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Team & Culture

Our Mission: Change the Game

We’re committed to our work and passionate about lifting the communities we serve & empowering our youth through sport.

Our team comprises driven professionals in the Sports For Development space who believe in the power of sport to empower youth. From experts in Research and Evaluation, Sports Programming, Community Engagement, and Content and Communication, the team at MLSE LaunchPad is one of the most well-rounded in the Sports For Development sector.

Our team culture is rooted in diversity and inclusion. Perspective is paramount - our differences make the difference.

Meet Our Board

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Freda Colbourne

President, Colbourne Consulting Inc. & Chair, MLSE LaunchPad

Freda is a strategic communications, change management and philanthropy consultant that advises C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and boards of directors on how to solve their most important communications challenges.
She previously served as the CEO of Edelman PR. Freda is a graduate of the Board Governance program at the Rotman School of Business.

jenn miller

Director of Mission and Money, Atkinson Foundation

Jenn Miller is a queer, white settler that has been working in philanthropy for over two decades. She currently works as the Director, Mission and Money with the Atkinson Foundation, a charitable foundation committed to social and economic justice. Prior to Atkinson, she worked at the City of Toronto and at the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Jenn has also worked as consultant providing program development, facilitation and strategic planning support to a wide range of nonprofit organizations.
She is the co-chair of The Circle on Philanthropy's Governing Circle. Jenn lives in Toronto and is the parent of a son who is a member of Constance Lake First Nation in northern Ontario.

Ige Egal

Policy Advisor, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Ige is passionate about community development. He believes in the power of sport to provide transformational opportunities for both individuals and communities. As a proponent of equitable access to formative extra-curricular opportunities, Ige has worked across various sports, activities, and communities. Ige was the founding executive director at the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), Canada’s leading grassroots rugby-for-development organization.
Ige currently works at the Paris based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as a policy advisor. He also serves as a board director for grassroots community organisations.

Shane Dolgin

SVP, Public, Corporate and Government Affairs, Scotiabank

Shane Dolgin is a senior communications executive with significant global leadership experience working in more than 50 countries. He has spent much of his career in the technology sector with a focus on financial services and mobile communications. He brings a strong background in corporate communications and public and government affairs, along with expertise in digital storytelling, crisis and issues management, financial communications and corporate reputation management. Since 2018 he has led the international communications consultancy Edelman’s global relationship with PayPal, overseeing a team of more than 150 people in 20+ markets.
Previously, he led international communications and government affairs at Scotiabank. In that role, he was responsible for global external communications and reputation management, internal communications to the bank’s more than 90,000 employees, as well as government affairs in 50+ markets. Prior to Scotiabank, Shane led communications for TELUS, at the time Canada’s second largest wireless carrier. He lives in Toronto with his two children and is active as a volunteer supporting pediatric cancer and other causes.

Bob Hunter

Senior Projects Advisor, MLSE

Robert (Bob) Hunter is a principal in the consulting firm of BCI + network.  Hunter is the former Chief Venues & Entertainment Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) and has over 35 years’ experience in the sport, entertainment, hospitality and tourism industries.  During his career, he has opened and operated three major stadiums in both Toronto and Vancouver (Rogers Centre, BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium); one major arena in Toronto (Air Canada Centre) and two smaller arenas GM Centre (Oshawa) and Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto).  In addition, he has managed annual revenue and operating budgets in excess of $100 million.Overseeing the operating teams for five venues for MLSE, Robert oversaw all venues operations, in-house food and beverage, live entertainment, suites sales and service and construction and venue development.  Home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre is annually recognized as one of the top five busiest buildings in North America for sports and concert events.  Robert’s food and beverage experience includes growing the company’s in-house food and beverage operation revenue from $24 million annually in 1989 to over $80 million in five locations by 2015. Heading up venue development and construction, he has directly worked on numerous arena and stadium projects on the owners’ behalf totaling investments exceeding $1.1 billion.  Robert has also been responsible for all corporate real estate functions on behalf of this large sports management company. Hunter has managed large employee groups exceeding 200 full-time and over 3,000 part-time employees with MLSE which is consistently recognized as one of the leading customer service organizations in sports and entertainment.
Hunter’s has performed consulting work in both the U.S. and Canada for such clients as the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Portland Venues Authority, Montreal’s Olympic Park, Niagara 2021Summer Games and currently Overactive Esports Media Group. Prior to MLSE, Robert has held numerous positions in both the public and private sectors.  These include, President & CEO, ProFac Management Group (one of Canada’s largest facility management companies); President & CEO, SkyDome Corporation (now the Rogers Centre); Senior Vice President, Operations and Client Services, SkyDome Corporation; Director of Operations, B.C. Place Stadium; and, Director of Operations, Expo86 World’s Fair. On a community basis, Robert has been a volunteer for over 20 years for the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) including roles as Board Member, Vice Chair CFE Certification Board, Arenas Committee Chair and Chair of IAVM’s Foundation.  He has also taught for over 15 years at the Associations Industry School held annually.  Robert has also served as an Expert Witness on Venue Safety matters. Hunter serves on numerous Boards in his hometown of Toronto including Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Tourism Toronto, Business Improvement Association, MLSE Launchpad and Athletica Sports Equipment in Waterloo.

