Executive Committee
Biography
Dr. Araba Chintoh provides consultation to international sports federations offering technical, scientific, and clinical expertise on athlete welfare priorities including brain and mental health. As a Clinician Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary, Dr. Chintoh practices clinically at the Foothills Medical Centre and pursues her research at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health. She completed a PhD with a neuroscience focus at the University of Toronto then travelled to the north of England to play Premiership rugby while completing medical school at the University of Newcastle.A former Canadian International, Dr. Chintoh now holds a number of governance roles including the chair of the International Olympic Committee Rugby Athletes’ Commission. She is an experienced non-executive director, chairing the Governance, Nomination and Ethics Committee of Own the Podium.
Biography
Paul Santinelli is an inveterate rugby player, having played more than 30 years at all levels of the game and is currently serving on the RAN EXCO. Prior to being appointed to RAN, Santinelli served as the chair and vice chair during his tenure on the USA Rugby Board of Directors and played critical role in the financial restructuring of the union. Currently, he is on the executive committee of the College Rugby Association of America and the D1A Men's Commissioner.
He also held the role of CEO of Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby, helping the franchise create one or the most dynamic fan engagement models that charted the course for many MLR teams.
His professional experience is that of an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, having served on the boards of Liveramp (NASDAQ:RAMP), Couchbase (NASDAQ:BASE), Tapjoy (acquired by ironSource) among others. Santinelli currently serves as the CTO of United Systems & Software. He has broad experience in executive operations and governance with both corporate and sports organizations.
Biography
For over 35 years Pablo has been inspired by the values and camaraderie of rugby on and off the field. He is honored to have achieved 6 caps for his country. He has refereed 8 test matches, CACSO and PANAM games, and continues to be behind the whistle to this day.
For 9 years Pablo functioned as Vice President of the FMRU, being a founding member of the Federation. He has acted as coach of his club’s women and men teams, CMO and Educator, Head Referee, Match Commissioner, logo and web designer, match commentator, club president and a big fan of the sport.
His current day job is as an independent financial consultant, after more than 3 decades in major financial institutions in Wall Street and Mexico.
Biography
He is a native of the Twin Island of Trinidad and Tobago.
He has been active in Rugby in the Region as a player, coach and Administrator for over 25 plus years. He also served in the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force for a period of 23 years. On his retirement he committed into regional rugby full time.
He is the Technical Director for Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Union and Saint Lucia Rugby Union. He was appointed to the RAN EXCO as the Category C representative where he continues to serve the region unions of Category C.
Staff
Biography
Niall is the General Manager of RAN. Niall has extensive knowledge and experience of rugby in the region having first began working for NAWIRA (North America West Indies rugby Association) in 2003 as it’s Development Planning Officer. Originally from the UK, Niall has lived and worked in North America and the Caribbean since 1992 and is a Chartered Accountant by profession and also holds a B. Sc. (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Sports Science and Recreation Management from Loughborough University, England. Niall resides in the BVI from where he leads a team of three RAN staff members and oversees the finances, accounting, communications with World Rugby, Corporate Governance and RAN’s administration functions, as well as the organization and delivery of RAN’s competitions.
Biography
Erin Kennedy has worked in sports administration for over 14 years, focusing most of that in rugby development and administration. She is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Co-Founder of Girls Rugby and is currently the Regional Development Manager for Rugby Americas North. Kennedy brings experience from her time with USA Rugby and Rugby Canada, developing and managing mass participation programs such as Rookie Rugby and Try on Rugby.Kennedy has also worked for the North American Caribbean Rugby Association, developing youth rugby and women's rugby programs in the Caribbean and Mexico. She went on to coordinate programs for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Switzerland, focusing on the Youth Olympic Games. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, a World Rugby Trainer, has played for multiple teams in the US and abroad, as well as coached at the youth, high school, and adult club levels. She holds a Master's degree in Sport and Performance Psychology and is a passionate advocate for the growth of youth and women's rugby in North America. She is also the author of The Value of Rugby, a children’s book aimed at teaching the core values of rugby.
Biography
A strong proponent of inclusion and diversity in Rugby, Scott has refereed and coached at all levels of Rugby in Canada, and been a member of the Training and Education workforce for over 20 years. As the RAN RTM, Scott manages the region's training and education programs, and supports member Unions with their T&E needs.
World Rugby
Biography
Jennifer is a sport management professional with more than 12 years experience working in rugby. Jennifer started her rugby administrative career working for USA Rugby, where she served as Director of Operations and as Event Director for the historic USA Rugby vs. New Zealand All Blacks test, which sold out Soldier Field, in Chicago, IL.
Jennifer’s playing career spanned more than 10 years in both collegiate and club rugby in the United States and after hanging up her playing boots, she went on to become a referee–successfully officiating three USA Rugby National Championship Finals. She has been involved with the game as a player, referee, or administrator since 1999.
Jennifer is a graduate of Mississippi State University and resides in Lafayette, CO.
Biography
Dr. Araba Chintoh provides consultation to international sports federations offering technical, scientific, and clinical expertise on athlete welfare priorities including brain and mental health. As a Clinician Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary, Dr. Chintoh practices clinically at the Foothills Medical Centre and pursues her research at the Hotchkiss Brain Institute and the Mathison Centre for Mental Health. She completed a PhD with a neuroscience focus at the University of Toronto then travelled to the north of England to play Premiership rugby while completing medical school at the University of Newcastle.A former Canadian International, Dr. Chintoh now holds a number of governance roles including the chair of the International Olympic Committee Rugby Athletes’ Commission. She is an experienced non-executive director, chairing the Governance, Nomination and Ethics Committee of Own the Podium.
Biography
Cristina’s passion for rugby started from her first game, playing at University, in New Brunswick, Canada in 1979. When she moved to Southern Ontario in 1983, there were no women playing rugby, so she joined the St. Catharines Rugby Club Board and became the Fixtures Secretary.
After having her 3 children, she attended McMaster University for a second degree and started to play again with the University’s rugby club and with the Hamilton Hornets Rugby Club.
In 1997, the Hamilton Hornets hosted the PARA (Pan-American rugby Association tournament) and Cristina’s languages came in handy when she became the Canadian Liaison for the Uruguay and Argentina Teams.
She then joined the NRU Board of Directors, and went on to Chair the Organizing Committee for the Canadian Women’s National Championships for the next 3 years. Cristina is still involved in rugby in Mexico and Canada, in mentoring women's rugby, advising on governance with an Institute of Corporate Directors Designation (Canada), in raising money for different charities including the Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club, as Chair of Alumni Committee.
2006-2008 Mexican Rugby Federation Board Director
2000-2003 Rugby Canada Board Director
2004-2006 Ontario Rugby Union Board Director
2001-2003 Canadian Rugby Board representative to the North American/West Indies Rugby Assoc (NAWIRA)
2002 Advisor in the interpretation of various documents including North America and the Caribbean NAWIRA Charter of Rights
1996-2000 Niagara Rugby Board
Coaching: Ancaster High school, and Appleby College, in Ontario
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