Meet Tom Wheeler : Senior Partnerships and Business Development Manager

Earlier this month, Enovation Consulting welcomed Tom Wheeler to our team as the new Senior Partnerships and Business Development Manager.

After earning his Master's in Sports Management, Tom ventured into entrepreneurship by founding Football360, a pioneering company dedicated to democratising access to football business education. Alongside running his business, he regularly lectures in Sports Management - with a focus on sustainability - at various business schools across Barcelona.

Tom will play a crucial role in guiding our clients through their sustainability transformations, helping them to implement responsible, evidence-based, and economically viable practices. We caught up with Tom to find out more about his experiences and passion for sustainability in sport…

How did you get into sustainability and what interested you to work in this area?  

“Years ago, I believed that working in climate change was a pipe dream. I wasn’t a scientist, so what could I do? It wasn’t until I was studying for my master’s in Sports Management back in 2020 that I discovered the intersection of sport and sustainability, and from that point it was clear that this was my calling.   

Today, I see my role as being the single best way I can have a positive impact on the world. If sport can influence people more than anything else, how can I equip sporting bodies with the tools and information necessary to have that impact?”

What does your role at Enovation Consulting entail and what do you love most about it? 

“Ultimately, I’m in the business of helping the sports industry create and implement sustainability strategies. Enovation Consulting has had a huge impact on the motorsport industry and is now branching out into other sports, and I’m here to help! What do I love about representing Enovation Consulting? Three things. The fact it is sports industry specific, the breadth of services we offer, and our data-driven approach to sustainability meaning there is no opportunity for greenwashing.”  

How important is it for businesses to demonstrate and implement their aspirations to be sustainable and how is your role at Enovation Consulting supporting this?  

“Sports businesses often privately harbour aspirations of implementing sustainability but are too-often held back from doing so, for fear of greenwashing and hypocrisy. It’s a difficult path, especially in professional sport. However, fans value honesty and transparency and it’s OK to be at the start of your journey. Through my role and the work Enovation Consulting does, I can help sports businesses at all stages of their journey develop meaningful strategies to embed bespoke sustainability plans into their organisations.“ 

Which sports organisations are doing sustainability well?  

“The landscape of sustainability in sports has transformed remarkably in recent years. Where there were once a mere handful of standout examples, we now have a wealth of organisations setting commendable precedents. Initiatives range from stadium management like Oak View Group to clubs like Forest Green Rovers operating on renewable energy, and significant events such as the Olympics committing to carbon neutrality. The progress is both heartening and encouraging. Together sports organisations are making progress to embed sustainability into their operations.”

Which sports are you most interested in? Do you support any specific sports / teams?  

“Genetically, I’m a Liverpool fan but you’ll catch me watching most sports, including basketball, cycling, rugby, athletics… I could go on. Most weekends I’ll be cycling or playing pádel, football, beach volleyball etc.”

Of the 16 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which inspires you the most?  

“I think SDG 13 - Climate Action - for me it’s the most pressing issue to address.”