EUROPEAN RUNNING BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2019

Mara Yamauchi

Mara Yamauchi is the UK's second-fastest female marathon runner of all time, with a PB of 2:23:12. A two-time Olympian, her career highlights include finishing 6th in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Women's Marathon, winning the 2008 Osaka Ladies' Marathon, winning the bronze medal in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games 1O,OOOm and finishing runner-up in the 2009 London Marathon. She retired in 2013 and now runs her own business as a coach, facilitator and speaker.

She is a UK Athletics-qualified athletics coach.Mara spent her childhood in Nairobi,Kenya and then Oxford,England. She graduated from Oxford University in 1995 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Before becoming a full-time athlete, Mara worked for ten years as a diplomat with the UK's Foreign Ministry, including being posted to the British Embassy in Tokyo. She speaks fluent Japanese. Mara's hobbies include cooking and mountain-walking.

Although retired, Mara still runs to keep fit and most weekends she runs in her local parkrun. Later this month, she will be in Doha for the World Championships, commentating for the IAAF.

Geoff Wightman

Geoff Wightman is a 2.13 marathon runner who finished sixth in the European Championship Marathon in Split, 1990. He qualified as a lawyer and also worked as a sports agent for clients including Paula Radcliffe and Liz McColgan. He was responsible for individual sports marketing at Puma sportswear in the UK for ten years, helping to create the 1999 Puma Edinburgh Marathon. He worked as CEO of scottishathletics from 2004-10 where he chaired the LOC delivering the 2008 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and was Head of Road Running at British Athletics from 2010-16. The runbritain 'clickyourclock' project was awarded the European Athletics Innovation of the Year in 2016.

The runbritain 'clickyourclock' project was awarded the European Athletics Innovation of the Year in 2016.

Since 1991, he has been start and finish line announcer for the Virgin Money London Marathon and also hosts the stage area of The Running Show/Expo in the week leading up to the event. He has been finish line announcer for the TCS New York City Marathon since 2013 and also hosts the NYRR Hall of Fame inductions and Opening Ceremony. He works for broadcast and announcing at the Copenhagen, Milan and Abu Dhabi marathons. Geoff is an active endurance coach, with his son Jake taking a bronze medal in the 2018 European Championships at 1500m, and was an Olympic marathon selector for the Atlanta Games. He co-hosted the inaugural European Athletics Running Business Conference in Frankfurt 2017 and the inaugural IAAF Global Road Running Conference in Lanzhou, China in 2019. He has written a published novel and five e-book diaries.

Photo credit: Athletics Images

Jon Ridgeon

Following a career as an international track & field athlete, that culminated in a World championship silver medal in 1987 and representing GB at two Olympic Games, Jon moved into a dual career in broadcasting and sports marketing.

In 1998, Jon was a founding partner of International Sports Marketing agency Fast Track, where he held a range of roles, including CEO.

When Jon left Fast Track in 2012, he became a Director of Achieve Events, where he helped build the mass participation events business to the point of acquisition. He also became a Director of the 2018 European Sports Championships, where they launched a ground breaking new multi-sport championship event.

In 2016, Jon founded CSM Active and become Executive Chairman of the business, which was focused on creating active lifestyle mass participation events.

From March 1st 2019, Jon took up the role of CEO at World Athletics (IAAF).

Paolo Lanzarotti

Paolo started his career in ExxonMobil in 1987, working in increasingly senior Commercial and Country leadership roles in the UK, France, across Africa, India and Italy for 18 years. He joined SABMiller in 2005 as Strategic Planning Director of Birra Peroni in Italy and led several SABMiller businesses in different regions as Managing Director (Slovakia, India and the Czech Republic). Through the transition from SABMiller, through ABInbev and into Asahi, he was charged with leading the business in Central Europe. Paolo has been the CEO of ABE Group since April 2017, responsible for five production markets in Central Europe, as well as two export business in Europe and Asia Pacific.

Chris Robb

A 30-year veteran of the mass participation sports events industry, Chris was born in Zimbabwe where he grew up on a farm he organised his first fun run at the age of 16 to help raise funds for the resurfacing of his school “cinder” athletics track.

From there, he moved to University in South Africa where he cut his teeth in the industry and spent as much time organising and working on events, like the world famous Comrades marathon and South African Marathon Championships as he did studying for his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Agricultural Management Degrees.

After leaving university he spent four years travelling through Europe, America, Asia and Australia before settling in Sydney in 1989 where he founded Spectrum Worldwide.

One of his career highlights came in the year 2000 when Chris worked on the Sydney Olympics as the Road Events Supervisor.

In 2002 he expanded the business to Singapore to deliver the inaugural JP Morgan Corporate Challenge. Spectrum Worldwide now delivers some of the regions largest mass participation sports events including the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (55,000) runners and the Cycle Asia network of events that attracts nearly 25,000 cyclists to events in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Australia.

