Board of directors

Jake (he, him) is the Managing Director of Human Kinetics Canada, a faculty lecturer in Sport Management at the University of Windsor, coach and volunteer, football official, consultant, public speaker, and committee and board member. Jake strengthens organizations and inspires teams by combining his creative and strategic thinking with his expertise in governance and leadership. Organizations rely on him for his capacity to nurture partnerships across sectors, from the community to national level. Jake holds an MSc in Sport Business and an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics.

Amanda (she, her) has a PhD in Sport Medicine as well as MSc and BSc degrees in Kinesiology and Health Science. She’s an assistant professor at Brock University, where she leads the injury prevention, clinical intervention, and implementation science research group. While Amanda’s concussion research covers prevention, management, tools to track recovery, and more, she also focuses on injuries and concussion for individuals with visual impairments and for blind hockey athletes. Additionally, Amanda is a certified athletic therapist working on the field and in the clinic.

Dr. Zarina Giannone (she, her) is a Registered Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant based in Vancouver, BC. One of Canada’s few specialists trained in both clinical and sport psychology, she supports athletes and performers in high-stakes environments, including Olympians, Paralympians, and professionals in the NHL, CFL, and MLS. Zarina is the Team Psychologist for the BC Lions and also supports the Vancouver and Abbotsford Canucks. She has held roles as an adjunct professor, clinical supervisor, and psychological scientist. 

Thomas (he, him) is the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Director of Communications and Marketing. As an Olympic medalist (Beijing) and two-time PanAm medalist (Santo Domingo) in sprint canoe, Thomas understands high performance sport. His graduate degrees in business administration and journalism, and his entrepreneurial career honed his expertise in strategic communications, media relations, issues management and branding. Thomas applies those talents to showcase Team Canada, develop his own team within the Canadian Olympic Committee, and to advance and safeguard organizations, programs and boards alike, such as Canoe Kayak Canada and Athlete365 Career+.

Bryan (he, him) heads up social impact research for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). He leads initiatives like the MLSE Foundation’s Change the Game research program for youth in Ontario. SIRC’s board benefits from Bryan’s years of industry experience, his master’s degree in public health communications, and his mastery of demographic data, storytelling and partnerships. He also serves on the board of Strides (Toronto’s lead agency for infant, child and youth mental health) and co-chairs Rugby Ontario’s Build Belonging Committee.

Elana (she, her) is a lawyer who earned a Master of Laws from Dalhousie University, where she teaches a Safe Sport and Ethics course. Elana has been Sport Nova Scotia’s Safe Sport Lead since 2020 and holds a Restorative Justice Certificate (Simon Fraser University) and a Safeguarding Officer in Sport Certificate (International Olympic Committee). Elana advocates for inclusion and safe sport, and has advanced related policies, education and task forces for organizations such as the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG), Hockey Nova Scotia, and the Coaching Association of Canada (Rule of Two).

Samuel Ouellette (he, him) is the Coordinator of the University Competitions Service at HEC Montréal, where he leads the strategic planning and delivery of interuniversity competitions and initiatives that enrich student life and foster excellence. Samuel also lecturers in the Sport Governance and Anti-Doping graduate program at the Université de Sherbrooke, teaching governance, ethics and evidence-based management practices. A passionate endurance athlete, he actively contributes to various committees and working groups in Québec and internationally to help sport organizations address emerging challenges in the sector.  

At the helm of SIRC for over 25 years, Debra (she, her) has steered the organization and transformed offerings for stakeholder relevance and impact. She continues playing a vital role in federal, provincial and territorial workgroups, and serves on the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Sport Institute-Pacific Boards. With an MA degree in Communications, Debra is best known across the sport system for stakeholder communications, global partnerships, digital technologies, and contributing as a key player in shaping Canada’s sport policy. Connect with Debra to learn more about her background and experience.