Bio

James Begley is an entrepreneur and former professional athlete who is the founder and CEO of PickStar, Australia's largest marketplace to book sports stars for events, marketing campaigns and fan experiences. In parallel James is founded and is CEO of Vlast. Vlast is now the leading global software provider for Leagues, clubs and teams for player player appearances and activations James joined forces with AFL champion Matthew Pavlich, building an online platform that provides fast, affordable and direct connections to over 900 sports stars and personalities. So far, the Adelaide based startup has facilitated over 1000 deals, working with some of Australia's biggest brands including Caltex, Sportsbet, Optus, Coles and Sanitarium along with numerous charities, schools, clubs and fans. James has a vision to truly democratise access to high profile people, worldwide. Already, PickStar reaches into all Australian states, lead by New South Wales, Victoria and Perth, while James remains committed to keeping PickStar based in it's Adelaide headquarters. James’ foundations as a CEO have been enhanced through his work as the founding director of Tract Group, a corporate leadership and development company. James spent over a decade helping organisations such as Mirvac, Landcorp, Fremantle Football Club, Bendigo Bank and CGU develop and implement strategies to get the most out of their teams and emerging leaders. James’ career has been dedicated to high performance from the moment he was drafted to the AFL as a 17 year old. James spent seven years as an AFL player, initially with St Kilda before returning to his home state to join the Adelaide Crows. James is also co-host of Rooster Radio, a leading business, entrepreneurship and leadership podcast, featuring more than 100 interviews with Adelaide's brightest and most inspiring people.