Speakers

Play the Game conferences always present a long line of expert speakers from various areas of world sport.

If you are not on the speaker list below, please contact Stanis Elsborg, head of Play the Game, at stanis@playthegame.org

Speakers who have confirmed their invitation and/or have had their abstract accepted and session chairpersons at Play the Game 2025 (in alphabetical order):

• Abdullah Ibhais, communications and advocacy consultant, Jordan
  
  
• Affy Sheikh, consultant, Astera Sports Integrity, UK
  
  
• Ahmar Abdoulaye Maiga, executive director, Young Players Protection in Africa, Mali
  
  
• Alberto Carrio, professor, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain
  
  
• Alex Marshall, Board member, Biathlon Integrity Unit, UK
  
  
• Alex Phillips, secretary general, FIFPRO, UK
   
• Aline Lopes da Silva Candeo, PhD candidate, Johannes Gutenberg University, Brazil
  
  
• Allison Wagner, director of athlete and intl. relations, USADA, USA
  
  
• Amir van Eekelen, MAiSI graduate, KU Leuven, Netherlands
  
  
• Anca-Maria Gherghel, research manager/PhD student, EPIC Global Solutions/ SHU, Romania
  
  
• Andrea Florence, director, Sport & Rights Alliance, Brazil
  
  
• Andrea Petroczi, professor, ELTE Budapest / Kingston University, UK
  
  
• Andrea Schültke, freelance journalist, WDR/Deutschlandfunk, Germany
  
  
• Andreas Selliaas, journalist, Idrettspolitikk.no, Norway
  
  
• Andrew Grainger, lecturer, Western Sydney University, Australia
  
  
• Andrew Heyes, postdoctoral research fellow, Leeds Beckett University, UK
  
  
• Anna Kellar, advocate, The Future of Figure Skating, USA
  
  
• Anna Posbergh, assistant professor, Florida State University, USA
  
  
• Annet Negesa, athlete ambassador, Humans of Sport, Uganda
  
  
• Antti Aine, professor of sports law, University of Helsinki and University of Turku, Finland
  
  
• Arabinrin Aderonke, founder and executive director, FAME Foundation, Nigeria
  
  
• Ari Lahti, President of the Football Association of Finland and member of the UEFA Executive Committee, Finland
  
  
• Ariel Dulitzky, clinical professor, Human Rights Clinic, University of Texas School of Law, USA
  
  
• Arnout Geeraert, assistant professor, Utrecht University, Belgium
  
  
• Arthur Iestyn Whitehead, PhD candidate, Kingston University, UK
  
  
• Ask Vest Christiansen, associate professor, Aarhus University, Denmark
  
  
• Aya Sadamasu, researcher, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chiba University, Japan
  
  
• Benedikt Stoffers, research assistant, University of Münster, Germany
  
  
• Benjamin Best, editor, ARD Sportschau / WDR Sport inside, Germany
  
  
• Bjørn Berge, deputy secretary general, Council of Europe, Norway
  
  
• Blake Davidson, executive vice president, RealResponse, USA
  
  
• Bradley Gorham, associate professor, Syracuse University, USA
  
  
• Bram Constandt, professor, Ghent University, Belgium
  
  
• Brett Clothier, head, Athletics Integrity Unit, Australia
  
  
• Brian Wesaala, founder and CEO, The Football Foundation for Africa, Kenya
  
  
• Brianna Walsh, PhD researcher, Swansea University, Canada
  
  
• Bruce Kidd, professor emeritus, University of Toronto, Canada
  
  
• Carine Kanimba, Member of the executive council, World Liberty Congress, Rwanda
  
  
• Carole Gomez, PhD candidate, University of Lausanne, France
  
  
• Caster Semenya, co-founder, Caster Semenya Foundation, South Africa
  
  
• Catalina Melendro, researcher, Sport Equity Lab and CCCU, Colombia
  
  
• Catherine Ordway, associate professor, University of Canberra- UCRISE, Australia
  
  
• Cem Abanazir, lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University, Turkey/UK
  