Michael Whitcombe

Partner, MacMillan LLP

Michael Whitcombe is a Senior Partner and Co-Chair of the Private Equity Practice and Pharmaceuticals Practice of McMillan. He principally practices in the areas of negotiated merger and acquisition transactions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments, strategic alliances, complex commercial arrangements and corporate governance. Michael regularly advises medium and large corporations (both domestic and international) and their boards of directors in connection with their operations throughout Canada. He has significant industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, entertainment, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Michael is Director of a number of Canadian corporations and has served as The Arthritis Society since 1996. He is a member of the OBCA and CBCA Advisory Sub-Committees to the Business Law Executive of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario). Michael holds a degree in Business Administration in addition to his LLB and LLM. Since 2006, Michael has been recognized as one of Canada's leading Business Lawyers in the Lexpert / ALM Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada.

Vijay Kanwar

Co-founder and Director, KMH Cardiology and Diagnostic Centres Inc

As an executive member of many high-profile boards, while also establishing and growing his own highly successful business, Vijay Kanwar has accumulated significant experience in forming and implementing strategic plans, supported by his acumen for financial management. Vijay’s motivation to launch and grow KMH Cardiology and Diagnostics grew from his vision of offering high-level, timely, and affordable patient health care options. Since opening his first facility in 1988, Kanwar has never taken his focus off that goal, and by recruiting and developing a high performing team, has grown his business to over 20 locations, serving over 300,000 patients each year in Canada , US and other parts of world, while also working on the leading edge of electronic medical records, and leading international medical research.
As a board member of other organizations, Business Development Bank of Canada , York University, and the Treasury Board of Canada, Vijay has combined his business expertise with his connections across government and private industry, and his understanding of public-private partnerships, to champion and drive significant capital projects. Vijay is proud to have grown his career and raised his family in Canada, and is gratified to live in a country where diversity is valued, nurtured, and recognized as a strength.

inder Minhas

SVP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Superior Plus Corp.

Inder Minhas is the Senior Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions at Superior Plus. He leads the enterprise-wide strategy and has leadership and accountability for the corporate development team. Inder has been involved in a number of transformative transactions and has held various senior financial leadership roles during his career.
Inder is an entrepreneurial leader with track record of success in earnings growth, operationalizing strategic objectives and deploying capital to maximize returns. Inder is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Certified IT Professional (CITP) and holds a Bachelor of Commerce.

Kaléah Smith

MLSE LaunchPad Youth Board Member

Kaléah is a fourth year York university student studying Kinesiology. This is her fifth year on YAC, her second year on the exec team and sitting on the board at launchpad. Outside of YAC Kaléah works at Nike and the restaurant “Kelseys”. She also plays soccer for York University and the St.Kitts and Nevis National Soccer Team. After post secondary Kaléah hopes to work in a clinic or for a major sports team as a sports therapist. She also wants to indulge into social media and directing, acting and modeling.
The reason she wanted to join MLSE LaunchPad/YAC is because she wanted to expand her knowledge on youth centres and what communities are doing to reach young kids who should choose sports over something negative. Being at MLSE she has learnt so many things and has been able to input her ideas on making the place even better. Her most impressive achievement by far would probably be playing in the olympic qualifiers against the Canadian Women's Soccer Team. Playing against idols she grew up watching. One fun fact about Kaléah is that she is really good at basketball, so you probably couldn’t beat her one on one.

