PURPOSE
To make sport everyone’s game.
That means strengthening the capacity of communities, institutions, and governments to do sport differently.
who we are
Play for Dignity is an independent national non-profit working to make sport everyone’s game.
We believe in everyone’s right to sport, play, and movement. When sport is designed well, it builds health, deepens belonging, and expands opportunity. When it’s designed poorly, it reproduces and exacerbates exclusion and harm.
We work at the systems level, focused on how sport is organized, governed, funded, and held to account because that is where dignity is embedded or eroded. Our role is to connect, equip, convene, and build shared standards so that dignity, safety, and equity are designed in from the start.
Our vision is a Canada where sport, play, and movement are rights and the foundation for healthy thriving communities.
We take a human rights-based approach to sport, play, and movement. We apply this framework at the systems level. In practice, this means we:
Strengthen governance and accountability structures
Support rights-based policy and funding approaches
Equip organizations with practical tools and shared standards
Convene peer learning and communities of practice around human rights
Amplify the lived experience of those most affected
Our APPROACH
-
Those most affected shape decisions.
Children, youth, athletes, families, coaches, and communities must be involved in shaping the policies, programs, and environments that affect them. Their lived experience is expertise. When participation is real, decisions are more equitable, solutions are more relevant, and systems are more resilient. Sport cannot claim to serve communities if those communities are absent from the table.
-
Institutions answer to the people they serve.
Sport organizations, governments, funders, and institutions hold power. A rights-based system ensures that power is exercised transparently and responsibly, and that there are clear mechanisms for redress when harm occurs. Accountability means clear standards for safety, inclusion, and equity. It means independent oversight. It means consequences when rights are violated. It means reporting that goes beyond participation numbers to examine treatment, safety, and dignity.
-
Access cannot depend on income, race, gender identity, disability, or geography.
Non-discrimination means removing financial obstacles, investing in underserved communities, ensuring inclusive facilities, protecting gender-diverse athletes, and designing programs that welcome people with disabilities. It also means addressing racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of systemic exclusion within sport culture itself.
-
Individuals and communities have the tools and authority to act in pursuit of their rights.
Empowerment means equipping individuals and communities with knowledge, resources, and confidence to advocate for safe, inclusive sport environments. It means building leadership pathways for youth. It means supporting community-led solutions. It means ensuring that people understand what their rights are, and how and where to assert them.
-
Rights are embedded in policy, governance, and funding structures.
A rights-based approach requires that the right to participate in safe, inclusive sport and physical activity be reflected in legislation, policy frameworks, governance standards, and funding criteria. Rights must outlast political cycles and leadership changes. Legality means aligning sport with broader human rights obligations. It means embedding equity, safety, and dignity into how systems are structured, not relying on individual champions to carry the burden.
THE Team
IGE EGAL
Founder & CEO
-
Ige is a public policy, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy specialist who champions collaborative, values-driven approaches to address complex challenges. He is a builder with a career spanning local grassroots activism and global multilateral consensus-building initiatives.
Ige is a Fellow at Maytree, where Play for Dignity was conceptualized.
Ige’s international public policy work has focused on supporting efforts to address systemic challenges in the digital economy at both the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Business Advisory Council.
Before working internationally, Ige was the founding executive director of the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation where he built pathways for youth in sport, education, employment, and leadership development.
Ige serves on the Board at the MLSE LaunchPad. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Toronto and a Master’s in Public Affairs from SciencesPo, Paris.
KATEE HUI MBE
Strategic Engagement Lead
-
Katee Hui is a strategist and social entrepreneur with 19 years’ experience across brand and communications. She specializes in building purpose-led brands that align identity, partnerships and action to drive engagement, growth and social impact.
Formerly an Associate Partner at Pentagram and Head of Strategy at several international agencies, Katee has led programmes and pilots that bring organisations closer to the communities they serve. Her work spans strategic positioning, storytelling and values-led growth at both corporate and grassroots levels.
Katee is the founder of Hackney Laces, the UK’s largest grassroots football network for girls and women, creating community infrastructure that enables participation and challenges structural inequity in sport. In 2023, she was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to young women and sport.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Geography from Queen’s University and an MSc in Environmental Policy from the London School of Economics.
ALEX PORASZ
Operations Manager
-
Alex Porasz is a versatile project management professional with deep experience in high-pressure environments, known for clear executive communication, practical problem-solving, and building systems that keep complex work moving. In his career as a Project Coordinator, he has supported multi-stakeholder projects valued at $40M+, developing project management plans, strengthening document control, and improving delivery through process optimization practices like pull planning and Six Sigma. He’s also developed risk response strategies that have reduced change costs and protected schedule and budget outcomes. Outside of work, Alex is a committed advocate for youth sport as a pathway to confidence, community, and long-term success. He volunteers his time with Rugby in the Square and the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation, and supports grassroots athletics through coaching and event leadership.
Alex holds a Project Management diploma (Honours) and a Bachelor’s in Business Management (with distinction), and is working toward his PMP designation.
ASMA ANSARI
Social Media Manager
-
Asma Ansari is a Toronto-based creative professional, storyteller, and emerging BIPOC leader recognized for her work in design, social media strategy, and cultural engagement. A graduate of OCAD University, Asma holds a degree in design and Minor in Art History.
