Team

Amy Walsh

CEO, Future of Hockey Lab

In 2020 Amy co-founded the Future of Hockey Lab (“FHL”). The FHL partners with diverse groups and leading organizations to create, test and scale innovative ideas that transform the sport’s culture. Initially hosted by Hockey Nova Scotia and powered by Bauer, Scotiabank, Hockey Canada and Jumpstart, it is understood to be the first of its kind in the world.

The lab was inspired by three core bodies of work that Amy spearheaded when she was executive director of Hockey Nova Scotia from 2018 - 2022, including the Hockey Nova Scotia Diversity & Inclusion Task Force. This was a key part of a comprehensive response to past and present incidents of racism, discrimination and inequities in hockey and resulted in hundreds of recommendations, mostly from first voice experiences on how to make the game safer and more welcoming for all.

A strong believer in sport for social change, Amy also assembled a pan-provincial team to create the Players Journey, a human-centered design process that mapped the full experience of a hockey player, including identifying the reasons players leave the game, barriers to access, as well as opportunities to increase participation and improve the overall player experience.

Amy also chaired the Women’s Worlds Legacy Development Committee, initially in preparation for Nova Scotia to host the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championships and ultimately a comprehensive plan to grow the female game.

She is the past chair of the Hockey Canada Diversity & Inclusion Task Team and served on the Canadian Junior Hockey League Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Currently she is a member of the NHL & NHLPA Female Hockey Advisory Committee.

Amy was previously the director of sport development with Sport Nova Scotia where she led a team of 16 staff charged with the growth and sustainability of quality sport experiences for all Nova Scotians. This required strong collaboration with over 55 provincial sport organizations, thousands of community sport groups, and a host of aligned industry partners.

Amy is the mother of three boys, a former minor hockey coach and a longtime volunteer. As a decorated amateur multi-sport athlete, she was a member of provincial teams for speed skating, field hockey and ice hockey, and excelled as a university hockey player.

Carolyn Townsend

Co-founder, Future of Hockey Lab

Carolyn is a facilitator, coach and change-maker, principal owner of Alongside Strategy & Innovation, and co-founder of the Future of Hockey Lab.

Carolyn spent most of her career as an agency consultant providing strategic counsel and thought leadership to senior executives across diverse organizations including: IWK Health Centre, QE11 Health Sciences Centre, ExxonMobil Canada, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Community College, Home Depot Canada, Stanfield's, Coca Cola, Michelin North America, Business Development Bank of Canada, the United Way of Canada, and all levels of government.

Prior to starting her own company, Carolyn served on the leadership team of Nova Scotia’s sport federation serving 55 provincial sport organizations, where she oversaw brand and strategic relations. She developed a series of award-winning campaigns designed to educate and shift behaviour, creating unprecedented engagement and collaboration with community and paving the way for her leadership of a movement designed to explore more equitable systems for sport & rec delivery.

Carolyn has lived and worked in London, England and Auckland, New Zealand. She holds a Bachelor of Public Relations, is a community coach and active volunteer, and a member of the Federation of Foster Families of Nova Scotia.

Alex Ryan

Innovation Lead

Alex Ryan is the CEO of Synthetikos, a boutique global consultancy based in Toronto that helps transformational leaders to shift systems. He previously led partner solutions at MaRS, helping government and corporate partners accelerate the adoption of innovation in their organizations, markets and cities with a focus on youth employment, energy transition and tech stewardship. 

Alex is an Executive in Residence with the Business Design Initiative at Rotman and teaches strategy, foresight and design at the Canadian Forces College. Alex is co-founder of Alberta CoLab, the first provincial government innovation lab in Canada. As a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, Alex previously helped introduce operational and strategic design into the U.S. Army. 

Alex holds a PhD from the University of Adelaide in applied mathematics. His dissertation advanced a multidisciplinary approach to complex systems design.

Denise Withers

Communications Lead

Denise Withers has been using stories to make change for 35 years, as a storyteller, strategist and coach.