Meet Our Team

Amanda Bellissimo
Coordinator, Administration & Member Services
How has sport shaped you as a person?
To get out of my comfort zone and to try new things.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Michelle Obama, Princess Diana, Taylor Swift
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
Festina lente (Latin) which translates to "make haste slowly", doing things in life with a proper balance of urgency and paying attention to detail.
Amanda Bellissimo
Coordinator, Member Services
Bess Lennox
Manager, Sport Programming
What is your favourite sports moment?
Brandi Chastain in the 1999 World Cup. That whole event just felt like a triumph for women’s sport.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
It makes me better - in every single way. Physically, mentally, emotionally. It took me around the world, gave me my best friends and experiences and now gives me the opportunity to do something I love with people I love doing it with.
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. - Henry James
Bess Lennox
Manager, Sport Programming
Brandon Gibbs
Coordinator, Partnerships and Programs
What inspires you in life?
Giving back to the younger generation and watching them grow, thrive, and prosper.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor, and Ryan Clark
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
Closed mouths don’t get fed, so don’t be afraid to shoot your shot.
Brandon Gibbs
Coordinator, Partnerships & Programs
Bryan Heal
Social Impact Research Lead
What inspires you in life?
To channel the love and blessings my mom and dad (and siblings, cousins, aunties and uncles!) provided for me into fighting for a better world.
What is your favourite sports moment?
Seeing the BAT FLIP live at the ‘dome. That season, the stage, the opponent, the team, the inning, the player, the moment: It was perfect.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Chris Hadfield, Chef Maneet Chauhan, My Mom
Bryan Heal
Social Impact Research Lead
Christian Blake
Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
What inspires you in life?
Community. connectedness and courage.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
Sport has been a connector to community throughout my life. It's where I've found friends, purpose, challenge and resilience. It's a core piece of the foundation on which I continue to build.
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
"All that you touch you change. All that you change changes you." - Octavia Butler
Christian Blake
Director, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Dane Baugh
Coordinator, Sport Programming
What Inspires you in life?
What inspires me is my kids they push me everyday without noticing. I would to add my grandma, because of hard she work created a better life for me.
How has sports shaped you as a person?
Sport has shown me that there is always room for mistakes. A world without mistakes, no one will ever feel how hard it is to grind.
Favourite life motto?
Always Remember to Big Up Yourself and Those Around You!!!
Dane Baugh
Coordinator, Sport Programming
Dashawn Stephens
Director, Strategy & Innovation
Dashawn Stephens
Account Manager
Diana Franco
Coordinator, Non-for-profit Programs Development
What inspires you in life?
Knowing that things don’t need to be as they are, and as long as we mindful and intentional, things can only get better
If you could live somewhere else in the world, where would it be?
Spain! I love the culture!
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Yannis Philippakis, Beyonce, The Dalai Lama
Diana Franco
Coordinator, Partnerships & Programs
Gyasi Moffett
Coordinator, Community Engagement
What inspires you in life?
My daughter and the love for working with youth
What is your favourite sports moment?
Father’s Day Bulls Vs. Sonics Game 6 (Jordan’s post-game interview and locker room footage)
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Jay-Z, Michael Jordan and Nina Simone
Gyasi Moffett
Coordinator, Community Engagement
Iain Crerar
Director, Partnerships and Engagement
What inspires you in life?
Seeing passionate people chase their dreams.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
Learned to play on a team, learned how to lose, learned how to win – you can go a long way in life with that!
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Matty Matheson for the food reco. Obama for the wisdom. My wife to help me manage the dynamic I just set up.
Iain Crerar
Director, Partnerships & Engagement
Jackie Robinson
Manager, Research and Evaluation
How has sport shaped you as a person?
I am who I am because of sport. I’ve learned some of my hardest lessons and had some of my biggest successes on the ice and field. But even more so, sport instilled in me the importance of teamwork and family, and of showing up every day for your people.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
As much as I would love to have dinner with some of the greatest modern thinkers like Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, or Neil deGrasse Tyson, I’d give anything to have dinner with my grandparents one more time.
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
“Be kind. You never know the battles that others are fighting.”
Jackie Robinson
Manager, Research & Evaluation
Kavan Kerr
Operations Coordinator
What inspires you in life?
My kids are my inspiration.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
Sports have shaped me as a person from teaching me to develop my strategic thinking, analytical thinking, leadership skills, goal setting and risk taking.
What is your favorite quote/ life motto?
“Never give up on what you want. The person with big dream is more powerful than one with all the facts” Albert Einstein
Kavan Kerr
Coordinator, Operations
Lisa Wiele
Director, Partnerships & Engagement
Favourite athlete? Why?
Serena Williams. Everything about her.
What is the book you’ve gifted most?
The Talent Code
What inspires you?
Effort & Courage. People who may not have the natural talent but work hard everyday to be better. Girls who aren’t intimated to compete against boys in sports. The last few hundred people to cross the finish line of a marathon. These things inspire me a lot.
