Kathryn (Kate) Ackerman, MD, MPH, FACSM is the Founder and Director of the Female Athlete Program and Biennial International Female Athlete Conference at Boston Children’s Hospital, the Associate Director of the Sports Endocrine Research Lab at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She earned her BA from Cornell University, MD from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health, and completed her residency in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her sports medicine fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital and endocrinology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

She chairs the US Rowing medical committee, is a member of the World Rowing medical commission, and is a Deputy Editor of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Her research focuses on female athlete health and the various aspects of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). She has authored/co-authored over 100 articles and book chapters related to sports medicine, endocrinology, rowing, bone health, and female athletes, including position statements with the International Olympic Committee. Athletically, Dr. Ackerman represented the US as a lightweight rower at the World Championships, having taken up rowing as a walk-on at Cornell. She has multiple National Championships titles and still competes with her teammates for life as a masters athlete. Most recently, she has become a Member of the National Leadership Council for the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, a $220mill initiative to improve health and performance globally. Dr. Ackerman is leading the Alliance’s focus on scientific advancements for women.

Dr. Joe Baker is a professor in University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education where he is the Tanenbaum Research Chair in Sport Science, Data Modelling and Sport Analytics. His research considers the varying influences on optimal human development, ranging from issues affecting athlete development and skill acquisition to barriers and facilitators of successful aging. Joe is Past President of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology and the author/editor of 13 books and over 300 scientific publications. www.bakerlab.kpe.utoronto.ca

Louise is a sports dietitian with 45 years of experience in the education and counselling of elite athletes. She worked at the Australian Institute of Sport for thirty years, first as Head of Sports Nutrition and then as Chief of Nutrition Strategy. She has attended 6 Summer Olympic Games with the Australian Olympic Team (1996-2012 and 2021). Her publications include over 400 papers in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, and the authorship or editorship of several textbooks on sports nutrition. Louise was a founding member of the Executive of Sports Dietitians Australia and is a Director of the IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009 for her contribution to sports nutrition, and a Doctor of Science (Honoris causa) from McMaster University, Canada in 2024. Louise was appointed as Chair in Sports Nutrition in the Mary MacKillop Institute of Health Research at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne in 2014 and took up this position in a full-time capacity in 2020.

Jamie Burr is an Associate Professor and the director of the Human Performance and Health Research lab at the University of Guelph. Outside of the lab, he works with elite athletes as a sport scientist and NHL high-performance director. His work considers integrated systems-level exercise physiology, with a focus on both human performance and health.

Anthony Capotosto has served as the TFC academy director at Toronto since July 2018. Prior to that, Capotosto was the head coach of the U-15, U-16 and both the Junior and Senior Academy teams during his time with the club. In addition to his work with Toronto FC, Capotosto was the Head Coach and Manager of Soccer Operations for the Men’s & Women’s Soccer programs at the University of Toronto from 2007 – 2018. During his time at the University of Toronto, he founded and directed the National Soccer Coaching Conference from 2012 - 2018. The conference helped educate soccer coaches from across Canada.

Capotosto holds his Canadian A, Youth and Children’s Coaching Licenses, as well as a USSF 'B' License. In 2016, he completed the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL) through the French Football Federation and Major League Soccer. In 2021, Capotosto achieved the USSF Academy Director Licence. In addition, Capotosto earned his Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (2003). He taught physical education and health at the secondary school level for eight years in the Toronto District School Board.

As a player, Capotosto was named an OUA all-star defender during his five seasons spent with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. He also earned First Team All-Canadian honours and OUA East MVP honours in 2000 and 2001. He captained the Blues to the OUA title during his final season.

Dr. Jas Chahal is an Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery and Division Head of Orthopaedic Surgery at Women's College Hospital. He is also the team orthopaedic surgeon for the Toronto FC and University of Toronto Varsity Blues Athletics Program. His areas of interest include conducting clinical trials in orthopaedic sports medicine, as well as, translational research regarding the use of orthobiologics in sports medicine. In 2022, Dr Chahal was selected as a Travelling fellow by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, a prestigious honour that highlights his academic and clinical work to date.