After launching her career as a whitewater filmmaker, she worked as a stringer for TSN, before joining the TV crew at the Calgary Olympics to produce 39 hockey games in 13 days. Recognizing the power of the mass media to influence behaviour and culture, she spent the next 20 years writing and directing over 200 documentaries for Discovery, CBC and other networks. Her award-winning work inspired millions to take action on issues from human rights to acid rain.

When reality TV wiped out the documentary market, Denise shifted her focus to social innovation, combining storytelling with systems change tools to help leaders discover new ways to research, test and scale ideas for change.

Since then, she's worked with foundations, governments, universities and non-profits to co-found four innovation labs, including one at UBC's business school. Together, she and her clients have done things like reduce chronic disease among South Asians, improve human rights in Peru, re-imagine higher education in Ontario and inspire climate action across municipalities. In 2018, Denise moved to Vancouver Island to help two National Geographic photographers launch an ocean conservation non-profit, doubling their revenue, reach and impact in less than a year.

These days, she works as a narrative strategist and certified coach for global innovators. After enjoying a 20-year amateur hockey career that culminated in a bronze medal at the Americas Masters Games, she now spends her spare time curling, kayaking and hiking the wet coast with her dogs. She also serves as a Board Trustee for CPAWS, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Like many of her peers, Denise has spent much of her life fighting for equity at work and in sports – and is thrilled to be able to share her expertise and experience to support the FHL in its mission.

Pawrnaa Perinpanayagam

Social Media Consultant

With a background in marketing across healthcare, non-profits, and small businesses, Pawrnaa specializes in leading campaigns that boost brand visibility and engagement. She's particularly proud of her recent equity work with ODEN—the Ontario Disability Employment Network. 

As a lifelong hockey fan and equity advocate, Pawrnaa's excited to bring her social media expertise to the Future of Hockey Lab, to shape the conversation around equity in hockey and drive innovation to get more women and girls into the game. 

Outside of work, she's either sipping tea while binge-watching true crime, getting in some Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or hitting the dance floor. Oh, and she loves being an MC for events—making people laugh is kind of her thing!

Braelin Rowe

Technology Lead - Open Ice project

Braelin has built her career at the crossroads of sport and technology, driving the adoption of cutting-edge software and hardware solutions in sport environments worldwide. She has worked with prestigious organizations, including the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committees, Gatorade, Sport Singapore, and Hockey Canada, helping them enhance performance and efficiency using various data sources.

Currently, Braelin plays a key role in Business Development at the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub, where she collaborates with private and public sector partners to foster and define innovative projects that transform healthcare in the province. Previously, Braelin spent six years with Kinduct and one year at VALD, human performance technology companies, where she managed enterprise initiatives and innovation projects from ideation through to delivery.

In her spare time, Braelin can be found on the volleyball court or seeking new adventures in nature—whether it’s cycling through scenic trails, paddling along tranquil waters, or exploring hidden gems on foot.

Lindsey MacIntosh

Research and Community Lead - Open Ice Project

Lindsey has a Bachelor of Arts Communities Studies (BACS) degree as well as an MBA in Community Economic Development (concentration in Strategic Leadership) from Cape Breton University (CBU). She also holds a certificate in Project Management from Dalhousie University.

Lindsey's previous roles include oversight of the design, build and management of a four-season resort in Nova Scotia, General Manager, Business Operations in the Canadian Hockey League and teaching in the Sport and Physical Activity Leadership program at CBU.

Heavily involved in community sport research, Lindsey is a member of the Community Active Sport Training and Learning (CoASTaL) Lab, a volunteer board director with the Port of Sydney as well as Cromarty Tennis Club, and sits on the advisory committee for Destination Cape Breton.

Lindsey is a former varsity basketball player who has found new love with golf and tennis. She also coaches girls' hockey and boys' basketball.

Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Lindsey and her family have chosen to make Cape Breton home.

Fabian Bong

Data Scientist - Open Ice Project

Fabian recently completed his Master’s in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, where he focused on analyzing complex biological systems. During his education, he got to thinking: What if I applied the same principles of bioinformatics to hockey? So, during his degree, Fabian found the time to develop a real-time model to predict NHL game outcomes. 