Lisa Wiele
Managing Director
Luciano Lombardi
Director, Community Sport
What inspires you in life?
Two main things: my family & utilizing the power of sport to positively impact the lives of youth and build a better tomorrow.
What is your favourite sports moment?
Professionally: singing the national anthem while representing Canada as a coach at the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup in Brazil. Personally: Toronto FC winning the 2017 MLS Cup... and Kawhi's four-bouncer.
If you could live somewhere else in the world, where would it be?
Florence, Italy... but nothing beats Toronto.
Luciano Lombardi
Director, Community Sport
Marika Warner
Director, Research & Evaluation
How has sport shaped you as a person?
Sport has shown me what teamwork can do and reinforced the importance of consistency, repetition, and discipline in achieving my goals.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Beyonce, Madonna, and Big Freedia.
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
Life is a dance. It’s beautiful, powerful, and lighter than you think. Enjoy it.
Marika Warner
Director, Research & Evaluation
Michael Kim
Manager, Partnerships & Programs
What inspires you in life?
My parents starting a new family in a new country purely to provide a life they couldn’t provide back in their native land for my brother and I.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
5 year old me, and I would tell him everything is going to be okay, just be a kid. 20 year old me, and I would tell him that the adult world looks scary, but you will be okay. 30 year old me and I would tell him that the love of your life is around the corner, be patient she is coming
What is your favourite quote/ life motto? I
’ve read the last page of the bible. It’s all going to turn out alright.” – Billy Graham
Michael Kim
Manager, Partnerships & Programs
Patrick Antonio
Manager, Scoreboard
What is your favourite sports moment?
Toronto Raptors 2019 Championship run (all of it). But if I had to pick one from that run, it would have to be the Kawhi 4-bounce game-winner against Philly.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
Playing sports all my life, I’ve experienced highs and lows that I’ve been able to translate into my life in order to be resilient to life’s challenges. More recently, running has been a passion of mine and has given me added perspective that if you keep putting in the work, you can achieve your goals.
What is your favourite quote/ life motto?
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giant
Patrick Antonio
Manager, Scoreboard
Patrick O’Connoll
Manager, Sport Programming
How has sport shaped you as a person?
Sport has played a significant role in my life in several ways. Importantly, It's been a place to develop friendships and build community. It eased my transition when I moved to Toronto from a small town and allowed me to build relationships with individuals who had that shared interest.
If you could live somewhere else in the world, where would it be?
Barcelona, Spain. Beautiful city, great weather, delicious food.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hayley Wickenheiser, and Bill Murray
Patrick O’Connell
Manager, Sport Programming
Sonya silva
Manager, Engagement
What inspires you in life?
Remembering that life is short, so be bold, take risks, and love your closest ones with all you’ve got.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
I grew up playing competitive soccer and long-distance running. Both required patience, continual practice and training, and learning how to get knocked down and get up again to keep moving forward.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
My 3 grandparents who have passed away. I didn’t grow up speaking their language, and now that I can there is so much I would want to ask them.
Sonya Silva
Manager, Engagement
Vanessa Leslie
Coordinator, Sport Programming
Favourite sports moment?
The Canadian Women’s Hockey Team winning gold at the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing.
How has sport shaped you as a person?
What stands out the most is how my involvement in sports made me more confident in myself and my abilities. I used to be super shy, which is hard to imagine now.
If you could have dinner with 3 people, who would they be?
Michelle Obama, Shania Twain, and Serena Williams. Ultimate girl squad!
Vanessa Leslie
Coordinator, Sport Programming

Join Our Team

Are you passionate about making a major difference in the Youth Sport sector?

Were always looking for talented, passionate people to join our team. We pride ourselves on creating a positive and accepting environment to help youth reach their full potential through sport. We’d love to hear from you! Check back for upcoming job postings and opportunities.

Current Openings:

Leaders In Training Program 2023: Learn more & Apply
MLSE LaunchPad’s LIT Program is a paid opportunity for youth ages 15-18 to hone their leadership skills in an energetic and dynamic sport programming environment. Over the course of eight weeks, leaders will work with the MLSE LaunchPad staff to help design, organize, and run in-person summer programming, become role models for the community, and explore different employment pathways. Learn more about the program!
No Jobs *Do Not Delete*
There are currently no openings at MLSE Launchpad. Please check again soon!

*Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in the job application process.

If you have difficulty using our online application system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email accommodations@mlse.com. Please note this email is only for accommodation requests. Resumes sent to this email address will not be considered.

Thank you to our community partners

We value collaborations with community partners who are experts in our four programming pillars: Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Ready for School & Ready for Work. We are excited to be working with the following community partners.