Active Territories: Sport and Leisure

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Overview

The « Active Territories: Sport and Leisure » (AT:SL) Conference is a multidisciplinary event organised by éklore-ed School of Management on its Pau campus. It brings together professionals and specialist researchers to discuss current and future developments in the sport and leisure industry in its territorial environment.

The conference will look at how the sport and leisure sector has a lasting impact on the economic, managerial and communication development of local territories. It will highlight the interactions between private sector players and public projects, such as the organization of mega-events like the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

These collaborations also generate challenges and opportunities in terms of economic, sustainable and societal development. We encourage participants to explore these issues related to the industry and its stakeholders in a context of territorial integration and ever-changing international competition.

We cordially invite academics, researchers, and industry professionals to submit a detailed abstract for conference presentation.

Keynote Speakers

Dr Anna Gerke

Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation | Audencia Business School

Anna holds a Ph.D. from Paris-Saclay University and is Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation at Audencia Business School and has been visiting La Trobe University, University of Auckland, and University of Bayreuth. Her research interests are in organizational theory, networks, innovation, value co-creation, circular economy, carbon literacy, and the sport industry. She has published in leading sport management and general business journals.

She is currently track chair for Esport, Innovation and Technology at EASM and was Chair of the Managing Sport SIG at EURAM. Anna sits on the editorial board of three sport management journals, and is deputy editor of Sport, Business, and Management: An International Journal. She is member of the scientific committee of the Observatory for Sport Economy and is member of the Think Tank Sport and Citizenship.

Professor Rob Wilson

Professor of Applied Sport Finance | Director, Play it Forward Consulting Ltd | Head of Executive Education & Programmes, UCFB

Professor Rob Wilson is a leading UK expert in sport finance and economics with over 25 years' experience in academia and consultancy. He is Professor of Applied Sport Finance and Head of Executive Education at UCFB, where he leads senior leadership programmes with VSI Executive Education.

Rob advises major clients including the EFL, FA, and Leonard Curtis through his consultancy, Play it Forward Sports Advisory. A published researcher with over 2,000 citations, he regularly appears in national media and supports policy, governance, and education in elite sport both in the UK and internationally.

Professor Michel Desbordes

Professor of Sport Marketing | University of Lausanne

Michel Desbordes is Professor of Sports Marketing at the University of Lausanne. He is also a consultant to a number of sports organisations and international events. An alumnus of ENS-Cachan, he holds a doctorate in management science and was a professor at Paris Saclay between 2007 and 2024.

The author of 34 books and numerous articles, he was editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship and, since 2023, has also been guest editor-in-chief of Sustainability magazine.

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