In his current role, Fabian's bringing his data A-game to our Open Ice Project to help us find new ways to optimize ice access and create equity in hockey. As an avid hockey player and die-hard Halifax Mooseheads fan, Fabian brings not only his technical expertise but also first-hand experience of the challenges we’re addressing at Future of Hockey Lab to his work.

Kathy Powell

Operations Support

Kathy Powell is an integral member of the Future of Hockey Lab team, bringing a rich background in education and youth hockey management. A graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s in Education, Kathy began her career teaching junior high math in Maryland before getting married and moving to Halifax, NS.

From 2002 to 2005, she worked as an event planner but shifted focus to raise her two boys. Both played hockey from U7 to U18, and Kathy managed their Chebucto minor hockey teams from 2010 on, serving as VP of Administration for three years. She helped launch the Junior Coaching Hockey Program and also managed the Nova Scotia U15 Major Gulls team for the 2021-22 season. Currently, she co-manages the Citadel High School Hockey Team.

Outside of hockey, Kathy enjoys walking her dog, practicing yoga, and hitting the gym. She is deeply committed to her family and the hockey community and excited to see what the future brings for both.

Heidi Leslie

Crux Energy Founder & CEO

Heidi Leslie is the Founder & CEO of Crux Energy Consulting Inc., a boutique consultancy firm focused on utilities and utility investors seeking to navigate the rapidly changing energy landscape. Her experience in both strategy and legal affairs allows her to offer a unique perspective on utility strategy best practices. She holds a law degree from Dalhousie University and has been called to the bar in Ontario, New Zealand, and Nova Scotia.

Heidi holds an ICD.D designation and has over a decade of experience on both public company subsidiary boards and not-for-profit boards.

Cassandra Dorrington

President & CEO of CAMSC

Leading the charge of championing business relationships and economic growth of the Canadian supply chain through the inclusion of Indigenous and racialized suppliers, Cassandra has expanded the CAMSC brand, both nationally, internationally, and globally. This has resulted in significant growth and impact in the Canadian marketplace and beyond for both our CAMSC-certified suppliers and our corporate and government members.

Known for her business and community environment involvement, Cassandra has been named one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s 2021 25 Most Powerful Women and has received one of the Canadian Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CDEI) Corporate Directors’ Awards in 2023. She sits on the Supplier Advisory Council for Public Services Procurement Canada for the Government of Canada, the 50 – 30 Challenge Advisory Board, and the Dalhousie University Board of Governors.

With, over 600-plus certified suppliers, 175 corporate members, and billions of dollars in diverse spending, CAMSC is a proud member of both Supplier Diversity Alliance Canada (SDAC), the single voice for suppliers in Canada, and the Global Supplier Diversity Alliance (GSDA), promoting supplier diversity globally with councils in Australia, China, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, and board member for the Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (CCSBE).

Christina Johnston

Partner at Wentworth CPA

Christina Johnston has worked in public practice for over 20 years. Prior to that time, she held Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer roles in the industry. Christina has also owned multiple businesses.

Her practice encompasses assurance and tax but specializes in business advisory services. She serves clients ranging from small businesses and not-for-profit organizations to large, vertically integrated groups of companies. Throughout her career Christina has served on a variety of boards in the community, earned her BBA degree from Acadia University, and has held her CPA, and CMA designation since 1996.

Amy Walsh

CEO, Future of Hockey Lab

In 2020, Amy co-founded the Future of Hockey Lab, to help combat past and present incidents of racism, discrimination, and inequities in hockey. The FHL partners with diverse communities and leading organizations to discover, test, and scale innovative ideas that transform the sport’s culture. It was inspired by three core bodies of work that Amy spearheaded when she was executive director of Hockey Nova Scotia from 2018 - 2022, including the Hockey Nova Scotia Diversity & Inclusion Task Force Report. 

She is the past chair of the Hockey Canada Diversity & Inclusion Task Team, chair of the Women’s Worlds Legacy Development Committee, and served on the Canadian Junior Hockey League Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Amy was previously the director of sport development with Sport Nova Scotia where she led a large team charged with the growth and sustainability of quality sport experiences for all Nova Scotians. Amy, a mother of three boys and former competitive hockey player, has coached at various levels and continues to passionately volunteer in the community for the game she loves.

