John Aalberg was born in Norway, but has spent most of his adult life in USA and Canada. He has long experience in designing, managing, organising and operating large Nordic sport-venues and international events. He led the design, development and operations of two Olympic- and Paralympic Nordic venues in Salt Lake City and Vancouver in 2002 and 2010, and has been a key advisor for other Olympic Games organizers. He is currently the designer of the Olympic Cross-Country venue for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
John participated in two Olympic Games (1992,1994).
Andrew Baker is an 18-year veteran of the Olympic world, joining the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) in 2005 and participating in seven Olympics, four Pan American Games and three Youth Olympic Games. Over this time, Andrew assumed increasingly senior roles within the operations of Team Canada at the Games, overseeing a significant expansion of the level of support provided by the Canadian Olympic Committee to Canadian athletes and sport federations. Named as Director, Games in 2013, Andrew oversaw the planning and delivery for Canada’s largest ever multi-sport Games delegation at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games and Canada’s most successful Winter Olympic Games team in PyeongChang 2018.
In his current role of Chief External Affairs Officer, Andrew leads the COC’s International Relations, Government Relations and communications teams efforts. Responsible for COC’s efforts to bring the Olympic & Paralympic Games back to Canada, Andrew led the BC2030 Feasibility Team under the leadership of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, building a proposal to bring the Winter Games back to BC in 2030.
Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Administration from Laurentian University in 2005 and holds an Executive MBA from Queens University and Cornell University. In 2015, he was a recipient of the “5 to Watch” in Canadian Sport Business award. A lifelong athlete, in the sports of soccer, athletics and volleyball, Andrew continues to enjoy pushing himself in a Crossfit gym or while training for sporadic triathlons. He is inspired by his father’s regular cross country skiing and biking in pursuit of lifelong physical health and believes in the important role that physical activity can play in all stages of one’s life.
Brian has been engaged in public practice for over 35 years and has been a partner of Galloway Botteselle & Company since 1996.
He deals mainly with small to medium-sized businesses and provides services on various tax issues, business expansions and reorganizations, acquisitions, valuations, and personal financial planning.
His past audit experience includes many not-for-profit organizations including 46 independent schools in the lower mainland. Brian has volunteered and currently volunteers for a number of not-for-profit organizations. He has been passionate about physical activity all his life and is currently an avid cyclist.
After an active outdoor youth spent climbing, hiking, cross country skiing and canoeing in the mountains and rivers around Calgary, Glen guided and instructed several outdoor activities for many years, in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Canadian Arctic. In 1994 he was a member of a team as an ocean kayak specialist to complete an Arctic expedition across Baffin Island, an expedition that was featured in both Canadian Geographic and National Geographic magazines.
In his second career in sport and recreation management, he first led a provincial sport organization; then managed a university outdoor program, climbing wall, and rental shop; and then moved on to the Alberta government where he has contributed as a sport consultant, a strategic manager, and now as a senior policy advisor. Over the last 15 years in government Glen has been the government sport and recreation lead assigned to business case teams for several major capital projects. This work has resulted in over $300 million of investment in sport and recreation infrastructure in Alberta.
Throughout these years Glen also consulted to organizations hosting major sporting events, helped develop a provincial funding program for major events, and managed the completion of 8 economic impact studies of major sporting events at Alberta's Olympic legacy venues.
Silke is a Movement Disorder Neurologist, Associate Professor and Marg Meikle Professor at the University of British Columbia. With a strong athletic background, her clinical and research work focusses on a holistic, interdisciplinary approach for physical and emotional wellbeing, promoting active engagement in care through exercise, art, mindfulness, nutrition, and community building.
She is investigating the role of the gut microbiome with the goal to find new approaches to neurodegenerative disorders. She serves as the director of the annual National Canadian Neurology Residents Course for Movement Disorders, as President of the Canadian Movement Disorder Group and co-founding director of the BC Brain Wellness Foundation.
Dave Doroghy is an International Sports Marketing Executive who has worked on two consecutive winning Olympic Bids – a unique distinction. Altogether, Dave has 25 years of experience in acquiring sponsors for major international sports initiatives and professional teams in Canada and around the world. He was the Vice President of the NBA Vancouver and Memphis Grizzlies and Director of Business Development for the Vancouver Canucks.
Dave was the Director of Sponsorship Sales for London’s successful bid to host the 2012 Olympic Summer Games. (2003—2004). He also helped drive sponsorship sales for Vancouver’s successful bid to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (2002—2003).
He then was appointed Director of Sponsorship Sales for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (2005—2010) where he led the team that raised the record-breaking domestic sponsorship revenue.
Dave began his career as a radio announcer in Vancouver in the 1980’s. He now lives on a floating home outside of Vancouver where he raises bees. He is currently teaching Sports Marketing part time at three different Universities and works as an Author. His recent books include 111 Places in Vancouver That You Must Not Miss published by Emons and SHOW ME THE HONEY – Adventures of an Accidental Apiarist published by Touchwood Editions.
