IPW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Chartered Accountant
Alan Robinson is a chartered accountant by profession. He has extensive experience of operating leisure and entertainment venues in the UK and across Europe.
Before joining IPW… Alan was Senior Vice President and CFO of SMG Europe, which operates a number of the leading arenas and cultural venues throughout Europe.
He was also Finance Director of First Leisure Resorts Division, which includes Blackpool Tower and the Winter Gardens Convention Centre in its portfolio.
Alan has overseen the planning, development and opening of a range of major facilities, including arenas, stadia and convention centres in the UK and Europe. He was also the lead project management for the Commonwealth Games Sports City site.
Alan has provided business planning and commercial advice on a range of IPW… projects across the leisure sector including: Hoylake Golf Resort, Cambridge Ice Arena, Yas South Sports Centre and Cool Venues.
Billy is a Consultant who joined the IPW… team in Summer 2019.
Billy is highly experienced in providing research and analytical support to the team across a wide range of UK and international projects.
With a particular focus on market research, cultural industry trends, and supply & demand analysis, he has worked on a widespread of projects across the stadia, arena, conference & exhibition, cultural, ice, and sport & leisure sectors.
A selection of Billy's relevant projects include:
Job Titles:
- Founding Director
- Head of Culture
Bryan is the founding Director of specialist cultural consultancy, Creative Services, and its production and publishing subsidiary, Big Sky.
Bryan works with IPW… on tourism and venue projects across Scotland, the UK, and internationally.
Bryan has delivered a range of projects across the tourism, culture, and events sector. He is a leading strategic thinker, policy maker, adviser, and project manager with experience of delivery and funding of major cultural projects and policy at national, regional, and local levels.
Bryan is an expert in government policy development at national, regional, and local levels. He specialises in development of arts, heritage and tourism strategies, as well as strategic review, project implementation, venue development, and due diligence.
Damian has spent more than 20 years working across local government and in the voluntary sector, with extensive experience of managing both the delivery of, and commissioning of, services and major capital projects in leisure, sport and culture.
He was Head of Leisure and Culture at the London Borough of Redbridge and has experience of developing and delivering strategies in conjunction with central government. He has also worked as a consultant, supporting major education capital build projects.
Having spent the earlier part of his career in regeneration, Damian has long standing experience in developing partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
He has particular expertise in consultation and community engagement, including in his previous role as Head of Community Engagement at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea following the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Elliott worked with IPW… whilst at university before continuing his role in a full-time capacity.
He is highly experienced in undertaking facility feasibility studies, using his depth of knowledge across key market sectors to lead on detailed supply and demand analysis, consultation and soft market testing.
Elliott is experienced in developing procurement documentation and managing operator procurement processes.
Elliott has a track record of project managing multi-disciplinary teams across a range of entertainment, sport and conference/ exhibition venue projects, always ensuring that expertise and resources are delivered at critical times to maximise the quality of IPW…'s strategic advice.
Elliott has significant experience of ice rink development, project managing IPW…'s ice rink feasibility projects across the UK. He developed IPW…'s in-house Ice Rink Supply Model and has detailed knowledge of technical ice systems.
Jack joined IPW… in June 2022 as a Research Consultant.
With a background in geography and surveying, Jack is a strategic thinker with a keen eye for detail to assist the team on various entertainment and cultural venue projects.
Since joining he has provided research and analytical support across a range of projects, with a particular focus on market research and supply & demand analysis.
A selection of Jack's relevant projects include:
Seoul Event Venue
Becketwell Performance Venue
Sage Arena Gateshead
Sheffield Arena
Job Titles:
- Operations Director
- Project Manager
Kelly is a highly experienced Project Manager, specialising in the feasibility, procurement and delivery of venues. Kelly has over 20 years' experience advising in the sport, culture and entertainment sectors.
Prior to joining IPW… Kelly spent seven years working with PMP, one of the world's largest management consultancies specialising in sport, leisure, and culture.
Kelly leads IPW…'s work on arenas, music venues and the business events sector.
She has managed or advised on a wide range of projects in the UK and internationally, including:
first direct Arena in Leeds
Royal Arena Copenhagen
Southport Marine Lake Events Centre
Swansea Arena
Singapore Sports Hub
London 2012 Olympic Facilities
Scottish Business Events Study
Kelly has significant experience in successfully managing the procurement and development of venues from both client and bid team perspectives.
Kelly also leads our Improving Performance With… service, improving the operating performance of a range of different venues for clients.
Martin brings to IPW… his 35 years of experience in local government including 14 years as the Director of City Development at Leeds City Council where he had lead responsibility for the physical, economic and cultural development of the city.
As well as managing large planning, economic, leisure and cultural services, Martin has led the delivery of major infrastructure schemes across a range of sectors, helping to navigate projects through what can often be a complex regulatory environment. This includes acting as lead client for the development of the First direct Arena, Leeds, securing the finance for the redevelopment of the Headingley cricket and rugby stadium, and overseeing the refurbishment of Leeds Playhouse.
Mubeen joined IPW… in March 2020 as a Research Consultant.
Since joining he has provided research and analytical support to the team across a wide range of projects, with a particular focus on market research and supply & demand analysis.
A selection of Mubeen's relevant projects include:
Neill has over 30 years of experience at the highest international levels in acoustics, theatre and venue design. He is a specialist in architectural acoustics, electroacoustics, audiovisual systems design, theatre and venue planning and design.