Chris sold Spectrum Worldwide to IRONMAN in 2016 and is now the CEO of Mass Participation Asia, an annual conference for stakeholders across the mass participation sports industry to get together with the objective of fostering collaboration and driving best practises.

Today, Chris provides consulting services to events, brands, and governments on top of creating mass participation IP. He is also an avid presenter at conferences and provides mentorship to other business owners and entrepreneurs through the renowned accelerator programme, Key Person of Influence. Business aside, Chris is an advisory board member of Free to Shine, a Cambodian charity that helps prevent sex trafficking of young girls.

Chris is passionate about all sports, especially cycling and running and the fact that he has taken part in so many events as a participant gives him a unique insight into what his customers want.

There are very few people with Chris’s depth and breadth of knowledge in the mass participation sports industry.

Paco Borao

Paco Borao, a former soccer player, is currently president of AIMS since 2010. Paco co-founded the Athletics Club "Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos" in Valencia, Spain in 1981. setting the first Maraton Popular de Valencia in 1981.

Deeply involved in international businesses, he recommended and made Valencia joining AIMS in 1985, working since then as the International Representative of his Club. In April 2005 elected President of the Club Sociedad Deportiva Correcaminos; the Medio Marat6n de Valencia joined AIMS in 2005 as a full member.

Paco was elected as Member of the Board of Directors at the AIMS Congress held in Barcelone in 1996, Paco Borao was in charge of Membership Development until 2007 when he became Vice-President until 2010 and then President since 2010. Since 2007, Paco is also Member of the IAAF Road Running Commission.

Alessio Punzi

Alessio is Road Running Manager at the IAAF – International Association of Athletics Federations, the organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport. Alessio serves as the main point of contact between the IAAF network (head office and 214 affiliated national athletics associations) and the broader running / mass participation ecosystem (road race organisers , athletes’ agents, associations for the trail, mountain and ultra-running, etc.). His main duty is to ensure that the IAAF policies, regulations and events reflect the realities and needs of a fast-changing sport and create sustained value for its constituents.

Alessio manages the “IAAF Label Road Races” programme, a scheme which started off as an event certification exercise (110+ races in 2018) and gathers now the world’s best road races. 11 years into making, the multi-tier IAAF Label scheme is now widely recognised as the global calendar of road racing. With its ties with the IAAF World Rankings and the IAAF Anti-doping Regulations, the Label programme is a major tool towards a more understandable, credible sport.

Alessio also coordinates the IAAF road race measurement activities (400+ measured and certified races per year) and manages a 23-people strong panel of super-experts in marathons and road races to assist in the global development of the sport. He also coordinates the work of various advisory bodies to the IAAF in masters’ athletics and mass participation.

He a Lausanne School of Sports Administration graduate, and prior to IAAF, he worked for European Athletics, International Cycling Union, Rome Marathon and Rock ‘n’ Roll Liverpool Marathon.

Jakob Larsen

Coming from a background in communications Jakob Larsen took up his current position as Director of the Danish Athletic Federation in 2007.

Jakob Larsen was the LOC Director of the recent IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus as well as the award-winning IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 2014. He is currently the heading the IAAF Gold Label race “Copenhagen Half Marathon” and the annual "Royal Run" with 80,000 participants.

Currently member of the IAAF Road Running Commission as well as the European Athletics’ Member Federation Development Commission.

Guy Horne

Guy Horne is a Director of H&A Media, a broadcast, communications and media company based in Lausanne. The company produces tailored sports media content for international federations, brands and destinations, with a strong focus on Asian markets. Clients include Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Eurovision Sport, Discovery Networks, Hong Kong Tourism Board, Asian Table Tennis Union, Federation International de Basketball, International Skating Union, amongst others.

Karel Jonak

Karel Jonak is an award-winning TV producer, live TV director, TV advisor in the sports TV industry since 1998.

He has list of events includes Run Czech since 2005, 2018 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Visma Ski Classics and 5 x UCI MTB World Championships, amongst others. He will direct the upcoming NHL opening match and Sparta Prague Champions League in the same week later in October.

Julia Yang

Julia Yang handles the China-based accounts for H&A Media which includes aerial filming, live sport production and China market social media channel output for international federations, with a small team in Beijing. Prior to that, she led sales & marketing for SHOTOVER camera systems for Greater China.

Michell Li

Michell Li is an Account Executive at H&A Media, undertaking digital marketing for sport federations wishing to grow in Asia. Prior to this she obtained a Sport Event Management MSc at KEDGE Business School, France. She has work experience at Spartan Race and the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens.

Carlo Capalbo

Carlo Capalbo is the founder of the Prague International Marathon, President of the RunCzech Organising Committee and Chairman of the IAAF Road Running Commission.

