Anastasia Austin leads the Sales & Marketing organization for Merchandise commodities at Canadian Pacific Kansas City. Her journey in the railroad industry began in 2008 with Kansas City Southern, where she spent 15 years gaining valuable experience across various departments including accounting, finance, and strategic decision support.

Before the merger, Anastasia played a crucial role as the head of the Revenue & Yield Management team, where she was responsible for shaping the company’s commercial strategy. This included overseeing pricing, conducting economic analysis, forecasting commercial performance, and developing long-range plans. Her extensive knowledge of KCS’s commercial markets enabled her to significantly contribute to the merger process, particularly in leading commercial integration efforts.

In 2024, Anastasia was appointed to be a part of CPKC’s Diversity & Inclusion Council where she plays an active role in shaping CPKC’s Diversity & Inclusion Strategy. Anastasia also serves on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army Kansas City Chapter and is a member of Women’s Leadership Network in CPKC whose mission is to develop, mentor and sponsor other women.

Anastasia’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Accountancy, all earned from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Diane Roussin is a dedicated community leader and a proud member of the Skownan First Nation. Diane has worked tirelessly for over two decades, primarily in Winnipeg’s inner city, with organizations and projects that respect the ability and the right of Indigenous families, children and individuals to care for themselves and thrive. She is a strong believer that families must determine their own solutions in order to create sustainable and equitable change.

Most recently, she became the project director for The Winnipeg Boldness Project, a research and development project focusing on improving outcomes for children in the North End of Winnipeg, through social innovation and social lab processes. Diane presented at TEDx Winnipeg in June 2018 on the topic of Indigenous social innovation. In January 2018, Diane received the Governor General’s Award for Outstanding Indigenous Leadership.

Diane holds bachelor of arts and bachelor of social work degrees, and sits on a number of boards, including the Winnipeg Foundation and Winnipeg Art Gallery. She is a cherished member of a large extended family and a loving mother of two daughters whom she adores. Diane is a member of the Heart & Stroke Manitoba Provincial Advisory Board.

Shelley Kuipers is investing in the world she wants to live in. As an activist in business, entrepreneurship and investment, Shelley likes to take on the status quo, and seek out democratized business models and platforms.

Previous to co-founding The51, Shelley founded crowdsourcing company Chaordix and technology and marketing firm, Stormworks. She was also the co-founder of IOVIA, based in London, UK. Shelley also collaboratively runs her family office Adventure Capital, with her partner and two sons. Shelley has had the opportunity to live and work in Canada, US, Germany and the UK, as well as lead global commercialisation efforts across markets in the US, UK/Europe, SE Asia/Australia and Africa.

Shelley has been early-stage investing for more than 20 years. Her investment experience started in oil and gas, but she quickly diversified her investments into the tech sector with a focus on innovation-driven companies across many sectors. To date their family office has made +30 early-stage investments.

Shelley’s most notable investment was Solium, which was acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2019 for $1.1B. Shelley supports many founders, and ventures as an advisor, board observer and director, including Bobbie Racette Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus.

Evelyne Nyairo, M.Sc. P.Biol, is the driving force behind the luxurious all-natural skincare brand, Ellie Bianca. Ms. Nyairo has an academic background in Biochemistry and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Strategy and Innovation. Understanding the importance of technology and innovation Evelyne is currently researching integration of AI powered tool (such as virtual reality, augmented reality and machine learning) into small business’ operations to create and sustain business competitive advantaged.

Evelyne’ s efforts have recognized nationally and internationally. She has always championed the issues of diversity and is a strong advocate of equal opportunity for all.

Recognized for her strategic contributions to global projects and leadership, Evelyne has garnered accolades, including.

• Featured in Canadian Senate by Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) in 2024 for our work in science and innovation.
• The 2023 Canadian immigrant champion award
• 2022 Calgary business leader award
• Selected as a global ambassador by Vital Voices,
• Winner of the prestigious 2021 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards
• Making it to the semi-finals of the CANIE Black Entrepreneur of The Year Award organized by Startup Canada for excellence and outstanding achievement in entrepreneurship.
• Receiving the CHFA Industry Achievement Award for Celebrating Diversity

Through Ellie Bianca named after her daughter she has not only created a skin care line but also a pro women’s empowerment venture designed to “heal not just the skin, but the soul”, Ellie Bianca is a beacon of hope and global connection.

A brilliant role model for aspiring entrepreneurs, Evelyne shares her wisdom born of perseverance in the face of adversity. She lives by the quote, “Trust the process,” which has given her the grace to nurture her brand.

She thrives best when she can contribute to advancing equality and through Ellie Bianca, she is able to see this vision become a reality by working with female producers and ensuring that women are rewarded directly for their hard work.

