Global Institute of Sport (GIS) is set to give its students unprecedented access to some of the leading figures shaping the global sports industry, with The Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham among the high-profile speakers announced for Welcome Week.
The Global Institute of Sport’s September Welcome Week will provide new and returning students with the opportunity to hear directly from senior executives and industry leaders across football, cricket, media, talent management and sports business.
Among the first speakers announced is Mark Bullingham, CEO of The Football Association, who will speak to GIS students at Wembley Stadium on September 16.
Bullingham has led The FA since 2019, having initially joined the organisation in 2016 as Group Commercial Director before progressing to Chief Commercial & Football Development Officer and ultimately CEO.
During his tenure, English football has enjoyed significant success across both the men’s and women’s national teams.
The England men’s team reached the UEFA European Championship final in 2021 and 2024 before securing third place at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, while the England Lionesses have won consecutive UEFA Women’s European Championships in 2022 and 2025 and reached the FIFA Women’s World Cup final in 2023.
Bullingham’s career also provides insight into the commercial side of the modern sports industry. Prior to joining The FA, he was Head of the UK and EMEA branches of Fuse Sport & Entertainment, where he worked with major global brands. During his time as The FA’s Group Commercial Director, he oversaw a rise in annual revenue of more than £100 million.
For GIS students, his session will offer a first-hand look at what it takes to lead one of the world’s most prominent football organisations, as well as the career journey that took him from sports marketing into the highest levels of football administration.
Bullingham is not the only major industry figure set to feature during Welcome Week.
Jo Tongue MBE, founder of Tongue Tied Media and a board member of Women in Football, will also speak at Wembley Stadium on September 16.
With a career spanning media, football and talent management, Tongue has worked with leading sporting figures including Jill Scott MBE, Andy Cole and Hayley McQueen. She founded Tongue Tied Media in 2016, supporting sports and entertainment talent across commercial opportunities, sponsorship and career strategy.
Tongue also spent almost a decade as a BBC producer before becoming a Director at Women in Football in 2010. She was awarded an MBE in 2023 for her contribution to football and gender equality.
Meanwhile, GIS students will also hear from James Rosengarten, General Manager of the Melbourne Stars, during an online session on September 30.
Rosengarten oversees both the Melbourne Stars’ men’s and women’s teams across the Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League, having previously spent five years as General Manager of the Melbourne Renegades.
His career has also included senior positions outside cricket, including General Manager – Legal & Strategy and General Counsel at the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, as well as senior roles at Mazda Australia.
Rosengarten also serves as Chair of the Global Institute of Sport’s Industry Advisory Board, providing industry expertise to support the organisation and its students.
The sessions form part of GIS’ broader approach to connecting education with the professional sports industry, giving students the opportunity to learn directly from executives who have built careers across some of the world’s most significant sporting organisations.
With further speakers expected to be announced, Welcome Week will give students an early opportunity to understand the realities of working in the global sports industry while building connections with professionals already operating at the highest levels.
For an industry increasingly defined by commercial growth, globalisation and rapidly changing career pathways, access to experienced leaders can provide students with insights that extend well beyond the classroom.
The Global Institute of Sport’s Welcome Week will take place in September, with sessions delivered both in person and online.