Passionate about amplifying diverse voices, Asma work spans branding, content strategy, and digital storytelling. Previous experience includes collaborating with the Greater Toronto Area’s largest cricket club, supporting its creative and communications initiatives and contributing to the visibility of a sport and community deeply rooted in diasporic culture. Beyond her professional practice, Asma is deeply engaged in community building and mentorship, helping artists and creatives grow their presence and impact in meaningful ways.
-
Asma is a Toronto-based creative professional, storyteller, and emerging BIPOC leader recognized for her work in design, social media strategy, and cultural engagement. A graduate of OCAD University, Asma holds a degree in design and Minor in Art History. Passionate about amplifying diverse voices, Asma work spans branding, content strategy, and digital storytelling. Previous experience includes collaborating with the Greater Toronto Area’s largest cricket club, supporting its creative and communications initiatives and contributing to the visibility of a sport and community deeply rooted in diasporic culture. Beyond her professional practice, Asma is deeply engaged in community building and mentorship, helping artists and creatives grow their presence and impact in meaningful ways.
ANNA-KAY RUSSELL DU TOIT
Director, Human Rights and Systems Change
-
Anna-Kay Russell du Toit is a sustainability and public policy professional and strategist with over a decade of experience working across the public, non-profit and corporate sectors to create a just and sustainable future for all. Prior to joining Play for Dignity, Anna-Kay led the development of TD Bank's inaugural human rights strategy.
An avid community builder, Anna-Kay is the co-founder of the national nonprofit, the Canadian Black Policy Network: a platform that connects and empowers Black policy professionals and advocates across the country. A former regular feature on the CBC News Network's #TheSundayConversation, Anna-Kay has been recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 Alumni by York University, a Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader by Corporate Knights and a COP26 Climate Champion by the Canada Climate Law Initiative and the British High Commission.Anna-Kay holds an international BA (Hons) in Environmental & Health Studies from York University's Glendon College and a Master's of Public Policy from the University of Toronto. In her spare time, Anna-Kay loves to dance, sing, bake and hike the mountains of Calgary (where she's based) with her husband and corgi.
BLAKE DOUGLAS
Coodinator, Research, Policy and Communications
-
Blake is a policy and community engagement professional with experience in research, facilitation, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. He is committed to community-centered approaches that strengthen inclusion, wellbeing, and social impact.
Blake's work is grounded in collaboration and relationship-building, with a particular focus on approaches that are practical, people-centered, and responsive to community needs. His areas of interest include equity in access, community development, and the role systems play in shaping outcomes.
As a student leader, Blake served as Director of the Indigenous Policy Initiative, where he organized events and oversaw student policy papers. He also served as Director of the Public Good Initiative, connecting students as pro-bono consultants with nonprofits and community partners on policy and social impact projects.
Blake holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto Mississauga and a Master of Public Policy from the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.
ALAN BROADBENT
Board Chair
-
Alan Broadbent is Chairman and Founder of Maytree, and Chairman and CEO of Avana Capital Corporation. He co-founded and chaired the Caledon Institute of Social Policy (1992-2017) and the Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement (2004-2019), and was a Director and Chair of Sustainalytics Holdings B.V. (2009-2020). Alan chairs the Institute on Municipal Finance & Governance at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, and is also Chair of the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation.
Common Good Retirement Savings Initiative Steering Committee, Senior Fellow, former Chair and Member of the Governing Board of Massey College, and Member of the Order of Canada and recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Alan is the author of Urban Nation: Why We Need to Give Power Back to the Cities to Make Canada Strong; and You’re It (with Franca Gucciardi); and co-editor of Five Good Ideas: Practical Strategies for Non-Profit Success. Alan was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in 2009, and from Queen’s University in 2015.
MARCO DI BUONO
Director
-
Dr. Di Buono is the President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, an organization with a relentless commitment to empowering children and youth in communities across Canada through sport and play.
Dr. Di Buono has played an instrumental role in shaping Jumpstart since 2015, when he first joined as AVP, Programs & Operations. He led the growth of the Charity, doubling the size of its disbursements to reach over 400,000 kids annually. More importantly, he led the transformation of Jumpstart to become a global leader in sport for development and serving as a trusted ally to various levels of government and sport sector leaders in Canada.
Before joining Jumpstart, Dr. Di Buono spent three years as Vice President, Science, Research & Professional Education at theAmerican Heart Association, where he was responsible for the Association’s $170 million research enterprise and oversaw the development of clinical practice guidelines and professional education resources.
Dr. Di Buono holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto and has a history of advocating for the health and well-being of children and youth.
Dr. Di Buono currently sits on the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He is a very proud father of three active kids.
VALI BENNETT
Director
-
Vali is the Vice President and Corporate Secretary at Avana Capital Corporation. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in English and Literary Studies from the University of Toronto, and is the Corporate Secretary for a number of organizations, including The Literary Review of Canada, the Loran Scholars Foundation, and the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF).
our partners
Play for Dignity was launched with the support of Maytree and Canadian Tire Jumpstart as founding partners in building a more equitable sport system in Canada. Their early partnership reflects a shared belief that sport must be designed to protect rights, expand access, and help build stronger, more inclusive communities across Canada.
