphins from the ground up. Over the past four seasons, Ali and the Dolphins have achieved significant growth and success, including milestone membership numbers that cemented the club among the NRL’s top five membership bases by year one, repeated sell-outs at Suncorp Stadium and Kayo Stadium, and record-breaking attendances.

Passionate about all things membership and ticketing, Ali is focused on elevating the member experience by breaking the mould of traditional membership and creating a model that is more relevant, engaging and valuable for the modern day member.

Damian Pratt

Damian Pratt is a ticketing and major events professional with more than 15 years’ experience across sport, entertainment and live events. His career includes roles with TEG Live and Rugby Australia, where he was Head of Ticketing, and he is currently Ticketing & Hospitality Manager for Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.

Charlie Whitworth

Charlie has been part of Spektrix for 16 years, joining the company’s early start-up days and helping shape its growth while focusing on supporting the organisations it serves. With experience spanning box office, marketing, and ticketing, Charlie has held roles across Client Success and Strategy & Operations, helping clients grow, refining processes, and driving organisational efficiency. Charlie is excited to bring Spektrix to the region with the aim of supporting arts and cultural organisations in connecting with audiences, driving revenue, and strengthening their operations. Charlie is co-founder of the UK theatre company Yet To Be and has prior experience working at The Albany and Greenwich Theatre in London.

Samantha Bagwell

With nine years at Spektrix, Samantha Bagwell helps arts and cultural organisations in Australia and New Zealand achieve their goals through smarter ticketing, fundraising, and audience engagement. As Spektrix’s Business Expansion Lead for the region, she works closely with organisations to unlock their full potential, streamline operations, and deepen connections with their audiences. Prior to this role, Samantha held positions across implementation, global fundraising, and client relations, and she began her career in box office and fundraising, most recently with the Individual Giving Team at New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company.

Asher Nowlan

Asher is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lead at the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), where her work spans strategy and operations across the MCC, MCG and the Australian Sports Museum.

Asher led the accessibility response to Taylor Swift's 2024 The Eras Tour, including the Accessibility Familiarisation Day. She was responsible for establishing the MCG’s two sensory friendly spaces, implementing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and delivering the MCC’s first Diversity and Inclusion Strategy driving positive change for staff, stakeholders, and customers.

Stephanie Rossit

Steph is Ticketing and Accreditation Coordinator at the Melbourne Cricket Club, where she has been responsible for ticketing of MCG events since 2013.

With more than two decades in membership and ticketing, Steph works with event hirers and promoters to shape event seating configurations and entry entitlements while keeping the customer experience front of mind.

An avid Collingwood supporter and live music fan, Steph’s favourite MCG events were 2023 AFL Grand Final and Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour - she knows first-hand the joy that the MCG can bring to people who come through its gates.

Matilda Dwyer

Matilda Dwyer is a recipient of the Venue Management Association's Young Venue Professional of the Year award, and a ticketing leader with vast experience in commercial arts and community theatre. As Ticketing Manager at Theatre Royal Sydney, she works closely with producers and hirers to maximise event performance through data-driven insights, audience development strategies, and exceptional customer experience. She also played a leading role in the venue's ticketing system migration to Tixly, making Theatre Royal Sydney the first commercial venue in Australia to adopt the platform.

Alongside her professional career, Matilda has been an active contributor to the community theatre sector for more than a decade through her involvement with Willoughby Theatre Company. From her days as a high school volunteer to now serving on the Committee of the company, she has gained firsthand insight into the unique opportunities and challenges faced by community arts organisations.