Dr. Carla Edwards is a Canadian Sports Psychiatrist whose practice focuses on the treatment of mental disorders and psychological struggles in athletes. In her clinical practice, Dr. Edwards supports athletes from many National Sport Organizations, professional sports teams, Canadian Universities, NCAA, and youth sports organizations. She is the team psychiatrist for the Hamilton Tiger Cats (Canadian Football League) and Toronto Rock (National Lacrosse League), and the company psychiatrist for the National Ballet of Canada. She is a passionate advocate for the protection of athletes and safeguarding of the sport experience. Carla is the President of the International Society for Sports Psychiatry and the Secretary-Treasurer for the Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine (CASEM).

Dr. Edwards is active in the academic setting as an Associate Clinical Professor with the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, Chair of Student Progress for the undergraduate MD Program, and Competency Committee Chair for postgraduate psychiatry. She has published and presented extensively on various topics in Sports Psychiatry and is committed to enhancing mental health literacy among sport personnel. A particular interest for Dr. Edwards is refining practices related to athlete participation in sports when mental health symptoms and disorders are present.

Nicolas has been spearheading the research & innovation activities at FIFA for more than a decade during which empirical studies and data-driven insights have become central to decision-making and new developments. Political scientist and finance graduate he is now the Head of Football Research & Standards within FIFA’s Innovation team in the Executive Office. He oversees a multi-disciplinary team working across the entire innovation value-chain interacting with start-ups, leading research & validation efforts for new technologies, getting innovations ready for use at major tournaments and setting standards for products, services and data for the football world. Goal-line technology, VAR and Automated Offside Technology are some examples of the work originating from Nicolas’ team.

The fastest growing area of Nicolas’ work is undoubtedly in the data value chain in football. As such pre-empting the technology trends, ensuring regulatory compliance for data and technology use as well as dissipating knowledge in form of scientific publications is a major objective in the team’s work.

Jessica Fraser-Thomas (PhD) is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University, and a member of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research. Her research focuses on children and youths’ development through sport, with particular interest in positive youth development, psychosocial influences, and sport trajectories. Currently she is working on projects exploring preschoolers' introductions to organized sport, and characteristics of programs that may facilitate optimal development within diverse communities. She is a recipient of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology Young Scientist Award, the Province of Ontario Volunteer Service Award, and YMCA Canada’s Program Innovation Award.

Vicky is one the few sport scientists that continues to provide applied sport science while maintaining a full-time academic position at Loughborough University as a Professor in Applied Disability Sport. Vicky has attended/been involved in the Paralympic Games (Atlanta 1996 – present). Highlights include, working in the ParalympicsGB Performance Centre in London (2012) and leading the applied sport science project for the GB Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) heading into Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, where they became gold medalists. She is currently involved in applied projects with the wheelchair sports of basketball, tennis and rugby leading into LA 2028.

Vicky received a BASES Award for Good Practice in Applied Sport Science (2005), and was awarded BASES Fellowship (2011). Vicky served as a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Sport Science and Medicine Group 2005-2010. In 2017, Vicky received the prestigious IPC Paralympic Scientific Award and was named one of Loughborough Universities Inspirational Women in Sport. Vicky is editor of one of the few scientific international handbooks on sport physiology and biomechanics in adapted sports ‘Wheelchair Sport’ (Human Kinetics) and has over 200 peer reviewed publications in this field. She has many on-going international studies spanning Asia, Canada, USA and Europe.

Vicky is the Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC) which has attracted over £4M of funding. This research centre has an international reputation that was recently awarded the Loughborough University VCs 2022 and 2024 award for research and innovation that has delivered significant and sustained impact on society and she was awarded East Midlands Women STEM in 2024.

Sandra Hunter, PhD is the Francie Kraker Goodridge Collegiate Professor of Kinesiology and Chair of Movement Science in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan USA.

Professor Hunter received her PhD in Exercise Physiology at the University of Sydney, Australia studying the muscle function with aging and the effects of strength training in young and older women. She then trained as a postdoctoral research associate (1999-2003) at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA in the Neural Control of Movement laboratory. In 2003, she became faculty at Marquette University, Wisconsin, USA for 21 years before moving to the School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan in 2024 where she is a named professor and chair of the Movement Science Program.