Kayla Blackmore

Director of Student Life & Wellness at RNS

Kayla Blackmore (she/her) is a passionate educator and leader currently serving as the Director of Student Life & Wellness at Rothesay Netherwood School. With a strong foundation in both academics and athletics, she is dedicated to fostering student engagement, well-being, and a culture of growth. Prior to this role, she served as the Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Activities, as a Houseparent, and as a Prep Girls Hockey Coach at RNS, where she worked to create an inclusive and nurturing environment for all students.

Kayla brings a wealth of experience in the game of hockey. She competed as a USport Varsity Hockey player for five years, where she captained her St. Thomas Tommies for three seasons. Following her playing career, Kayla moved into coaching with the High-Performance Program coach, where she led Team Atlantic and Team New Brunswick on various occasions. Her commitment to mentorship promotes hard work, perseverance, and a growth mindset.

Holding a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education from St. Thomas University, along with a Master of Education in Administration and Policy focusing on Culturally Relevant Pedagogy from St. Francis Xavier University, Kayla embodies a lifelong learning ethos.

Guided by a mission to foster diversity and promote equity, Kayla actively seeks to implement inclusive practices that empower every individual to thrive.

Jaclyn Sutton

CEO of Compass Food Sales

Jaclyn is a strategic business leader with a diverse background in Global Consumer Goods, Retail, and Private Equity-Owned businesses, having held key leadership roles at large multinational companies like Hudson’s Bay and Mars Wrigley. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of a leading dried fruit and nut supplier in Canada, Compass Food Sales.

Jaclyn is excited to join the Future of Hockey Lab Board of Directors where she can combine her love of sport (having an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from Western University) with her love for strategy, innovation, and collaboration in business, holding a Master's in Business Administration from Northeastern University. She is a strong supporter of diversity, equity, and inclusion in and outside of the workplace. Outside of work, she enjoys competitive soccer, supporting youth sport teams, and actively contributing to her two children’s school community through parent committee executive roles. Balancing her career with a rewarding and rich personal life, Jaclyn always strives to make a positive impact in both her professional and personal pursuits and is thrilled to support FHL's pursuit to be a catalyst for change.

Dominick Gauthier

Olympian | Coach of Olympic Champions | Olympic Analyst, Writer, and Commentator for Radio-Canada TV/Radio/Web

Dominick Gauthier is one of the most influential figures in today’s Canadian sports systems. As an Olympian in freestyle skiing, Dominick went on to coach both Olympic champions Jennifer and Alexandre Bilodeau.

While profoundly grateful for the opportunity to help athletes reach their potential, Dominick also co-founded the organization B2Ten, which is a not-for-profit organization that aims to improve Canadian sports systems. With over $35 million dollars raised in the private sector, B2Ten has designed, planned, and set up optimal multidisciplinary sports teams for nearly one hundred of Canada’s top athletes. Through B2Ten, Dominick has contributed to the preparation and successes of more than fifty Olympic medalists in eighteen different sports.

This is what makes him one of the most informed speakers on human performance and organizational excellence in Canada.

Since 2014, he has also been the main Olympic analyst, writer, and commentator for Radio-Canada. He has made his mark in the media with his straightforward talk, always finding the right words to explain what is really happening behind athletic performances.

Gord Dowhan

SVP & CFO Wawanesa

Gord joined Wawanesa in August 2020 and was appointed CFO in May 2022. Previously he was with Great-West Lifeco/Canada Life in progressively senior finance roles for 10 years. At Wawanesa, he is leading the finance team with responsibility for financial and capital planning, investments, strategic sourcing, facilities, vendor management, accounting, reporting, and analysis.

Prior to Canada Life, Gord was a Senior Manager in KPMG’s assurance practice where in addition to his client responsibilities, he was the People and Development leader for the Western Assurance practice. He served on the CPA and CA Manitoba Board from 2008 to 2024 and served as Chair of the Board from 2020-22, where he established a fund to assist aspiring CPA students in pursuing their professional dreams in the areas of finance innovation and sustainability. Gord was awarded the early achievement and his fellowship from CPA/CA Manitoba.