Neill's particular focus is in the arts, culture, sports and entertainment sectors where he brings his combined knowledge of acoustics and theatre design to provide integrated design solutions for venues with the goal of achieving all round excellence in the aural and visual experience for operators, artists, performers, and audiences.
Neill worked for Arup for 24 years until 2012. During his time at Arup Neill led Arup America's acoustics and theatre consulting practice based in New York and returned to the UK as the Director responsible for acoustics and theatre design in the UK and Europe. During his career he has been based in London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Los Angeles, and New York.
Neill leads IPW…'s venue planning and technical services, including work on Swansea Arena, Hull Venue, Brighton Arena, Conference & Exhibition Centre, Copenhagen Arena and Yas South Arena.
Niamh joined IPW… in November 2024 as a Research Consultant.
Since joining she has provided research and analytical support to the team across a wide range of projects, with a particular focus on market research and supply & demand analysis.
A selection of Niamh's relevant projects include:
Dundee Ice Arena
A confidential redevelopment project
Nick has over 30 years experience advising public and private sector clients on entertainment, sport, leisure, social infrastructure, cultural development and financing vehicles.
Traditionally a chartered surveyor by profession working in the public and private sectors, Nick specialises in innovating on the funding, design and operation of performance venues. Having been at the forefront of delivering PPP/ PFI structures and with a passion for operational and funding models he has led the innovation of new venue models in sport, entertainment and conference and exhibition industry. To date, Nick has delivered over £1bn of projects.
Before creating IPW… in 2007 Nick was Managing Director at PMP, one of the world's largest management consultancies specialising in sport, leisure, and culture.
Previously Nick was Head of Local Authority Leisure and Regeneration with KPMG Consulting, an Associate Partner at Donaldsons and in local government. He rose to be Head of Regeneration and Property for London Borough of Southwark with responsibility for Peckham, Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, where he now lives.
Nick has advised on a range of entertainment and cultural venue projects internationally, including delivering detailed funding and procurement advice, together with managing complex procurement competitions to deliver best value for clients. He has advised on and delivered multiple projects in the Middle East, Europe and throughout the whole of the UK.
Stewart has nearly 20 years' Quantity Surveying experience and has been a full member of the RICS since 2006.
With over 15 years post qualification Quantity Surveying, Employers Agent and Project Management experience, Stewart has extensive experience in Design & Build; Major Projects Delivery; Social Housing and Office Refurbishments, acquiring key experience in both Education Works and Regeneration Works.
Stewart has developed sound knowledge and experience in working with both public sector and private client organisations and has extensive working experience of both the NEC and JCT forms of contract.
Having progressed from his previous role as a Senior Consultant, Stewart was the Director of Capital Services at NPS Humber Ltd, with responsibility for all Capital Services along with an overview and significant input into the Revenue Services directorate. This furnished him with solid Business Management and Leadership skills in support of his existing Commercial Management and Contract Administration skills.
Stewart's key successes are:
Project Manager duties on Connexin Live (formerly known as the Bonus Arena), a £40m music, conference and events arena, leading a multi-disciplinary team (covering construction, operator procurement and land acquisition). Winner of RICS regional award 2019.
NEC Project Manager/Employer's Agent duties on KREATE, Hull, an £8.2m D&B mixed use rugby stand with hospitality & training suite. Winner of LABC regional award 2014.
Employer's Agent on £16m demolition and new build of East Riding College at St. Mary's Walk, Bridlington.
Winner of RICS National Awards in 2009 for Preston Road Village Centre Expressive Arts Building.
Stuart is a highly experienced commercial and operational expert in the cultural and entertainment industries. Specialising in feasibility and project/ venue delivery and mobilisation, Stuart has over 20 years of hands-on experience to pull from.
Prior to joining IPW… Stuart worked in finance, commercial and executive roles within the industry with organisations that include Disney Theatrical Productions, Warner Brothers, HQ Theatres & Hospitality and the BBC. He has also worked with a number of local authorities across the UK to improve and/ shape cultural provisions.
IPW… projects that Stuart has worked on include:
Aldersley Leisure Centre
Inverness Castle Marketing Strategy
Inverness Visitor Academy Programme
Wrexham FC Events space
Wrexham Memorial Hall
Stuart also works within our Improving Performance With… service, improving the operating performance of a range of different venues for clients.
Tracy is an experienced PA and office manager.
She has been with IPW… since the beginning, and has previously worked for KPMG, PMP, Donaldsons and DTZ.
Tracy has great organisational skills and a keen eye for detail.
Tracy provides administrative and secretarial support to the team. She also undertakes book-keeping and day-to-day finance.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- Consultant
Tristan is an experienced consultant having worked on a wide range of projects over 15+ years in the sport, leisure, entertainment and cultural sectors. This has included feasibility studies, Business Case development, business planning and procurement of major facilities for both private and public sector clients.
Tristan has led a number of IPW…'s projects involving stadia (from community stadia through to major professional stadia), arenas and cultural venues, together with researching issues affecting competitive balance in, and other strategic considerations for, professional sport.
He has worked on a number of projects domestically and internationally, and has also worked at Boston's TD Garden Arena.
His projects with IPW… include arenas/ performance venues in Abu Dhabi, Bristol, Bratislava, Leeds and Copenhagen, and stadia from Premier League clubs (including Liverpool, Everton and Swansea) and major national governing bodies down to non-League, as well as working with The Premier League on the development of the Elite Player Performance Plan ( EPPP ).