Born in 1957 in Naples he moved to Central Europe in early nineties and in 1994 founded the Prague International Marathon; a project aimed at establishing the modern concept of long distance running events that has transformed into series of races known as RunCzech.

Nowadays RunCzech offers 9 main running events in 6 cities of the Czech Republic and 2 in Italy attracting yearly over 100 000 runners. The races achieved 7 IAAF Gold Label Road Races and celebrated 5 world records in 2017. In 2018 a new initiative EuroHeroes was launched to support European athletes.

Besides being awarded the honorary citizenship of Prague and Karlovy Vary Carlo Capalbo got a badge of honour „Cavaliere“ by the President of the Italian Republic.

Sam Renouf

Sam Renouf is currently the CEO at Motiv, an active lifestyle and entertainment company focused on delivering authentic and immersive live and digital experiences.

Prior to his current role, Sam was the General Manager for ACTIVE’s sports market where he was responsible for leading all customer-facing aspects within the market, including enterprise sales and account management, driving the strategic direction for sports and managing business operations.

Sam has spent over 17 years in the Endurance Sports industry, including representing Great Britain as an elite athlete for triathlon and as a commentator at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Sam holds a BSc in Politics and Management from Loughborough University in England.

Rich Harshbarger

Rich Harshbarger is the CEO of Running USA, the national trade association for the sport of road running. Prior to this role, he served in many marketing and communications positions for 20 years with the Gannett Co., Inc. including most recently as the VP/Consumer Marketing for Detroit Media Partnership, the business division for the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, their associated digital products and web sites.

He also was the Executive Race Director for the Detroit Marathon for 10 years. He has an MS of Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University and a BS of Journalism from the University of Kansas, where he was also a member of the men's swim team.

Jean Gracia

Jean GRACIA is Council Member of the European Athletics, President of Paris 2020 European Athletics Championships and General Secretary of the Mediterranean Athletics Union. He is also ex-officio Member of the Council of the French Athletic Federation.

He was between 1972 and 1984 a French national level athlete running the 50m (Indoor), the 100m, the 200m and the relay 4 x 100m. He has been the French National Recordholder of the 50m Indoor.

Since 1973 he has been involved in Athletics at all levels from local, regional, national and international levels. From 1984, as a volunteer, he was President of the “Athletic Club de Cannes”, Vice-President of the Departmental Committee of Alpes-Maritimes and Vice-President of the Regional League of Côte d’Azur.

In his professional career, he has been working from 1977 to 1992 as Engineer and Business Analyst for the American company “Texas Instruments”. Then he started to be involved, as a professional from 1992 to 2015, as Director of the French Athletic Federation (FFA). In 2016 he has been the last General Secretary of the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) before this position was replaced by a CEO.

Charlotte Melchert

Entrepreneur in e-commerce with a great interest in innovation and web development.

Awarded one of Sweden’s 100 super talents 2012, by business magazine Veckans Affärer.

An experienced management consultant who has lead various projects for clients in telecom, manufacturing, high-tech, media and retail industries. Areas of expertise; customer relationship management (CRM), all channel experience, online strategy, IT and business transformation, IT system renewal and culture/change management.

Eitan Hefetz

Eitan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pic2Go Ltd.

Pic2Go develops innovative Race Photography and Finisher Experience Sharing solutions for Endurance Events and Sponsors – driving participants to share their race-experience through branded photos, videos (and more) while amplifying sponsors’ engagement and social reach.

An experienced management consultant who has lead various projects for clients in telecom, manufacturing, high-tech, media and retail industries. Areas of expertise; customer relationship management (CRM), all channel experience, online strategy, IT and business transformation, IT system renewal and culture/change management.

Supported by a growing network of partners – Pic2Go solutions are used by hundreds of endurance events each year in more than 40 countries. Among the sponsors using Pic2Go are – Samsung, BII Maybank, 2XU , Nestle-Milo, Adidas, Nike, Vodafone and many others.

Eitan is a technology and business entrepreneur, passionate about connecting real-life experiences with the online world.

Under his management – Pic2Go is now making massive investment in new technologies offering innovative ways for race participants to track and share their experience, including: Pic2Go Performance Photos, Performance-Videos, RunPage, FlyThrough and more.

Before launching Pic2Go at 2010, Eitan spent 15 years as a high-tech professional, holding different software development and product-strategy management roles in SAP, Intel and Commtouch in Israel.

Staffan Movin

Staffan Movin is president of Lidingoloppet the organisation that owns several popular events in Sweden such as TCS LIdingOloppet - the world's largest cross country running event - with 45000 runners every year. Over the years, since 1967, TCS LidingOloppet has welcomed over 1,2 million runners. Other races in LidingOloppet's event portfolio are Stockholm Tunnel Run (42.500 runners in 2014 and 33.000 runners in 2017), Blodomloppet Stockholm, Varmilen, LidingOloppet MTB.