Gord completed the ICD-Rotman DEP program in 2023 and is also a content reviewer and finance subject matter contributor for the Insurance Institute of Canada.

Gord is a member of the IBC Finance and Capital Committee and was a member of the Insurance Contracts Transition Resource Group for the Canadian Accounting Standards Board. Gord is currently serving on the United Way Major Donor Campaign and is an Associate of the Asper School of Business.

Gord and his wife Kara have two children. In addition to coaching future business leaders, Gord loves coaching hockey and baseball. In his spare time, he enjoys golf and hockey, where he continues to play goaltender.

With his passion for hockey, youth, and community, Gord is active on the Brandon Wheat Kings host organizing and bid committee to bring the 2026 Memorial Cup to Brandon, MB.

Renata Fast

 Canadian Olympian & Professional Hockey Player (Toronto Sceptres)

• 2022 Olympic Gold Medalist
  
• 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist
  
• 2021, 2022, 2024 IIHF World Championship Gold Medalist
  
• 2017, 2023 IIHF World Championship Silver Medalist
  
• 2014 NCAA National Champion – Clarkson University
  

Renata is a defender for the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team, having been a key player in Hockey Canada's program since 2015. A two-time Olympic medalist, she helped Canada secure gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and silver at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Currently, Renata plays for Toronto in the newly established Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). Prior to the league's creation, she was a prominent member of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), an organization formed by over 100 elite women's players to advocate for a sustainable professional women's hockey league in North America—a vision that culminated in the founding of the PWHL.

Originally from Burlington, Ontario, Renata’s hockey journey began with the Burlington Girls Hockey Club. She further honed her skills playing NCAA Division 1 hockey at Clarkson University, where she earned a business degree and won the 2014 NCAA National Championship.

Driven by a passion to inspire the next generation and foster an active lifestyle, Renata established her own hockey camp operating during the summer months. The camp serves as a catalyst for young athletes, encouraging them to pursue their dreams while embracing an active and healthy lifestyle.

Marian Jacko

Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Indigenous Justice Division (IJD

Marian Jacko has spent her entire legal career tirelessly working on behalf of children and Indigenous peoples. She raised her eldest child as a single parent while earning three university degrees, including a master’s degree in social work and a law degree. While working full-time as a lawyer and raising three children, she obtained her Master of Law degree from York University. Since her call to the Ontario Bar in 1998, Marian Jacko has made significant contributions to the legal professions including being the first Indigenous person appointed as the Children’s Lawyer for Ontario where she spent over 20 years advancing access to justice for children, youth, Indigenous communities, victims of crime, and survivors of human trafficking.

An Ojibway from the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island and a trailblazer, Marian strongly believes in community service, serving on many non-profit organizations’ boards and advisory committees. 

Marian is currently serving a two-year appointment to the board of directors of Hockey Canada. She also served as a board member for the interim board of Hockey Canada in 2021-22. She serves as Chair of the People and Culture Committee as well as the Women and Girls Committee. She is also a member of the Women and Girls Steering Committee together with fellow Board member Gillian Apps, who serves as the Chair of the Steering Committee.

While on the board of Hockey Canada, Marian has taken a leave from her role as President of the Little Native Hockey League, affectionally known as the Little NHL.  She is also part of an Advisory Council for the Indigenous Hockey Research Network. A long-time coach, Marian is very passionate about the sport of ice hockey and believes that the sport teaches children and youth many life lessons including the teachings of the seven grandfathers. Marian’s unique style of coaching hockey with the use of traditional teachings allows players an opportunity to also learn about First Nations culture and history. ​

Rob Knesaurek

Group Vice President, NHL

Rob brings more than four decades of hockey experience to his current role as Group Vice President, Youth Development and Industry Growth Fund at the National Hockey League. As Group Vice President, he oversees national and international programs committed to growing hockey at the grassroots level, increasing points of entry to the game, and bringing more youth and families into the hockey community. Rob also oversees the Industry Growth Fund (IGF) – a joint NHL and NHLPA initiative to promote long-term fan growth, in partnership with Hockey Canada and USA Hockey.