John Glenn

John Glenn is Chief Executive Officer of the AANT Centre, Darwin's Premier Live Entertainment Venue, presenting a year-round program of theatre, music, dance, comedy and family entertainment, and home of the Garrmalang Festival. He brings more than two decades of senior experience across venue management, presenting, producing, touring, programming, commercial development, finance and operations. His career has included senior roles at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, as Director of Programming and earlier as Executive Producer - Venue Utilisation, as well as executive roles with Sydney Symphony, Sydney’s State Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre (including Executive Producer of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival), and GWB Entertainment. John has worked across government, not-for-profit and commercial settings, and has extensive board experience including as Chair, Deputy Chair and Company Secretary. He is former Chair of Music SA and the current Treasurer of PAC Australia, the national peak body for performing arts presenters and venues.

Patrice Rielly

Ticketing Services Coordinator | Glen Street Theatre

Patrice is a ticketing professional with over a decade of experience in people leadership, ticketing, and CRM systems. Since joining Glen Street Theatre in 2021, she has played a key role in transforming the venue into a more modern and connected space for both audiences and clients.

As Ticketing Services Coordinator, Patrice oversees all aspects of ticketing and box office operations, with a strong focus on accessibility and delivering a seamless patron and client experience. She works collaboratively with marketing and venue services to ensure every visit is welcoming and memorable. Patrice led the successful migration and digitisation of Glen Street Theatre’s ticketing systems, streamlining operations and strengthening audience engagement. Her strategic approach to platform optimisation and digital transformation, was recognised with the Northern Beaches Council Ignite Business Award.

Amy Miliauskas

Marcus Dawood

Marcus Dawood is a Product Specialist at Ticketmaster, with eight years’ experience helping bring the latest products and technology into Ticketmaster’s local ecosystem. He works closely across the business to support the implementation and adoption of new capabilities.

His focus is on continually improving how Ticketmaster delivers for clients while ensuring its technology creates meaningful benefits for fans. Marcus is passionate about translating emerging technology into practical tools that enhance the overall fan experience. With a particular interest in AI, he is also leading the consistent and effective implementation of AI across the business.

Mark Geels

Mark is a Partner at KPMG, specialising in AI, data and digital transformation. With more than 23 years’ experience, Mark has spent his career helping organisations turn emerging technology into practical business outcomes. He has led the development and delivery of AI solutions across government and other sectors, spanning generative and agentic AI, machine learning and responsible AI. As a daily user of AI, Mark is particularly passionate about moving AI beyond the hype and into practical business use, helping organisations understand where it can genuinely make a difference, where it can’t, and how to adopt it safely and responsibly.

Chris Crossley

Davey Simmons

Head of Digital & Audience | Anthem Davey leads Anthem's digital and audience strategy, drawing on 10+ years connecting audiences to culture across live entertainment. He blends creativity with performance, combining campaign strategy and data-informed insight to drive engaging results.

Bella Dalrymple

Bella has spent the past four years at Anthem working across some of Australia's biggest live entertainment productions. She leads LIVE HIVE, Anthem's creator led paid media approach, designed specifically to drive awareness and ticket sales. Her work sits at the intersection where audience insight meets the right talent and the right content.

Patrice Rielly

Ticketing Services Coordinator | Glen Street Theatre

Patrice is a ticketing professional with over a decade of experience in people leadership, ticketing, and CRM systems. Since joining Glen Street Theatre in 2021, she has played a key role in transforming the venue into a more modern and connected space for both audiences and clients.

As Ticketing Services Coordinator, Patrice oversees all aspects of ticketing and box office operations, with a strong focus on accessibility and delivering a seamless patron and client experience. She works collaboratively with marketing and venue services to ensure every visit is welcoming and memorable. Patrice led the successful migration and digitisation of Glen Street Theatre’s ticketing systems, streamlining operations and strengthening audience engagement. Her strategic approach to platform optimisation and digital transformation, was recognised with the Northern Beaches Council Ignite Business Award.

Karly Mejlak

Box Office & Front of House Officer | Glasshouse Port Macquarie

Karly began her career in the performing arts industry in 2009 as a Customer Service Officer at the Glasshouse Port Macquarie, joining the team during the venue’s first year of operation. In 2014, she was appointed the role of Box Office and Front of House Officer, to which she has held since.