Professor Hunter has been funded by the National Institutes of Health since 2004 to study the effects of sex, age and diabetes on exercise performance and the protective effects of exercise and strength training. She is an international leader on the neuromuscular physiology of human movement across the lifespan in males and females, and the age and sex differences in athletic performance. Professor Hunter has authored over 170 journal publications, and she serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal Exercise and Sport Science Reviews. Professor Hunter is the first author on a consensus statement published in 2023 by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on the Biological Basis of the Sex Differences in Athletic Performance. In May 2025 she received the ACSM Citation award, one of ACSM’s highest honors for an outstanding career in research, and scholarly recognition in contributing to the mission of ACSM. Professor Hunter regularly appears in the media on the sex and age differences in athletic performance.

Dr. Alex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist and Outside’s Sweat Science columnist, covering the latest research on endurance and outdoor sports. His most recent book is the New York Times bestseller Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance. Before becoming a journalist, he completed a PhD in physics at the University of Cambridge and worked as a researcher in the National Security Agency’s Quantum Computing group. He also competed for the Canadian national team in track, cross-country, road, and mountain running. He lives (and runs) in Toronto.

Michael Hutchison oversees the clinical and research activities related to sport concussion at the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic, University of Toronto. He holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and specializes in sport-related concussion research in various populations, including adolescent students, university level students, and professional athletes.

Mark Ideson is a three-time Paralympic medalist and World Champion in the sport of wheelchair curling. Before his successful career in curling, Mark was a professional helicopter pilot. In 2007, at the age of 30, he was involved in a helicopter accident resulting in a spinal cord injury that left him living life with quadriplegia. Forced to reestablish his outlook on life, Mark found inspiration from watching the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 and, more specifically, learning about Jon Montgomery's journey to Olympic success. After deciding to pursue parasport, Mark tried a couple of sports before finding his fit with wheelchair curling. Since then, he has represented Canada at nine World Wheelchair Curling Championships and three Paralympic Winter Games, including most recently in Beijing, China, where he helped Team Canada capture the bronze medal. Mark lives in London, Ontario, and is a married father of two children. His life has been one of triumph over tragedy, and he loves to share his story of inspiration, perseverance, and the pursuit of excellence.

Dr. Jacobs is the inaugural Director of the Tanenbaum Institute for Science in Sport. A tenured professor, he recently completed 11 years as the Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. He previously served as the Chair of the School of Kinesiology & Health Science at York University in Toronto.

Dr. Jacobs has over 25 years of experience as a federal government scientist, having held progressively increasing scientific and executive level appointments within Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC). He received his doctorate from the Department of Clinical Physiology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where he specialized in skeletal muscle metabolism. For the next 25 years he carried out extensive applied human physiology research and was appointed to roles with increasing leadership responsibilities at the Canadian federal government’s human sciences research centre operated by the Department of National Defence, where he attained the position of centre Chief Scientist. During that period, he received scientific research awards for his initiation and leadership of a unique international research group of physiologists and physicians who provided physiological support and advice about physiological, nutritional and pharmacological strategies to sustain and enhance the performance of military personnel. He has published over 200 scientific articles, reports and book chapters about his research interests, which include: performance enhancement through physiological, pharmacological and nutritional manipulation of metabolism, the physiological responses to physical exertion in environmental extremes, and energy metabolism.

He is a past President of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, and was awarded its highest award for his career research achievements. He is an inducted Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the US National Academy of Kinesiology. He received the Canadian Peacekeeping Service medal from the Government of Canada for his work as a United Nations biological weapons inspector 1995-1998.

His senior leadership roles have been in the government, academic and business/industrial sectors and have included managerial, administrative, and fiduciary responsibilities and accountabilities for large numbers of scientific, technical, administrative, and academic staff. He has also applied his expertise and knowledge in human physiology as a consultant to private, Canadian, and international government agencies.