  
• César Tiago Afonso Costa de Cima, researcher, IscteInstituto Universitario de Lisboa, Portugal
  
  
• Chiel Warners, Principle consultant, CW Consulting, Netherlands
  
  
• Chris Dalby, director, Sports and Crime Briefing, France
  
  
• Chris Horbel, professor, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Germany
  
  
• Christian Gjersing Nielsen, PhD and senior analyst, Danish Institute for Sports Studies, Denmark
  
  
• Christina Macfarlane, anchor/ correspondent, CNN, UK
  
  
• Christina Philippou, associate professor, Sport Finance, University of Portsmouth, UK
  
  
• Cleo Schyvinck, post-doctoral researcher, Ghent University, Belgium
  
  
• Corentin Segalen, chair of the group of Copenhagen, ANJ, France
  
  
• Cornelia Blank, senior scientist, University of Innsbruck, Austria
  
  
• Daniel Wigfield, assistant professor, York University, Canada
  
  
• Daniela Lux, PhD student, University of Innsbruck, Austria
  
  
• David Goldblatt, writer, FairSquare, UK
  
  
• David Legg, professor, Mount Royal University, Canada
  
  
• David McGillivray, professor, University of the West of Scotland, UK
  
  
• Derrick Charway, postdoctoral fellow, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Norway
  
  
• Dominik Krüssmann, PhD student, University of Münster, Germany
  
  
• Drago Kos, chairman of the Istanbul AC Action Plan, OECD, Slovenia
  
  
• Elizabeth Dann, PhD researcher, University of Sheffield - School of English, UK
  
  
• Elena Casero, programme manager, Council of Europe, Spain
  
  
• Elina Laine, sustainability manager, Finnish Olympic Committee. Finland
  
  
• Emil von Werthern, PhD candidate, KU Leuven, Germany
  
  
• Emily Kohler, PhD student, University of Minnesota, Brazil
  
  
• Emma Thomas, sports ethicist and survivor advocate, MAiSI, UK
  
  
• Ennia Jones, founder and director, A Splash of Colour Swimming, Australia
  
  
• Ercument Yigit, independent researcher, Dr., Turkey
  
  
• Eric Williams, Deputy Vice President of Investigations, U. S. Center for SafeSport, USA
  
  
• Erica Puppo, Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, FIFPRO, Italy
  
  
• Eva Bunthoff, member of the executive board, National Anti Doping Agency Germany, Germany
  
  
• Evangeline Makena Kathenya, athlete ambassador, Humans of Sport, Kenya
  
  
• Ezequiel Matias Fernandez Moores, journalist, La Nación, Argentina
  
  
• Federico Dario Teijeiro, investigative, data & OSINT journalist, Universidad de San Andrés & Clarín, Argentina
  
  
• Fragkiskos Tsiros, doctoral researcher, European University Institute, Greece
  
  
• Frederique Reynertz, managing director, FRConsulting, Belgium
  
  
• Filip Brokes, investigator, Berlin Risk Advisors GmbH, Germany
  
  
• Florian Petrica, university lecturer, University of Bucharest, Romania
  
  
• Frank Conde Tangberg, policy advisor, Amnesty International Norway, Norway
  
  
• Friba Rezayee, executive director, Women Leaders of Tomorrow, Afghanistan
  
  
• Genevieve Birren, professor, SUNY Cortland, USA
  
  
• Gëzim Qadraku, content creator, owner of sports & geopolitics, Germany
  
  
• Giannis Braho, lega counsel, FIFPro, Greece
  
  
• Grace McKenzie, advisory council member, Sport & Rights Alliance, Canada
  
  
• Hajo Seppelt, CEO, EyeOpening.Media GmbH, Germany
  
  
• Hanne Marie Brevik, editor, Sports Investigation Group, NRK Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, Norway
  
  
• Hans Natorp, president, NOC and Sports Confederation of Denmark, Denmark
  
  
• Hannah Hinton, Vice president, Organizational development & compliance, U. S. Center for SafeSport, USA
  
