EDGAR VERGARA, Co-Chair

Edgar has spent his career in the finance industry and is currently a Vice President in the High Yield Capital Markets group at RBC Capital Markets, focused on debt advisory, structuring and origination. Prior to RBC Capital Markets, Edgar worked as a Portfolio Manager at Stanton Asset Management focused on high yield credit. Originally from Montreal, Edgar is a die-hard Toronto Raptors fan and is committed to the success of MLSE Foundation. He is particularly interested in helping kids use sports to help them further their education.

Cameron Jacobs, Vice President - Golf Classic

Cameron Jacobs is a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional and golf industry executive, who has progressed through positions of increased responsibility and scope on the local, provincial, national and international stage. Over the past two decades, Cameron has worked in experiential marketing, sports marketing and B2B sales for premium brands at ClubLink, TaylorMade-adidas Golf, and Honma Golf. On the high-performance side, Cameron has worked with golfers of all abilities from beginners to PGA Tour players, sharing a true passion for the sport and business of golf, a game which has given him so much. When he’s not cheering on Toronto’s sports teams, Cameron enjoys playing golf with his family and coaching his son’s hockey team. He is very proud to give back and amplify the great work MLSE Foundation’s Game Changers are delivering to the community, and aims to grow the Game Changers Golf Classic to new heights in support of this great cause.

AAron Sinukoff, VICE PRESIDENT - Sponsorship

Aaron brings close to 8 years of experience at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), having primarily focused on Season Ticket and Event Sales for the Raptors, Leafs, Toronto FC, plus Scotiabank Arena and Budweiser Stage's Premium Live music and membership club spaces. In 2022, he took on a role as the Event Sales Manager for The Second City's new venue at One York St., bringing custom events and learning & development workshops to life for corporate Canada.

As a 5-time MLSE Team Up Challenge Captain, Aaron enjoys raising money for, and volunteering at MLSE Foundation events, seeing donations come to life in impactful ways. In his spare time, Aaron loves to cook, kayak, play golf, baseball, the drums and collect music on vinyl. He is looking forward to another great year with the MLSE Foundation Game Changers!

Zaheed Thawer, Vice President - Membership & Marketing

Zaheed is currently at Manulife as the Director, Customer Centricity. Previously Zaheed has held progressively senior roles within the telecom industry working in Sales, Operations, Training, Enablement and Marketing. Grounded by the belief that sports has the power to transform lives, he is a passionate advocate for MLSE Foundation and its ability to drive positive change through community empowerment. By supporting one of the many programs MLSE Foundation has to offer, it will empower others, remove barriers, and illuminate a brighter future for both present and future generations.

KELVIN RAMCHAND, VICE PRESIDENT - SPEAKER SERIES

Kelvin is a Crown Attorney with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada where he prosecutes high complexity wiretap cases as a member of the Anti-Organized Crime team. He is super excited to be part of MLSE Game Changers which perfectly combines his two passions: his love for sports and his desire to make a positive impact in the community. He is committed to enhancing and expanding the vision of the MLSE Game Changers to achieve the very important goal of investing in the future of our youth using sports and advocacy.

DAVID BOOTH, VICE PRESIDENT - STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

David is a financial services professional with a passion for sports and empowering youth in the Toronto community. Growing up playing hockey, he recognized the benefits of being involved in sports at an early age and how crucial they were to building the values he upholds today as a working professional. Through the MLSE Foundation Game Changers Program, he is looking to provide today's youth the same opportunity to succeed in sports, school and their unique aspirations. David holds a Bachelor of Accounting from the Goodman School of Business at Brock University and is completing his Master of Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business.

Jayme Bridge, Vice President - Championship Gala & vollyball

Jayme is a dedicated marketing professional with a passion for bringing new innovations and propositions to the Canadian market. She is currently an Assistant Marketing Manager at Nestle Health Science where she is responsible for the Gut Health & Metabolic Health portfolios. Prior to her role at Nestle, she worked on the Injectables & Implants division at Clarion Medical. Here, she was able to launch a new neurotoxin in Canada, and Clarion Medical's first pharmaceutical product. Jayme had the opportunity to try multiple sports throughout her childhood, before deciding to focus on competitive soccer. From experience, she recognizes the importance of sports in developing and empowering youth. Jayme is excited to be a part of the MLSE Game Changers Executive Committee as she strives to eliminate the barriers of organized sports for children.

