Keynote Speakers
Prof. Elizabeth Pike
Professor and Head of the Institute of Sport at the University of Hertfordshire
Elizabeth Pike is Professor and Head of the Institute of Sport at the University of Hertfordshire. Her work takes as its focus issues of equality, diversity and inclusion in and through sport, and she has been an invited speaker, researcher and advisor at Universities and conferences across the globe.
Her expertise has been recognised in her election to the Presidency of the International Sociology of Sport Association, serving as an Executive Board member from 2008-2019. In 2019 she was awarded Fellowship of the RSA, in 2021 she was awarded the inaugural Life and Medical Sciences Athena Swan Award for her work to promote equality, in 2023 she was identified by the Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) as one of the top 10 individuals who have made a significant contribution to women’s/girls’ sport and exercise and who are inspirational in their field, and she is the 2024 Global Winner of the International Olympic Committee’s Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award.
Anne Merklinger
Chief Executive Officer, Own the Podium
An elite athlete for most of her life, Anne Merklinger was a member of Canada’s national swim team from 1977–1981. Anne earned a silver medal at the 1979 World University Games in the 200‐metre breaststroke.
After a distinguished swimming career, Anne focused on curling and since the early 1980’s she competed with distinction at every major event she entered. She was consistently ranked as one of Canada’s foremost curlers, winning the Ontario Women’s Curling Championships in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2000. She has twice led her team to the final of the Scott Tournament of Hearts (1998 and 2000).
A passionate, creative, and inspiring leader, Anne has more than 30 years of management experience with national sport organizations. Prior to becoming CEO Anne held the position of Director, Summer Sports with Own the Podium. She previously worked with CanoeKayak Canada in the role of Director General, and has also worked with the Commission for Inclusion of Athletes with a Disability and the Canadian Federation of Sport Organization for the Disabled.
Anne’s life‐long experience in sport as an athlete and professional is complemented by extensive volunteer experience with a number of organizations including the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, Women’s Tour of Curling, and Special Olympics Canada.
George Mavrotas
Secretary General of Sport
Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports
Hellenic Republic
George Mavrotas (04.04.1967) was an international water polo player (1984-2000) with 511 caps with the Greek national team (captain in 1995-2000) and participation in 5 Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000). Concurrently with his athletic career, he received his degree in the School of Chemical Engineering in the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). He received his PhD diploma in 2000 with expertise in Operational Research and today he is an Associate Professor in NTUA. He is in the Stanford list of top 2% scientists for 2024 based on the impact of their scientific publications. In 2015-2019 he was member of the Hellenic Parliament and from 2016 to 2019 member of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe. In July 2019, he was designated as Secretary General of Sport and renewed his term in July 2023. In June 2021 he was elected as Chairman of the Follow Up Committee of the “Macolin Convention” of the Council of Europe against manipulation of sport competitions and he was re-elected in the same position for a second term in May 2023. He is married since 1994 and he has two sons.
Diane M. Culver, Ph.D., CMPC
Full professor School of Human Kinetics University of Ottawa
A full professor at the University of Ottawa in sport pedagogy and psychology, and an Alpine ski coach who has worked from the club to Olympic levels in Canada and New Zealand. Diane’s research interests include the development of sport leaders, especially coaches. She has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to research Para sport coaching, and women in sport organisations. She has also led numerous projects for the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC), including communities of practice for coaches about safe sport and anti-racism. Her present research includes: Two SSHRC grants – One to develop social learning leaders for the Canadian sport system and one to examine the use of design thinking to better support university student-athletes; and one for the CAC funded by Women and Gender Equality (Canada.ca) to assess a women in coaching mentorship programme.
Stiliani “Ani” Chroni, Ph.D., AASP Fellow
Professor, Sport Psychology & Sport Coaching
University of Inland Norway, Elverum, Norway
Stiliani “Ani” Chroni, PhD, is a native of Greece working as professor in Sport Psychology and Sport Coaching at the University of Inland Norway and visiting professor at the University of Thessaly (Greece). She is the recipient of the 2024 Association of Applied Sport Psychology Distinguished International Scientist-Practitioner Award (USA). Her research focuses on coach stress and well-being, safe sport and safeguarding against harassment and abuse in sport. Ani serves in the recently formed governmental Standing Committee on Safety and Welfare in Sports under the General Secretariat of Sport in Greece. She uses her global skills and experiences to help performers in the domains of academia, mental performance consulting, leadership, advocacy, and policy development.