  
• Harry Arne Solberg, professor, NTNU, Norway
  
  
• Harry Grimes, PhD candidate, University of Lausanne, UK
  
  
• Hayley Gibbons, senior investigator analyst, Athletics Integrity Unit, Monaco
  
  
• Heini Wennman, leading expert, Sports Institute of Three Campuses, Finland
  
  
• Hélène Bâ, cofounder and president, Basket Pour Toutes, France
  
  
• Henry Jarva, assistant professor, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
  
  
• Henry Velarde, student researcher, MAiSI, Nicaragua
  
  
• Hillary J. Haldane, professor, Quinnipiac University, USA
  
  
• Håvard Melnæs, editor, Josimar, Norway
  
  
• Ingrid Beutler, senior partner, Think Beyond, Switzerland
  
  
• Ioannis Konstantopoulos, FNS researcher, University of Lausanne, Greece
  
  
• Isaac Lockett, PhD Researcher, Kingston University London, UK
  
  
• Isha Anandpara, student, Jindal Global Law School, India
  
  
• Jack Kerr, investigative journalist, Josimar, Australia
  
  
• Jakub Cavoj, integrity officer, Slovak Football Association, Slovakia
  
  
• Jan Zglinski, associate professor, LSE Law School, UK
  
  
• James Lynch, director, FairSquare, UK
  
  
• James M. Dorsey, academic, journalist, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies / The Turbulent World with James M. Dorsey, Singapore/Germany/Morocco
  
  
• Jarmo Mäkinen, senior researcher, Finnish Institute of HP Sport KIHU, Finland
  
  
• Jatta Muhonen, doctoral researcher, University of Helsinki, Finland
  
  
• Jeff Cook, chief legal and operations officer, USADA, USA
  
  
• Jens Sejer Andersen, founder and senior advisor, Play the Game, Denmark
  
  
• Jeppe Laursen Brock, journalist, Politiken, Denmark
  
  
• Jill Thomson, campaigner/researcher, Scottish Sport for Palestine, Scotland
  
  
• Joanna Maranhão, network coordinator, Sport & Rights Alliance, Brazil
  
  
• Joanna Marie Harper, adjunct professor, Western University, London, Canada, Canada
  
  
• Joel Finlay, independent management consultant, Ban Ads for Gambling, Canada
  
  
• Joel Wilkinson, founder/CEO, Incident Guidance, Australia
  
  
• Joey Shea, researcher, Human Rights Watch, Canada
  
  
• Johannes Liljedal Strauman, master’s student, NTNU, Norway
  
  
• John C. Manly, founder & partner, Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, USA
  
  
• John T. Holden, associate professor, Kelley School of Business - Indiana University, USA
  
  
• Jon Pike, professor of philosophy, The Open University, UK
  
  
• Jonathan Grix, professor of Sport Politics and Policy, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
  
  
• José Luis Pérez Triviño, professor, Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Spain
  
  
• Jules Boykoff, professor of political science, Pacific University, USA.
  
  
• Jules Woolf, assistant professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
  
  
• Julia Cook, governance coordinator, Biathlon Integrity Unit, UK
  
  
• Julie Ann Rivers-Cochran, executive director, The Army of Survivors, USA
  
  
• Julie Hortencia Gómez Solano, regulation of the sports coaching profes, Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina, Colombia
  
  
• Justin Fiacconi, journalist, CBC, Canada
  
  
• Jürgen Mittag, professor, Dr., German Sport University, Germany
  
  
• Jörg Krieger, associate professor, Aarhus University & University Inland, Germany
  
  
• Kadija Richards, PhD fellow, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (DAiSI), Jamaica
  
  
• Kalika Mehta, sports journalist, Deutsche Welle, UK/Germany
  
  
• Karim Zidan, journalist, Play the Game and Sports Politika, Egypt
  
  
• Karina Chilman, assistant director - Major sporting events and international engagement, Sport Integrity Australia, Australia
  
  
• Karina Zalcmane, vice-rector of academic affairs, EKA University of Applied Sciences, Latvia
  