Dr. Gretchen Kerr is a full professor and Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education at the University of Toronto, with responsibilities for both the Faculty’s academic and research activities as well as the sport and recreation programs that serve the university and surrounding communities. As an expert on gender-based violence in sport, Dr. Kerr is frequently commissioned to inform decision-makers in the high-performance sports community about her research which focuses on athletes’ experiences of maltreatment in sport, and the systemic changes needed to advance safe, healthy, inclusive and welcoming sport. The current public and political attention to maltreatment in sport was presaged by years of empirical evidence accumulated in the published research of Dr. Kerr and her graduate students.

Michael Koehle, MD, PhD is a physician practicing academic sport and exercise medicine at the University of British Columbia, a Professor in the School of Kinesiology, and the Director of the Division of Sport and Exercise Medicine in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC. His research focuses on the interaction between exercise, the environment and health.

Dr. Mick Lizmore is the Head Coach of the National Wheelchair Curling Program. A two-time National Champion curler (2012 Canadian University Curling Championships and 2016 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships), Mick joined the National Program in 2019 as an Assistant Coach and performance analytics consultant. He was named Head Coach in 2020 following his contributions to back-to-back World Championship medals (gold at the 2019 B Event and silver at the 2020 A Event). Since becoming Head Coach, Mick has coached Team Canada to two additional World Championship silver medals (2023 and 2024) and a Paralympic bronze medal (2022). Mick completed a Doctoral Degree in Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation with a specialization in sport psychology at the University of Alberta, where he also spent eight years as a Lecturer. During that time, he also led one of Canada's first high school curling academies.

Dr. Tara-Leigh McHugh's research expertise is focused on understanding and enhancing the psychosocial physical activity experiences of women and girls, and Indigenous youth. As a former athlete, she is committed to understanding and addressing the various factors that shape women's and girls' equitable participation in sport. Over the 20 years of her research career, Dr. McHugh's program of research has been driven by her vision for the equitable participation of women and girls in all roles and across all levels of sport. Dr. McHugh has demonstrated local, national, and international leadership in advancing research, practices, and policies focused on addressing the psychosocial factors that are necessary for ensuring the equitable participation of women, girls, and Indigenous youth in sport.

Dr. McHugh is committed to engaging in qualitative, collaborative, and community-based participatory research approaches. Her work is currently funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and the Olympic Studies Centre.

Alex McKechnie joined the Raptors in July 2011 to oversee all aspects of player health and performance for the franchise, including rehabilitation, strength training and sports science. He has won six NBA championships – five with the Los Angeles Lakers and one with the Raptors - and is regarded as an industry leader in core training and movement integration. Prior to coming to Toronto, McKechnie worked for 13 seasons with the Lakers, including eight as the Athletic Performance Coordinator.

A native of Glasgow, Scotland, McKechnie graduated from the Leeds School of Physiotherapy and came to Canada in 1974 to be the head physiotherapist to the Varsity Athletic Program at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. During his time at Simon Fraser, McKechnie also served as the team physiotherapist for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League (1974-82) and for the 1976 Canadian Olympic Soccer Team.

McKechnie left Simon Fraser in 1977 to open his own private practice specializing in Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Three years later, he began working on a consultant basis with the Vancouver Canucks (1980-2000). McKechnie worked as a physiotherapist for the Canadian Men’s Soccer program for 24 years and his career with the national team culminated in winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

In 2001, after two years of work and research, McKechnie was issued a United States patent on the Torsion Board which he subsequently licensed with Reebok to produce the Reebok Core Board, a device widely used in the NBA, NFL, NHL and gyms in North America. He also developed the Core X system which has been widely adopted in the NBA, NFL, NHL, Premier League and European soccer.

McKechnie was inducted into the Burnaby Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. He was also honoured in the Basketball BC Hall of Fame in 2023. McKechnie is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and Canadian Physiotherapy Association.in April 2025 I was presented with the Brian Budd Award by the Canadian Soccer Association. In 2025, McKechnie was presented the Brian Budd Award which recognises outstanding athletes who have excelled both in soccer and in another endeavour, be it in sport or public life. The individual must exemplify good character, accomplishments, dedication and provide inspiration to present and future generations.

An elite athlete for most of her life, Anne Merklinger was a member of Canada's national swim team from 1977–1981. Anne earned a silver medal at the 1979 World University Games in the 200‐metre breaststroke.