Sean is a respected entrepreneur who has built four tech companies in Canada and and now on his fifth as CEO of Globaltalentaccelerator.com which helps tech companies find outsourcing agencies in a faster, simpler way. Before going into tech Sean was the head of sponsorship for Intrawest Corp, a multi-resort operations and real-estate development company based in Vancouver.
Sean left Intrawest to successfully raise sponsorship funds for the Bid Corporations that allowed Vancouver to secure the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Sean spends his spare time hiking biking and skiing in the mountains and used to guide long (50 day) canoe trips in Ontario. He dreams of one day completing the trans Canada trail.
Linkedin Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanlanguedoc/
Tommy received his M.D. from the University of British Columbia and is a board- certified Paediatric Rheumatologist. He holds an MSc with Distinction in Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health from the University College of London (UK). Tommy is the current Chair of the Doctors of BC Athletics and Recreation Committee and is the former Medical Director of Fortius Sport & Health. Tommy collaborates with the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit. He has also worked with the team at Calgary’s Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre on national studies examining risk factors for concussions.
Clinically, Dr Gerschman is a consultant on sport and exercise injuries in childhood and adolescence. He works with a wide range of children, including recreational and elite athletes (and dancers). He also enjoys promoting physical activity and sport involvement for children with chronic diseases.
Monica’s passion is supporting youth innovators. As Chief Innovation Consultant, Monica works with educational institutions and organizations to develop and implement programs, experiential learning and research that build youths’ skills while opening avenues for creating positive change.
As former Director of Community Engagement and Social Innovation at Ryerson University, Monica fostered new ways to collaborate create positive interactions across all levels of education, community and industry. She is co- founder of an award-winning social enterprise incubator. A highlight of her career was Chief of Staff of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympics, where synergies between innovation, sport and youth intersected.
Yun is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia. Her experience and interest in healthcare spans throughout many different capacities. As a student, she served as the co-chair of CHIUS, leading a group of multidisciplinary healthcare students to improve the health outcomes of some of the most vulnerable populations in Vancouver.
Upon graduation, she worked as a regulatory affairs specialist with AstraZeneca Korea, where she led the successful management of 18 different product licenses and gained the approval of over 50 clinical trial conductions in South Korea. She currently works as a community pharmacist in Vancouver, where she continues to contribute to direct patient care. Outside of work, she enjoys practicing yoga, hiking, and photography.
Mike Mahony born and raised in Vancouver British Columbia is a dual citizen of Australia & Canada. He has lived and worked in the hospitality, sports and community industries, in Australia & Canada. Mike studied Geography at University on Vancouver Island & recently was inducted into the University of British Columbia Big Block as a President's choice. Graduating class of 2019 for Outstanding Contribution and Community Support.
Mike spent fifteen years designing, building, & growing the Mahony & Sons restaurant brand in Vancouver. In four locations Mike's roles included Director of all Community Sponsorship & Marketing, Director of Food Development, and General Manager of the U.B.C. location. Mike also was the C.O.O. for V.I.P. Hospitality for four International Davis Cup Events for Canada vs Italy, Spain, France, & Japan.
Mike specializes and has spent years working on mentoring leadership, developing policies, systems, operations, and building successful winning cultures in business, sports, and life.
More recently Mike started his own consulting business working with companies in all industries including hospitality, media, tech, & chemical safety treatments.
Currently, Mike, advises on multiple boards. He is a husband and father of two children and is actively involved with coaching kids’ sports. He is an avid skier, hiker, & plays Division 1 Tennis and enjoys all sports.
Mike has collaborated on, executed, promoted, advised, and has been a part of over a thousand events in the Greater Vancouver area making a significant impact in a multitude of communities.
Madison Mailey is an Olympic Gold Medalist and member of Canada’s “Girls in the Boat” eight-women crew that triumphed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and she demonstrates an unwavering commitment to promoting health and fitness.
Having graduated from Boston's prestigious Northeastern University in 2018, Madison earned a BSBA degree with a concentration in Management and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, she received a joint certificate of Merit in Music Performance from the esteemed New England Conservatory.
In professional life, Madison is a Wealth Advisor with the Mailey Rogers Group of ScotiaMcLeod, in West Vancouver. She also serves on other boards and is a welcomed speaker.
Phil is a nationally recognized running coach, coaching high performance athletes, adaptive athletes, casual runners - and even politicians. He is the Running Room Ottawa Regional Manager and is well known for organizing running and other sports events in the National Capital. Phil was on the ground floor of the National Health and Fitness Movement, being one of those who formulated the concept of National Health and Fitness Day, serving as a Founding Director of the National Health and Fitness Foundation, and serving as the Parliamentary Running Coach.
Phil received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for Community Service and the Celebration Ontario 2010 Coaching Award. He is also a well-known “voice” as the Ottawa Race Weekend / Canada Army Run Race Announcer.
Marilyn McIvor is a former Public Health Nurse from Whistler and program manager from BC Centre for Disease Control with expertise in community development, health promotion, and managing staff and budgets. She played a pivotal role in the National Health and Fitness Day Movement, supporting John Weston and Nancy Greene Raine as Coordinator of National Health and Fitness Day in Ottawa and around Canada, from 2012 to 2018.