Ellie Bianca is committed to being “Kind to your Skin |Kind to the Earth |Kind to Women”

Mollie Marcoux Samaan is the ninth Commissioner of the LPGA since its formation in 1950. Her journey to the LPGA began at Princeton University where she was a two-sport varsity athlete in soccer and ice hockey before graduating cum laude in 1991. In her senior year, she was awarded the Otto Von Kienbusch Sportswoman of the Year Award given to the University’s top female athlete. Following graduation, Marcoux Samaan served as assistant athletic director, assistant dean of admissions and coach of girls’ ice hockey and soccer at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.

She then began a 19-year career with Chelsea Piers Management, the company that owns and operates two world-class amateur sports complexes, Chelsea Piers New York and Chelsea Piers Connecticut, becoming executive vice president of Chelsea Piers’ 400,000- square-foot multi-venue complex in Connecticut, a facility with more than 300 employees, including professional athletes, Olympians, former collegiate coaches, former Division I athletes and sports industry leaders.

In 2014, Marcoux Samaan was recruited back to Princeton as the University’s Ford Family Director of Athletics. In her seven years as Director of Athletics, Princeton teams won a league-leading 65 Ivy League Championships and finished as high as 30th in the prestigious Learfield IMG Cup standings, which measures overall success of all Division I Athletics programs. During her tenure, Marcoux Samaan developed and executed a 5-year strategic plan that included the development of Princeton Tiger Performance, a unique holistic athletic performance initiative, and the design/development of over $200 million in facility renovations and new construction. In 2020-2021, Marcoux Samaan received the NACDA (National Association of College Directors of Athletics) Athletics Director of the Year Award.

A passionate golfer from a young age, Marcoux Samaan has taken that same strategic thinking to the world’s oldest independent professional women’s sports league. In her tenure as LPGA Commissioner, she defined the six strategic pillars and instituted a Be Great performance model. She has worked closely with players, board members, partners, and independent advisors to crystalize the core purpose and values of the LPGA, which includes a firm commitment to being the global leader in women’s golf and using that platform to inspire, empower and transform the lives of girls and women on and off the golf course.
With a partner-centered, team approach, purses on the LPGA Tour exceeded $100 million in 2023 for the first time in history and the calendar of events spanned 13 different countries, including a new event in Malaysia, the return of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, and the first official mixed event in partnership with the PGA Tour, the Grant Thornton Invitational.

Marcoux Samaan, in partnership with Chevron, created The Commission, a first-of-its-kind gathering of influential leaders, icons in the game and advocates of women’s golf, who met for the first time during the 2023 Chevron Championship in The Woodlands, Texas. The goal is accelerating change and leveling the playing field for women’s sports. Under her leadership, the LPGA also entered a sales alliance with Fenway Sports Management focused on developing next level tour marketing partnerships.

With back-to-back Solheim Cup years in 2023 and 2024, Marcoux Samaan remains committed to elevating that marquee match-play event in way that broadens the reach of the LPGA and inspires women and girls in all aspects of life. That is her goal. Marcoux Samaan has become a leader for all of women’s sports, assuming the spokeswoman mantel on issues related to equality and inclusion. She is a leading advocate for increasing investments and growing opportunities for women in girls in every field of sports and entertainment.

She and her husband, Andrew Samaan, are the parents of Maddie (20), Catie (18) and Drew (14).

Nicole Metzger serves as the LPGA’s Chief Sales and Partnerships Officer, bringing extensive experience across professional and collegiate sports as well as the entertainment industry. In her current role, she is responsible for leading revenue generation activities by developing a comprehensive growth strategy aimed at advancing the organization’s mission and ensuring a sustainable future. Nicole directly oversees the Business Development and Corporate Partnerships teams and manages external relationships that support prospective LPGA revenue generation activities. Her role encompasses sponsor prospecting for tournament titles, official marketing partners, licensing, media and digital sales, player sponsorships, and other strategic sales. Additionally, she cultivates and services the LPGA’s global corporate marketing partners and builds strong relationships with key stakeholders, including tournament organizers, players, sponsors, media partners, and other constituents. Nicole also develops innovative and compelling presentations and partnership opportunities to attract top-quality brands to the LPGA.

Before joining the LPGA, Nicole served as Senior Vice President of National Sales at JMI Sports. In this role, she was responsible for developing strategic partnerships across JMI Sports’ expanding portfolio and worked with property leaders to increase revenue through innovative opportunities. Prior to this, Nicole was the Chief Revenue Officer of the Clemson Sports & Campus Marketing team, where she managed the company’s Total Campus Marketing partnership with Clemson University and Clemson Athletics. She worked directly with university partners to provide vision, direction, and results in the strategic expansion of Clemson’s athletics multimedia and sponsorship programs. One of her notable achievements at Clemson was helping to develop and launch the Clemson Campus Digital Network, a comprehensive campus-wide integrated network of digital signage and other media designed to enhance the Clemson experience, improve campus communications, create new sponsorship inventory, and add measurable value to corporate sponsors and business partners.