After a distinguished swimming career, Anne focused on curling and since the early 1980's she competed with distinction at every major event she entered. She was consistently ranked as one of Canada's foremost curlers, winning the Ontario Women’s Curling Championships in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2000. She has twice led her team to the final of the Scott Tournament of Hearts (1998 and 2000).

A passionate, creative, and inspiring leader, Anne has more than 35 years of management experience with national sport organizations. Prior to becoming CEO, Anne held the position of Director, Summer Sports with Own the Podium. She previously worked with CanoeKayak Canada in the role of Director General, and has also worked with the Commission for Inclusion of Athletes with a Disability and the Canadian Federation of Sport Organization for the Disabled.

Anne’s life‐long experience in sport as an athlete and professional is complemented by extensive volunteer experience with a number of organizations including the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, Women’s Tour of Curling, Women and Sport, and Special Olympics Canada.

Daniel Moore is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto and a member of the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and American College of Sports Medicine. His research explores the interplay between exercise and nutrition, with a focus on dietary protein and amino acids, and how the two can be used to optimize the quantity and quality of muscle across a range of different populations including youth, athletes, and older adults. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed papers, received the American Society for Nutrition’s Young Investigator Award in 2012, and is now internationally recognized for the creative methodological approaches to assessing the incorporation of ingested protein into skeletal muscle contractile protein.

Dave Nutt has been involved in soccer administration in Canada for nearly 25 years, holding roles in professional soccer as well as at Provincial and National levels. Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, Dave grew up playing soccer at local and regional levels and played varsity soccer at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University while earning a Bachelor of Science – Kinesiology and Master of Business Administration, respectively. Dave began his career in 2003 as the Operations and Media Relations Coordinator for the Toronto Lynx of the North American A-League, the highest level of professional soccer in Canada at the time. From there, he joined Canada Soccer as National Teams Administrative Manager in 2005, overseeing the logistics and administration for the Men’s National Youth Teams. After serving on the team staff for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007 and CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Beijing 2008, Dave travelled west to Saskatoon in 2008, where he served as Director of Soccer Operations for the Saskatchewan Soccer Association before returning to Canada Soccer in February of 2017 to take on the newly created role of Manager of Development – Operations. In this role, Dave was responsible for system building and organizational development, including the development and implementation of the Canada Soccer Club Licensing Program. Dave served as the Interim Director of Development at Canada Soccer from April 2023 through November 2024 when the interim status was removed. As the Director of Development at Canada Soccer, Dave is responsible for Canada Soccer’s grassroots programs and services, including coach and referee education, club licensing, and the overall direction of the Canada Soccer Development Department.

Dr. Madeleine Orr is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at University of Toronto. She is the founder and co-director of The Sport Ecology Group, an international consortium of academics who drive climate action in the sport sector through research and public education initiatives. Orr’s research examines the impacts of climate change on sport, with a focus on resilience and adaptation, and she's authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles on the topic. She recently led the authorship team on the ‘Sport for Nature Report’ for UNEP, served as an expert reviewer on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Sixth Assessment Report, and Expert Technical Lead on the UNFCCC's Sports for Climate Action learning program. Orr's research has been covered in global news outlets including ESPN, BBC, Reuters, and Time Magazine, and her first book, Warming Up, was named a 'Top 5 Sports Book of 2024' by The Guardian, shortlisted for the Vicky Orvice Women's Sports Writing Award, and longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. Orr has been named to the Environmental Educators 30 Under 30 list by NAAEE (2020), the 30 Under 30 in Sustainability list by Corporate Knights Magazine (2020), and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list (2021). In 2023, she was named a Future of Canada Fellow by McMaster University and was a finalist for the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.

Dr. Kyle Paquette is the National Wheelchair Curling Program Director for Curling Canada. Throughout the last 18 years, Kyle has supported athletes and coaches from 10 National Sport Federations and four professional sport organizations as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Through his work with these organizations, Kyle has supported Canadian athletes at six Olympic and Paralympic Games, including numerous Olympic/Paralympic and World Champions and medalists. Kyle also holds a Doctoral Degree in Human Kinetics with a specialization in sport psychology and coach education. He spent four year working as a Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa coordinating the graduate program in mental performance. Recently, Kyle led a nationwide project on developing cultures of excellence within the Canadian amateur sport system.