Passionate about health and fitness, she believes parents play a critical role in raising healthy, active children and treasures spending time with her grandchildren.
Norbert is the Event Chair for the Alberta World Cup Society. Since 2010, he has been leading the effort regularly to bring FIS world cup cross country skiing events to Canmore, Alberta.
He retired from the Banff Centre for Continuing Education in 2009 after serving for 32 years in various roles : leadership development, human resources and hospitality, and conferences. He served as Vice-President and Executive Officer in leading an entrepreneurial business unit inside a post-secondary education institution. He was also the Centre’s Chief Environmental Officer.
Norbert is now an Executive Coach working with clients who want to undertake significant personal change. Norbert is a lifelong competitive athlete. He and his wife, Silvia, feel privileged being able to enjoy their outdoors and recreation-focussed lifestyle in Canmore.
Per has been a major force in the organization of the world’s most successful national cross country ski program. He served as Department Leader in the Norwegian Ski Federation from 1980-2017, when he retired. He has been an enthusiastic skier from 1963 until today, competing at high levels from 1967 through 1977, and serving as Trainer for Oslo’s District Team (1980-1984). Per serves as Cross country Technical Delegate on the FIS Continental Cup Level and Member of Oslo’s “Skiforeningen”, which promotes ski activity and ski tracks in the city’s surroundings.
For the last 17 years, she has combined her knowledge of anatomy, pathology and exercise prescription to work on the development and delivery of exercise and healthy lifestyle programs to maximize health and quality of life.
Guylaine operates an exercise studio where she teaches strength training and healthy lifestyle behaviour change to mid-age and senior women. Her programs are designed to serve all levels of fitness and to serve individuals afflicted by various health conditions such as orthopedic issues, heart disease, cancer, and emotional health challenges. She also worked on contract to develop and deliver similar programs for various well known Ottawa organizations.
Guylaine has been involved in competitive dragon boat since 2009. She also rejoices in the outdoors across Canada along with family and friends, skiing, hiking, paddling, and cycling.
Ken has devoted his life to the advancement of sport and recreation. As a member of Canada’s Alpine Ski Team, he was the first Canadian male to win a World Cup and represented Canada in the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games. He was recognized as Canada’s athlete of the year in 1979 (Lou Marsh Award) and amateur athlete of the year in 1980 (Norton Crowe Award). He was one of the early leaders of athlete representation, as the first Chair of the Canadian Olympic Committee Athletes Council and also a member of the IOC Athletes Commission. He has served as CEO of Alpine Canada and the Director of Winter Sport for Own the Podium.
Currently, he is Chair of the International Ski Federation Alpine Youth Committee and Vice Chair of the Alpine Executive Board and Chairs the annual Youth Seminar to encourage youth participation in winter sports. Through his life-long involvement in sport and health advocacy, he was honoured with the Order of Canada and the Bruce Kidd Sport Leadership Award.
Meghan brings extensive experience and a deep passion for mental, physical, and social well-being to her role as an Advisory Board Member. As the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Trans Canada Trail since 2020, she has been instrumental in rebranding the world's longest trail and promoting the numerous health benefits of immersing oneself in nature. With a proven track record as a brand strategist, Meghan has successfully led brand transformations for renowned national charities, including Habitat for Humanity Canada, YMCA Canada, and Kids Help Phone. Her leadership has established her as a thought leader and sought-after public speaker. During her spare time, Meghan can often be found exploring and hiking trails, particularly along Toronto’s Waterfront Trail in the Beaches where she lives.
Peter has 40 years of leadership experience in building baccalaureate and graduate-level curricula in Exercise and Wellness, Sport, Exercise and Physical Education and research projects coordination in Canada, United States, Australia and the Czech Republic.
Peter has 20+ years of teaching experience extends from being a K-12 teacher in BC north to be a Chair of PhD research at doctoral programs in Pedagogy in US undergraduate and graduate university system. He is recognised internationally for his work in exercise adoption/adherence and exercise prescription, behavioural change and exercise epidemiology.
He has received tenure and associate professor status in the US, Australia and the Czech Republic and Graduate Faculty rank in the US, Australia, Canada and the Czech Republic Is a founding member of the Health Enhancement Program (teacher preparation) in the US and has coordinated Health. His enhancement implementation efforts in Montana and other states for seven years. He has also published and conducted over 100 articles and seminars in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia focusing on pedagogy, wellness, exercise and diet.
He delivers health and wellness seminars to international government and corporate organisations including Pepsico and Nike, and has delivered a keynote address at the Tasmanian, New South Wales and South Australia States Symposia on Childhood Obesity featuring John Howard and senior members of the Cabinet.
He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, American Medical Fitness Association, Canadian Society of Exercise Physiologists, Australian Medical Association and Canadian College of Health Leaders. Peter is very committed to enhancing physical activity internationally by education, research and personal example (successfully competed/completed in excess of 100 ski marathons, 25 running marathons, over 100 Olympic Distance Triathlons and seven Ironman International Triathlons).