Speakers

Francesco Aurelio Bongiorno is an experienced Sports Venue professional with thirty years of experience in the design, project management, construction and operation of multiple large sports complexes. This includes the Hospitality Programme in coordination with all functional areas involved in major sports operations and programs.

Portfolio of large sports venue programmes in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ from inception to construction, completion and event operation.

Francesco studied at the University of Rome with a master in architecture. He worked for some of the most respectable and globally recognised engineering organizations in Italy, UK, USA and the Middle East.

Since March 2023 he has been working with Mace for the Ministry of Sport in Riyadh as a Design Director and is engaged with the Ministry of Sport Programme.

Jürg Kronenberg is a leader of Bain’s Sports and Strategy Practices in the Middle East with 15+ years of consulting experience with Bain globally – 7 years in the Middle East. Jürg has led several strategic projects in sports with both public and private sector entities; recent cases include sports investment strategy, sports sector digitalization strategy, national football strategy, sports club transformation, football clubs due diligence, sports academy strategy, league media rights due diligence.

Jürg has advised clients across the globe and has been stationed in several European countries, as well as Australia and South Africa. He has spent the last several years working on projects across the Middle East. He holds a Master of Strategy and International Management, magna cum laude, from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

• Laurent Viviez is a Senior Partner within EY’s TMT practice, covering the MENA region. Laurent has 25 years of consulting experience advising leading corporations, governments and regulators in the Media, Sports & Entertainment sectors
• Laurent advices senior executives on their most pressing issues related to strategy, growth, performance improvement and large scale transformation. In particular, Laurent has advised the Saudi government on sector development strategies in the Media and Sports sectors
• Laurent focuses in particular on the sports sector, where he advises public policy makers and private companies alike
• Prior to joining EY, Laurent has worked with Strategy& and Kearney. He has an MBA from ESCP Europe

Yasser Alzahrani is a Sport management professional fostering growth in the field, with extensive experience working on projects for the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Passionate about promoting sports and fostering talent. Dedicated to implementing Olympic Solidarity programs to empower Saudi Athletes, Coaches, Administrators, and National Federations.

Yasser has a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Barry University in the USA. He has Project management Professional certification from PMI. He’s currently a sport Management Master's student working on a research paper focusing on elite athletes’ development.

Felicien is a Partner at Portas Consulting and leads the Global Active Places Practice. As an experienced advisor to both private and public sector organizations he has worked on a range of national strategies, business plans, and investment appraisals. Felicien has worked with many of the Middle East’s most prominent sports events, governing bodies and properties. In Saudi Arabia Felicien has recently been working on the development programs for new stadiums and refurbishment programs in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam. He has also been closely involved in the planning of new sport venues with a variety the Kingdom’s giga projects that include sports such as equestrian, skating, combat, shooting, aquatics, cycling, and national high performance training centers.

Cesare Paciello, VP of Events & Mobility Solutions at HID Global, is a pioneer with over 25 years of experience in digital security, identity solutions and mobility innovations. With advanced degrees in Economics and Business, coupled with a Master's in Sales and Marketing and various contributions to INSEAD international programs.

One of Paciello's most notable achievements lies in the realm of multi-application tokens, with sales exceeding a staggering 500 million units throughout his career. His visionary approach and charismatic leadership have been instrumental in the conception and development of cutting-edge ticketing and transportation solutions, revolutionizing the way people interact with digital identities and mobility systems.

Paciello's impact extends far beyond the confines of the corporate world. His remarkable ability to forge strategic partnerships and close monumental deals has left an indelible mark on the global stage. From securing major contracts with FIFA for the World Cup and UEFA Euro tournaments to spearheading membership programs for prestigious football clubs, Paciello's contributions have transcended boundaries, leaving an enduring legacy in the sports and entertainment industry.

With a footprint in 100+ countries, Paciello navigates complex projects adeptly, epitomizing innovation and leadership in digital security and mobility.

I am a brazilian football coach, graduated in physical education, also have Coach Pro License who had the opportunity to coach important teams like Santos u20, Corinthians u17, Botafogo u20, Al Hilal u17 and since November 2022, Saudi Arabia u19 and u21, where we won the Arab Games in Algeria last July 2023.

I am also CBF Academy instructor.

Deputy CEO National Lighting Company (NLC) as of February 2024. He is a bord member of ELEMAC, previously called Rexel Arabia which he helped establish in 2015 in his capacity as its CEO. With a robust background in the lighting, electrical, and building automation industries, with proven record of supporting & supervising multiple stadiums & sport facilities projects in Saudi Arabia.

Mansoor has over 25 years’ experience in real estate, infrastructure, healthcare, education and PPP in the MENA region including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has worked for Ernst & Young (EY), Andersen Consultancy, and presenting work at Colliers as Executive and Head of Advisory Practice for the MENA region for since 2010. He has conducted many strategic and advisory level projects in sports sector across the MENA region, with a focus on football, golf, equestrian, polo, tennis, cricket and many other outdoor and indoor sports.

Mansoor has advised number clients in both public and private sector on several Sports, Entertainment and Social Infrastructure projects across the middle east region. As most of the Sports, Entertainment and Social Infrastructure projects can be classified as “public goods” and are not economically viable at standalone level, Mansoor main area of expertise is to optimise the financial and operational efficiencies and support Sports,  Entertainment and Social Infrastructure projects by developing innovative real estate projects around the projects to make a project at macro level feasible or at least revenue neutral and/or evaluate their benefits for overall economy and society by conducting economic and social impact studies, in terms of contribution to GDP, increasing tourism, enhancing city / country attractiveness and overall impact on Quality of Life.

Carlos has over 20 years experience on the AV and Digital Video industry initially as a solutions architect and then moving into Business Development. He has been helping stadiums around the world to improve the Fan Experience and incorporate the use of video and digital content since 2010, when he was involved in some of the pioneer projects in the Premier League and later La Liga and Ligue 1. He is currently responsible for all sales in EMEA and APAC for Uniguest, a leading technology provider in Stadiums and Sports.

Ahmed is a Director at EY MENA, co-leading MENA Sports Practice based in Riyadh with more than 14 years of regional experience with focus on social infrastructure and sports business. Ahmed previously worked at Mott MacDonald as the Territory Manager and Advisory Projects Lead in Saudi Arabia, as well as a Public Sector Strategy Advisor at Arthur D. Little. Ahmed has advised leading football clubs, private and public organizations in the region on their growth, revenue and privatization strategies, as well as sports facilities development and finance. Ahmed is a member of board of advisor of multiple regional and international annual conferences as well as regular public speaker on sports investments and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Ahmed has a Masters in International Business Management from Heriot Watt University, and is an accredited professional in PPPs (CP3P), Sustainable Planning (LEED AP) and Sustainable Finance (CESF).