Driven by commitment to audience experience and operational excellence, Karly has also contributed within acting and support roles across the organisation, including Front of House Coordinator, Event Services Officer, and Marketing Support Officer. Her cross-functional experience has fostered a deep understanding of venue operations and strengthened her impact on the Glasshouse’s reputation as a leading cultural destination.

Dale Perkins

Dale Perkins is the Ticketing & Sales Team Leader at Ticketlink, based at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre in Far North Queensland. With extensive experience in ticketing, box office operations and venue services, Dale leads a team supporting ticketing operations across Cairns Regional Council’s network of cultural and performance venues.

In his role, Dale oversees the day-to-day delivery of ticketing and customer service operations, working closely with venues, promoters, producers and marketing teams to deliver seamless experiences for both clients and audiences. He has a particular interest in improving systems, streamlining processes and finding practical solutions to the unique challenges faced by regional venues.

Dale is passionate about the role ticketing plays beyond simply selling a seat, recognising it as a critical connection between venues, artists, clients and their audiences. His experience working across a diverse regional performing arts environment has given him a strong appreciation for the flexibility, collaboration and problem-solving required to deliver successful events in regional Australia.

As a leader, Dale is focused on building capable and confident teams, fostering a positive workplace culture and continually looking for opportunities to improve the way ticketing services are delivered.

Jayne Kendrick

Started in sport in 1992 taking on the role of administration officer at a newly built velodrome.  I was involved in managing all aspects of a venue from contracting staff to managing contracts, promoting our own events to venue hiring and ticketing to security. I then moved into venue management accumulating with managing 3 venues for the SA State Government.  From here I had the opportunity to be Events Manager with the SA Cricket Association before moving to Cricket Australia with a sole focus on ticketing operations.

Many highlights during this time including sold out concerts at Adelaide Oval, indoor triathlon,  track cycling world records, promoting cycling events regional, our venue being a training base for 8 countries pre the 2000 Sydney Olympics, record breaking Ashes season of International Cricket.

My venue experience has been a major factor in my current role.  My passion is around our customers and ensuring they have the best possible experience.

Kirra Toogood

Kirra Toogood is the Head of Ticketing at Venues NSW, leading the ticketing strategy, ticketing operations, event delivery, fan experience and plenty more across some of Sydney’s largest and most iconic Venues, including Accor Stadium, Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium, Helloworld Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground.

With more than 18 years’ experience across Venues, Sports and Entertainment, Kirra has a deep knowledge and understanding of major event Ticketing and Venue operations. Kirra’s experience spans Rugby League, Rugby Union, Football, AFL, Cricket, Motor Sport and major Stadium concerts, as well as several World events, including the London 2012 Olympic Games, 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2015 Men’s and 2026 Women’s Asian Cups and the upcoming Rugby League and Rugby World Cups.

Sarah Bishara

Sarah Bishara is Senior Manager, Ticketing at the AFL, leading ticketing strategy, and operations across some of Australia’s largest sporting events. With more than 14 years’ experience across the AFL, NRL, Ticketek and GWS GIANTS, Sarah brings a unique perspective spanning clubs, governing bodies and ticketing agencies. Responsible for delivering ticketing outcomes that balance fan experience, attendance, revenue growth and operational excellence, working closely with clubs, venues, ticketing partners and executive stakeholders to lead large-scale ticketing programs, develop pricing strategies and execute major events at scale. Passionate about innovation, attendance growth and creating world-class fan experiences, Sarah is known for her collaborative leadership style and ability to bring together commercial, operational and customer-focused outcomes to deliver exceptional results.

Angus Macdonald

Angus Macdonald is a seasoned professional in venue management with over two decades of experience that continues to shape and drive his energetic approach to ticketing and events.

As Consumer Business Lead at Stadiums Queensland (SQ), Angus is responsible for shaping and leading the strategic direction and operational execution of SQ’s consumer business functions, specifically ticketing and membership. He is also responsible for – and incredibly passionate about! – leveraging consumer data to inform ticketing, crowd building and growth, membership, content attraction, and fan experience.

