Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Charmaine Crooks is a Member of the Order of Canada, Five time Olympian, and Olympic Silver medalist (LA ’84 Athletics) who has been an integral part of Canadian and global sport as a leader, innovator and advocate.
Achieving award-winning performances… on the field and in the office
Charmaine Crooks became the first female athlete in Canadian history to be named to five Olympic Games.
In 2023, Charmaine Crooks was named President of the Canadian Soccer Association, becoming the first woman and person of colour appointed to the role.
Born in Jamaica, to a family of nine children, Charmaine came to Canada when she was six. Canada is where she developed and grew as a person and athlete, becoming a Canadian track and field national team member and an Olympic medalist. Charmaine is keenly aware of the power and importance of leadership and sport as vehicles for personal realization, uniting people, and driving societal change.
Charmaine Crooks’ global consultancy firm also provides strategic advisory, marketing and corporate development services to a variety of sectors including sport, media, technology, health and major events.
As a former international competitor during an era when track and field faced systemic sports ethics challenges, she is deeply conscious of the importance of good governance and ethical leadership to ensure safe and fair sporting environments.
At the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games where she was Team Canada Opening Ceremony flagbearer, she was part of the first group of active Athletes elected by peers to the International Olympic Committee as voting members. There she served on the IOC Press Commission, IOC Culture and Education Commission, New Media working group, IOC 2000 Reform Commission, founding IOC Ethics Commission and the World Anti-Doping Agency. She was also appointed founding Chair of the PASO Athletes Commission and was elected Vice President of the World Olympians Association.
As one of the members of the 2010 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Winter Games (Vanoc), Charmaine was the only director to serve from the initial bid phase through to the successful end of the Games.
Other roles have included that of Vice-President of the Global Esports Federation and founder of the Canadian Esports Federation.
Her volunteer leadership in sport includes roles on the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Soccer Association executive board and the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions. She has been on the Canada Soccer board since 2012-13 and served as vice-president since January 2021. She’s also been director on several charitable and public sector Boards in a variety of sectors including technology, finance, sport and health.
She co-founded the 365 International Sport Foundation, dedicated to bringing communities together through sport. This includes the creation of Our Cityride, a mass participation sport for all cycling ride & Festival. Globally, she is a Champion for Peace with Peace and Sport.
She’s been awarded the Order of Canada for her athletics career and volunteer work with the International Olympic movement, including for her efforts to develop the IOC code of ethics.
Similar Speakers 123