  
• Katherine Craig, CEO, Athlead, UK
  
  
• Kathryn McClain, program and partnerships director, We Ride Together, Inc., USA
  
  
• Kati Lehtonen, principal researcher, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland
  
  
• Kelsey Sloan, researcher, Harvard Global Sports Initiative, USA
  
  
• Kemisola Ibitoye, director of programs, FAME Foundation, Nigeria
  
  
• Kenny Kitsingh, PhD candidate, University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago
  
  
• Kerry Fischer, associate professor, SUNY Fredonia, USA
  
  
• Kersti Kaljulaid, president, Estonian Olympic Committee, Estonia
  
  
• Kervin Jean, head UWI Global Campus Academy of Sport, University of the West Indies Global Cam, Trinidad and Tobago
  
  
• Khayran Noor, founding director, Sports Legal, Kenya
  
  
• Kim Shore, founder, Project Safe Kids, Canada
  
  
• Kim Højgaard Ravn, director, Anti Doping Denmark, Denmark
  
  
• Kimberly Holst, clinical professor of Law, Arizona State University, USA
  
  
• Kirsty Burrows, associate director, International Olympic Committee, UK
  
  
• Klaus Nielsen, professor emeritus, Birbeck University of London, Denmark
  
  
• Laima Kirtovska, PhD student, DAiSI, Latvia
  
  
• Laura Robinson, investigative journalist, Human Race, Canada
  
  
• Leonie Brodmann, SNSF PhD candidate, UNIL, Switzerland
  
  
• Lily Dong Li Rosengard, senior specialist, ILGA World, UK
  
  
• Linda Muir, head of sport engagement, Sport Integrity Australia, Australia
  
  
• Lindee Declercq, graduate student, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada
  
  
• Lindsey Kennedy, research director, The Eyewitness Project, UK
  
  
• Lisa A. Kihl, professor, University of Minnesota, USA
  
  
• Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Association and member of the UEFA Executive Committee, Norway
  
  
• Lizzy Banks, retired athlete, Independent, UK
  
  
• Lúcio de Castro, journalist, Jornal Lance, Brazil
  
  
• Madeleine Pape, research fellow, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
  
  
• Maggie Nichols, founder, Maggie Nichols Foundation, USA
  
  
• Marcelo Moriconi, researcher, ISCTE Instituto Universitario de Lisboa, Portugal
  
  
• Marcia Lara Hapig, research assistant/PhD candidate, University of Tübingen, Germany
  
  
• Marcus Mazzucco, adjunct lecturer, University of Toronto, Canada
  
  
• Maria Bridson, advocate, BridsonHalsall Advocates Limited, Isle of Man
  
  
• Maria Eduarda Marcelino, master in sport ethics and integrity, KU Leuven, Brazil
  
  
• Mariam Mpaata, founder/CEO, AfriKa Sports Foundation Center, Uganda
  
  
• Marie B De Cock, PhD researcher, Ghent University, Belgium
  
  
• Marijke Taks, professor, University of Ottawa, Canada
  
  
• Mark Sternman, chief of staff, Massachusetts State Senator Keenan, USA
  
  
• Marina Kamenecka-Usova, leading researcher and associated professor, Rīga Stradiņš University, Latvia
  
  
• Marjukka Mikkonen, university instructor, Tampere University, Finland
  
  
• Mark Fainaru-Wada, investigative reporter, ESPN, USA
  
  
• Marko Begović, university professor, Molde University College, Norway - Montenegro
  
  
• Marko Kananen, research manager, Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports, Finland
  
  
• Mark Pieth, professor, Office Pieth, Switzerland
  
  
• Marloes Ekkelboom, lecturer / PhD candidate, German Sport University Cologne, Germany
  