Chris Moran, DIRECTOR - GOLF CLASSIC

Chris is General Counsel of the Maple Reinders Group, a full-service construction and infrastructure company, where he is responsible for all of the legal and risk management aspects of the business, and is a member of the Maple Reinders’ executive, providing strategic leadership to the company. Chis is an avid sports fan, and growing up was a competitive athlete, playing numerous sports, including hockey, soccer and rugby. He continues his search for hockey glory in his weekly pick-up games, has found a passion for golf (although is not quite what you would call a competitive golfer!), but most importantly has the pleasure of being a parent, uber driver and sometimes coach for 2 very active kids. Chris has seen the benefit of engagement for children in sport, and is excited to work with MLSE Game Changers to assist in providing our next generation improved access to, and involvement in, sports.

SOPHIA WALTER, Director - Golf Classic

Sophia Walter is the Director of Sales at Powell May International, where she manages the team for industrial food ingredient sales to manufacturers across North America. Sophia has been involved in sports from a young age; including horseback riding, field hockey, running, and soccer. She is currently an avid runner, primarily training for marathons and ultra marathons. Sophia is also a passionate sports fan, from hockey to Formula 1 racing, and is excited to continue helping youth experience the power of sports.

Laura Tassone, DIRECTOR - GolF Classic

Laura is a Finance Executive who has experience in various industries, but has spent the last 10 years focusing on Consumer Packaged Goods and Retail. While passionate about meeting strategic objectives and driving growth in the business world, she finds equal value in people and education and has also obtained her Masters of Education at OISE. Laura has recently joined the MLSE Foundation Game Changers Committee because she also believes in the importance of accessibility to sports and recreational activities for all youth. Sports provide a sense of community, learning and growth opportunities and no one should be deprived of such positive benefits. Laura is excited to make a meaningful contribution to this foundation.

KALI PETROPOULOS, DIRECTOR – Sponsorship

Kali is the Director of Philanthropy at Children Believe, an international development organization that supports children globally to overcome barriers and access to education so they can be a voice for change. At Children Believe, Kali is accountable for the development, planning and implementation of fundraising strategies for the major-giving portfolio, corporate partnerships, and legacy giving. As a passionate fundraising professional, Kali’s experience in facilitating change, building capacity, and delivering impacts and results is widely seen globally, but also locally as this is her third-year with the MLSE Foundation Game Changers Executive Committee.

Kali is excited to continue in her efforts in raising greater awareness and funds for MLSE Foundation and MLSE LaunchPad, so that the next generation of youth can become empowered, reach their greatest potential, and have fun through sport!

Matt Cohen, Director - Sponsorship

Matt is a Senior Strategy Manager with OLG, working as an internal consultant to the Sports, Casino & Lottery leadership teams. As an avid sports & iGaming fan, he also practices what he preaches. Prior to OLG, he spent 5 years with Telus as an internal consultant to the ELT, creating strategic frameworks to optimize go-to-market strategies for 60+ project teams with a $500M budget between them. Between BCom and MBA, Matt had an entrepreneurial start to his career, building businesses in two different industries - the first was a new revenue stream out of a leading immigration law firm, where he partnered with large corporations to hire foreign worker talent, and the other was a restaurant catering to students and young professionals, which he helped build the market expansion strategies for to franchise out to other college towns nationwide.

Stuart Marshall, Director - Sponsorship

Stuart has spent the majority of his career in the banking sector and is currently the Chief of Staff for the Canadian Credit Cards and Personal Lending businesses. Stuart is focused on creating opportunities for youth through sport. When not working or supporting the MLSE foundation he can be found out for a run or watching his two sons play hockey.

Mikolaj Niski, Director - Sponsorship

Mik is an associate in the Business Law Group at McMillan LLP, a national full-service law firm. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and corporate finance. He grew up playing competitive soccer, was a member of the varsity soccer team at Western University and recently has taken up tennis. Through his own experiences and extra-curricular engagements, he has witnessed first-hand the benefits of being in involved in organized sports. Mik is excited to make a meaningful contribution to youth development and community building as a part of the MLSE Game Changers Executive Committee.

Josh Harris, DIRECTOR - SPONSORSHIP

Josh Harris works on the Suburban Retail Group with CBRE as their Director of Landlord Services. The team focuses on Retail Leasing and Investment Sales across Ontario. He is also the Co-Founder of Bacchus & Barley, a leather goods designer and manufacturer for both retail and wholesale. Prior to joining MLSE, Josh was the Co-Chair of St. Michael’s Hospital Young Leaders annual Golf tournament. Josh grew up playing numerous sports and is looking forward to providing future generations the opportunity to be empowered by sport and the invaluable influences it has on one’s life.

Fikayo Aderoju, DIRECTOR - SPONSORSHIP

Fikayo is the founder and executive director of Project Impacting Lives (PIL). This non-profit organization aims to meet the day-to-day needs of people facing homelessness in Canada.

