Donna Wong

Biography

Donna is Senior Lecturer in Sports Business Management with over two decades of international academic experience across the United Kingdom and Asia. Her work sits at the intersection of sport governance, business strategy, and digital transformation, with a particular focus on how emerging technologies are reshaping organisational decision-making and audience engagement within the global sport and events industries.

She has an established research profile with publications in leading peer-reviewed journals including Sport Management Review, Leisure Studies, Sport in Society, Managing Sport and Leisure, and the Journal of Business Research. She is also a co-editor of a book on the Geopolitical Economy of Esports. Her work addresses key issues in sport governance, policy, and the socio-economic dynamics of sport and events, with recent research examining the impact of digital ecosystems, esports, and digital transformation on the structure and management of sport organisations.
Her research has attracted competitive funding from international bodies such as the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, and the Japan Sasakawa Foundation, as well as government agencies. She has also undertaken consultancy work for major sport events, including contributing to risk assessment and governance planning for the FIFA World Cup. Her work is characterised by a strong emphasis on applied impact, translating academic insights into practical frameworks for industry and policy stakeholders.

She currently serves on the Editorial Boards of Leisure Studies and Communication & Sport, and contributes to international governance and advisory work through roles with the UNESCO Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport and the World Squash Federation. These positions reflect his standing within the field and her ongoing engagement with both academic and practitioner communities.

Research and scholarship

Donna’s research sits at the intersection of sport, leisure and society, with a sustained focus on how participation, policy and governance shape individuals, businesses and societies. Her work engages critically with contemporary issues in sport and leisure studies, including the evolving role of sport within a broader cultural and economic systems.

Donna's research interests include:

• Sports and events management
• Sports media and broadcasting
• Sports diplomacy
• Geopolitics of sports
• Esports

Teaching

Donna has extensive experience in programme leadership, curriculum development, and postgraduate supervision. She has taught across undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, and is committed to research-led teaching that integrates theory with real-world application. Her main teaching interests include sports and events management and sport policy & governance.