Besides LIdingOloppet Staffan is also president of En Svensk Klassiker an organisation focus to market and support the development of world-leading long distance races in open-water swimming, cycling, running and cross-country skiing. The company has also the commercial rights to the brand "En Svensk Klassiker" and exploits the value of the brand in multiple settings in order to fulfil the mission to make Sweden and Swedes healthier. This is done through several means in example through gamification on digital platforms. Within athletics, Staffan is a member of the Swedish athletics international committee as well as European Athletics technical delegate panel in cross country.

With a professional background in management consultancies as well as CEO academic research foundation Staffan has also written several books focusing on innovation, digitalisation and business models.

Sarah Rowell

Sarah Rowell PhD is a Board member of UK Athletics, where she has recently served as interim Chair. She is Chair of the Board Performance Oversight Committee and a member of the HR and Remuneration Committee. Having served on the Board for seven years, her term has recently been extended until after the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to ensure continuity during this crucial period.

Sarah is also a Board member of London Marathon Events Ltd, and is a member of the IAAF (now World Athletics) Road Running Commission as well as serving on the Council of the World Mountain Running Association. As an athlete Sarah run internationally on the road, cross country, mountain and trail, competing in the first ever women’s Olympic marathon in 1984 and finishing second in the 1985 London Marathon. She was the Technical delegate for this year’s European Athletics Mountain Running Championships.

Sarah is also a Board member of London Marathon Events Ltd, and is a member of the IAAF (now World Athletics) Road Running Commission as well as serving on the Council of the World Mountain Running Association. As an athlete Sarah run internationally on the road, cross country, mountain and trail, competing in the first ever women’s Olympic marathon in 1984 and finishing second in the 1985 London Marathon. She was the Technical delegate for this year’s European Athletics Mountain Running Championships.

Marc Freudweiler

Marc Freudweiler is the Executive Director of the GivenGain Foundation, headquartered in Villars-sur-Ollon, Vaud, Switzerland. Since joining the online fundraising platform in 2011, Marc has also served PayProp, GivenGain’s sister company in the Humanstate Group, by introducing the PayProp lettings management platform to the UK market.

Marc has more than 18 years’ experience working in the financial services industry and has a deep knowledge of both private and investment banking. He has specialised in structured derivative products and the collection and processing of data, and was at the forefront of using new technologies to increase the visibility of structured products. Marc also launched one of the first Social Impact Notes in 2006 in support of UNHCR.

Working for international banks and starting his own company have broadened his problem-solving skills. Launching a Social Impact Note, in turn, was his first attempt to solve a funding problem for non-profit organisations. But in the end – convinced that more altruistic and all-encompassing funding models must exist – the GivenGain Foundation’s essence and philosophy more closely aligned with his values.

Marius Mare

Marius Mare is the CEO of GivenGain. Since 2001 the Foundation has worked with fundraisers and donors in 193 nations and supported causes in more than 60 countries. Since taking on the role, Marius and the team have worked with dozens of high-profile events around the world to enable participants to raise millions for charity and give their event more meaning.

Previously, Marius worked in marketing and business management, driving the adoption of online services for industries including online retail and banking, and now, fundraising. His biggest challenge was convincing his dad to use online banking. He succeeded. Eventually.

Having spent 7 years in academia and over a decade in multinationals convincing people to go online and part with their money, Marius made the switch to global fundraising so he could put his talent for separating people from their cash to good use. He was motivated to work in the social impact and not-for-profit sector to help transform communities and societies with a large gap between rich and poor. An injustice he experienced first-hand growing up in South Africa.

In-between all of the above, Marius travels the world, trying to understand how different we all are and why. He does not have any pets, loves tennis and the last time he cried was watching “Lion” on an airplane sitting next to a 5-year-old girl… she laughed at him.

Michel Schrama

A sport fanatic and a sport marketer, Michel started at MYLAPS Sports Timing in 2011 and is currently marketing business development manager. He has global experience within the running industry including Asia, starting up the MYLAPS Asia office in 2013.

MYLAPS Sports Timing is the worldwide market leader in the industry, timing over 20 million athletes on an annual basis. With their digital services MYLAPS supports events to enhance the experience of athletes and fans during sport events. Their mobile App is used by the Boston Marathon, Standard Chartered KL Marathon, 2017 and 2018 SPIA Asia ‘Best Digital Sport Platform’ award winner, and 300+ other events globally in 2018. With real-time live tracking of all athletes and live in-app personal photos it is the number one platform used by athletes and fans on race day.

In his role, Michel develops and executes new sponsor propositions with live data to add value for events and sponsors. Propositions are focused to enhance the sport experience for athletes and fans.

Michel has a BS in Sports Management and Marketing from Amsterdam Economics College and a Masters’ Degree in Sports Management from the Griffith University, Gold Coast Australia.

