The blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List 2025

Anne-Mart Agerbeek-Cox is CEO of Vekoma Rides, the Dutch roller coaster specialist. She has been in this role since January 2024.

With a background in computer science and a diverse career path that includes roles as a stockbroker and construction director, Agerbeek brings a wide range of skills and curiosity to the attractions industry.

At Vekoma, she is spearheading what she calls a 'Renaissance'— a deliberate evolution in the company’s methods for ride design, engineering, and guest experience. She has a focus on quality, safety, and innovation, bringing in investments such as 3D-bending machines and robotic track construction systems.

Agerbeek-Cox is also highly dedicated to fostering a strong company culture and people-focused leadership. She emphasises that collaboration, transparent communication, and a supportive work environment are crucial for driving innovation and attracting talented individuals.

Outside her corporate role, she champions gender diversity in engineering and manufacturing by frequently interacting with young women, introducing them to STEM careers, and inspiring them to follow technical paths in the attractions industry.

Her vision for the future involves creating rides and experiences that truly delight guests, upholding Vekoma’s high standards, and fostering the talent and culture that will guide the company into the next generation.

One nominator said:

"She is an exemplary leader, passionate sustainability advocate, and sets a fantastic example for young women in this male-dominated field. She is also kind, supportive, and a dedicated employer."

Hervé Bruneau founded Live Show Factory in 2024. The company, which produces and realises custom shows for theme parks, live performances and escape rooms, was born from Bruneau’s passion for performance and deeply held desire to push the boundaries of the art form.

Bruneau established Live Show Factory following the successful completion of the 2018-2024 development plan at Parc Astérix, which aimed to place shows back at the heart of the attraction’s offer.

He joined the park as director of shows and entertainment in 2018 and was responsible for the end-to-end delivery of a diverse range of shows, including musical comedy, a 5-float parade, a stunt performance, and a haunted house.

“Hervé cut his teeth in show business with Futuroscope, bringing this park to life. But it was when he arrived at Parc Astérix that he breathed life into the park's shows and the Astérix license,” says one person who nominated Bruneau.

“His two masterstrokes: reintroducing a grand festive parade featuring characters from the Astérix galaxy and the first musical based on the Astérix license.”

Bruneau considers this musical a highlight of his tenure. For this project, he was responsible for the show creation from end to end, including sets, costumes, the libretto, and the relationship with the IP holder Éditions Albert René, in a remarkable team effort.

At Futuroscope, Bruneau led a number of projects, including the development and launch of the ‘Rabbids’ characters, the development of a theatre in the former IMAX space, and events management, such as the NRJ Music Awards and anniversary concerts.

He was appointed head of shows and animations in 2014.

Michel den Dulk, vice president and portfolio executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, started his career as a designer at Efteling in the Netherlands. He went on to work as a designer and creative director at Germany’s Europa-Park.

In his current role at Walt Disney Imagineering, Den Dulk creates experiences including Frozen attractions for Disney parks across the globe, and oversees the €2 billion Disney Adventure World expansion at Disneyland Paris.

As well as the new World of Frozen, Disney Adventure World will feature a new area inspired by The Lion King (1994). For this, Disney Imagineers will bring to life the film's Pride Rock, which will serve as the entrance to a water attraction – Disney's first-ever ride-through attraction themed to The Lion King.

“From the moment the sun rose on the big screen in theaters all around the world, audiences were captivated by the story of The Lion King, and its characters, and it has not lost any momentum since," said Den Dulk.

"Our goal as Imagineers is to translate the emotional core of the film into this exciting project and have you relive that feeling all over again as you experience this unique attraction.”

Merlin Entertainments announced Fiona Eastwood as its new chief executive officer in February 2025 after 10 years with the company. She had already been serving as interim CEO of Merlin since November 2024, when former CEO Scott O'Neil stepped down after a two-year tenure.

She was previously the chief operating officer of Merlin’s Midway attractions and resort theme parks, including the existing Midway portfolio, as well as new openings and franchise operations.

These include UK parks such as Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and Chessington, as well as Gardaland in Italy and Heide Park in Germany, along with Midway brands like Sea Life aquariums, Madame Tussauds, The Dungeons, and Lego Discovery Centres.

In her new role, Eastwood is responsible for implementing Merlin's transformational strategy and ensuring it's well-placed to grow at scale, as well as overseeing Merlin's portfolio of resort theme parks, city-centre attractions, and Legoland resorts in more than 20 countries.