He is also the former head of housing of the Toronto Youth Cabinet and is an executive member of the York University Black Alumni Network (YUBAN). As a public speaker, Fikayo has delivered speeches at McMaster University, the University of Toronto, and the ONPHA Conference. In 2022, he became the youngest executive ever in the 25-year history of the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP) where he served on the board of executives as director of youth engagement and was awarded CAUFP’s Outstanding Young Achiever Award. Fikayo has received the YORKU Top 30 under 30 Alumni Award and was named as one of the cover stars of the 2023 edition, making him the first Nigerian ever to grace its cover.

Orlando Gomes, DIRECTOR - Sponsorship

Orlando Gomes is a seasoned professional with a strong background as a Senior Location Manager at Reef Parking, where he has accumulated over 13 years of experience in commercial services and account management. His expertise lies in driving B2B sales, launching new services, and spearheading projects to achieve remarkable revenue growth. Beyond his professional pursuits, Orlando is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the community. He actively engages in local community initiatives, leveraging his time and expertise to create meaningful opportunities. With a passion for empowering the next generation, Orlando as a new executive of the MLSEGC Committee goes above and beyond to build a better future for the youth of Ontario through the power of sports.

ALESSANDRA NIGRO, Director - Membership & Marketing

Alessandra is an accomplished communications professional dedicated to helping organizations achieve business priorities through promotion and protection of their brand and culture. She is currently the Director of Corporate Communications at Sun Life supporting the retail and wealth Canadian businesses. One of her proudest career milestones was leading the communications to announce Sun Life becoming the first jersey patch partner of the Toronto Raptors, a ground-breaking and exciting time in the teams’ history. A loyal Raptors fan, Alessandra has seen firsthand the positive impact that sports can have on youth, especially those who are marginalized. She is excited to give back to the communities where she lives and works and help those who need it most through the power of sports. As a member of the MLSE Foundation Game Changers, Alessandra hopes to use her passion for storytelling to drive awareness for the MLSE Foundation and MLSE Launchpad ultimately ‘changing the game’ both on and off the court.

Chirag Sheth, Director - Membership & Marketing

Chirag is part of the Technology Leadership Advancement Program at CIBC, where he has worked with a variety of teams including Service Design and is currently working with the Enterprise Digital Accessibility team. Prior to joining CIBC, Chirag worked in the student affairs and technology industries in various marketing and sales roles. Chirag has a passion for technology as well as diversity and inclusion, hoping to showcase to the world how technology can make a more accessible and inclusive world for everyone. He has been a lifelong sports fan and is passionate about community building and making impact, which drove him towards the Game Changers and MLSE Foundation. Chirag holds a Bachelor of Science and Business from the University of Waterloo and recently completed his Master of Business Administration from McMaster University.

ZOE SINUKOFF, DIRECTOR - Membership & Marketing

Zoe is a professional Graphics and Web Designer, Copywriter, and Creator of thecanadiancreative.com – a Toronto-based lifestyle blog. She is among the first to graduate from the Creative Industries program at Ryerson University, with specializations in Graphic Design and Communications. As the Graphic Designer for the Jays Care Foundation in 2019, she discovered ways to make an impact by combining her love for sports and design, helping to promote fundraising and programming initiatives for children and youth across Canada. In her current Communications and Marketing position at JF&CS, Zoe remains passionate about diversity and inclusion, using her writing and design skills to give back to the community. For her fourth year as Director of Digital Creative, Zoe will continue sharing her enthusiasm and creativity as part of the Game Changers Executive Committee.

Donna Popovic, DIRECTOR - Membership & Marketing

Donna is an experienced political advisor and driven project manager with over a decade of experience working in public affairs. In her current role, she works with the Hydro One Community Relations team, focusing on regional capital projects community, stakeholder and government relations. Donna has formerly worked in the political sphere for over 10 years. She has spent time working at Queen’s Park for an Ontario Cabinet Minister, and subsequently on Parliament Hill in Ottawa where she developed and managed a national youth leadership program. In addition to her professional and political experience, she has worked with diverse communities in the GTA. Growing up in St. James Town and Cabbagetown in downtown Toronto, she has worked on various community boards, and has knowledge and experience of the impact and real time change investments, policies and programs can have to create real change in local communities.

Andrea Longworth, DIRECTOR - Membership & marketing

Andrea is Senior Legal Counsel for PepsiCo Foods Canada in Toronto where she provides advice on matters affecting PepsiCo Canada’s food business and operations. Much of her work focuses on manufacturing and supply chain management, procurement, products and innovation and PepsiCo’s brand and marketing strategies and sponsorships.