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 the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre. 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.

Brenton Anthony

Brenton works for Cricket Australia, across commercial modelling, venue & event optimisation, and ticketing analytics. On the ticketing side, he builds sales and attendance forecasting models, including ticket sales target curves, and tracks buyer behaviour and demand across formats to understand how and when fans are likely to purchase. He also completes commercial modelling of financial match returns and future fixturing for international cricket and other projects across Australian cricket.

Before moving into sport, Brenton spent over 10 years in banking roles at Commonwealth Bank and Westpac, and completed a Masters in Sport Analytics in 2023. Outside of cricket, he reluctantly supports the GWS Giants and would describe himself as an enthusiastic but not entirely competent hobby farmer.

Jerry Hodgins

Jerry Hodgins is Director of Data, Insights & Technology at Melbourne Theatre Company, where he leads the organisation’s data, CRM, business intelligence and technology functions. With more than 20 years’ experience across customer strategy, analytics and technology, his work focuses on turning complex data into practical insights that inform organisational strategy, audience development and commercial decision-making. Jerry is particularly interested in how organisations can move beyond simply reporting what has happened to using data to understand why it happened - and what they should do next. His work brings together audience behaviour, ticketing and CRM data, financial performance and digital analytics to build a more complete picture of customers and support decisions across the organisation. More recently, his focus has expanded to the role of automation, AI and emerging technologies in making data more accessible and useful. He is passionate about building evidence-led organisations where data is not confined to analysts and dashboards, but becomes part of everyday decision-making.

Rhiannon Crowe

Rhiannon is passionate about the detail behind the magic. She combines commercial strategy, data-led audience insights and operational expertise to turn standout live events into unforgettable live experiences. As a people-first leader, she develops high-performing teams equipped to thrive in the fast pace of touring and deliver for artists and fans.

Angela Higgins

Founder | Antix Management With more than 25 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, Angela is recognised for her deep industry knowledge, global connections and data-driven insights on the Australian and New Zealand markets. Angela is known for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration within the entertainment sector. Angela formed Antix Management in 2007 to support international and domestic producers with sales and ticketing strategy for live events across Australia and New Zealand. Antix Management is currently contracted to provide sales strategy and ticketing management services to a range of first class live events, including Disney's The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Pretty Woman, SIX – The Musical, and A Beautiful Noise - The Neil Diamond Musical.

Dale Perkins

Dale Perkins is the Ticketing & Sales Team Leader at Ticketlink, based at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre in Far North Queensland. With extensive experience in ticketing, box office operations and venue services, Dale leads a team supporting ticketing operations across Cairns Regional Council’s network of cultural and performance venues.

In his role, Dale oversees the day-to-day delivery of ticketing and customer service operations, working closely with venues, promoters, producers and marketing teams to deliver seamless experiences for both clients and audiences. He has a particular interest in improving systems, streamlining processes and finding practical solutions to the unique challenges faced by regional venues.

Dale is passionate about the role ticketing plays beyond simply selling a seat, recognising it as a critical connection between venues, artists, clients and their audiences. His experience working across a diverse regional performing arts environment has given him a strong appreciation for the flexibility, collaboration and problem-solving required to deliver successful events in regional Australia.

As a leader, Dale is focused on building capable and confident teams, fostering a positive workplace culture and continually looking for opportunities to improve the way ticketing services are delivered.

