Countdown (10-06): Top 20 Young Guns in the Business of Sport

Following engagement with the Ministry of Sport audience and broader business community, we are proud to launch our inaugural Top 20 Young Guns, a curated editorial series spotlighting the rising operators shaping the future of sport.

Last month, we invited nominations for high-performing professionals under 30 who are doing great work across the industry. Those driving innovation, improving performance, and contributing meaningfully behind the scenes.

The response reflected the strength and diversity of the ecosystem across Australia and New Zealand. From commercial and marketing to operations and administration, it’s clear there is a new generation of talent stepping up and making an impact.

We have now finalised our Top 20, a group of individuals already contributing at a high level across clubs, leagues, brands, and governing bodies.

This is not an awards program. There are no judges’ tables or acceptance speeches. This is about recognition and visibility, shining a light on people who are doing the work and helping move the industry forward.

The momentum behind our Top 20 Young Guns series has reached a fever pitch as we officially enter our third five, the last 10 Young Guns:

#10: Holli Oakley

Organisation: AFL

Impact: At a time when the AFL is expanding its footprint, including the introduction of a new “Wildcard Finals” round and the return of State of Origin in 2026, Holli has been the linchpin for complex brand approvals.

Her management of digital reporting ensures that the league’s commercial partners receive world-class insights as the game continues to scale.

#9: Darcy Cox

Organisation: Tennis Australia

Impact: Darcy led the marketing efforts for a historic 2026 Australian Open that shattered all-time records, welcoming over 1.36 million fans to Melbourne Park. His oversight helped turn the tournament into a three-week “summer spectacle,” nearly doubling Opening Week attendance compared to previous years.

#8: Lizzie Dingeldei

Organisation: Tasmania Football Club

Impact: Establishing a brand-new sporting franchise is a big task, and Lizzie has played a foundation role for the Tasmania Devils. From navigating membership software transitions to launching the “Devils Believer” packages, her work is ensuring the 19th AFL club has a robust commercial platform long before its 2028 debut.

#7: Katelyn Campbell

Organisation: Tennis Australia

Impact: While record crowds flocked to the courts, Katelyn was responsible for the strategic brand positioning that allowed the Australian Open to maintain its status as the world’s most attended Grand Slam. Katelyn consistently demonstrate vision, leadership, and the ability to create meaningful commercial and brand impact across some of Tennis Australia’s most important products.

Her work on the Brisbane International showcases this: driving multiple years of audience growth, leading a full event rebrand, elevating partnerships, and shaping a premium offering that has significantly matured in perception and performance.

She combines imagination with commercial thinking, from transforming the BI PX brand from a non existent entity into a premium asset, to designing high value acquisition strategies that materially improve their ticketing pipeline.

Aside from that, Katelyn also bring a collaborative leadership style that lifts cross functional performance. The AO Reserve content series is a testament to that, a project that engaged nearly every area of the business, delivered new storytelling depth, and unlocked a future commercialisation pathway.

Her trajectory is defined by curiosity, strategic thinking, and a drive to create long-term value. She don’t just execute tasks; she build brands, elevate products, and identify opportunities that otherwise may have been overlooked.

Organisation: EY

Impact: Representing the critical intersection of professional services and elite sport, Dominic provides high-level digital strategy for major sporting bodies at EY. His work helps organisations leverage AI and sophisticated CRM systems to turn “big data” into tangible revenue growth and enhanced fan experiences.

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