Milana Baslerova

Milana Baslerova works as an Active Portfolio Manager within MYLAPS Sports Timing, based at the company headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands. Milana moved to the Netherlands in 2014 and one year later she received her Master’s degree in Linguistics at the University of Amsterdam. Milana is passionate about mountaineering and cross country skiing.

MYLAPS Sports Timing is the worldwide market leader in the industry, providing solutions for event organizers, athletes and timers. Milana joined the company in October 2015 and she was part of the Sales team until December 2018, focusing on events and timers in Central and South Eastern Europe. Since 2019 she manages the overall product portfolio for active sports. Milana translates market insights, customer needs and company long term strategy into innovative and reliable products such as EasyMat, EventApp, HandReader, PhotoVideo or ThinTag. MYLAPS solutions save time, money and reduce carbon footprint at thousands of events all over the world and sparkle emotions of over 20 million athletes on an annual basis.

Christiaan Hesselink

Christiaan Hesselink is Sales Manager Services EMEA for MYLAPS, located at the headquarters in Haarlem, the Netherlands. In 2011 he received his bachelor’s degree Management, Economics and Law on the University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam. He is interested in any sport, mainly active in running and cycling.

MYLAPS Sports Timing is the worldwide market leader in the industry, timing over 20 million athletes on an annual basis. Christiaan joined the company in March 2018 and focuses primarily on the EventApp for event organizers. The EventApp is the most complete white labeled app in the market and enhances the event experience for both athletes and spectators. Over 800 EventApp’s have been sold globally and the platform received multiple awards since its launch.

The EventApp over the years has become a crucial tool to add more value to events, regardless the size of the events. Core of the EventApp is its LiveTracking feature, other important features include: Push notifications, Interactive Course Maps, (Personalized) Selfies, LivePhoto, Geofencing, Like & Comment and many more.

Camiel Slaats

Camiel Slaats is CEO of MYLAPS Sports Timing since 2017. MYLAPS Sports Timing is the worldwide market leader in the industry, timing over 20 million athletes on an annual basis.

Prior to MYLAPS, Camiel gained sports experience at Nike where he worked for more than 8 years, holding several senior positions in product, sales and general management including Commercial Director for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa. Camiel was CEO of Vingino, the number 1 kids denim brand in Western Europe. Previously he spent 6 years in the Board of G-Star having all geographies report to him.

Camiel started his career at Procter & Gamble Benelux which he joined after graduating as a Master of Science at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

Robin Koster

Robin Koster works as a sports marketeer at Triple Double, the leading sports marketing agency in the Netherlands. We love to connect brands to platforms and properties in sport, because we believe in the power of sports. These days people are bombarded with more messages, from more brands, than ever before – but they’ll always be engaged by the things they are most passionate about: sports. It’s not only our profound knowledge of sports that makes us different; it’s the way we do it. We go beyond sports. Connecting brand to fans and make sports progress. We make sports count.

Robin received his master’s degree in Strategic Management at Tilburg University, before he started working at Triple Double in 2014. Within Triple Double Robin works for brands like NN Group, Opel / Vauxhall and Unibet. He is involved in various running related sponsorships and activations, including the prize winning ‘Running Supporter’ and the latest innovation; ‘Smart Medal’.

Ruud Dankers

As Head of Innovation at TDE Sportmarketing & Technology, Ruud is one of the founders of Smart Medal. He has been working on several technology-driven running activations together with - and on behalf of - several global sponsors. Mostly from a digital perspective, Ruud is exploring new and existing technologies to enrich the running experience during events.

Taylor Host

Born & raised in Detroit, Taylor is a Computer Vision nerd working with sport photos & video at Miro AI. His team trains machines to analyze athletes in motion for marathon, cycling & tri-athlon events around the world. Miro’s proprietary AI unlocks consumer insights like shoe brand, fitness trackers & performance metrics for every athlete. Since launching in 2017, Miroas AI has analyzed more than 13 Million bodies for 600+ events all over the world.

Prior to founding Miro, Taylor lead innovation & data platforms within the McDonald’s® system as Vice President, Head of Digital – Asia at TMS. His team launched multiple award-winning digital programs used by millions of consumers in more than 100 countries.

Taylor has called Hong Kong home for 7 years. He & his fiancee live in a shoebox with their 2 overweight cats.

Lotte Jacobs

Lotte Jacobs has worked for the Stichting Zevenheuvelenloop in Nijmegen (NL) since 2014. She is responsible for the online and offline marketing. In 2013 she received her MSc in Business Administration, with a specialization in Marketing at the Radboud University in Nijmegen. She has always combined studying with running at the national level, and won three national titles in the 3000m and 5000m. Currently, she competes at elite level in cyclocross.

