The AI-Powered Athlete: Building Brands, Reach and Revenue
| Wednesday, May 13, 2026 |
| 11:05 AM - 11:35 AM |
Details
This session focuses on how athletes can use AI to grow their personal brands and monetise their stories beyond performance on the field of play. It brings together the experts who advise athletes on brand strategy and commercial positioning, alongside the platforms and distribution channels that enable fan-directed content to be created, personalised, shared and scaled. The discussion will show how AI is changing the athlete marketing toolkit — from content ideation and production to audience targeting, community building, creator-style partnerships and direct-to-fan monetisation — and what this means for authenticity, consistency and long-term brand equity. The outcome for attendees is a clear picture of how athlete narratives can be converted into sustainable reach and revenue, using AI as the engine that makes personal branding more efficient, more data-informed and more commercially viable.
Speaker
Kirsty Maiden
Elite Athlete
Para Canoe Athlete
Speaker
Biography
Kirsty Maiden is a para athlete and kayaker from Adelaide who is passionate about using sport to inspire others. As a proud amputee and advocate for women in sport, she shares her journey to encourage people with disabilities to live active, confident lives. Through speaking, community engagement, and social media, Kirsty highlights the resilience and opportunities that exist within para sport. Her story challenges perceptions of limitation and shows how sport can empower people to pursue their goals, even in the face of adversity
Bruce Rosengarten
Executive Chair
VIP Ballers
Speaker
Biography
Bruce had an extensive C suite career across a diverse group of industries including retail, hospitality and gaming, downstream oil and gas and health. He held extensive roles regionally and globally. In 2017, he retired from executive life and has focused on Board and advisory roles. Bruce has authored a Passionate leadership, worked extensively in the not for profit and enjoys his diverse activities. In 2025, along 4 others they founded and launched VIP Ballers.com. A new digital platform designed for athletes to own their brand and it will revolutionise the athlete – fan relationship. A safe environment focused 100% on sport, all sports and globally, where athletes have full control of their brand and income opportunities.
Vickie Saunders
Founder
The Athlete Brand Builder
Speaker
Biography
Vickie Saunders is the founder of The Athlete Brand Builder and the newly launched app, Known. For over a decade, she has worked alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes and leading organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport, UK Sports Institute, Paralympics Australia, and brands like Red Bull, helping athletes understand their value beyond performance. Coming from a non-tech background, Vickie built Known to solve a problem she witnessed firsthand: athletes had the potential, but lacked the structure and tools to turn it into opportunity. Known transforms her proven approach into technology, giving athletes a clear roadmap to build their brand, grow their profile, and create meaningful opportunities during and beyond their sporting careers.
