Ben Ikin

About Ben

Ben Ikin is Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Rugby League, where he leads one of the country's largest and most complex sporting organisations — responsible for the growth, governance, and performance of rugby league across Queensland. His playing career began in 1995 with the Gold Coast Seagulls, and he became the youngest player to represent Queensland in State of Origin at the age of 18. He later played for the North Sydney Bears and the Brisbane Broncos, winning a Premiership with Brisbane in 2000.

Following his retirement from the game, Ben built a diverse executive career across commercial, media, and governance roles. He held senior positions in sales, worked with Nine and Fox Sports, and accumulated board roles across the sport. His trajectory from elite athlete to media professional to CEO of a major sporting body gives him a perspective on high performance, leadership, and organisational complexity that few speakers can match — one earned across three distinct careers, not just one.

Ben is recognised for leading high-performing teams in complex operating environments, aligning strategy, culture, and systems to deliver sustained results. He currently serves on the boards of the Queensland Rugby League and the Men of League Foundation. He is a natural fit for leadership conferences, sport and business forums, and events focused on high performance, team culture, or the relationship between elite sport and executive leadership.