George Brown Polytechnic is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.
What Does the Selection Committee Do?
The Selections Committee is an esteemed group of Canadian sports business leaders who select the 5 to Watch award winners in the context of award eligibility and criteria. The committee is sensitive to the diversity of all candidates in determining the 5 to Watch award winners via the voting process.
Meet the Committee Members:
Matt Afinec
President and Chief Operating Officer, Business Operations
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Football Club
Chris Armstrong
President and Alternate Governor
Wasserman Media Group
Andrew Baker
VP International Relations and Public Affairs
Canadian Olympic Committee
Brent Barootes
President and CEO
Partnership Group
Yvonne Bergmann
Vice President Commercial Strategy and Brand
Western Hockey League
Cheri Bradish
Loretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing
Ryerson University
Nathalie Cook
President Mr. Mom Music, Executive Producer, The Pitch
Ashley Curran
Co-Founder, Sidecar Sports
Josh Epstein
Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Brand Consulting
Oakview Group
Julian Franklin
Principal
Franklin Management Group
Sandra Gage
Executive Director, Commercial Operations
FIFA World Cup 2026™ (Canada)
Sam Galet
Executive Vice-President, Head of Global Partnerships
IMG Canada
Catherine Gosselin-Despres
Chief Sport Officer
Canadian Paralympic Committee
Andrew Greenlaw
Senior Vice President, Brand, Community & Client Experience
CIBC
Mark Harrison
Founder - The T1 Agency
Founder - Black Talent Initiative
Chairperson of the Board - BBBS of Toronto
Shannon Hosford
Chief Marketing Officer
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)
Sophie Kotsopoulos
Group Vice President
National Hockey League
Jim Kozak
Chief Operating Officer, Abbotsford Canucks - Rogers Forum - AHL Alternate Governor, Abbotsford Canucks
MediaCom Canada
Steven Lewis
Co-Founder and President
XMC
Matthew Logue
Co-Founder
The Greater Agency
Dan MacKenzie
President
Canadian Hockey League (CHL)
Heather MacLean
President
ProSpeakers.com
Leah MacNab
Head of International Strategy & Operations
NBA Canada
Ian Malcolm
President and CEO
Lumency
Tyler Mazereeuw
President and CEO
Canadian Elite Basketball League
Norm O'Reilly
Dean College of Business
University of New England
Craig Reynolds
President & CEO
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Roy Roedger
President & CEO
SDI Marketing
Michael Rossi
Commercial Lead, Host City Partnerships for FIFA World Cup 2026
Toronto MLSE
Gavin Roth
Founder & Managing Director
Gavin Roth & Associates Revenue Consultants
Jacquie Ryan
CEO, Canadian Olympic Foundation
Chief Brand and Commerical Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
Vijay Setlur
Sport Tourism
City of Brampton
Chris Shewfelt
MLSE Lead, FIFA World Cup 2026 Toronto
MLSE
Tim Shipton
Executive Vice President, External Affairs & Gaming
Oilers Entertainment Group
Rob Swann
Chief Commerical Officer
Tennis Canada
Alyson Walker
Senior Vice President
Wasserman
Laurel Walzak
Associate Professor
Ryerson University
Trevor Whiffen
Partner
Dickinson Wright LLP Lawyers
John Wiggins
Co-Founder and CEO
Focused Dreams Forward Foundation