Stichting Zevenheuvelenloop organizes three races annually, of which the NN Zevenheuvelenloop (in English: the Seven Hills race) is the most well-known and largest with 35.000 participants. The Seven Hills race is characterized by the beautiful course and world record setting performances. In 2018 Joshua Cheptegei broke the world record over 15 km at the Dutch race.

The Stichting Zevenheuvelenloop aims to give its participants the ultimate running experience. Sustainability has been in the DNA of the organizing foundation ever since the first edition of the Seven Hills race in 1984. The Stichting Zevenheuvelenloop seeks to innovate continuously, and to create sustainable activations with its partners that benefit the participants.

Remco Barbier

Remco Barbier is Head of Branding at NN Group, located in The Hague, The Netherlands. He received his master’s degree in business economics at the University of Tilburg. Remco started his career at ING Bank in 2004, as a marketing trainee. Before he joined NN Group he has been part of the management team of ING Group’s Sustainability department, responsible for marketing and communications. In his current role he is responsible for all corporate branding and sponsoring activities related to the NN Group strategy, primarily aimed at protecting, building and enhancing the relevance, differentiation and vitality of the NN brand.

Nico Decurtins

Nico obtained his BSc in Business Administration from the University of Berne and holds a double-degree MSc in International Management from ESADE Business & Law School in Barcelona, as well as CEMS.

At iRewind, Nico is heading up the Business Development of the video-tech corporation, helping its internationalization strategy and supporting its reach into new industries and markets. As member of the management board he also plays a vital role in leading the company into a sustainable and successful future. He joined iRewind in the summer of 2018.

Before that, he spent eight years at Tesla working in different roles in Zurich, London and Amsterdam. His last assignment was the Marketing manager position for Central Europe.

When his agenda allows, Nico trains for marathons or his ice hockey career, enjoys the Swiss mountains or meets friends from all around the world. Since last summer, though, his favourite leisure activity is taking care of his first-born son.

Benjamin Penkert

Benjamin is a SportsTech expert who is providing the world with data & insights about SportsTech startups and the surrounding ecosystem. He has been working as a Management Consultant and Strategy Expert for large corporations before joining the startup community in various positions.

He lived and worked in Budapest, Cologne, Malmö and New York and is now based in Berlin where he runs his own project SportsTechX. Benjamin publishes articles and reports about innovation topics in sports and is the host of a SportsTech podcast.

Erica Larson

Erica Larson is member of the Board of World's Sports Group AB, with Worldsmarathons.com in its portfolio, a digital front runner who connects race organizers with new runners from all over the globe.

Erica has a professional background as as a management consultant in the USA, working with large scale business transformations on an international market. She currently serves as the CEO of Starcounter AB, a deep-tech database and application platform company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. She is also a former elite athlete in indoor Volleyball, and an avid runner with many international long-distance races behind her.

Marko Vasic

Marko Vasic is European Athletics’ Head of Development, where he is entrusted with the European Athletics development programme, including EA Running Strategy. European Athletics has pioneered first edition of European Running Business Conference on the occasion of 2017 Frankfurt Marathon, and with 2019 European Running Business Conference being planned for September 2021 in Prague during the Prague Grand Prix, IAAF Gold Label Race, European Athletics joined Running USA, Mass Participation Asia and IAAF with staging global flagship B2B events for the running industry.

Marko Vasic worked in the running industry for over 10 years before joining European Athletics in 2015, initially as an authorized athlete’s representative and a consultant on running & mass participation. As IAAF Road Running Commission member, Marko is working closely with the Commission on IAAF Labelling System and IAAF global running strategy.

Libor Varhani­k

In the Czech Athletic Federation:
2009 – to date _ President of the Czech Athletic Federation
2005 – 2009 ____ Vice President of the Czech Athletic Federation
1992 – 2005 ____ Member of the Czech Athletic Federation Council

In the European Athletic Association:
2019 – to date _ European Athletics Vice President
2015 – 2019 ____ European Athletics Executive Board and Council member
2015 ____________ European Athletics Indoor Champinships Prague – LOC President
2011 ____________ European Athletics Championships U23 Ostrava – LOC President
2003 – 2015 ____ Member of the Competition Committee
1999 – 2003 ____ Member of the Marketing Committee
1995 – 1999 ____ Member of the Marketing Committee

In the International Association of Athletic Federations:
2018 _ IAAF Continental Cup Ostrava – LOC President
2007 _ IAAF World Youth Championships Ostrava - LOC Vice President
1997 _ IAAF World Race Walking Cup Podebrady - LOC General Secretary

In the Czech Olympic Committee:
2013 – to date President of the Czech Olympic Committee

Life Career:
Education
1991 ________ Doctoral degree at the Charles University in Prague
1984 – 1989 Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Philosophy & Arts Charles University, Prague

Working Experience
2014 – to date _ Chairman of the Board of Management Česká olympijská (PLC)
2011 – to date _ Chairman of the Board of Management Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn (PLC)

Katrine Gribel Vorum

Katrine Gribel Vorum joined Danish Athletics in 2013. Katrine was first involved in the organization of the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in 2014 and then moved on to leading the nation-wide School Olympics programme. In parallel, Katrine took on the role of project manager and contributed to the successful delivery of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the Royal Run in 2019.

