IAKS UK & Ireland Team

Shaun Dawson

Working group lead

Shaun joined Lee Valley Regional Park Authority as Chief Executive in 1997. During this time, he has created a dynamic and award winning organisation that both delivers its core remit and also works with partners to ensure that the 4000 hectare Regional Park adds value to the bigger social and economic agendas in the communities it serves in London, Essex and Hertfordshire. He was a key player during the bid process for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and now leads the Authority’s work on the three thriving legacy venues we own.

​He has spent his career in the leisure industry both in the public and private sector. Shaun’s particular areas of experience cover sports venues’ design, facilities management, and parks management and activation.

​He was a member of the UK Government’s Rio 2016 Advisory Panel and spent time in Rio advising the City, State and Federal Governments on sporting legacy. He provided advice to Tokyo 2020 on venue design and legacy planning and visited Tokyo to advise City officials, Government Ministers and the various 2020 agencies.

Mike Hall 

Mike leads FaulknerBrowns’ sport work. This includes elite, competition and training venues as well as community sport and leisure projects for public and private sector clients, in the UK, Europe and beyond.

From his experience working closely with sports governing bodies such as FINA, UCI, IAAF and ICF, Mike has extensive knowledge of the requirements for sports facilities. He has developed a particular specialism in velodromes, bringing innovation to this building typology internationally, along with aquatics centres and ice facilities.

Mike sits on the IAKS International Expert Aquatics Circle. He is a representative of the UIA – International Union of Architects – and sits on the Sports and Leisure Programme Working Group, speaking regularly at national and international events and conferences about sustainable design in sport.

Tom Jones 

Tom is a Senior Principal in the London office of Populous and has a keen interest in how sports and entertainment buildings and events can enhance cities and communities. He has a great passion for sport and has been able to use this in the design and delivery of several high profile projects around the world, including the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Emirates Stadium for Arsenal FC and the Olympic Stadium for the London 2012 Olympic Games. He has also worked on other major sports events, including the ICC Cricket World Cup and NFL Super Bowl.

In addition to running major projects, Tom was a key contributor to the FIFA Stadium Guidelines and co-authored the technical guide to Sports Facilities in the Metric Handbook. He is a Vice President of IAKS and sits on their Management Committee. He has spoken at a range of conferences and events around the world on the sustainability of sports and entertainment buildings.

Stephen Jepson

Stephen is a director and joint owner of Hadron Consulting, having previously worked at Drivers Jonas and Deloitte Real Estate. 

He is actively involved in the project management and contract administration of major construction and development projects for private and public sector clients. He has an impressive track record of delivering complex, multiple stakeholder projects on time and within budget. 

His experience includes the preparation of feasibility studies, formulation of technical briefs and employer’s requirements documents, design coordination and programme and procurement advice.

His particular specialism is in the sport and leisure sector, including leisure centres, training facilities, stadia, and other sporting venues.  

Tom Pinnington

Tom is a Director at The Sports Consultancy, leading on development of community and elite sport and leisure facilities. This includes leading consultancy projects covering needs assessment, facility strategies, feasibility studies, financial business case and operator procurement for a wide range of public and private sector clients. Typical clients include local authorities, universities, national governing bodies of sport, leisure operators and developers.

Tom has over 30 years’ consultancy experience across public and private sector clients in the UK and internationally. This experience is used to benefit clients and other professionals, when working as part of a multi-disciplinary team on projects. 

Tony Wallace

Tony is an experienced sports and leisure professional with 30 years experience within the leisure industry working for GLL, the worker-owned co-operative and Charitable Social Enterprise. GLL is the largest operator of public sport and leisure facilities within the UK. 

Tony is a Regional Director for GLL, responsible for the successful strategic service delivery of sport, leisure and cultural services within venues that include the iconic Lee Valley VeloPark and Copper Box Arena on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Tony has a strong background in operational leisure and international venue management with extensive experience in facility management, project management, commissioning and opening new facilities, licensing, security, programming and promotion.