Earlier in her career, Nicole was Vice President of Partnership Development for Hornets Sports and Entertainment in Charlotte, North Carolina. During her tenure, her team secured the first-ever team jersey patch sponsorship with LendingTree. Nicole also played a key leadership role with the Miami Dolphins, where she was part of a select team that successfully negotiated an 18-year, $220 million stadium naming rights deal for the new Hard Rock Stadium, one of the largest in NFL history. Her extensive leadership experience also includes roles within the NBA League Office’s Team Marketing and Business Operations (TMBO), Proxy Partners, the Denver Broncos, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, where she worked in the areas of sponsorship sales, global partnerships, sponsorship development, team marketing, and business operations.

A native of Peachtree City, Georgia, Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia. Nicole currently resides in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and son.

Raven Jemison was appointed Team President of the Kansas City Current in January 2024. She oversees all business operations as the club opens the inaugural season in CPKC Stadium.

Jemison joins the club after spending the past four seasons as the Executive Vice President of Business Operations for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. On the court, the Bucks won their division every season of her tenure and the NBA Championship in 2021. Off the court, Jemison’s leadership enabled the Bucks to produce impressive growth across all revenue generating departments while building out the team’s data analytics capabilities.

Her sports career began in the NHL as an Inside Sales Representative for the Florida Panthers. From there she worked her way up the corporate ladder with the Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) and San Francisco 49ers (NFL) before joining the NBA’s Team Marketing & Business Operations, the league’s in-house consulting arm.

At the NBA, Jemison was able to use her skills and knowledge to help grow the league, while providing valuable insight to specific teams with the NBA, WNBA and G-League. She consulted with teams on all business operations, including ticketing, partnerships and marketing.

Ellen is a co-founder and head of content and audience at The GIST, a fan-first sports media brand that’s reinvented the dialogue around sports by providing equal coverage to women’s and men’s sports. Ellen drives The GIST’s audience strategy, including developing The GIST’s signature voice, tone, and storytelling structure that’s resonated with over 2M+ GISTers across North America. In doing so, Ellen leads The GIST’s (amazing!) content and growth team of 20+ women and non-binary folks and also co-hosts The GIST’s highly popular twice-weekly podcast, The GIST of It. As a lifelong avid sports fan and elite athlete, Ellen is not only passionate about her fave teams, but also about leveling the playing field in the sports industry. Ellen and her team were named to Forbes 30 Under 30 2020 and have been accelerated through programs with Facebook, MLSE, Comcast NBCUniversal, Techstars and Billie Jean King Enterprises.

Lindsay Hamilton joined TSN in September 2016 and is currently an anchor for SportsCentre, bringing viewers the most up-to-date news from the world of sports.

Hamilton started working in broadcasting at a young age, becoming the first host of the Family Channel in 2008. For more than five years she interviewed some of the biggest entertainment icons, athletes, and musicians across North America.

In 2012, Hamilton hosted events during the 100th Grey Cup Anniversary Week and by 2014 she joined Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as a host for Toronto Marlies, IIHF World Juniors, and Toronto Maple Leafs games and team events.

She’s also hosted a variety of major events during her time on TSN including: The Masters, CPKC Women’s Open, FIFA Women’s World Cup, The Grey Cup, Queen’s Plate and Curling Day in Canada.
Hamilton competed in a variety of sports while growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, including playing varsity lacrosse at McMaster University and competing on Team Ontario. Today, Hamilton keeps busy with golf, squash, tennis, water-skiing, and running.

Niki da Silva is an innovative and results-driven Executive with 20+ years of People and Culture experience leading talent strategy from application to alumni, driving best-in-class leadership development, leading change and organizational transformation initiatives, and building culture as a competitive advantage. She is passionate about reimagining the future of work, inspired by the challenge of developing high-performing organizations, and energized by building a world-class employee experience.

Niki is currently the Chief People Officer for Golf Canada, where she oversees the People and Culture function as well Participation Programs. Prior to Golf Canada, Niki was the Chief People Officer for Right To Play International, an NGO operating across 22 countries. Niki spent the first 15 years of her career in progressive leadership roles at both the Rotman School at the University of Toronto and the Ivey Business School at Western University. She earned her HBA degree from Ivey, her MBA degree from the University of Toronto, achieved her Certified Human Resources Executive designation and is a Certified Leadership Coach.

Niki and her husband, Chris, live in Toronto, Canada with their two children and enjoy raising their family in the world’s most diverse city.