Sport Industry Dining: An evening with Bruce Mouat
Sport Industry welcomed a senior group of leaders from across sport, brands and business last night for the latest Sport Industry Dining, a members-only event designed to foster meaningful conversation and connection at the highest level.
The evening was preceded by two curated roundtable discussions hosted at EY’s offices, forming part of Sport Industry’s premium member offering. These sessions continue to be a cornerstone of our community, creating a trusted, closed environment where senior leaders can share challenges, exchange ideas and explore opportunities in a way that simply isn’t possible in larger forum settings.
The GSIQ (Brand & Sponsorship) roundtable, led by Charlie Dundas and Josh Marcus, focused on how partnerships are evolving to deliver deeper relevance and measurable impact, while Data Talks (AI & Data in Sport), led by Stefan Lavén, examined the growing influence of data and AI across performance, fan engagement and commercial strategy.
The group later reconvened at Piccolino Tower Bridge for dinner on a bright summer evening, where Anna-Rose Gabbitass hosted an in-conversation with Team GB curler Bruce Mouat.
Attendees for the dining included representation from organisations including the Women’s Super League, Santander, Red Bull, Tata Consultancy Services, Allianz, Metro Bank, the ECB, Ear To The Ground, Sports Interactive and Mercedes-AMG F1.
Bruce Mouat, two-time Olympic silver medallist and World Champion, offered a candid and thoughtful reflection on life at the very top of elite sport. Speaking about leading Team GB at consecutive Olympic Games, he described the unique responsibility and pressure that comes with competing on such a global stage, particularly when millions are watching at home. Reflecting on back-to-back appearances in Olympic finals, he spoke openly about the fine margins between silver and gold, and how time has helped him process the disappointment of coming so close, while still recognising the scale of the achievement.
The conversation also explored curling’s position within the wider sporting landscape. Mouat acknowledged the surge in popularity the sport enjoys during the Winter Olympics, with significant broadcast audiences in the UK, but was clear on the challenge of sustaining that momentum beyond the Games. Accessibility, visibility and clear entry points into the sport remain key areas for growth if curling is to convert peak interest into long-term participation.
Beyond competition, Mouat shared personal insight into his journey as one of the few openly gay male athletes in British sport. He spoke about the impact that coming out had on both his life and performance, and the importance of creating an environment where athletes feel able to be themselves without fear of judgement. His reflections resonated strongly in the room, prompting wider discussion around representation and the role the industry can play in supporting more inclusive pathways into elite sport.
Looking ahead, Mouat reflected on the future of curling and the importance of greater commercial support outside of Olympic cycles to enable athletes to build sustainable careers. He also touched on the growing role of athletes as content creators, and how personality and storytelling can help drive visibility for both individuals and the sport as a whole.
As ever, Sport Industry Dining once again demonstrated the value of bringing together a carefully curated group of senior leaders in an intimate, members-only setting, combining high-quality discussion with the opportunity to build meaningful relationships across the industry.