  
• Mauricio Hernández, director, Transparency in Sports, Colombia
  
  
• Maximilian Rieger, journalist, freelancer, Germany
  
  
• Mercy Muriithi, PhD candidate, MAiSI/KU Leuven, Kenya
  
  
• Mhairi Maclennan, CEO, Kyniska Advocacy Ltd, UK
  
  
• Michael Gibbons, attorney, MPG Law, USA
  
  
• Michaela Callie, executive director, We Ride Together, Inc., USA
  
  
• Mickaël Terrien, Professor, University of Lausanne, Switzerland
  
  
• Mika Poutala, minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
  
  
• Minky Worden, director of Global Initiatives, Human Rights Watch, USA
  
  
• Mogens Kirkeby, president, ISCA, Denmark
  
  
• Mohamed Keita, senior Africa policy officer, Human Rights Foundation, Mali
  
  
• Nadim Nassif, associate professor in PES, NDU-Louaize - Lebanon, Lebanon
  
  
• Natalie Galea, senior lecturer, University of Sydney, Australia
  
  
• Natasha Eunsuh Go, master student, KU Leuven, South Korea
  
  
• Neal Anderson, COO, Safe Sport International, UK
  
  
• Neel Shelat, undergraduate journalism student, Northwestern University in Qatar, India
  
  
• Nestor Ordonez Saavedra, Lawyer, UDCA - COCED, Colombia
  
  
• Nicholas McGeehan, co-director of FairSquare, UK
  
  
• Nick Raudenski, independent consultant, RISC-Raudenski Integrity & Sports Consultancy, USA
  
  
• Niels Appermont, associate professor, Hasselt University, Belgium
  
  
• Niina Anne Maria Toroi, Manager of International Relations, Finnish NOC, Finland
  
  
• Nikki Dryden, head of human rights, The Right Collective, Australia
  
  
• Nina Skyhøj Babore, head of International Affairs, NOC & Sports Confederation of Denmark, Denmark
  
  
• Osazemen Aghedo, project manager, TAFISA, Nigeria
  
  
• Panu Autio, executive director, Football Players' Association of Finland, Finland
  
  
• Paulina Tomczyk, general secretary, EAPA, Poland
  
  
• Paul J. Greene, founding partner, Global Sports Advocates, LLC, USA
  
  
• Paul James Brown, freelance journalist, UK
  
  
• Payoshni Mitra, executive director, Humans of Sport, UK
  
  
• Pedro José Mercado Jaén, PhD researcher, European University Institute, Spain
  
  
• Perttu Pesä, director of Major Events, City of Tampere/ Event Services, Finland
  
  
• Peter Donnelly, professor emeritus, Faculty of Kinesiology and PE, Canada
  
  
• Peter Van de Vliet, CEO, iNADO, Belgium/Germany
  
  
• Philippe Auclair, investigative reporter, Josimar, France/UK
  
  
• Pia Johansen, bureau member, European Aquatics, Denmark
  
  
• Pim Verschuuren, senior lecturer, University Rennes 2, France
  
  
• Rasmus K. Storm, head of research, Play the Game, Denmark
  
  
• Raul Fodor, president, World OCR, Romania
  
  
• Rishin Tandon, founder, The Youth Eco Sports Scorecard (YESS), USA
  
  
• Richard Norman, director, Community Futures/Innovation, Curling Canada, Canada
  
  
• Richard W. Pound, honorary member, IOC, Canada
  
  
• Rikke Rønholt Albertsen, board member, National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF), Denmark
  
  
• Robin Cartier, activist / student, Fossil Free Football / Malmö University, France
  
  
• Roger Pielke, professor emeritus, University of Colorado Boulder, USA
  
  
• Rolf Elm-Larsen, independent, Denmark
  
  
• Rose Hope Kewageshig, journalist research assistant, McClelland & Stewart, Canada
  
  
• Ruby Lorena Carrillo Barbosa, researcher teacher, Fundación Universitaria Konrad Lorenz    Colombia
  
  
• Sabrina Furtado, researcher, Instituto Inteligência Esportiva & Loughborough University, Brazil
  
  
• Sally Freedman, freelance writer, Switzerland
  
  
• Samantha Marshall, research officer, La Trobe University, Australia
  
  
• Samindra Kunti, reporter, Josimar/Freelance, Belgium
  
  
• Samuel Bashmakov, human rights advisor, Ihmisoikeusliitto/The Finnish League for Human Rights, Finland
  
