Gensler Expands Sports & Entertainment Leadership, Strengthening Presence Across Asia Pacific & Middle East

Elliott Pears steps into a new role, driving the next chapter of sports and entertainment design across the APME region.

SYDNEY — Elliott Pears as Regional Sports Leader for Asia Pacific and the Middle East (APME). Recognised globally for its impact across architecture and design, the firm continues to expand its leadership platform through strategic appointments in key growth regions.

“Elliott brings a rare combination of global expertise and local insight,” said Lisa Munao, Managing Director of Gensler Australia. “His leadership will strengthen our ability to deliver sports and entertainment venues that engage communities and create lasting value.” An Australian-born architect, Pears returns home to lead the growth of the regional Sports & Entertainment Practice, reinforcing Gensler’s long-term commitment to one of the world’s most dynamic sports and entertainment markets.

“Returning to Australia and working with clients across APME is both exciting and meaningful,” said Pears. “This region has a deep passion for sport and entertainment, and a growing ambition to deliver venues that enhance fan engagement and contribute to long-term community value. I’m excited to combine global insight with local collaboration to shape environments that perform on every level.”

Across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, sports and entertainment infrastructure is entering a new phase of investment and reinvention. In India, public and private capital is driving upgrades to legacy stadiums and the development of flexible, multi-sport, entertainment-ready venues. In China and Southeast Asia, basketball and football are fuelling demand for high-performance arenas and advanced training facilities. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, sports precincts are increasingly designed as anchors for tourism and mixed-use development. This regional momentum aligns closely with Gensler’s approach to sports and entertainment design, integrating venue, city, and experience thinking to create spaces that perform year-round, reflect local culture, and support broader economic and community objectives.

“APME represents one of the most compelling growth frontiers for sport globally,” said Ryan Sickman, Global Leader of Gensler’s Sports Practice. “Expanding our leadership platform into the region is a deliberate step in strengthening our global network. Elliott’s ability to bridge creative vision and technical execution positions us to accelerate growth across APME and deliver the high-performance environments our clients expect.”

Gensler’s Sports & Entertainment Practice has established itself as a global leader, shaping high-performance venues that engage communities and drive economic and cultural impact. From internationally recognised stadiums and arenas, including Al-Ahly Stadium in Egypt, Capital One Arena and Crypto.com Arena in the U.S., to regional projects such as Melbourne Park Visioning in Australia and Spark Arena renovations in Auckland, the firm brings world-class expertise to both global and local markets. Complementing its sports portfolio, Gensler is also redefining live entertainment spaces. Elliott has led high-profile projects such as Live Nation’s Lima Arena in Peru and the Charlotte Music Venue in the U.S., blending design and technology to create spaces that perform year-round and resonate with local audiences.

About Gensler

At Gensler, the value of our work stems from its positive impact on the human experience. We are a dynamic and collaborative design firm uniting creativity, research, and innovation to create impactful, cutting-edge solutions for our clients. Together, we are reimagining the cities, places, and experiences that impact people’s everyday lives. Founded in 1965, Gensler has built a team of 6,000 professionals who partner with clients in over 100 countries each year on projects that act as catalysts for growth. Everything we do is guided by our mission: to create a better world through the power of design

About Gensler Sports

Gensler Sports has grown into the world’s second-largest Sports Practice, partnering with clients to shape the next generation of sports and entertainment venues. The team helps organizations deliver exceptional experiences for fans and athletes, activate communities, and drive long-term value through innovative design that integrates technology, service, and amenities. With deep local insight and global expertise, Gensler has led iconic projects such as Egypt’s Al Ahly Stadium, Spain’s Villamarín Stadium, the Mexico Football Federation Headquarters, Panama’s FEPAFUT High Performance Centre, the Los Angeles Chargers Headquarters and Training Facility, the New York Mets’ Citi Field, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, and BMO Stadium.