KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
We are pleased to introduce our Keynote Speakers for #OPLS2025
Joe A. Doiron
Public Health and Physical Activity Policy Expert | CEO | Community Health Strategist
"Generation Move: Future-Proofing Kids Through Physical Literacy and Collective Action"
Joe A. Doiron is the founder and CEO of Active Kids Adventures, a program that fosters literacy, leadership, and movement skills in children through imaginative, play-based learning. With over 30 years of experience in population health across public, private, and non-profit sectors, Joe has led major national initiatives, including his work at ParticipACTION and the Public Health Agency of Canada. He was instrumental in creating Let’s Get Moving, Canada’s first national policy to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary living. Recognized with the Chief Public Health Officer Medal, Joe’s career reflects his deep commitment to community health, innovation, and ethical leadership. He lives in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and is a devoted husband, father, and outdoor enthusiast.
Carol Edelkoort and Sharon Gallant
Carol - Executive Director of the Fit Active Beautiful (FAB) Foundation.
Sharon - Founder of the Fit Active Beautiful (FAB) Foundation and the Founder and Coach at I Defy Coaching.
"Helping Young Girls Become Strong Women - The FAB Way"
Sharon and Carol are two inspiring leaders whose lives have been shaped by their deep belief in the power of sport to transform lives. Sharon, a high-performance triathlete with over 20 years of experience—including racing at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii and the upcoming Half Ironman World Championships in New Zealand—overcame tremendous adversity in her youth. By 16, she was parentless, living in poverty, out of school, and expecting a child. Her determination to build a better life for her daughter led to a successful career in financial services, where she learned the value of goal setting—first in life, and later through sport when she began running at 26. This sparked a passion for empowering young girls, and in 2009, she founded the Fit Active Beautiful (FAB) Foundation, a free program using running and goal-setting to help girls in low-income communities develop confidence, skills, and self-belief. In 2021, she launched I Defy Coaching to support women in reaching their athletic goals. Similarly, Carol's lifelong connection to physical activity began in childhood, thanks to her father's encouragement, and became a vital source of resilience while managing lifelong mental health challenges. Though she built a strong career in banking and marketing, Carol ultimately sought deeper fulfillment and found it in FAB. Motivated by her own journey and the recognition of the privilege she had in accessing sport, she is now the Foundation’s Executive Director, working to ensure all girls have the opportunity to move, grow, and thrive in inclusive, empowering spaces. Together, Sharon and Carol exemplify how lived experience, when paired with purpose, can drive real and lasting impact.
