Ticketing Stars 2026:
Marc Sheppard | Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall's Head of Ticketing Services tells IQ about why he's spent 18 years at the venue, and what his proudest achievement has been at the Hall

By IQ | 1 September 2026

What’s the biggest challenge facing the ticketing business right now? We regularly host major artists, which means we’re in a constant battle against automated bots trying to buy tickets. It can sometimes feel like an arms race: every time we strengthen our defences, the bots evolve, and we have to adapt again.

The biggest challenge is the impact this has on customer trust. Most people understandably don’t see the extensive work that venues and agency ticketing teams do…

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TICKETING STARS 2026:

Sandrine Weberruss

AXS France

Senior Account Manager at AXS – France, Sandrine Weberruss talks to IQ about what has changed in her 17 years in the ticketing sector, and why she's so proud of AXS France

Luiza Levy

Ticketmaster Brazil

On a personal level, another challenge has been building a leadership career in a traditionally male-dominated industry while balancing work, family, and my own wellbeing

Sarah Slater

Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster's Managing Director tells IQ about the change she wants to see, and why being a woman in senior leadership can be a lonely venture

Sana Ali Aamir

Fever & Secret Media Network

Fever's General Manager tells IQ about why partnering with DICE was a career highlight, and about where her career courage and ambition come from

Iñaki Sánchez López

menta tech

The co-founder and CEO of Argentina's menta tech tells IQ about why ticketing failures feel so personal, and what menta tech are doing to stand out in the market

Zac Leigh

Tixel – Australia

The Co-Founder of Australia's Tixel chats to IQ about why he's given evidence about ticket resales to the UK's DCMS, and about being front row for The Wiggles with his kids

David Franklin

Paléo Festival Nyon

Paléo Festival's Head of Communication, Sales & Ticketing thinks we should be working towards a ticketing system that ensures we're selling to the real, true fans

Juhana Stenbäck

Lippupiste

The CEO of Finland's Lippupiste shares his career highlight so far, as well as his opinion on what the biggest challenges facing the market currently are

Laura Boylan

Co-op Live

Co-op Live's Senior Ticketing Manager tells IQ about what she's bought forward as she's risen up the ranks in the ticketing sector, and why she always makes a point to visit the arena on an event day

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