Prof dr. Johan Pion is internationally recognised as an expert on talent identification and development. He leads the expert team’s research on the early identification and development of talented children and athletes at HAN in the Netherlands and is also a visiting professor of talent identification and development at Ghent University in Belgium. He has years of experience as a sports scientist. He developed the SportKompas with his colleagues at Ghent University and made his mark in ‘train the trainer programmes’; education and research. The impact of the tools and applied predictive methods developed in his research were guiding policies in Flanders (SportKompas) and the Netherlands (Sportief Groot Worden), the National Youth Sport Institute (Singapore); the National Sport Institute in Malaysia (MyTID at ISN) and the organisation of sports professionals in Indonesia (Sekora).

Professor Yannis Pitsiladis has widely recognized research expertise into the importance of lifestyle and genetics for human health and performance. His current research interest is in exploring human enhancement technologies applicable to health and disease with particular focus on responsible paradigms. His most recent research is funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and involves the application of “omics” (i.e. genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics) and artificial intelligence to the detection of drugs in sport with particular reference to blood doping and testosterone. Yannis is a member of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission, a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Scientific Commission of the International Sports Medicine Federation (FIMS), a member of the Scientific and Education Commission of the European Federation of Sports Medicine Associations (EFSMA), a member of WADA’s Health Medical Research Committee (HMRC), and is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). He has published over 250 scientific papers, written and edited a number of books and has been featured in numerous popular film documentaries and popular books (e.g. The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance; Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice).

Devin is the Senior Director of Research and Development for Team Operations at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, with leadership roles in both the Sport Performance Lab and SportsX programs. These groups are tasked with executing strategic research initiatives to develop competitive advantage for MLSE teams on the court, field, and ice.

Before joining MLSE, Devin worked for Opta Sports, Major League Soccer, and as a soccer coach. Devin has a technical background in both Computer Science and Goalkeeping and is a regular contributor to the sports analytics community.

Dr. Putukian board certified in Internal Medicine and has subspecialty certification in Sports Medicine. She is the former Director of Athletic Medicine/Head Team Physician at Princeton University (2004-2021). She started with MLS in 2015, and in 2018 took the role as Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Putukian is a charter member of the AMSSM serving as President in 2004-2005. She serves on the Board for the Concussion in Sport Group (CISG) and serves on several committees: NFL General Medical, NFL Head Neck & Spine, FA Research Task Force, IOC Mental Health (MH) Working Group and USOPC MH Task Force. She has previously chaired the USA Lacrosse Sports Science/Safety as well as the ACSM Clinical Sports Medicine Leadership Committees.

Dr. Putukian serves as a Team Physician for US Soccer (WNT, U-20’s). She has been a Team Physician for the US Men’s National Lacrosse team (2010-2018), and the USOPC at the Beijing (2022) and Paris (2024) Olympics.

She has been an invited participant for the CISG and IOC Advanced Team Physician Conferences and IOC MH Diploma course. Her areas of interest in sports medicine include concussion, cardiovascular health, mental healthand soccer/football medicine. She is a co-author on several Team Physician Consensus Statements, active in clinical research, and has >175 peer-reviewed publications, >60 book chapters and >270 presentations on a variety of sports medicine topics.

Dr. Doug Richards is a retired clinical sport medicine physician and biomechanist and is now teaching full-time at the University of Toronto. Educated in medicine at U of T (Class of 7T9), he worked at the University of Toronto’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic from 1984 - 2021, and was its medical director from 1989 - 2020. He has been a professor in U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto since 1991. Over his clinical career, Dr. Richards organized and provided medical services at a variety of national and international sporting events and major games, and he was a team physician for U of T’s Varsity Blues intercollegiate teams from 1984-2021, for Canada’s women's national basketball team from 1987-2021, for our national beach volleyball teams from 1997-2014, and the Toronto Raptors from 1995-2004. Dr. Richards teaches four undergraduate courses in sport medicine, biomechanics and personal health, and two graduate courses in clinical assessment and exercise prescription. He was a semi-finalist in the TVO Best Lecturer contest in 2008, and a finalist in the same contest in 2009. His research interests have focused on concussion in sports and the biomechanics of injury. He is an avid cyclist who rides 8-10,000 km a year.