Hally Chapman
National Talent Identification and US-based Women’s Lead Coach
New South Wales, Australia
Hally Chapman grew up in Sydney, Australia, where she still lives today. She began rowing in 1998 and became Junior World Champion in the Women’s Single Scull in 2002. While her competitive career was cut short by medical challenges, coaching became her way to stay connected to the sport—ultimately leading her to the privilege of coaching at the Olympic Games, a place she once thought she’d never reach. Now a proud mother of two, Hally has over 16 years’ experience coaching across all levels of the sport—club, school, state, national, and Olympic. She is passionate about helping athletes unlock their potential and building environments where they thrive. Her philosophy is simple: high standards and high care go hand in hand. When athletes feel supported, valued, and empowered, they perform more consistently and enjoy the journey. Hally has been fortunate to learn from some of rowing’s finest minds, including Tim McLaren and Ellen Randell, shaping her belief in coaching people—not just crews. Recent highlights include co-coaching Australia’s Women’s Eight to their best-ever Olympic result in Paris, qualifying the Women’s Double for Paris, and leading Australia’s National Talent Identification program towards Brisbane 2032. She also supports US-based U23 women, guiding their international campaigns.
Chrissa Biskitzi
Olympian rowing athlete / Hellinic Coast Guard Officer / Rowing Technical Instructor
Chrissa Biskitzi is a highly accomplished Greek rower, coach, and sports leader whose career reflects both sporting excellence and transformative leadership. She is a four-time Olympian, two-time European Champion, and three-time World Championship medalist in rowing. An officer of the Hellenic Coast Guard, she has served since 2008 as Head Rowing Coach of the Hellenic Naval Club of Egyptiotes, producing Olympic, World, European, and National champions. In 2024, she was named Best Coach of All Sports in Greece by the Hellenic Sports Coaches Federation. Holding degrees in Financial and Banking Management and an MSc in Sport Management, she also contributes internationally through World Rowing development programs and nationally as Facilities and Events Commissioner at the National Sports Center of Agios Kosmas. A passionate advocate for equality in sport, she is Vice President of the Hellenic Olympians Association, a member of the Hellenic Olympic Committee’s Gender Equality Commission, and a graduate of the IOC’s WISH program.
Kris Van Der Haegen
Coach Education Director RBFA
Since 2001 involved in the development of Belgian football at the RBFA in different roles: coach educator, national team coach (youth and senior level), head of coach education. I’ve been covering the whole range of football development from the grassroots level to the professional level. Co-creator of the vision of development of the RBFA Also on the European level, I make an impact on the development of the game as a JIRA Panel member of UEFA. Main partner & founding member of the international ICoachKids project.
Lorraine Lafrenière
Chief Executive Officer at Coaching Association of Canada
One of Sport Coaching Europe’s experts, Lorraine sits on the Board of the International Council for Coaching Excellence and she also Chairs the Ethics Committee. She works around the globe in coaching systems, education and ethics. Lorraine is also the CEO of the Coaching Association of Canada (CAC) and leads Canada’s Coaching Education Partnership with the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) which is complemented by initiatives in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Safe Sport along with the profession of coaching. Her career spans more than 30 years within the national sport system which includes roles as CEO of Canoe Kayak Canada, Cycling Canada as well as leadership roles with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Sofia Papadopoulou OLY
2nd Lieutenant, Hellenic Air Force Sport Management PhD candidate
Founder of SailFem
Leader in Women in Sailing Greece
Sofia Papadopoulou OLY is an Olympic Bronze Medalist in Sailing (Beijing 2008, Yngling class) and 2nd Lieutenant of the Hellenic Air Force. She holds degrees in Sports Science and Olympic Education and is currently pursuing a PhD in Sport Management. A passionate advocate for gender equality in sport, Sofia leads the “Women in Sailing – Greece” program of the Hellenic Sailing Federation and is the founder of SailFem, an empowerment initiative for women sailing coaches, recognized internationally with the Anita White Fund 2023 scholarship. She is also the first international female sailor selected to the prestigious WISH (Women in Sport High Performance Pathway) program, supported by IOC Olympic Solidarity and World Sailing. Her expertise spans Olympic and offshore sailing, para sailing, and high-performance coaching. She currently serves as Vice Chair of World Sailing for Regional Games, is a member of its Youth Events Committee, and also serves on the Marketing Commission of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. Through her platform sailsofia.com, Sofia shares her journey, projects, and vision—connecting athletes, coaches, and organizations worldwide to advance leadership, inclusivity, and the Olympic values.
