For the 2022-2023 operating year (April 1 to March 31), we witnessed a resounding resurgence of our game from the global pandemic virtually equalling or even surpassing participation statistics (Outdoor and Indoor respectively) from 2019 (pre-pandemic). We would like to extend our gratitude to all our member organizations and soccer community leaders across Ontario for your support and more importantly, your resiliency over the last three years as we all continue to recover from the pandemic. Soccer has returned with a vengeance and with the global focus on this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM and the increasing joy of anticipation for the FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026TM on home soil, our sport’s popularity has never been stronger.
In light of these encouraging developments and with a new Ontario Soccer Five-Year Strategic Plan designed to guide us on our journey to the end of 2026, we have made key adjustments to our Executive Management Leadership Team to best align to present and future operational needs, as well as building our programming and service staffing capacity in our various operational departments.
As a result, I am pleased to share with our membership that the following Executive Management Leadership Team staffing updates will take effect with the start of our new 2023-2024 operational year on April 1;
Matt Ferreira, Director of Development – Matt was formally announced on February 1, 2023 and will head up our Development Department overseeing and leading our Player, Coaching, Club, Provincial Xcel and Match Officiating development programs.
Patty Forbes, Senior Director, Administration – Patty receives a promotion and will assume a new role working closely with the CEO on corporate operations with an emphasis on extensively collaborating with the District Associations and Associate Members on all administrative needs, as well as new programs and services.
Bjorn Osieck, Senior Director, Business – Bjorn receives a promotion and will continue in his capacity as our department lead for Marketing and Partnerships, Events and Competitions, as well as Digital Strategy and Communications. Business Development remains a key focus area Bjorn will further expand on, so we can continue to capitalize on the profile our sport is achieving and further grow our alternative revenues.
Nicky Pearson, Director, Member Services – Nicky receives a promotion from her previous role as Senior Manager, Match Officials Development taking over from Patty Forbes, to serve as the lead for these essential programs and services: Discipline and Appeals, Ethics and Complaints, Rules and Regulations and the new area of Safe Sport.
Mike Giona, Director, Facilities and General Manager, Ontario Soccer Centre – Mike, promoted to the Director level in 2022, will continue to serve as Ontario Soccer’s facility management leader working with private and municipal organizations providing counsel on soccer facility needs, as well as oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of Ontario Soccer’s provincial pinnacle facility, the Ontario Soccer Centre located in Vaughan, Ontario.
Linh Nguyen, Chief Financial Officer – Linh, named as the new CFO in 2019, oversees the Finance Department and works closely with the CEO, the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors and is our finance lead for the membership.
Over the coming weeks and months, we will be confirming Manager and Coordinator-level hires against our approved 2023-2024 operations plan and budget in order to further build-up and restore our staffing capacity to best serve the membership. You may find our updated staffing contact list on our website located HERE.