Board of Directors
HELEN MANNING
Chair Sutton West, Ont.
Helen brings more than 40 years of experience in sports marketing, sponsorship, strategic planning, event execution, policy development, risk management and organizational structure to the board. She chaired the Athletics Committee for Para-Athletics when it was first formed, she acted as president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee for eight years, and served on international committees of the International Paralympics Committee that were tasked with organizational analysis and change.
Since joining the Athletics Canada Board of Directors in 2015, Helen has worked with the finance and competitions committees, worked directly with the Athletics Canada foundation, and supported Para-Athletics programs. During her most recent term as vice chair, she has worked alongside Athletics Canada's current staff leadership team to develop and bolster the organization's Safe Sport and Equity division.
MIHIRA LAKSHMAN
Vice-Chair Toronto, Ont
Mihira has been involved in the sport of athletics for 30 years. He was a competitive athlete at the high school, club and university levels (Saskatchewan Huskies '98-'00) and Dalhousie Tigers '03-'05), and also served as a volunteer official. He has also covered the sport as a journalist for CBC and Canadian Running magazine. Currently, Mihira is the director of The Walrus Lab, the client-services division of The Walrus. Mihira has nearly twenty years of experience in media. He has performed a variety of roles including editorial oversight, sponsor integration, custom content and partnerships, staff management, digital strategy, and investigative journalism.
CHRIS SMITH
Treasurer Halifax, N.S.
Chris joined Nova Scotia Power in 2017 and is responsible for leading the Finance, Information Technology and Procurement teams and ensuring that business value is achieved across the organization. As a member of the executive leadership team, he plays a key role in developing and executing corporate strategy. Previously, Chris held senior executive roles with private-sector organizations and most recently served as President of Heritage Gas Limited, Nova Scotia’s natural gas distributor. He has volunteered on numerous not-for-profit boards and is a past member of the Boards of the Canadian Gas Association, Sport Nova Scotia, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Dalhousie University Board of Governors, where he also chaired the Audit Committee. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Dalhousie University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, CA.
CHARLES PHILIBERT-THIBOUTOT
Athlete Representative Quebec, Que
Charles Philibert-Thiboutot is an Olympic semi-finalist and one of the fastest 1,500m runners and milers in Canadian history. He has broken the four-minute mile on several occasions, and holds the Canadian 5k road record of 13:35.
Christabel Nettey
Athlete Representative Surrey, B.C.
Christabel Nettey is the Canadian long-jump record holder, and is a eight-time national champion, having won every single national long jump title but one since 2013. She represented Canada at the last two Olympic Games.
GREG STEWART
Athlete Representative Kamloops, B.C.
Greg Stewart is the reining Paralympic gold medalist and record holder in the F46 shot put. His toss of 16.75m remains one of Canada's brightest and most memorable moments from the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
MERVYN ALLAN
Director-at-Large Toronto, Ont.
Mervyn Allan has been involved in athletics for a large part of his life. He is a former sprint champion at the high school, Ontario Track and Field Association and Varsity university levels, in addition to being an Ontario Summer Games champion. Off the track, he has become an esteemed lawyer at prestigious firms and corporations for more than 25 years.
Allan’s goals with the Athletics Canada Board is to use athletics to alleviate post-pandemic mental health crises and help encourage continued high school and university participation, in addition to increase outreach to indigenous communities.
Mihaela Cozma
Director-at-Large Calgary, Alta.
Currently in a Director role with Canada Energy Regulator leading the implementation of activities related to culture and leadership in the organization, Mihaela is leading the implementation of recommendations made by an employee-led project working group on ways to improve some of the most important and challenging aspects of organizational culture and employee well-being.
Mihaela has a Master of Science in Business Administration from HEC Montreal and a Bachelor in Energetics from University Politehnica of Bucharest. A leader in the community, Mihaela served as a board member in many track and field clubs in Calgary, and she is an active track and field official with Athletics Alberta.
Michael Sherar
Director-at-Large Toronto, Ont
Michael is a healthcare executive, masters athlete and coach. A previous President and CEO of Cancer Care Ontario, Michael is currently President and CEO of Public Health Ontario. Michael has participated in track and field since childhood and now coaches at the high school and club level. He co-founded and is volunteer President of Royal City Athletics Club in Guelph, Ontario.
Stephen abosi
Director-at-Large Calgary, Alta
Stephen is a corporate and entertainment lawyer at Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP where his practice focuses on securities and corporate matters, including mergers & acquisitions for public and private companies and corporate governance. Stephen also works with and advises clients in the sports and entertainment industry on a variety of commercial, marketing and copyright matters.
Stephen has been involved in Track and Field in Canada as an athlete, coach and volunteer for over 13 years and completed his collegiate career at the University of British Columbia as a Thunderbird from 2012 to 2016. Stephen Is the current indoor 60m record holder for Botswana at 6.61s which he set at the 2022 World Athletics, World Indoor Championships in Belgrade.
Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia and a JD from the University of Calgary.
ABBY HOFFMAN
Ex-officio, World Athletics Council Member Ottawa, Ont.