Sports Business Awards

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Julie Porter

Chief Operating Officer, LTA

Julie Porter
Chief Operating Officer, LTA

As Chief Operating Officer at the LTA, Julie is one of the most senior and experienced female leaders in the country among sports governing bodies, in charge of a wide ranging remit covering Strategy & Innovation, Marketing & Commercial, Facilities, Coaching, Operations and Corporate Affairs.

Julie started her career in food retail on a graduate training scheme with Aldi Gmbh as they entered the UK market, before joining David Lloyd Leisure (DLL) to align her experience and management training with her passion for sport, health and fitness. She worked in various roles at DLL with responsibility across the UK and Europe, with one of her standout achievements being spearheading the company’s successful expansion into Spain.

Julie’s 15 years at DLL culminated leading a turnaround of business performance as Chief Operating Officer, before taking on the equivalent role at the LTA in May 2018 with the purpose of developing a more commercial and business led approach to strategy to drive the sport forward and get more people playing tennis.

The role provides the ideal platform for Julie to make a difference to a sport that she has been passionate about since first picking up a racket at the age of 10. Since joining the LTA, Julie has been a central figure in driving progress towards achieving the organisation’s vision of opening up tennis to many more people, and implementing its programme of work to grow the sport by making it relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable to anyone who has an interest.
Keith Pelley

Chief Executive, DP World Tour

Keith Pelley
Chief Executive, DP World Tour

Canadian Keith Pelley became the fourth Chief Executive in the history of the European Tour on Monday August 3, 2015.

During his tenure, Keith has overseen a period of significant evolution and modernisation underlined by the Tour’s brand refresh, which uses the strapline Driving Golf Further, emphasising the Tour’s guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global. This has included the creation of award-winning content, pioneering formats such as GolfSixes and the Hero Challenge, and the use of the latest technology and inventive fan engagement, including the launch of golf’s first esports series, the European eTour. Keith has also overseen a closer collaboration with the women’s game, including co-sanctioned events such as the Scandinavia Mixed and Vic Open, and the introduction of the ground-breaking Golfers with Disability programme in conjunction with the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA), which he is a board member of.

In 2017, the European Tour introduced the transformational Rolex Series, the premium event category on the European Tour’s International Schedule, comprising four tournaments staged in a variety of world-class golfing locations around the world, each with a minimum prize fund of US$7 million. It has been described as one of the most important initiatives in the Tour’s history.

In November 2020, a Strategic Alliance was announced between the European Tour and the PGA TOUR, with the latter taking minority investment in European Tour Productions. The landmark agreement will see golf’s two major Tours explore all facets of collaboration, working together on strategic commercial opportunities including collaborating on global media rights in certain territories plus global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.

The European Tour also manages the developmental Challenge Tour and the Legends Tour, formerly the Senior Tour which secured Staysure as the first title partner in its history in 2018. It is also the Managing Partner of Ryder Cup Europe the body which, alongside the PGA of America, administers golf’s greatest team contest, The Ryder Cup, with the 2018 edition at Le Golf National the most successful to be held on European soil.

Prior to joining The European Tour, Keith was President of Rogers Media in Toronto where he was responsible for leading the overall operations of the company’s diverse portfolio, including Television, Radio, Publishing, Digital Media, The Shopping Channel, subscription-based content services, Toronto Blue Jays, and Rogers Centre. Before that, he was Executive Vice-President of Strategic Planning at CTVglobemedia, President of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium – which won a record seven awards for its coverage of Vancouver 2010 – President and CEO of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club, and President of The Sports Network in Canada, a company he first joined as an Editorial Assistant in 1986.

He is a graduate of Ryerson University with a BA in Radio and Television Arts, and also received an ATCL diploma from Trinity College in London
Jane M Nickerson MBE

Chief Executive Officer, Swim England

Jane M Nickerson MBE
Chief Executive Officer, Swim England

Jane Nickerson has been CEO of Swim England since April 2017, providing leadership which is passionately focused on creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to learn how to swim, is supported to develop their skills, and is able to enjoy the water throughout their lifetime.

Jane has a deep understanding of the sport through the eyes of a swimmer and an administrator, from grassroots to elite level. As a youngster she swam competitively for City of Coventry and competed to national championship standard, whilst also taking an interest in the governance of the sport. One of her most treasured times, during the 1990s, was as an England and Great Britain swimming team manager.

Jane’s experience is a great asset to Swim England and provides her with the insight to successfully lead the organisation’s strategy which includes building new partnerships to increase awareness of the health benefits of swimming, encouraging everyone to enjoy the water and ensuring the development of talented athletes.

Jane feels fortunate to work in a sector that is based on fun and encourages all to embrace this in their day-to-day work. She joined Swim England in 1997 and, before her current role, held a range of senior management posts including Head of Administration, Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer.

Jane graduated with B Ed majoring in History and English after studying Ethnography in France for 12 months. Outside of swimming, Jane is grounded by her voluntary work with the Samaritans and enjoys being active in a different volunteer-based organisation.

She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to swimming during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

It is Jane’s belief that with positive thinking directed in the ‘right’ direction, everything is possible.
Adrian Christy

Chief Executive, Table Tennis England

Adrian Christy
Chief Executive, Table Tennis England
Andy Payne OBE

Chairman, British Esports Association

Andy Payne OBE
Chairman, British Esports Association