Tom farrey

Executive Director, Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program

Tom is founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society Program, the mission of which is to convene leaders, facilitate dialogue, and inspire solutions that can help sports serve the public interest. The program’s signature initiative is Project Play, which helps stakeholders build healthy children and communities through sports. 

Since 2013, Project Play has helped shape the global conversation about the state of youth sports, identifying gaps in access and quality through research and dialogue. Frameworks developed through the initiative have helped hundreds of organizations from across sectors to take action, and governments from the federal to county levels have introduced new policies. A 2019 media campaign, #DontRETIREKid, won 37 international awards. Inspired by Project Play, Aspen Institute affiliates in Mexico and Romania have launched related initiatives. 

Tom came to Aspen from ESPN where his work as an investigative journalist over two decades won two Sports Journalism Emmys, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a 2014 Alfred I. duPont/Columbia University Award — ESPN’s first. Tom’s 2008 book, Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children, has been used as a text on many university campuses. Columnist Robert Lipsyte called Game On the “Silent Spring of sports: the book that launches a movement to protect a natural resource. In this case, our children.” That movement became Project Play, a community of more than 20,000 leaders. 

A graduate of the University of Florida, Tom now lives in San Clemente, Calif.

beth devine

Executive Director, Philadelphia Youth Sport Collaborative

Beth Devine joined the Collaborative as it’s first Executive Director upon the organization’s launch in 2016.  Beth brings a blend of experience in nonprofit management, sports-based youth development programs, and the development of cross-sector partnerships.  She is responsible for setting the strategic course for the organization, as well as oversight of the Collaborative’s team in their efforts to increase equitable access for all of Philadelphia’s children to quality sports-based youth development programs.

A collaborator by nature, Beth has built relationships with multiple city agencies to align work and set a common course for the way Philadelphia uses sports to engage and connect with its young people.  Relying on her experience in launching a girls-serving sports and fitness organization in 2009, as well as her participation in Mayor James F. Kenney’s Transition Team, Beth is well suited to drive change in the area of SBYD by aligning cross-sector stakeholders to support innovative programmatic efforts that expand access and improve quality.

Devine also has extensive experience in marketing, events, and operations due to her work experience with the American Cancer Society, the Philadelphia Big 5, and Reynolds and Reynolds, among others.

Beth holds an MA in Clinical Counseling Psychology from LaSalle University and is a lifelong athlete and youth coach which fuels her mission to ensure all kids get the opportunity to experience the power of sport in their lives.

Marco di buono, ph.d

Associate Vice President of Programs & Operations, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

Dr. Di Buono is the Associate Vice President of Programs & Operations at Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, where he oversees the planning, design and execution of programs intended to help children of all abilities in communities across Canada participate in sport and recreation. 

Before joining Jumpstart, Dr. Di Buono spent three years as Vice President, Science, Research & Professional Education at the American Heart Association, where he was responsible for the Association’s $170 million research enterprise and oversaw the development of clinical practice guidelines and professional education resources. 

Dr. Di Buono holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto and has a history of advocating for the health and well-being of children and youth.

Dr. Di Buono currently sits on the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He is a very proud father of three active kids.

Dr. Jessica fraser-thomas

Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University

Jessica Fraser-Thomas is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University, and a researcher with the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research and PYD SportNET. Her research focuses on children and youths’ development through sport with particular interest in how psychosocial and contextual factors (e.g., coaches, family, culture) influence sport trajectories and outcomes (e.g., positive youth development, participation, performance). Currently she is working on projects exploring preschoolers' introductions to organized sport and characteristics of programs that may facilitate 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. 

sandra paire

Vice President, Membership & Business Administration, Sport Calgary

Sandra brings considerable expertise in events and community interactions, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from San Francisco and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from Paris.

A French native, Sandra has lived all over the world, including West Africa, Europe and North America. She has taken an unconventional career path that allowed her to explore different places and cultures. Sandra started as a video game buyer for an international IT company in France, became a travel consultant in Scandinavia, and taught business in the Netherlands before joining the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) as Associate Dean for the SAIT School of Business. Prior to joining Sport Calgary, she led the Wordfest Youth and French Program.

Sandra is responsible for the planning and execution of all Sport Calgary events. These include the youth event All Sport One Day, the adult event All Sport One City, and Celebration of Sport (formerly the Mayor's Sport Breakfast). 

A new Canadian, Sandra is an advocate for sport as an important part of everyone's life, especially for youth, as it breaks down cultural barriers and promotes healthy development of active lifestyles.

jake hendy

Executive Director, Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta

Jake Hendy is a big family man and proud husband and father of five children (three girls and two boys) all of whom he loves spending time with. Jake met and married the love of his life Shakeh Crowfoot, from the Siksika Nation just outside of Calgary, in 2004. Shakeh Crowfoot is a 3rd great-granddaughter of the Blackfoot Chief Crowfoot who signed Treaty 7.