A key piece of his portfolio, the Industry Growth Fund, continues to create and support youth hockey development programs across North America for girls’ hockey, ball and street hockey, and high school hockey via two key programs: Learn to Play and Future Goals. On the ice since 2016, Learn to Play has introduced more than 40,000 kids ages 4 to 8-years old to hockey, providing head-to-toe equipment and age-appropriate instruction teaching basic hockey skills. Under his leadership, the impact of Learn to Play continues to break records in the U.S. with a 7% increase in participation in the program’s first year, the largest year-over-year increase in USA Hockey’s history. In the classroom, Future Goals – an online hockey course founded in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) concepts – has introduced a unique side of the game to youth in grades 4-7 across North America. Since its inception in 2014, the online hockey course has reached more than 2 million students in 15,000 schools.

For some 20yrs, Rob worked in the health care industry, spending time overseas in Australia and the United States. He had several commercial roles, including CEO of ViiV Healthcare Australasia, before returning to Canada.

Rob grew up playing Major Junior hockey in Toronto, Canada. He played at the collegiate level at the University of New Brunswick before moving behind the bench, supporting Hockey Canada’s minor hockey coaching development program. His coaching experience also includes two world championships, winning a gold medal as the bench boss for the Australian National Hockey team.

A graduate of the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics, Rob currently resides in Toronto, Canada, with wife Janet and son Alex.

Gordon Taylor Lee

Managing Partner, NATIONAL Public Relations, Ottawa

With over 20 years of public affairs and communications experience, Gordon has served as a senior political staffer, an executive-level member of Canada's federal public service, and private sector leader of a global, integrated communications and public affairs firm.

Gordon is a former Senior Policy Advisor to Canada's Deputy Prime Minister, Director of Policy to the federal Minister of Health, and political advisor to multiple campaigns. Gordon has also led management teams within various departments, including Health Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. He began his career with Global Affairs Canada, having served in the department's North American Bureau and with Canada's Consulate General in Seattle.

Gordon has led accounts with key clients and Fortune 500 companies across numerous sectors, including finance, trade, healthcare, innovation, and manufacturing.

Originally from British Columbia, Gordon holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Victoria and a graduate degree from Queen's University.

Miranda McMillan

Hockey Data Analyst, Montreal Canadiens

Miranda's love for sports, especially hockey, began in her childhood. At just 8 years old, she took to the ice in organized minor hockey in Truro, NS. This passion led her to play for five memorable years at Dalhousie University, where she also earned a combined honours degree in Mathematics and Statistics.

After her university days, Miranda seamlessly transitioned from player to mentor, coaching a U18 AAA female team in Halifax. Over her four-year tenure, the team reached multiple Atlantic Championships and even participated in the prestigious Esso Cup. Today, Miranda continues her engagement with the sport as a level three official, overseeing both elite and minor female hockey games as well as U SPORTS women’s hockey.

Professionally, Miranda bridges her passion for sports with her academic background. For half a decade, she led the data team at Kinduct Technologies, a front-runner in athlete management systems. Now, as a hockey data analyst with the Montreal Canadiens, she collaborates closely with the Director of Hockey Analytics and the Head of Hockey Analytics Technology. Her role encompasses everything from in-game tactical data analysis to athlete performance metrics and talent scouting. 

Throughout her journey, Miranda has constantly sought innovative avenues to stay connected with the sport. She is thrilled to bring her expertise and enthusiasm to support the Future of Hockey Lab’s mission.

Mary-Kay Messier

Mary-Kay is a member of the Bauer Hockey senior leadership team as Vice President, Global Marketing. Mary-Kay oversees creative, digital, social, paid media, consumer experience, sports marketing and strategic partnerships, including with the NHL, the NHLPA, international federations and pro athletes. In this role, Mary-Kay and her team develop marketing initiatives to further establish the company’s brand and products as No. 1 in the industry.

