Get your marketing game face on

Paul Kind has been a leader in the commercial and marketing functions of sport and entertainment for more than 25 years.

Paul currently leads award winning sport and entertainment agency, TSE and also holds the role of CEO at the Sydney Kings basketball team as a result of TSE’s investment in the franchise in 2018.

Paul’s role as the NRL’s Head of Commercial and Marketing Director from 2002-2014 saw him manage the games sponsorship program, digital strategy, major events including State of Origin, NRL Grand Final, brand and retail advertising campaigns. He delivered major new event innovations including the NRL All Stars, and the NRL Auckland Nines. In 2014 Paul was named one of the top 20 global innovators in sports by Sport Business International for his leadership of the inaugural Nines event.

Paul oversaw the NRL’s fastest growing period of non-broadcast revenue growth from 2012-2014, highlighted by significant increases in sponsorship, ticketing, hospitality and digital revenue. He also managed the broadcast partnerships with the Nine Network, FOX Sports & Telstra during this period.

One of his legacies is the long standing partnerships the NRL retains with major Australian companies including Telstra, Harvey Norman, VB, Cola Cola, Holden & KFC.

In 2015 Paul started the KIND Agency, a sport and entertainment consultancy that specialised in marketing, sponsor activation, events and commercial consultancy. KIND’s clients included FOXTEL, FOX Sports, NSWRL, NBL, Harvey Norman, TEG Live, The Star Group during the companies 18-month existence.

In July 2017, the KIND Agency was acquired by TSE, a Sydney based sport and entertainment agency. Over the past year TSE has undergone a business transformation, built on the platform of a successful twenty five years as a leading leverage and activation agency. TSE is privately owned and well capitalised which allows for a nimble approach to opportunities including investment in commercial rights, team rights or business acquisition.

TSE’s clients include Fairfax Events, Netball Australia, Foxtel, Fox Sports, Gatorade, Citi, The Star Group, Tropfest, NSWRL and the Sydney Kings.

Tom Parker is a China specialist with a focus on collaboration between Australia and China to broaden the bi-lateral relationship. A Mandarin speaker, Tom’s long-term engagement with China has resulted in impressive networks and successful business outcomes. He has held China focused roles in The Asialink Centre, Austrade (Beijing), City of Melbourne and as writer and reporter for the ABC in both China and Australia for Radio National’s Asia Pacific Program.

In 2007, Tom established Red Tape Consulting a China Advisory business that helped stage the first AFL exhibition math as part of the Shanghai World Expo and delivered intercultural training programs as well as conducted trade missions on behalf of the Victorian and NSW governments.

In 2015, Bastion acquired Red Tape and Tom established Bastion China, as one of Australia’s leading Chinese language marketing and communications business with clients including Tennis Australia, Mirvac, Australian Grand Prix, and Virgin Australia.
Last year, he joined the AFL in a newly created role as Head of China to drive commercial outcomes from the ongoing engagement and games being played in Shanghai.

Tom incorporates a life-long passion for China into his professional life having studied Chinese (Mandarin) since 1987. He has completed a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies) with honours from Melbourne University and the Australian National University and a Graduate Diploma of International Business Studies (in Mandarin) at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. Tom has also studied in the Advanced Chinese Language Program at the East China Normal University in Shanghai.

Tom is a well-connected Australia-China facilitator with extensive experience assisting business and government better understand and access their opportunities in China.

Tyson “Star Boy” Pedro was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, where he grew up surrounded around Martial Arts most of his life because of his father, He currently trains out of Sydney and also Jacksons Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, US.

Started his love of fighting from the young age of 8, Doing Kenpo Karate and weapon tournaments, but after dominating the league he always sought after taking it to another level with boxing. After a successful and undefeated 7 fight win streak in amateur boxing he decided to have a run at Jiu Jitsu at the same time winning various state, national and pan pacific titles. Then in 2010 Tyson was awarded the accolade best boxer after winning his division in the NSW State Titles. Then Tyson moved on to win the Abu Dhabi world trials in the Blue belt Jiu Jitsu open weight division in 2012 qualifying for the world championships in Abu Dhabi however was unable to compete due to work commitments. Later Tyson then won his first a class amateur MMA debut and immediately turned Pro. He then took on the local MMA scene by storm, his first Pro bout was a first round KO of punches, then in 2016 he had 2 fights which finished both of them first round by submission. Since dominating the local scene within the Light Heavyweight division got into the UFC and has made a statement within his first year making top 15 in the world. Has Black Belt in BJJ and has a MMA pro record of 7-3

In 2018 Esther introduced Audience of Value (AoV) as an influencer trading metric, reinforcing her commitment to bringing discipline and measurability to engagement channels. She has delivered business success to brands such as Sydney Airport, Olympus, Rimmel, Steggles, OPI, and Olympus with content grounded in audience rigour and measurable KPIs.

Andrew Montesi is a marketer, content producer and former TV sport reporter.

He is Head of Marketing at PickStar, Australia’s largest marketplace to book sports stars for events, marketing campaigns and experiences. PickStar is a startup that provides direct access to 1100+ elite athletes and sports personalities, working with brands like Caltex, Sportsbet, Coles, Seven West Media, Optus and Bendigo Bank, as well as many schools, sports clubs and fans.

Andrew also produces a number of podcasts and content for a wide range of clients across sport and professional services industries through his content marketing company, Apiro.

Previously, Andrew was a sport reporter and producer with 9 News and started his career in the media and communications department at the Adelaide Crows.

Michelle is currently a Group Account Director and sports and entertainment lead at Thrive PR + Communications.

Michelle joined the agency in 2018 with extensive sports PR and sponsorship experience, having worked with some of the biggest sports properties in the world in soccer, Formula One and athletics in Australia and London.

Michelle has led teams to create and execute integrated communication and sponsorship leverage strategies for consumer and B2B brands. With expertise across media relations, content, digital and experiential, she has also worked across talent management, rights and sponsorship contract negotiation and stakeholder engagement.

Recently, Michelle spearheaded the Thrive team to launch a new, global racing league SailGP into the Australian market, including the world premiere in Sydney. The annual championship, founded by Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison, features teams from six nations, competing in five grand prix around the world.

She is passionate about raising the profile of women’s sports, and in her downtime loves playing netball, watching AFL, and supporting Liverpool in the EPL.

Thrive’s sports portfolio includes SailGP, Swimming Australia, STIHL Timbersports, Collective Wellness Group (including Anytime Fitness), Pickstar and ANZ including their sponsorship of the Australian Open tennis.