Andrea is thrilled to be part of the MLSE Foundation Game Changers committee. Growing up as a competitive athlete, she knows first hand how much being involved in sports can help bring people together and bring out the best in people as they navigate through life’s many challenges. She is passionate about being involved in a cause that positively and tangibly impacts the lives of young people through the power of sport.

Brad Canario, Director - Membership & Marketing

Brad has 15+ years of commercial experience working with a range of companies, from large well-established organizations to start ups, and in verticals spanning across CPG, hospitality services and regulated industries. He has received numerous accolades as a top national marketer and has been recognized on the global stage for his work. When it comes to sports, Brad is a hometown fan first, cheering for the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs and Raptors. He is also a proud member of the Buffalo Bills Mafia. His interest with the MLSE Foundation Game Changers stems from his relationship with his two kids and his strong belief that sports help teach critical life skills and are essential for community building.

ScotT Ring - DIRECTOR Membership & Marketing

Scott is an experienced Sport Management professional where he has led a number of large multi-sport event portfolios in the amateur sport industry over the last 9 years. Scott is currently the Senior Advisor, Business Delivery with the Canada Games Council, a large multi-sport event for Canadian athletes, after spending six years with U SPORTS, the governing body of university sport in Canada. At the Canada Games Council, Scott manages the life cycle of the games, with focus on relationship management, event management, business planning and transfer of knowledge processes/ procedures. He is passionate about amateur sport in Canada, and was a former basketball player himself with the Bishop's University Gaiters, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Major in Sports Studies. His passion for sport led him to get involved with the MLSE Game Changers Executive Committee, where he can steer this passion into giving back to the community, and reducing barriers for youth sport participation.

Juan Santana, DIRECTOR - Speaker Series

Juan is a Vice President at Osprey Capital Partners, a mid-market focused investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions. A dynamic professional, he started his career within high-growth technology companies and is passionate about creating long lasting relationships. In addition to his role within Game Changers he co-founded a not-for-profit organization called EduGate, helping underprivileged students in Latin America receive exposure to global curriculums through education technology. Having been born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Juan understands the importance of empowering youth and providing an outlet for them to develop, learn, and build a strong ecosystem. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.

Laura Watkins, Director - Speaker Series

Laura is Director, Business Enablement, Personal & Commercial Banking at RBC. Prior to her current role, Laura worked in various businesses and functions across RBC including Corporate Communications, HR and RBC Insurance. She has also held roles in the Health Care, Agency, and Live Entertainment industries. Fun fact, her first job was at LeafsTV.

Laura is active in the community. She currently volunteers with Ascend Canada, a non-profit Pan-Asian organization for business professionals and supports the RBC Canadian Open on an annual basis. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University and is the final stages of completing a Master of Communications Management at McMaster. She is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys all things fitness in her spare time.

CHANTELLE NOWAK, DIRECTOR - CHAMPIONSHIP GALA & VOLLEYBALL

Chantelle brings 15+ years of cross-functional experience from international companies: Molson Coors, Conagra Brands & Red Bull. As a proud aunty and godmother, Chantelle is very passionate about supporting our youth and mental health. Both personally and professionally, she has raised large funds for SickKids, Covenant House, Plan International Canada, Toonies4Tummies & United Way. Dedicated to using her diverse experience and strong skill set to make a positive impact in the world, Chantelle realized her true purpose during her short time in the nonprofit sector. She decided to leave the corporate landscape and is now following her heart to support our youth, where she can see the direct impact she is making.

Chantelle completed her certification to become a Life Coach for Kids and is building her own business which she's launching in summer 2023. Kids are growing up in challenging times and deeply struggling with their mental health. Chantelle is motivated to help kids in a preventative way, so they can learn how to develop a strong mindset with the social and emotional skills needed, to not only thrive in life, but to pick themselves up when life throws them curve balls. As a new member of MLSE Foundation Game Changer’s Executive committee, she looks forward to raising larger awareness and funds for our youth to feel empowered and reach their full potential at MLSE LaunchPad.

EMMA DOWLING, DIRECTOR - CHAMPIONSHIP GALA & VOLLEYBALL

Emma is an experienced marketing professional, and currently works as a Strategist at PHD Media, a global media and marketing communications agency. She oversees national media campaigns for several CPG clients, with a focus on creative planning. Having been involved in competitive sports for most of her life, Emma understands the impact that sport can have and recognizes its potential to serve as a vehicle for positive social change. She is excited to be a part of the Game Changers and looks forward to supporting initiatives that work to eliminate the barriers to organized sport in local communities.