She joined Merlin in 2015 as the global marketing director of Midway attractions. Prior to her work with Merlin, she was with BBC Worldwide and held senior roles for one of the BBC’s biggest brands, Doctor Who.

"It’s an honour to be chosen to lead Merlin. It is a truly world-class company, with remarkable global reach and impact," Eastwood said on her appointment.

"Over the past decade, I have seen firsthand what the business is capable of. My task, as CEO, is to lead Merlin to new heights, with a focus on performance, creativity, operational excellence and guest experience."

Roland Hernandez, chair of Merlin, said: "Fiona has a deep understanding of the business, the strategies required for sustainable growth, and the vision to spearhead our ongoing transformation.

"As Merlin’s former chief operating officer, she recognises the significant role each location plays in our ongoing success, and she will be instrumental in bringing our global attractions together into one united business."

Antonio Zamperla Jr is CEO of Zamperla, a leading ride manufacturer. He is the grandson of the company’s founder, Antonio Zamperla, and the son of Zamperla’s former president Alberto Zamperla, who passed away in 2022.

Zamperla Jr worked alongside his father for 20 years, and previously served as Zamperla’s chief innovation officer. During his time at Zamperla, the company has grown to employ more than 400 people with a turnover of €100 million.

An attractions industry expert and enthusiast, Zamperla Jr supports projects and concepts with a focus on new technologies, engineering and artificial intelligence (AI).

One nomination says Zamperla Jr is “pushing the boundaries of what a ride manufacturer can achieve – technically, creatively, and ethically”.

In 2025, under his leadership, Zamperla launched one of the most ambitious roller coasters in the world: Top Thrill 2 at Cedar Point.

“As the tallest and fastest triple-launch coaster, Top Thrill 2 is not just a ride – it’s a statement,” the nomination adds.

“By combining groundbreaking innovation with a human-centered vision, Antonio is influencing not only what attractions look like, but who they are for.”

Josh Martin has been a consistent game changer in the aquatic industry for 20-plus years.

As president and creative director of Martin Aquatic, a world-class aquatic firm, he has elevated the family business founded by his father, Ken Martin, to new heights. Today, Martin Aquatic is a leader in master planning, mechanical design, and engineering of water parks and aquatic facilities worldwide.

Building on his technical background, Martin combines creative vision with his people skills to help create winning resorts, water parks, and lagoons worldwide.

Recently, he has led the development of designs for the burgeoning inland surf sector. These lagoons, over two football fields long, generate 9-foot-high waves that attract both beginners and professionals.

Martin has been the driving force and unifying figure who has solidified relationships among developers, vendors, theme designers, operators, and brands, leading to the creation of some of the world's most iconic water parks and aquatic centres.

Clients include notable names such as Kalahari, Carnival Cruise Lines, King's Island, Royal Caribbean, the Westin Cocoa Beach, and Showboat in Atlantic City, among others.

One nominator says:

"Josh is an integral part of the water park industry as a subject matter expert, and the experience he brings to any project. Not only is he knowledgeable about the industry, but he is also willing to adapt to the brands he works with.

"As a critical partner to our company, we collaborate with him and his knowledge of the industry, while also tapping into the product knowledge of where our opportunities and gaps may lie. Working with Josh has sparked a significant amount of innovation and new ways to think out of the box and deliver exceptional experiences to our guests."

As president of Falcon’s Attractions, Dave Mauck leads a team of industry experts in the themed entertainment industry. He oversees the development, deployment and ongoing support of some of the most sophisticated ride systems and attractions at theme parks around the world

Mauck plays a key role in business development, new product development, operational management, driving financial results, and project execution.

Additionally, he is recognised as a founding team member of Oceaneering Entertainment Systems (OES), a division of Oceaneering International Inc. Before joining Falcon’s Beyond, Mauck was vice president and general manager of OES. Under his guidance, OES received 12 prestigious Thea Awards from the Themed Entertainment Association for its ride and show systems.

These include The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man and Transformers: The Ride 3D at Universal Orlando, Justice League: Battle for Metropolis at Six Flags, and the Shuttle Launch Experience at the Kennedy Space Center.

Falcon’s Beyond Global, a fully integrated development enterprise for IP-driven parks, resorts, media and merchandise, announced its acquisition of Oceaneering Entertainment Systems.

