meet the 2024 event speakers
Sean Addis
Sean Addis is the executive director of the Alphabet Sports Collective, bringing a wealth of experience in strategic leadership and community engagement within the sports industry. A driving force behind equity and inclusion projects, Sean’s extensive background includes key roles in marketing and sponsorship with the Pride & Remembrance Run and communications with the Canadian Women's Hockey League. His dedication to the 2SLGBTQI+ community is evident through his leadership as co-chair of Pride organization boards and his active involvement with international Pride organizations like InterPride.
Brian Burke
An accomplished executive whose career has been highlighted by a Stanley Cup championship and Olympic silver medal, Brian Burke’s passion and contributions to the betterment of the game of hockey have touched every level of the sport. The former NHL general manager now serves as the inaugural executive director of the Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association, after working as an analyst for Rogers and Sportsnet. A strong supporter of 2SLGBTQI+ rights, Brian established the You Can Play project that targets homophobia and promotes safety and inclusion in sports, in honour of his late son, Brendan. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023.
Fae Johnstone
Fae Johnstone is an award-winning 2SLGBTQI+ advocate, small business owner, social worker and leading voice for queer and trans rights in Canada. A co-owner and special advisor with Wisdom2Action, a consulting firm specializing in organizational development, community engagement and 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, Fae is also the executive director of the Society of Queer Momentum, a national queer and trans advocacy organization. In 2023, Fae was grand marshal of the Capital Pride Parade in Ottawa, received the recipient of the Young 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneur of the Year award from Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce, and was featured in an International Women’s Day ad campaign by Hershey’s Canada.
Marni Panas
Marni Panas has dedicated her career to creating safer, more welcoming and inclusive workplaces and communities across Canada and globally. The chair of the board for the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, Marni has contributed to legislation and policy protecting human rights for individuals at the provincial and federal levels in Canada, and was a member of the advisory committee that helped draft the apology that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered to 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada in the House of Commons in November 2017. A transgender woman who has been very transparent throughout her journey in the hopes of fostering acceptance through education and respectful dialogue, Marni received a Human Rights Award from the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, was named a Global Edmonton Woman of Vision and received The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Dre Barone
Dre Barone is an American Hockey League referee and the first openly gay male in professional hockey. Off the ice, he is a board member of the Carnegie Initiative and continues to push for accountability, equal opportunities and equity in the hockey world. Outside of the game, Dre has spent the past two-and-a-half years going back and forth to the Ukrainian-Polish border helping to evacuate Ukrainians fleeing the war.
Humberto Carolo
Humberto Carolo is a globally recognized gender-based violence prevention expert and the chief executive officer for White Ribbon who focuses on engaging men and boys as allies in promoting gender equality and healthy masculinities. A former co-chair and current board member of the Global MenEngage Alliance, Humberto is a founding member of the North American MenEngage Network and has developed significant cross-cultural experience in diverse settings, including in Brazil, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Zambia and Ethiopia. He serves on the External Advisory Council for the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre, and is a member of the Ontario Government’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, as well as the Religions for Peace Standing Commission on Advancing Gender Equality.
Kiara-Kumail
The star of White Ribbon’s 2023 global campaign, Kiara-Kumail (they/she) works at the organization as a research coordinator, seeking to bring an end to gender-based violence. Prior to working at White Ribbon, Kiara-Kumail led youth empowerment initiatives at NGOs in Kenya, Tanzania and Toronto, guided by the philosophy to inspire collective action for various social justice movements. They are a passionate and long-standing advocate for many different communities, committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable world.
Elder Dan Ross
Elder Dan Ross is an Algonquin from Pikwakanagan First Nation in Golden Lake, Ontario, who has lived in Ottawa since 1961. His spirit name is Animki Ana Qwat (Thunder Cloud) and he walks his path on Mother Earth in a sacred way. Over the past 20 years, Elder Dan has worked as an Indigenous cultural/spiritual advisor as part of Elder Services at Correctional Service Canada, where his work has helped Indigenous people who have had conflict with the law reintegrate back into society and their communities. Elder Dan also provides elder support to the Aboriginal Sport Circle, Canada’s national voice for Aboriginal sport, physical activity and recreation, and has participated in numerous notable panels and committees. He continuously learns from those around him and openly passes on his knowledge about Indigenous traditions, culture and spirituality.