A dual citizen, Jake was born in the state of California and grew up in the state of Utah in a border town to the Ute Reservation. Out of high school he left on a 2 year service mission where he served in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario and fell in love with the Canadian people working with many First Nation individuals and families. 

Upon returning home from Canada, Jake played College/University football for 5 years between Snow College/Dixie State College (both in Utah) and Temple University (also competed in Track and Field) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications he tried out for the NFL and CFL. 

Since 2019, Jake has been the Executive Director for the Indigenous Sport Council of Alberta (ISCA), the provincial sport body creating physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and wellness opportunities through sport, physical activity and recreation for Indigenous people of Alberta. He was also the Team Alberta Chef de Mission for the 2020 NAIG Games in Halifax (which was postponed due to the pandemic).

In 2014 he joined the board for the Edmonton Native Ball Association (ENBA) which puts on the Alberta Indigenous Games (AIG) and became the CEO in 2016 a position he is still in currently as he's getting ready for the 2022 AIG Games planning for over 4,000+ athletes, coaches and technical officials. 

Jake has a deep passion and love in creating opportunities for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities to become self-reliant in the ways of the Medicine Wheel teachings through sport, physical activity and recreation.

Jake was in the direct sales industry for 12 years (managing for 6 of them) traveling all over the United States and Canada. 

Jake is currently a board member for InMotion Network which is the provincial multi-sport body promoting physical activity for women and girls. In May of 2020, he became the first male board member in 14 years and is also currently a board member of the Alberta Basketball Association as of January 2022.

andrea carey

Chief INclusion Officer, INclusion INcorporated

Andrea Carey is a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP), holds a Masters of Education in Leadership Studies, recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, is Dare to Lead trained and Nova Profile Certified. 

As the founder and Chief INclusion Officer with INclusion INcorporated (www.inclusionincorporated.com), Andrea works to support clients to create cultures of belonging and inclusion for everyone to thrive and has worked extensively on inclusion and improved access for Indigenous peoples, Newcomers, persons with disabilities and women and girls. She brings extensive experience in business operations, facility management, human resources, strategic planning, marketing, group facilitation, curriculum development and in product development. Andrea also worked on an appointment as a Special Advisor on Disability Inclusion for Federal Minister Carla Qualtrough.

Her passionate, playful and engaging approach to inclusion provides a platform for understanding the challenges, to develop a strategy that aligns the organization’s needs with global trends and connects clients to tools to ensure successful implementation. 

Andrea is the co-founder and current Executive Director of OneAbility. She volunteers with the National Para Sport Collective as co-Chair, a collective that she co-founded in 2020. Andrea also volunteered for ten years with the Canadian Paralympic Committee as a Board Director and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee; and currently sits on the Board of KidSport Victoria.

Kevin jesus

Western Canadian Ambassador & Regional Board Member, You Can Play

Since 2016, Kevin has been an ambassador and regional board member for You Can Play. YCP works to ensure the safety and inclusion of all in sports – including LGBTQ2S+ athletes, coaches and fans. He’s worked in pride parades under the YCP banner and held weekly presentations at the Free Footie summer youth camp in 2017.

Professionally, he’s an award winning senior television news producer at Global Edmonton (Global News at 5pm with Gord Steinke) and a freelance sports reporter. Over the last ten years, he’s been the steady hand behind the wheel of the 5 and 6pm newscasts – bringing Edmontonians the local news, weather and sports they depend on. Prior to arriving in Edmonton, Kevin spent 7 years as the Sports Anchor and Reporter at Global News in Saskatoon where he prided himself on sharing stories of local athletes and teams on their pursuit of excellence.

FUN FACT: Kevin and his husband, Graham, are huge Edmonton Oilers fans. In fact, their wedding in 2019 – was the first wedding ever held at Rogers Place.

When he’s not working, you’ll find Kevin spending time with family both in Edmonton and Portugal, hitting the ice in Edmonton’s Gay Curling league (Curling With Pride) or travelling the world.

rilee manybears “running buffalo”

Supervisor, SN7 - Siksika Health Services

Rilee Manybears “Running Buffalo” - Iinomaahka is a long distance runner from the Siksika nation, part of the Blackfoot confederacy.

Rilee shares his story of true resilience, and how he overcame many obstacles in his life.

Strong-minded, determined and wise beyond his years - Rilee is a Blackfoot leader who is making choices everyday that align with his vision and goals both on and off the track. From competing in the Boston marathon, to winning gold at the 2015 world indigenous games in Palmas, Brazil.

Rilee Manybears has utilized his resiliency and positive attitude to take on the challenges life has shown him, as he prepares for his next greatest achievements, and as he fulfills his role as a community leader. 

lindsay wright

Executive Director, InMotion Network

Lindsay Wright is the Executive Director at the InMotion Network, promoting physical activity opportunities for girls and women. Lindsay has vast experience working in health promotion over her career, developing resources, programing, and leadership training.

Lindsay values the importance of relationship building and collaboration in order to work together to get more girls and women participating at all levels in sport, physical activity and recreation.