Daniela Ivanova

Daniela Ivanova is a Business Development expert with over 6 years of experience in the start-up and tech industries. Currently, she works as BD Director for Central and Eastern Europe at Viber, working to develop a holistic ecosystem of partners across the region to serve millions of users with the best content and valuable services they love. Previously, Daniela worked as Marketing Manager for SoundCloud's global operations in Berlin. Heavily influenced by the start-up community and entrepreneurial spirit, Daniela returned to Bulgaria to support the development of local businesses. As a young professional, she participated in different projects about innovation in the digital space, the last one in South Korea in 2012: New Media in Youth Culture. Daniela has graduated with honors from The Hague University in the Netherlands, with a degree in International Business and Management, and later she specializes in Digital Strategies for Marketing at New York University in the USA.

Raoul Spronken

Raoul Spronken founded and leads RunningTours.Net. This is the biggest platform for independent running tour organisations. RTN promotes the running tour concept offering runners easy access to 150 well rated running tour companies worldwide.

It also is the digital platform for running tour managers to connect and share experiences and best practices.

Raoul started in the running business by organising Corporate in-company and charity races. In 2011 he started a running tour company in his home town.

For being a great motivator for runners and his unique role in the running business he was added to the ASICS Frontrunners team.

Jaromir Urgalski

Jaromir Urgalski is a Sales and Business Development expert with over 16 years experience.

He has received his Masters Degree at the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, Poland. Currently he holds the position of Key Account Manager at Modern Forms company, very high-tech and innovative company, who’s main motto is: „We would like to CREATE, not to re-create”. Modern Forms is a leading European producer of personalized medals and trophies for all sporting occasions and business events, selling to over 30 countries around the world.

Jaromir represents the company promoting creativity and innovativeness as well as an individual approach to the client. That is the reason why Modern Forms constantly introduces new solutions and original products. One of the main goals they set for themselves is the constant development and improvement of their offer.

Christine Goettel

Christine Goettel studied Business Marketing at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She currently is one of Always Advancing top sales executives. Christine joined the Always Advancing team in 2015 were she was originally hired as an administrative assistant for the company’s accounting department. Since 2015 Christine’s hard work and passion for the endurance sports industry has helped her grow an extensive client portfolio that includes races such as The Belgrade Marathon, Ironman Costa Rica, Rock N Roll Medellin, and the Ottawa Marathon. Christine interacts with numerous race directors on a daily basis to provide the best medal, award, promotional product and apparel piece that fits every budget. Combining her product knowledge with her passion to ensure that each participant will receive an Always Advancing item that they will cherish, sets her apart. Christine has also been responsible for Always Advancing’s presence in new markets. She has organized a number of corporate and social events that Always Advancing has hosted over the years. In her down time, Christine enjoys traveling to explore new cities. She has a passion for wildlife and enjoys spending her time in nature by jogging and hiking.

Richard Herstek

Richard Herstek has been an advertising copywriter and creative director for more than 20 years. He has worked at agencies in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston and Portland. His client list has included many blue chip clients—Converse, IBM, Fidelity Investments, The Wall Street Journal and many others. He has been working with the Prague Marathon and RunCzech since 2006, and was the architect of the organization’s current, All Runners Are Beautiful campaign.

He has lived in Paris, London, Prague and Manila.

Bernhard Escherich

Bernhard Escherich is the SAP Chief Industry Expert for sport. He has worked with SAP sports customers all over the world especially in the area of fan management and team performance. Bernhard has more than 20 years experience in the IT industry. Before he took over the responsibility for sport he was leading innovation projects in healthcare (cancer research) and public security.As a former elite water polo player he has a strong background in elite level sport analytics.

Claude Ruibal

Claude Ruibal is a senior, results-driven leader who has extensive experience in both the sport and digital industries. His impressive career has included many strategic and entrepreneurial roles across the US and Europe, including Global Head of Sports Content Partnerships at GoPro, and before that as Global Head of Sports Content at Google/YouTube. Previously, was Founder, Chairman & CEO of Universal Sports Television Network and Director of Global Football Management at the Coca-Cola Company.

Claude leads a cross-functional team that focuses on delivering innovation in video production, interactive digital content offerings, distribution strategies, social platforms, and integrated marketing campaigns. Claude Ruibal has a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University School of Law and a BA in Political Science from the University of California Santa Barbara.