Harrison Browne
Harrison Browne was the first transgender athlete in North American professional sports. During his three seasons in the National Women’s Hockey League, Harrison fought for change and helped form the first transgender policy in professional sports, which was created to aid both trans men and trans women in their participation. A trailblazer and pioneer for 2SLGBTQI+ rights, Harrison represented Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship and has worked with You Can Play as an advocate for athletes in hockey, in addition being recognized by The Hockey News for his hard work and dedication in the sport.
Ailish Forfar
Ailish Forfar is a television host and radio analyst for Sportsnet in Toronto. She completed her undergraduate degree at Dartmouth College, where she played NCAA Division 1 hockey for the Big Green. After graduating, she returned home to complete a degree in sports media and broadcasting at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), playing U SPORTS hockey for the Rams before completing her hockey career playing professionally in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League. In December 2023, after the conclusion of criminal proceedings, Ailish publicly shared her story of sexual abuse in sports as a minor with the hope to help others and drive change.
Catherine Laroche
Catherine Laroche’s journey to explore the interconnectedness of energies, emotions and the universe with Égaux sans égo began in 2020 when she started a legal process following a sexual assault that occurred in 2015. While the pace of the progression of the case caused her more anxiety than healing, she found healing in educating others to protect those like herself and in 2022 she launched her first program at Collège Laflèche. In addition to offering education on what leads to harmful behaviours, Catherine’s intention is to restore the reconciliation between men and women and to rediscover teamwork without having to fear each other, while educating and helping men release what prevents them from reaching their full potential.
Kai Scott
Kai Scott is a social scientist who has spent his nearly 20-year career researching and educating on complex social problems. Kai delivers engaging education sessions and compiles insightful data on gender diversity that shift perspectives and result in greater understanding, ease and support. Specific to sport, he has worked with Rugby Canada, Ringette Canada, Rowing Canada, viaSport and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport to address the inclusion of trans and non-binary athletes.
Claire Buchanan
Claire Buchanan is a para sport athlete that has competed in wheelchair basketball, and track and field, and is currently in their 10th season with Women’s Para Hockey of Canada. Outside of sport, Claire is an advocate for safe sport and making hockey a better place for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. They began hosting The Neutral Zone podcast in 2019.
Normand Hector
Normand Hector is a leader known for his enthusiastic commitment for driving positive outcomes, who is motivated by the mission of awareness, respect and progression, and has had a successful career in corporate sales, crucial conversations and team-building for over 30 years. The first drag performer to appear and perform at a Major Junior hockey game and the Memorial Cup, Normand has worked with Hockey New Brunswick to deliver workshops to players, coaches and families across the province, and with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. In 2016, Normand was awarded the prestigious Inuk Shuk Award in recognition of his community impact and leadership.
John Laing
John Laing is the director of treatment at Hexagon Psychology in Airdrie, AB and is licensed to practice psychology in three provinces. He primarily works with clients with ADHD, anxiety, depression, life stressors, family conflict, oppositional behaviour and conduct problems, and trauma. Well known in the education system and with sport organizations, John is often called to provide psychological consultation to teachers, school administrators, medical and mental health professionals, and parents.
Mark Tewksbury
Mark Tewksbury first came to prominence as a record-breaking backstroke swimmer whose 16-year career included 21 national titles, seven world records, Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals and a cover appearance on TIME Magazine. When he publicly came out in 1998, Mark was one of the first openly gay Olympic champions in the world and has been a leader with the global 2SLGBTQI+ movement ever since. Currently the vice-president of the Canadian Olympic Committee, he was recently awarded the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for his work in gender inclusion and sexual diversity, appointed Companion of the Order of Canada and represented Canada as part of the Honours Procession at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.