Pauline Bagnall

With over 25 years’ experience in the arts and ticketing industry, Pauline Bagnall is a highly experienced ticketing and customer relationship management professional at the Frankston Arts Centre. Beginning her career in 2001 as a part-time ticketing officer, Pauline has progressed through the organisation to become Ticketing & CRM Lead, combining extensive operational knowledge with strong leadership, customer service and team management skills. Pauline has played a key role in the successful implementation of major ticketing systems, supporting staff through change and ensuring a seamless experience for patrons. She leads a team of 10 and is passionate about developing her team, improving customer experiences and delivering efficient, high-quality ticketing services. An active member of the arts and ticketing industry, Pauline has participated in VAPAC’s Marketing and Ticketing Network and has attended industry conferences, keeping up to date with emerging trends, technology and best practices. With her wealth of experience, industry knowledge and commitment to the arts, Pauline continues to make a valued contribution to the Frankston Arts Centre and its patrons.

Amy Church

Amy has 15 years of experience in ticketing, beginning her career as a Box Office Assistant at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) and progressing to her current role as Box Office Coordinator. Prior to joining BMEC, Amy worked in event management, helping to deliver large-scale events including the Bathurst 1000. In her current role, she oversees all ticketing operations at BMEC while also contributing to programming and broader venue operations. Amy is particularly passionate about children’s, family and educational programming. She is committed to making live theatre as accessible and welcoming as possible for schools, families and the wider community, finding practical ways to improve the audience experience Attending this conference over the past two years has directly contributed to some fantastic functionality upgrades and improvements to BMEC’s ticketing processes. Amy particularly values the connections made through the conference and the opportunity to share ideas, learn from others in the industry and bring new ideas back to BMEC.

Carina Turner

Beginning her career as a Sydney Stage Manager in 2019, Carina has had a vibrant career in the live performance industry. From SydFest to the Sydney Opera House, she crafted her teambuilding and organisational skills in fast-paced settings. After relocating to the Shoalhaven for a sea change during the COVID lockdowns, Carina took on a casual role with the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre’s Back of House Crew honing her skills in team leadership and stakeholder relationship building. Developing an enthusiasm for the regional arts scene, she has progressed through the organisation to become the venue’s Box Office Coordinator. Carina has played a key role in successfully implementing accessible ticketing options for the venue, developing appropriate training resources and supporting staff through extensive procedural change. Whilst relatively new to the industry, Carina is passionate about providing excellent customer service and delivering accessible, high-quality ticketing services to the regional area.

Nicholas Heys

• in setting its’ annual compliance and enforcement priorities;
• coordination with state and territory Australian Consumer Law regulators on compliance and enforcement;
• the ACCC’s greenwashing priority; and
• the ACCC’s digital markets priority.

Kate Eckermann

Kim Tran

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 changes 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.

Amalia Hordern

Amalia Hordern is Tessitura Network's Senior Director, Asia Pacific and a member of Tessitura's global leadership team. With a focus on customer engagement strategy, she leads Tessitura's strategic practice, industry insights and sector development across the region. Additionally, she leads Tessitura's AI IQ program globally, focused on building AI capability and responsible use practices that reflect both the opportunities of emerging technologies and the values of the arts and culture sector. After a career in dance, Amalia transitioned into arts management and prior to joining Tessitura held diverse roles across performing arts organisations, venues and festivals. She and her team work with organisations to leverage data and intentionally deepen audience connection as a critical key to building a strong and vibrant arts and culture sector. Amalia holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University (History and Anthropology) and a Master of Management from the University of South Australia. She is based just outside Melbourne/Naarm, on Wurundjeri Country, and when not in front of a laptop will either be in a hot yoga studio or hiking up a hill!

John Jakovich

John Jakovich is the Chief Innovation Officer at Tessitura, where he leads the product development and technology teams. Since joining Tessitura in November 2015, John has leveraged his extensive experience as a senior technology leader to drive innovation and growth within the nonprofit sector.

Before his tenure at Tessitura, John served as the Vice President of Technology at SofTrek Corporation, a provider of nonprofit CRM systems for philanthropic organizations. Prior to that time, he was the Chief Information Officer at Jacobson Consulting Applications (JCA), a firm specializing in strategic and technology consulting for nonprofit organizations.

