Katrina Smith

Katrina has been leading from the front since a young age; starting her first client roster at the age of 14 and leading teams of 40 by age 18. Having risen quickly up the ranks, Katrina is now an integral part of the Client Services team at Octagon, taking on responsibility for activating a portfolio of major sponsorships for Expedia Group including the UEFA Champions League and Liverpool FC as well as Rothesay's Title Partnership of the Lawn Tennis Association. Katrina has delivered world-class creative for the sports industry, having been part of several successful pitch teams whilst delivering a number of complex, multi-million-pound global campaigns and events for the likes of Delta, Foot Locker, Shell, Expedia Group and Rothesay. Involvement in ever-growing client sponsorship portfolios has also immersed her in all elements of commercial strategy, negotiation and contracting between high-profile brands and rights-holders.

Outside of work, Katrina has been a passionate sportswoman both personally and academically. Her ongoing lecture series 'Sports Sponsorship: Doing Gender Differently' is highly popular with university students and she shows a passion for integrating her academic work into her work life. Katrina deserves to be seen because she is passionate to not only ensure women in sport are just seen, but ensure their perceptions are forward-thinking and challenge the status-quo. In no other area has this been so apparent than Katrina's work in football.