Thomas Bachofner

Thomas Bachofner is Chairman of the Board of Datasport Ltd, Switzerland, a leading IT and timing service provider for popular and mass sports. Through the continuous expansion of its offer of services for organisers and athletes, Datasport has become the leading provider in Switzerland and abroad.

Since 2012 Datasport is a subsidiary company of Swisscom, Switzerland’s leading telecom company, one of its leading IT companies and one of the most sustainable companies in Switzerland and Europe.

Swisscom is, where Thomas spent the last decade of his professional life. The last three years, he was CEO of Swisscom Health Ltd., one of the leading solution providers in the Swiss health care system. Earlier, Thomas was Head of Strategy for Swisscom's Small and Medium Business segment. Before coming to Swisscom, Thomas Bachofner held various management positions at IBM and worked as a consultant at Accenture.

Thomas is passionate for bike sports. He is a member of the Board of the Trustees of Swissbike and of the Board of the Switzerland Innovation Park as well.

Daniel Ashworth

Dan Ashworth is the President/CEO of Ashworth Awards. He has over 30 years experience in the emblematic jewelry and awards industry. Dan has assisted endurance events, non-profit organizations, NGBs and corporations in developing their brand identities through the creation of metal products and awards. These items are used for various purposes such as crossing a finish line, recognizing membership/years of service, donor recognition and for an organization’s merchandise. Through the creation of these items Dan and his team at Ashworth Awards share their expertise with their customers to help them promote themselves to their target audience. As a result this helps organizations to drive registration, raise funds and attract more members.

Some of the most notable clients of Dan and his team at Ashworth Awards are The Boston Marathon, IRONMAN, USA Triathlon, US Figure Skating, Toastmasters International, MS Society, Dana Farber/The Jimmy Fund, The New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox to name a few.

When Dan isn’t in the office and traveling to tradeshows he can be found training and racing with his wife Kim at running and triathlon events across the country. He has completed 2 marathons, 2 full IRONMAN triathlons and countless 5K’s, 10K’s, half marathons and half ironman events.

About Ashworth Awards
For over 50 years, Ashworth Awards has been a go-to resource for race directors, event coordinators, coaches, and industry leaders. Ashworth Awards is a leading manufacturer of custom medallions, awards, plaques and various other recognition products. By providing the highest quality manufacturing materials, unbeatable pricing, custom designs and industry leading customer service they create a seamless experience.

Greg Broekmans

Greg Broekmans is head of running & walking at Golazo sports in Belgium. Greg joined the company 15 years ago. He developed Golazo’s running business from 10 road races in Belgium around 2005 to over 40 different running events & concepts attracting over 250.000 runners in 2019. From The Color Run to the Crêtes de Spa Ultratrail of 57 km: Golazo organizes the whole spectrum of running events.

Currently Greg’s new challenge lies in developing the walking market where Golazo wants to become market leader in experience events.

Golazo Group currently consists of 45 companies, with offices in 12 cities over 7 European countries. Their mission is to create a healthier and more active world by moving at least 30 minutes a day. This is done by physical en phigital events, digital training applications, corporate wellbeing programs, ambassador programs etc.

Tim Hutchings

For almost 30 years, since retiring as a professional distance runner in 1990, Tim’s voice has become one of the most familiar in the English-language in the world of Athletics & Distance Running. He has commentated on every one of the IAAF World Championships since 1991, the last seven summer Olympic Games and hundreds of track meetings and road races in the last three decades.

His voice is now recognised far and wide as one which adds authority and drama to unfolding competitive situations. Last September, Tim’s voice accompanied the live world-feed images of Eliud Kipchoge’s astonishing marathon world record in Berlin: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr-ACku1b9g

Tim specialises in commentating on road races, covering 5 out of 6 of the annual Abbott World Marathon Majors series each year, as well as dozens of other road races for a wide variety of clients.

COMPETITIVE ATHLETE CAREER (1978-1990)
Tim is a two-time IAAF World Cross Country Championships silver medallist (1984 & 1989) and placed 4th in the 1984 Olympic 5,000m. He was also both European & Commonwealth bronze medallist at 5,000m in 1986. He ended his career with a Mile best of 3:54 and 10,000m PB of 28:07. Injury brought his career to a premature end in 1990-91.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY
Variously and while commentating, Tim has also been a consultant to Reebok UK (1991-2003), International Coordinator at the London Marathon (1992-2005), and Head of UK Sales at The Active Network (2001-2005).

In 2007, Tim founded The Grounded Events Company in order to organise the Brighton Marathon each April (always 1-2 weeks before the London Marathon); after ten editions (2010-2019), the event is now the UK’s second biggest marathon (after London), has been televised several times and staged its 10th anniversary race on 14th April 2019. This remains his other passion as the “race weekend” continues to grow, attracting almost 20,000 entries each year, while raising millions for the local Brighton economy and for over 250 charity partners.