Throughout his 30-year career, Mauck has led teams in engineering, design, project engineering, project management and division management.

One nomination says Mauck “is a visionary leader whose handiwork is at play in some of the most advanced and immersive ride systems at the world's top theme parks and attractions”.

“Dave’s journey into themed entertainment began in the deep sea. Starting as a mechanical engineer working on remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for undersea exploration, he was tapped to bring his offshore engineering expertise to the Universal Studios Florida Jaws attraction, marking the beginning of a remarkable career in immersive entertainment,” it adds.

Another nomination says: “Dave Mauck’s influence on the themed entertainment industry is undeniable. With over 30 years of leadership and innovation, he has helped shape some of the most iconic and technologically advanced attractions across the globe."

Chris Oliver is senior vice president of engineering and safety at Universal Creative. A respected industry leader, he has worked on theme parks and attractions in Singapore, Japan, Beijing, Paris and Orlando. Oliver’s work combines guest safety, innovative technology and immersive storytelling. Currently, he oversees a team of nearly 400 engineers developing Universal attractions around the world.

He also co-founded the Universal Creative Lab at the University of Central Florida (UCF), which brings UCF students into Universal Creative offices and onto the construction sites to teach them about building theme park attractions. Most recently, he led a team of more than 200 engineers to create Epic Universe in Orlando.

Oliver started his theme park career at Disney World and has held leadership roles at Disney and Universal. His projects for Universal include Mario Kart: Bower’s Challenge and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, while his Disney work includes Splash Mountain in Florida and Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris.

One nomination says his “ability to balance safety, creativity and strategy” has “elevated Universal Creative to a global brand and inspired a new generation of leaders in the industry”.

It adds, “He has constantly pushed the engineering boundaries of what is possible, blending innovative technology with immersive design to create experiences that captivate audiences and set new industry standards. Whether it is developing new ride systems or integrating advanced show systems, Chris approaches every challenge with clarity, precision, and a collaborative spirit.”

Mascha Taminiau has been the director of Walibi Holland since 2008.

Under her leadership, the park has seen exceptional growth, making it a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

Her bold approach to themed festivals demonstrates a desire to respond to her young audience. Since 2018, the park in Biddinghuizen has adopted a park-wide ‘Festivalization’ theme.

"It starts the moment you walk through the entrance and into the main street, cloaked in street art," writes Owen Ralph for blooloop. "It continues as you eat food from street food trucks. There’s an edgy vibe to rides like Untamed and Lost Gravity."

Twice a year, high-energy music festivals, Defqon. 1 and Lowlands, are staged in the grounds adjoining the 40-hectare theme park.

The park's latest ride is YoY. Launched at the start of the season in April 2025, this twin-track Raptor coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) offers a choice of ride experiences. When riders join the queue for the blue side, they have signed up for “Chill”. But if they go for green, then “Thrill” is on the menu.

To make its mark on the international scene, Walibi Holland has developed the most award-winning Halloween event in Europe. Halloween Fright Nights returned for its 18th season in 2025. As an alternative to the popular after-dark experience, families can also enjoy Spooky Days.

Mark Woodbury is chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, a division of Comcast NBCUniversal that creates and operates innovative and themed entertainment experiences.

In this role, Woodbury oversees all aspects of the company’s destinations across the globe, including Universal Orlando in Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood in California, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Beijing.

Before being named chairman and CEO in 2021, he served as vice chairman and president of Universal Creative, the team that develops, plans and designs all Universal attractions and destinations worldwide.

Woodbury joined Universal more than 30 years ago as a member of the creative leadership team behind Universal Studios Florida. As chief creative officer, he led the expansion of Universal Orlando, including Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal’s Volcano Bay water park, on-site hotels, and Universal CityWalk.

Woodbury, a licensed architect, was key in the development and opening of Universal Studios Japan, and oversaw the design and development of Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Beijing. Woodbury’s work includes the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.

His contribution to the wider attractions industry was recognised in 2019 by the Themed Entertainment Association when he won the Buzz Price Lifetime Achievement Award.

One nomination says Woodbury has been “the single most influential person in the ascension of Universal theme parks to the heights they've achieved today”.

It adds, “This year he achieved a stellar milestone as Epic Universe – a theme park which has been called one of the finest in the world – opened its doors after he shepherded its creation for nearly a decade.”