Janis Burke is a nationally recognized leader in global sports governance, major event strategy, and community impact. The Sports Events & Tourism Association appointed Burke as its first-ever Chief of International Sport & Strategy to help its members navigate and maximize opportunities around the historic wave of international events coming to the United States over the next decade.
As former CEO of the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority, she was the first and only woman to hold that leadership role since the organization’s inception in 1997. Over her 18-year tenure, she played a pivotal role in bringing world-class sporting events to Houston, overseeing a $1.2 billion bond debt service for professional sports stadiums while securing high-profile events such as the College Football Playoffs, NCAA Men’s Final Four, Olympic Trials, World Championships, AAU Junior Olympics, Copa America, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under her leadership, these events contributed over $3 billion in economic impact to the region. The organization was selected on several occasions by its peers as the best sports commission in the country while also earning the distinction of “Best Employer in Sports,” by Front Office Sports publication.
Burke created the Texas Sports Coalition to build a cooperative network for those doing sports business within the state. She also founded the Abilities in Motion (ongoing sports program for disabled), Houston Hall of Fame, National Battle of the Bands, and the Sports Authority Foundation. The Foundation was created to connect the Houston community to large events hosted locally each year. Under her oversight, more than $10M was given out to charitable initiatives, local college scholarships, and various youth programming through the power of sports.
In 2024, Burke was inducted into the Sports ETA National Hall of Fame and has also been recognized by a multitude of organizations over the years for her impactful community work. Distinctions conferred by Conference USA and Rice University acknowledging her for outstanding contributions as a woman in the Houston sports industry, the Sports Industry Impact Award from Sam Houston State University and identified by the Houston Business Journal as one of Houston’s Most Admired CEOs. The World Chamber of Commerce-TX, Chinese Community Center, U.S. Congress, and World Youth Foundation have given recognition for her accomplishments on the global stage.
A Michigan native, Burke built her career in sports tourism and event management across Detroit, San Antonio, and Pennsylvania before making a lasting impact in Houston. Her lifelong passion for sports fuels her mission to use major events as a diplomacy tool or platform for economic growth, social impact, and equity in athletics.