Magda Georgiou
Meet Magda Georgiou, former basketball player and dedicated coach from Athens.
With over a decade of experience in youth development and leadership roles — including the SEPK Board and the EU-funded She Coach project — Magda champions gender equality and empowerment in sport.
Hear her inspiring insights at ICCE 2025, this November in Athens!
Nestor Kolovos
PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER – TRACK AND FIELD COACH
For the past 9 years, I have been the coaching supervisor of the T-11 track athlete Gavelas Ath., as well as his guides. The above-mentioned athlete won 1st place at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the 100m (T-11), achieving two world records (10.88 seconds in the heats and 10.82 seconds in the final), as well as 1st place at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. He is a two-time World Champion (1st place) at the Para Athletics World Championships in Paris 2023 and New Delhi 2025. Additionally, at the European Para Athletics Championships in Poland, he won 1st place in the 100m (T-11), setting two European records with a time of 10.98 seconds. Furthermore, under my coaching supervision, Gavelas Ath. was the European Champion (T-12) in 2018 in Berlin in both the 100m and 200m events. He currently holds the world record in the 100m T-11 category as well as all competition records.
Additionally, for a long period, I served as a National Coach at SEGAS, supervising athletes with Olympic, World, and European distinctions. These include Niki Xanthou (long jump 7.00m), Niki Bakoyianni (high jump 2.00m), and several other sprinters and jumpers
Giovani Postiglione
Head Coach HRF
Education
-Physical Education Teacher from 1975 to 1977
-3° level coach in the Italian rowing federation
-3rd level Award World Rowing Federation
– A Level Hellenic coaching register
High Specialization rowing course in Rome Sport Institute of CONI 1982 to 1984
Occupations
Head Coach Hellenic Rowing Federation
– Coaching Director World Rowing Federation (FISA)
– Teacher of Sport Management Course LM47 at the University
Foro Italico Rome Italy
Mentoring coach for:
Lithuania, Japan, Russia, Serbia, South Africa, Spain.
-Italian National coach 20 years
-Head Italian Coach Education program
Awards
2016 – Lithuania coach of the year
2011 – World Rowing Federation (FISA) coach of the year
2008 – Greek Coach of the year
2006 – World Rowing Federation (FISA) coach of the year
2003 – Honorary member of Italian Rowing Federation
Olympic results
n.2 Golds (London 2012– Tokyo 2020)
n.5 Silvers (Sydney 2000-Beijing 2008– Rio 2016– Tokyo 2020)
n.4 Bronze (London 2012– Rio 2016- Paris 2024)
World Championships
Gold 2025 1xM, 2014 4XLM, 2013, 4XLM, 2011 2xLW, 2009
2xLW, 2005 1XLM
Youth Olympic Games
n.1 Gold JW2- (Buenos Aires)
n. 2 Silver (Nanjing – Singapore)
n.1 Bronze (Singapore)
Achievements in coaching at the World Championships
More than 250 medals in World/European Championships collected for 8 countries FROM 1982 to 2024
World/Olympic Records of Greek rowers N.7
OR 1xM 2021, OR 2-W 2021
WR 4xLM 2014 – WR 2xWU19 2022 – WR 1xLWU23 2022,
WR 2-WU23 2022 – WR 2-WU19 2018 – WR 2xMU19 2018,
WR 2xLW23 2024