Best pitch presenter you’ve ever seen:
Zanna Wharfe (Fifty Digital). Clear, factual, friendly and collaborative.
Best sports marketing campaign (that wasn’t yours)
Sport England’s “This Girl Can”. I don’t know if we’ll ever see another campaign have such a monumental effect on women in England.
Best agency (that isn’t yours):
Two Circles, they’ve carved out such an ownable space and everyone continues to want a piece of the pie
Best young industry talent:
Emily Price, Art Director at Landor & Fitch. One of the greatest creative minds I have come across. Her work across re-defining the grassroots football experience and the stadium hospitality experience was nothing
short of genius
Best sporting event attended:
Hmm, probably the Wimbledon Men’s Semi-finals, July 4 th 2014. I got to seeDjokovic and Federer, two of the best players in the sports history. We were front row, centre, watching these guys in their prime. There’s nothing like it
Best sporting event on TV:
Rugby World Cup 2011. The greatest team of all time (All Blacks), bringing it home, on home soil. Three fly-halves injured, the tightest win in history, brilliant haka response from the French. Our only try from none other than Tony Woodcock. Stephen Donald becomes a national hero. The atmosphere in Auckland (my hometown) was like nothing I have ever experienced to this day.
Best brand ambassador:
Emma Raducanu. She has a chance to grow the game of tennis in an authentic way that’s not reliant on winning every single game.
Best industry event or conference:
Leaders Week or SportsPro Live
Best film containing a scene depicting the sports business:
Remember the Titans
Best book recommendation:
Legacy by James Kerr
Best bar or pub:
Larry’s on Venice Beach with the NBA on TV
Best restaurant:
Manuel’s in Gipsy Hill
Best holiday resort:
Sunrise Suites in Syros, Greece
Best box set:
Friends
Best influence on your career:
Jamileh Tufail (Principality Stadium) and Georgina Lewis (below - The FA). Both inspiring women, making brilliant strides in the industry
Best dinner companions (min 4, max 6):
Serena Williams
Richie McCaw
Karren Brady
Jamie Chadwick
Steph Curry
My brother (because he loves sport even more than me and would kill me
if I didn’t invite him)
Best job in the sports biz:
Other than mine, Ange’s (Lewis Hamilton’s right hand/physio/hype woman/bestie) or a team doctor would be pretty cool
Best professional regret:
Not getting into the sports industry sooner however, I think my experience outside of the industry has ended up giving me a unique perspective
Best skill you most covet:
Tenacity (some might say stubbornness). It’s hard for me to give up.
Best trait you admire in others:
Not caring what others think.
Best overrated virtue:
Age symbolising smarts. Some of the best ideas come from the youngest or freshest in the team.
Best ambition:
To be Chief Brand Officer of a football team (once that role exists more!). Or the All Blacks.