Alex Roberts is the Talent Identification and Development Lead at Australia’s Queensland Academy of Sport, where she leads the team responsible for finding and developing Australia’s next generation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Alex is an accredited sport scientist and trainer of coach developers, and is passionate about identifying and supporting future elite athletes, coaches and sport scientists. She is a leading researcher in talent identification, and has a background in coach development and skill acquisition. Alex is also an adjunct lecturer at La Trobe University and a consultant for the Australian Institute of Sport.

Dr. Sam Robertson is a researcher and consultant focusing on developing methods and systems to optimise integrations between humans and technology. He specialises in collaborative projects that connect sporting teams, technology companies, governing bodies and universities to generate mutual and broad benefit for a range of stakeholders. Sam has worked with a range of sporting organisations including FIFA, The Australian Football League, San Antonio Spurs, Tennis Australia, Barça Innovation Hub, Kansas City Royals and the Western Bulldogs amongst others. He is also the host of the popular future of sport podcast, One Track Mind.

Dr. Rongen is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, within the School of Science and Technology, at Nottingham Trent University. Fieke’s research predominantly focuses on whether and how involvement with (intensified) youth sport contexts can be healthy. She has a particular interest in understanding how the sporting environment and specifically program staff may facilitate the holistic, whole-person development of their athletes alongside pursuing performance outcomes. She has undertaken funded research for Uefa, the FA, UK Sport, UK Coaching, Premier League Charitable Fund and Active Communities Network. Fieke is also a lifestyle advisor, supporting student-athletes in balancing the multiple demands placed upon them.
Twitter:@FiekeRongen
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6367-8255

Catherine Sabiston is a Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto and holds a Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Mental Health. Catherine is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and is an international leader in sport and exercise psychology research. Prof. Sabiston has secured over $32 Million in funding for her multidisciplinary and mixed-methods research and has published nearly 400 research articles and book chapters with a specific enduring interest in girls’ and women's sport, exercise, and health. Her work is often featured in the media and has impacted programs, policies, and participation locally, nationally, and globally.

Dr Trent Stellingwerff serves as Chief Performance Officer (CPO) at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (Victoria, Canada), joining CSI Pacific in 2011. In this role, he directs the health & performance staff, and has oversite of CSI Pacific R&D and all special projects. He directs several different research projects across different sport performance discipline areas, with Master’s, Phd and Post-Doctorate students involved. He has also provided physiology expertise to Canada’s National Athletics (Track and Field), Rowing, Triathlon and Mountain bike teams. His primary sport and research focuses are in the field of physiology and nutrition interactions, as well as environmental (altitude and heat) expertise and more recently, into research on female health and performance. He co-chairs the Own The Podium Canadian National Sport Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) working group. Prior to 2011, Trent was a Senior Scientist in Performance Nutrition for PowerBar at the Nestle Research Center (Lausanne Switzerland). Trent has more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and authored 10-book chapters, in the areas of exercise physiology, skeletal muscle metabolism, sports nutrition and performance. Trent has been an invited expert presenter and author for many international nutrition consensus statement meetings with the IOC (International Olympic Committee), FINA (Swimming), UCI (Cycling) and World Athletics, and is a member of the International Advisory Board for the IOC Diploma Program in Sports Nutrition and S&C programs. Over the years, Trent has attended and/or serviced athletes and sports over 4 Olympic/Paralympic Games, 4 Commonwealth Games and >15 World Championships across several sports.

Jennifer Sygo is a dietitian, sports nutritionist, author, and speaker specializing in nutrition for health and performance.

After completing an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at McMaster University and a Masters of Science in Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences, specializing in Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism from the University of Guelph, Jennifer joined the team at Cleveland Clinic Canada in 2006, where she uses evidence-based strategies to help busy professionals, athletes, and active individuals make simple dietary changes to improve their health and performance, and reduce their risk of disease.