  
• Samuli Oja, researcher, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland
  
  
• Sanchita Aidasani, investigator and analyst, Athletics Integrity Unit, Monaco
  
  
• Sandra Anya, research assistant, Sports Legal, Kenya
  
  
• Sandra Bergqvist, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Finland, Finland
  
  
• Sanna Erdogan, national trustee, Professional Coaches of Finland, Finland
  
  
• Sasha Gollish, knowledge mobilization director, University of Toronto, Canada
  
  
• Satu Heikkinen, senior ministerial adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
  
  
• Scarlen Martinez, CEO, Maven Strategy Group, USA
  
  
• Serhat Yilmaz, senior lecturer in Sports Law, Loughborough University, UK
  
  
• Simran Kaur Sethi, assistant professor of Sport Leadership, University of Kentucky, India
  
  
• Shane Britten, CEO, Social Protect, Australia
  
  
• Shannon Galpin, activist, human rights consultant, USA 
  
  
• Sharon Muzaki, environmental and science journalist, The Great Lakes Centre for Climate, Uganda
  
  
• Shazad Ali, journalist, Dawn, Pakistan
  
  
• Shireen Ahmed, journalist/academic, CBC Sports, Canada/Pakistan
  
  
• Shreya Joseph, student, Jindal Global Law School, India
  
  
• Silvia Camporesi, professor of sports ethics and bioethics, KU Leuven, Italy
  
  
• Simon Licen, associate professor, Sports Journalism, Penn State University, USA
  
  
• Sone Erikainen, lecturer in sociology, University of Aberdeen, Finland
  
  
• Sorcha Rowan Kennedy, child rights and sport specialist, UNICEF UK, UK
  
  
• Spencer Harris, professor, Colorado University Colorado Springs, USA
  
  
• Stanis Elsborg, head of Play the Game, Play the Game, Denmark
  
  
• Stanislas Frossard, EPAS Executive Secretary, Council of Europe, Switzerland
  
  
• Steffany Ndei, PhD researcher, Heriot Watt, Kenya
  
  
• Steve Menary, reporter, Freelance, UK
  
  
• Sven Daniel Wolfe, professor, University of Neuchâtel, USA
  
  
• Sylvain Croteau, executive director, Sport'Aide, Canada
  
  
• Søren Høy, director, Solo / N29 Films, Denmark
  
  
• Tanja Ferkau, managing director, IMPCT gGmbH, Germany
  
  
• Tariq Malik, professor, Lianoning University 
  
  
• Tarun Tarun, assistant professor, Gujarat National Law University, India
  
  
• Teemu Japisson, secretary general, Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports, Finland
  
  
• Theo Frixou, PhD student, Sport Environment Sociology, Loughborough University London, UK
  
  
• Thibault Ulrich, PhD candidate and research assistant, University of Lausanne, France
  
  
• Travis Tygart, CEO, USADA, USA
  
  
• Troels Rasmussen, headmaster, Viborg IH, Denmark
  
  
• Tsubassa Shinohara, assistant professor, University of Tsukuba, Japan
  
  
• Umaid Wasim, sports editor, DAWN, Pakistan
  
  
• Veera Manninen, doctoral researcher, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
  
  
• Victoria Roberts, lecturer, The University of Melbourne, Australia
  
  
• Viktoriia Smirnova, PhD candidate, DAiSI, Russia
  
  
• Vitaly Kazakov, postdoctoral fellow, Aarhus University, Denmark
  
  
• Vojtěch Bruk, product manager, Livesport s.r.o., Czech Republic
  
  
• Whitney Bragagnolo, sport ethicist and consulant, The Sport Ethics Examiner | MAiSI Alumni, Netherlands
  
  
• William Bull, assistant professor, Maastricht University, Netherlands
  
  
• Wladimir Andreff, emeritus professor, University Paris 1, France
  
  
• Zohreh Abdollahkhani, research fellow, University of South-Eastern Norway, Iran
  
  
• Zsolt Havran, associate professor, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary