Since 2016, she has served as the first female Vice-President of International Canoe Federation (ICF), re-elected in 2021 and again in 2024 for a term through 2028.

As Vice-President, she also chairs the ICF’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission and leads its Sustainable Development Programme, actively championing gender equality, inclusion, and environmental responsibility across global paddle sports. Cecilia is also the first Vice-President of ACODEPA and Chair of the Equality Committee

She is a former Olympian, sport leader, and internationally recognised expert in sport education and safeguarding. A Brazilian artistic gymnast, she represented her country at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games and competed at multiple World Championships before transitioning into sport leadership.

Soraya holds degrees in Physical Education, two master’s degrees, an MBA, and is a certified IOC Safeguarding Officer. For 18 years, she served as Manager of the Brazilian Olympic Institute at the Brazilian Olympic Committee, where she led national education programmes for athletes, coaches, and sport managers and designed and implemented the NOC’s Safe Sport Programme, addressing violence, harassment, abuse, racism, and gender inequality.

She has played key roles in major multi-sport events, including the Rio 2007 Pan and Parapan American Games and the Olympic Games Rio 2016, and contributes to women’s sport initiatives through the Brazil NOC Women in Sport Commission. She currently also works as a Safe Sport consultant for clubs, national and international federations, Olympic committees, and other sports organizations.

She is an international relations expert, political scientist, and strategic consultant with extensive experience in leadership, gender equality, and inclusion across global sectors, including sport. She is the founder of Mujeres Construyendo, a pioneering digital platform promoting women’s participation, leadership, and voice in public and professional spaces, and has developed initiatives focused on empowering women through education, technology, and leadership development.

Claudia previously served as Executive Director of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) and has collaborated with UN Women Mexico and international organisations to advance gender equality and women’s representation in decision-making environments. As a speaker and educator, she contributes to conversations on inclusive leadership, cultural change, and the importance of creating safe, equitable environments that enable women to thrive, including within sport and sport governance

She is a member of the International Canoe Federation Board of Directors, representing Europe, and serves as the female Vice-President of the European Canoe Association (ECA). A respected leader in international sport governance, she contributes to policy development, integrity, and equality initiatives at both continental and global levels.

Since December 2018, Moira has been CEO of Canoeing Ireland, leading a period of transformational change that included the introduction of a professional high-performance system, significant governance reform, and a 175% increase in organisational turnover. Under her leadership, Canoeing Ireland was named National Governing Body of the Year at the Irish Sport Industry Awards 2024.

Moira has over a decade of senior sports administration experience, including 12 years with Athletics Ireland, and currently serves on several national boards. She holds an IPA Professional Certificate in Governance, is a certified mediator, and is a passionate advocate for equity, fair play, and drug-free sport.

She is an executive business leader with over 25 years of international experience in business strategy, leadership, and organisational transformation. She currently leads the commercial affiliate of a global healthcare company across the United Kingdom and Ireland, bringing extensive expertise in team leadership, performance development, and change management across multiple industries.

A strong advocate for empowering women and developing inclusive environments, Melissa is actively involved in mentoring and leadership initiatives within sport. She serves as a mentor to Canoeing Ireland’s Bridge the Gap Ambassadors Team, supporting the growth and confidence of emerging women leaders in canoe sport. Through her professional and personal journey, Melissa champions resilience, leadership, and positive cultural change, and regularly speaks on empowering women to reach their full potential both within sport and in professional life.