With over 25 years of experience in technology management and software development for enterprise systems, John has dedicated the majority of his career to developing business intelligence solutions for the nonprofit industry. He has a background in computer science and began his engineering career in the vibrant southern California internet start-up scene of the mid-1990s. During this time, he contributed to several successful start-ups in e-commerce and artificial intelligence, eventually joining Kintera Inc., which was later acquired by Blackbaud Inc.

Residing in Fort Collins, John enjoys the active Colorado lifestyle. He spends his free time outdoors with his family, engaging in activities such as snowboarding, hiking and running.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjakovich/

Michael Taberner

Michael Taberner leads nLiven Australasia having spent more than 15 years working across ticketing, live entertainment, technology, and commercial operations. Michael began his ticketing career with Eventopia, TEG's self-service ticketing platform, before joining Ticketek, where he managed marketing alliance partnerships and event marketing campaigns including working with Visa and Mastercard. He later joined nLiven Australasia, running new client onboarding, key account management for Ticketure clients, client services, and business development before being appointed Managing Director.

Michael’s broader professional experience branches across a variety of ticketing industry adjacent roles, including client onboarding for sporting venue SaaS platforms, operational roles with out of home media agencies, as well as launching “Australia’s largest case of craft beer” back in 2020.

Jeff Mitchell

Jeff Mitchell is VP, Strategy & Growth at nLiven, where he leads end-to-end commercial strategy across marketing, sales, customer success, and retention, driving go-to-market execution and building a relationship-driven sales organisation. His career reflects a wide-ranging path through the performing arts: artist management at Columbia Artists Management and Zemsky Green Artists, Director of Artistic Operations at Palm Beach Opera, VP of Client Services at ArtsVision, and Head of Sales & Marketing at Theatre Projects. A trained flutist, Jeff holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Georgia and a Master of Music from Yale University.

Paul Dainty AO 

Angela Higgins

Founder | Antix Management With more than 25 years’ experience in the entertainment industry, Angela is recognised for her deep industry knowledge, global connections and data-driven insights on the Australian and New Zealand markets. Angela is known for fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration within the entertainment sector. Angela formed Antix Management in 2007 to support international and domestic producers with sales and ticketing strategy for live events across Australia and New Zealand. Antix Management is currently contracted to provide sales strategy and ticketing management services to a range of first class live events, including Disney's The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Pretty Woman, SIX – The Musical, and A Beautiful Noise - The Neil Diamond Musical.

Kelly Degenhart

Kelly Degenhart leads Digonex's client success team and has worked in the ticketing and entertainment industry for more than 25 years, overseeing marketing, branding, sales, and partner management. Before joining Digonex as Director of Marketing in 2023, 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.

Nick Falzon

Nick Falzon serves as General Manager and chief executive of the newly formed Australian company, InTown, focused on developing audiences through innovation in ticketing, tourism and technology. Prior to transitioning to Melbourne, Australia, Nick was based in New York as Vice President, Sales & Analytics for Disney Theatrical Group where he drove advances across digital marketing, tourism cultivation, group sales, yield management, dynamic pricing, ticketing operations and consumer relationship management for nearly twenty years. In that time, Nick oversaw THE LION KING's pricing and sales strategy, which has been featured in the New York Times ("Ticket Pricing Puts THE LION KING Atop Broadway's Circle of Life" - 17 March 2014), helping it become the highest grossing global entertainment property ever. While breaking multiple records across numerous North American productions for Disney, Nick’s most fulfilling work was to support countless international productions worldwide from Australia to Japan to Mexico. Nick earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Theory & Composition from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, is a graduate of The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and holds a Certificate in Hotel Revenue Management from Cornell’s School of Hospitality Administration. As an educator, he served on the faculty of Columbia’s School of the Arts for almost a decade. While Nick is in Australia now, his wife Laura, sons Asher and Axson and daughter Nora will all be calling Melbourne home at the start of 2027 - chronicling their travels on YouTube through the channel Five Hungry Travelers.