Mariann Bardocz-Bencsik (PhD)
Mariann is a passionate sports professional, based in Budapest, Hungary. She holds a PhD in Sports Science (2021), a Master’s degree in International Studies (2010) and a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management (2009). Her research interest is the role of sport in creating positive social change. Besides her academic activities, she works as a communications professional with various sports organisations, including the World Curling Federation. Thus far, she was part of the WCF media team at 13 international events.
Simon Barrick (Ph.D)
Simon Barrick teaches in the Sport and Physical Activity Leadership as well as Community Studies programs at Cape Breton University (Sydney/Unama’ki, Nova Scotia, Canada), focusing on sport management. His teaching, research, and community service efforts critically interrogate the intersections between diversity, inclusion, national identity, and winter sport participation in the Canadian context. In particular, Simon is passionate about working to transform Canadian sport, physical activity, and leisure to become truly welcoming for all Canadians, particularly marginalized and underrepresented communities. Simon’s research has been published in prominent international scholarly journals including Sport in Society and Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise, and Health. Simon has presented his research at numerous provincial, national, and international academic and sport administration conferences. Simon also has extensive experience consulting with various sport organizations such as: Curling Canada, Skate Canada, Alberta Lacrosse Association, and Curl Alberta.
Sarah Benkirane (PhD)
Sarah Benkirane is a PhD candidate in cultural psychology at the University of Quebec in Montreal. Her research focuses on the impact of social norms on access to mental health care services for immigrants and racialized groups in Canada. She is also the Director of Clinical Operations for the texting service at Kids Help Phone. Sarah has been a curler since 2004 and played competitively at a provincial and national level.
Sarah is committed to helping encourage cultural diversity in curling as well as accessibility to the sport, starting at the grassroots level. She is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness in elite athletes.
Dr. Jeffrey MacCharles
Dr. Jeff MacCharles is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, USA where he teaches Sport Administration courses and advises graduate students in the online Master’s program in Sport Coaching and Leadership. He has a PhD in Management (Sport Management concentration) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and his research has broadly investigated diversity, equity and inclusion in the sport industry from an organizational behavior and leadership perspective. Specifically, he has conducted research into how sport organizations can attract, recruit, and retain employees from marginalized backgrounds, identity authenticity in the sport workplace, alllyship in sport, and how organizations can signal inclusion to various stakeholders.
A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dr. MacCharles has curled for 27 years and is excited to help change the face of curling through creating diverse, equitable and inclusive curling organizations at all levels.
Dr. Heather Mair
Heather Mair is a Professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. She has been researching the role of curling in community development for more than 15 years.
Dr. Richard Norman
Richard Norman is a strategic consultant + researcher + lecturer + futurist + innovator who works with people to ensure their organizations are adaptive, responsive, and resilient to our rapidly changing world.
For over 20 years, Richard has brought his passion and curiosity to work in strategy, innovation, and design, while exploring new innovative methods within the frame of diversity, equity, and inclusion. His work is particularly focused on the lived experiences of peoples who have been marginalized in our society
DEI Academy