A leading sport nutritionist, Jennifer works with athletes ranging from weekend warriors to athletes in the NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, and professional tennis. She has provided nutrition services for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Triathlon Canada, and currently serves as team dietitian for the Toronto Raptors, Athletics Canada, Swimming Canada, and Gymnastics Canada.

Jennifer is also a popular speaker and seminar leader, and provides presentations and keynote addresses for major corporations and conferences. Her nutrition expertise is routinely featured in the media, and her first book, "Unmasking Superfoods: the Truth and Hype about Acai, Quinoa, Chia, Blueberries, and More", became a national best-seller.

Dr. Andy Van Neutegem is currently the Vice President of Performances Sciences, Research & Innovation with Own the Podium. His responsibilities include overseeing research and innovation for Canadian high performance sport as well as contributing national leadership in the areas of data analytics, return to performance, injury surveillance, athlete and coach well-being, mental health, and building sport cultures of excellence. He is also currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia in their High Performance Coaching & Technical Leadership Master’s degree program.

From the period 1996-2006, Dr. Andy Van Neutegem worked in the UK in a number of sport leadership roles, And received his Doctorate in 2007 in athlete career transitions and athlete maladaptive behaviours from the University of Southampton, England.

He returned to Canada in 2008 to work for Canadian Sport Institute-Pacific as a High Performance Director, undertaking the Lead role in the Performance Readiness Division (Psychology, Research and Medical Services) of the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific.

Andy served as the High Performance Director of the National Wheelchair Rugby Team which he has held since 2008, and led the team to a bronze medal in Beijing 2008 and a silver medal in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, a silver medal at the World Championships in August 2014, and a fourth place finish in Rio 2016. In 2014-15, Andy also served in the role of General Manager with Hockey Canada responsible for the National Sledge Hockey Program, winning a silver medal at the Para-Ice Hockey World Championships.

Dr. Jason Vescovi has over 20 years of experience as an applied sports scientist and performance researcher. He spent the first decade of his career conducting laboratory-based human physiology research focused on women’s performance and health. Then Dr. Vescovi worked for several Canadian national sport organizations (NSOs) – including Skate Canada, Tennis Canada, Field Hockey Canada and Archery Canada – where he implemented innovative applied sports science strategies and provided direct support to athletes across three Olympic quadrennials. After 18 years living in Toronto, he returned to the U.S. to join USA Lacrosse as the Director, Center for Sports Science & Safety and was recently promoted to the VP, High Performance.

Dr. Wasserstein is a knee surgeon at Sunnybrook Hospital. He performs knee reconstructive surgeries in children and adults. He has an academic interest in the responsible use of medications from the class of ‘performance enhancing drugs’ to be repurposed for the benefit of patients suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and conditions. His academic experience in this area includes active research on synthetic androgens, human growth hormone and peptides.

Dr. Daniel (Danny) Whelan earned his Medical Degree at Memorial University, completed orthopaedic residency training at the University of Toronto and subsequently completed an MSc in epidemiology at the University of Western Ontario concurrent with a clinical fellowship at the Fowler-Kennedy Sport medicine clinic. He returned to Toronto for a staff position at St. Michael’s Hospital and is currently an associate professor at the University of Toronto and a scientist at the Keenan Research Centre of the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute.

He currently serves as the Head of the University of Toronto Orthopaedic Sport Medicine Program (UTOSM) and is the holder of the Professorship in Orthopaedic Sport Medicine with the Tannenbaum Institute for Sport Science. In his role at St. Mike’s, a level I trauma centre, Dr. Whelan’s clinical interest lies somewhere between trauma and sports medicine and he has developed an extensive experience in the treatment of knee dislocations and multi ligament knee injuries.

Dr. Whelan is currently involved in several national and international multi-centre clinical trials in orthopaedic sport medicine, with ongoing investigations on multi-ligament knee injuries, arthroscopic surgery for femoro acetabular impingement and lateral extra articular tenodesis in ACL reconstruction. Dr. Whelan’s other research interests include joint instability, particularly of the knee and shoulder, hip pain in the young adult, and randomized trials in surgery.