Directors

Esther leads the Major Events Team at UK Sport, an arm’s length government body in the UK. Her team works with partners across the UK to strategically identify and invest in major sporting events. A key part of this role is to identify and programme out all the major and mega sporting events the UK looks to host on a rolling 5-10 year programme.
Esther has a passion for sport at all levels and a former hockey player and umpire Esther has been involved with a huge range of sports events across the globe formally working for England Netball and London 2012 Organising Committee.

Esther was appointed to serve as IAEH director in June 2021. Esther is a member of the Executive Committee of the IAEH.

Paul leads VisitScotland’s Events Directorate which includes Industry Development, Business Events and EventScotland. The directorate takes a strategic role in the Scottish events industry and is responsible for attracting, bidding for and securing major sporting, cultural and business events worldwide. Over the past decade, Scotland has brought some of the biggest event properties to the country, including The Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games in 2014, many European and World Championships and the MTV Music Awards.

Paul was appointed Chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland in May 2015 and previous roles include Chef De Mission for The Scottish Commonwealth Games. He was awarded an OBE for Services to Commonwealth Sport.

Paul was reappointed to serve as IAEH director in May 2019.

Terry has over 30 years of sports events and tourism experience, ranging from collegiate athletics, to municipal sports commissions to creating two state-wide sports commissions (Kentucky and Maryland). He served in the NASC, now Sports ETA, as chairman where he helped increase membership and revenues and fostered the development of the Hall of Fame. In Maryland, he serves as Vice President, Maryland Stadium Authority; Executive Director, Maryland Sports Commission; and President, Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland. He has been instrumental is creating significant funding legislation over the past few years of youth and amateur Sports, as well as major events.

Terry was appointed to serve as IAEH director in May 2023.

Lorelle has over 20 years of tourism, sports/event management and hosting experience, in Australia, UK and Canada. Her leadership in her current position has been instrumental in driving sustainable economic growth and impact initiatives including the successful hosting of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and attracting future global events such as the British & Irish Lions Tour 2025 and UCI BMX World Championships 2026. She has a proven track record of formulating and implementing strategic plans that have resulted in strong growth and success of numerous high-profile events.

Lorelle was appointed to serve as IAEH director in April 2024.

Maggie is the Director at the Sports Administration, Taiwan, as well as a current Committee Member of International Children's Games (ICG) and Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee (CTOC). Her job is to bring major sporting events to Taiwan, including 2025 World Master Games in Taipei City and New Taipei City, 2026 ICG Hualien County, UCI Tour de Taiwan, WBSC Premier 12, amongst others.

Maggie was appointed to serve as IAEH director in May 2023.

As a strong believer in civic leadership, Sheena has served on several community and professional boards, including; Newfoundland & Labrador Sports Centre, Destination St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador Credit Union, Newfoundland & Labrador Credit Union Charitable Foundation, Newfoundland & Labrador Housing Corporation and Downtown St. John's. Prior to be appointed CEO of Sport Tourism Canada, she was a Board member of the organization and served as an Officer of the Corporation in the capacities of Treasurer and Vice-Chair.

Sheena was appointed to serve as an IAEH director in April 2024.

Lars is Vice-Chair of the IAEH. Lars has been the head of Sport Event Denmark from the outset. With enthusiasm and commitment, Lars Lundov has led the way for his team of employees throughout the years. Lars' main focus is on international relations within the international sports world / Olympic Movement and bidding for major international sports events. Through his wide, global network and because of the remarkable Danish results on the market for sports events, Lars is requested as a speaker at international conferences/congresses.

Lars was reappointed to serve as IAEH director in June 2021. Lars is a member of the Executive Committee of the IAEH.

Andrew has worked and volunteered in the events industry in New Zealand for over two decades primarily in the arts and culture space. In his early career he participated in the EFA Atelier for Young Festival Managers and he has a CFEE accreditation with the IFEA. He has extensive event delivery experience including; WOMAD; World of WearableArt; Cricket World Cups; Lord of the Rings premier. For the last seven years, he has been involved in major event prospecting; for local government as a small host city (Wellington), and currently working for New Zealand Government as a host nation investment partner.

Andrew was appointed to serve as an IAEH director in June 2022. Andrew is a member of the Executive Committee of the IAEH.

Perttu is Chair of the IAEH. Perttu started his work in the event sector at the end of last century. He produced music festivals, TV-productions and theatre plays, and was also the festival director of Scandinavia’s largest comedy festival. In 2009−2012 he was the Deputy Mayor of Tampere, Finland and in charge of economic development, sports and culture. In 2012 the city decided to open Tampere Major Event Office and Perttu went from politics to life as a civil servant as the director of the new department. In 2017 Tampere Major Event Office joined forces with Tampere Convention Bureau and Visit Tampere, and Perttu was the COO of Visit Tampere Ltd. He continued to develop the event business now as Director of Major Events at the City of Tampere.

Perttu was reappointed to serve as IAEH director in July 2020. Perttu is a member of the Executive Committee of the IAEH.