Mary-Kay is a committed and effective advocate for the game with the goal of making it more accessible, inclusive, diverse and focused on fun. This required first a brand positioning review to establish the company’s purpose and values, which then informed the development of brand initiatives rooted in new and revamped cause-related programs. Under Mary-Kay’s leadership, her team created the First Shift learn-to-play program. Now in partnership with the NHL, NHLPA, and founding partner Hockey Canada, the First Shift has welcomed over 30,000 new families to hockey. A strategic goal within the initiative is increasing girl’s participation through targeted all-girl programs and dedicated resources. As a result, First Shift girl participation climbed to 39% during the 2020-21 season.

In addition to growing girls’ participation, Mary-Kay and the Bauer team are working to elevate the women’s game and advance equity for the best players in the world through the establishment of a sustainable professional league. When young girls can dream of a prohockey career, it will inspire a pipeline of players and more young girls will build self-confidence they will carry forever. Mary-Kay believes more girls playing and more women pursuing positions at all levels will grow the game in ways that are more diverse.

To increase awareness for the women’s game, Mary-Kay significantly expanded the company’s roster of paid female athletes, which now includes top women from the U.S., Canada, Germany, Sweden and Russia, and featured them alongside their male peers in global brand campaigns.

Utilizing these partnerships, Bauer launched the first-ever all female global campaign –#WomensMovementNeverStops – that promotes women as athletes first and continues to launch all female content challenging sport stereotypes.

Advancing diversity and inclusion beyond gender equity is equally a passion for Mary-Kay. She is committed to enhancing the corporate culture at Bauer and shaping the industry to be more inclusive and welcoming. Mary-Kay and her team built equipment relief programs to help kids from underserved communities get on the ice, designed a skate to recognize the accomplishments of Willie O’Ree and helped amplify the voices of athletes from communities of color.

An athlete herself, Mary-Kay grew up immersed in hockey and believes in the power of the game to bring families together, develop character and teach valuable life lessons. She has four children, all athletic at various competitive levels, and lives in Massachusetts. Mary-Kay serves on the NHL Female Advisory Committee. She also acts as a senior advisor to the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association and is a passionate supporter of the advocacy group, Play like a Girl.

Sonia Sennik

Executive Director, Creative Destruction Lab

Sonia is the Executive Director of Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), a seed-stage program for massively scalable, science-based companies. Sonia is responsible for the CDL’s strategic, operational and programmatic leadership, coordination and oversight to ensure the success of the Lab and its ventures across ten university-based locations in Canada, US, UK and France. The organization operates sites at the University of Toronto, University of Oxford, Georgia Tech, HEC Paris, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of British Columbia, University of Montreal, University of Calgary, University of Washingon, and Dalhousie University. Sonia is also the Executive Director of the CDL Rapid Screening Consortium, a not-for-profit organization focused on developing a cost-effective system for reopening the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nitsa Staikos

Vice President, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment

Nitsa Staikos brings over 24 years of experience across seven industries, including Retail, Health, Financial, Tech, Telecom, Sports & Entertainment, and Loyalty, on both client and agency sides. She began her career at Shoppers Drug Mart, contributing to major initiatives like the Shoppers Optimum Program and V.I.P. (B2B) platform. Nitsa then transitioned to agency work, leading projects such as the SCENE loyalty program launch and working with clients like Scotiabank, Microsoft, and the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport. Her success with the Microsoft portfolio led her to join the company, spearheading the Canadian launches of Bing and Windows Live services.

At Rogers Communications, Nitsa’s reputation as a “fixer” earned her multiple leadership roles, including Senior Trade Marketing Manager and Director of VIP Experiences, where she played a pivotal role in launching their Digital Media Programmatic platform. She later joined Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), first overseeing Premium Sales and VIP Hospitality before advancing to Vice President, Revenue Retention, Membership, and VIP Service. In this role, she managed revenue retention and VIP experiences for MLSE’s professional teams, exclusive clubs, and music venues. Recognized as a Top Talent, Nitsa transitioned to MLSE’s Marketing team, leading Creative, Content, Game Presentation, and Marketing Operations.

In 2022, Nitsa was honored as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the Executive Leadership category. Outside of work, she stays busy with her three kids' sports schedules or relaxing at her cottage in Eastern Ontario with her husband Darryl, kids Sophia, Evan, and Ben, and their dog Rocco.