Audra Romao, SPHR is entering her 23rd season with the Orlando Magic and was promoted to chief people officer in June 2015. She oversees the people team and office services for the “team behind the team.” 

Romao started with the Magic as the assistant director of human resources in May 1999. She was promoted to director of human resources in October 2005, then to vice president of human resources and administrative services in May 2007 and later to senior vice president of human resources and administrative services in July 2012.  

Prior to 1999, Romao worked as an HR Generalist for Gambro Healthcare, an international medical manufacturing company with offices in Central Florida. Romao began her HR career in 1994 when she spearheaded the start-up of a human resources department for First Atlantic Federal Credit Union in Long Branch, N.J. 

Romao earned a BS degree in human resources management in 1993 from Cabrini College, a liberal arts university in Radnor, Pa. In 2000, Romao received her MA degree in human resources management from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. Romao holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation, a professional certification through the Society for Human Resource Management. 

Romao is on the Board of Directors for the Always Wear Your Seatbelt Foundation (alwayswearyourseatbelt.org), which helps raise awareness for seat belt safety. She is also a member of the Leadership Business Advisory Board for Crummer Graduate School of Business and an active mentor for their Mentorship program. Recently Romao joined two additional boards with the Mental Health Association of Central Florida (https://www.mhacf.org) and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (https://orlandophil.org). 

Romao and her husband, Lou, reside in Orlando, Fla. with their beloved English bulldogs, Noah and Louna. 

Esu Ma'at is a trans-disciplinary thought leader who has a distinguished track record of success, driving a 21st century vision for diversity, equity and inclusion. He will work closely with the Magic's executive leadership team and the entire staff, along with the team’s social justice task force, to implement a holistic and impactful DE&I strategy, bringing a powerful impact to the organization, the NBA and the Central Florida community. 

In his role as the Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the Orlando Magic, he focuses on integrating DE&I strategy with the team’s business goals, organizational values and key performance indicators.  This includes attracting, engaging and retaining diverse talent; owning accountability for driving equity and belonging; and enhancing organizational culture, brand reputation and social impact. 

Ma’at earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a master of science degree in sports management from Columbia University and completed his D&I training at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He currently serves as an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University, he was named to the 2022 Orlando Magazine 50 Most Powerful People – One To Watch list, and he is a 2022 Community Impact and Icon Award honoree. 

Velia is an award-winning, meeting and events industry leader. She served on the ILEA-NCC Board of Directors from 2018-2021 and was the recipient of four Heart and Soul awards during her tenure. Additionally, Velia has been an active committee member of PCMA NCC since 2020, earning her a Bay Area Meeting Industry Excellence (BAMIE) award in the Member of the Year category, and a total of four nominations. She joined the board oF PCMA NCC in 2022 and served as the chapter’s Director of Social Media that year.

In her hometown of Sydney, Australia, Velia received vocal training from Australian superstar, Marcia Hines and studied drama with the prestigious Australian Theatre for Young People.

After relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area during the dot-com boom, she founded the critically acclaimed musical theatre troupe, Her Rebel Highness. Career highlights include opening for Australian Top 40 artist, Margaret Urlich, performing live on ABC7 News and appearing as Cher, in San Francisco’s longest running show, Beach Blanket Babylon.

Heather has performed at venues ranging from Barack Obama’s inaugural ball in D.C. to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. She has been named a 2022 recipient of the prestigious Eugene Burger Legacy Award by the Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas, and has performed alongside legendary artists such as Joan Baez and Rita Moreno, and appeared with Hillary Clinton at San Francisco’s “Innovation Hangar”. 

Heather ran away with the Pickle Family Circus when she was young, and it was there she discovered her love of performing and honed her magic and juggling skills. She has the distinction of being the one and only female, comedy magician in the Bay Area and has performed for corporate clients such as Google, Intuit, Hewlett Packard, Oracle and has spoken at TEDx.

Heather is an active member of Meeting Professional International. She served on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee in 2020 and currently volunteers on the Education & Programs Committee.