Founders & Investors

Majority Owner:

Mark Mitchell

Founders:

Helena Ruken

Helena’s extensive leadership experience on boards in the Toronto soccer community has built deep ties with the grassroots football network in Ontario and has honed her community partnership development and problem solving skills. Passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion, she champions sport as a medium for fostering confidence and leadership in young women and girls and she is committed to driving this team towards success through a culture of fairness and respect.

Helena’s extensive leadership experience on boards in the Toronto soccer community has built deep ties with the grassroots football network in Ontario and has honed her community partnership development and problem solving skills. Passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion, she champions sport as a medium for fostering confidence and leadership in young women and girls and she is committed to driving this team towards success through a culture of fairness and respect.

Billy Wilson

Billy brings extensive experience as a sports executive having held senior leadership positions at both the Club and Provincial Sport level. Billy is passionate about player and coach development and takes a people-first approach to nurturing talent. Billy's experience, leadership and technical insight are pivotal in steering AFC Toronto toward achieving its competitive goals and fostering a culture of excellence. Billy is accredited as an A Licence coach.

Billy brings extensive experience as a sports executive having held senior leadership positions at both the Club and Provincial Sport level. Billy is passionate about player and coach development and takes a people-first approach to nurturing talent. Billy's experience, leadership and technical insight are pivotal in steering AFC Toronto toward achieving its competitive goals and fostering a culture of excellence. Billy is accredited as an A Licence coach.

Brenda Ha

Brenda brings a wealth of business knowledge to AFC Toronto, backed by her experience in strategy, account management, and IT in senior leadership roles at two of Canada’s Big Five financial institutions. A seasoned volunteer having held various leadership positions in her community, Brenda is committed to promoting gender equity, inclusion and diversity in sport at the highest level so athletes can achieve their best and pursue their athletic dreams.

Brenda brings a wealth of business knowledge to AFC Toronto, backed by her experience in strategy, account management, and IT in senior leadership roles at two of Canada’s Big Five financial institutions. A seasoned volunteer having held various leadership positions in her community, Brenda is committed to promoting gender equity, inclusion and diversity in sport at the highest level so athletes can achieve their best and pursue their athletic dreams.

Jill Burgin

A strategic brand marketer with over 15 years of experience, Jill is well positioned to guide and advise impactful marketing strategies that will propel women’s professional soccer into the forefront of the sporting arena in Toronto. With years of involvement in girls’ grassroots soccer watching and managing a team, she has experienced the transformative power of sport to build confidence, leadership skills and grit in young women and she is committed to bringing that experience to more women and girls in the GTA.

A strategic brand marketer with over 15 years of experience, Jill is well positioned to guide and advise impactful marketing strategies that will propel women’s professional soccer into the forefront of the sporting arena in Toronto. With years of involvement in girls’ grassroots soccer watching and managing a team, she has experienced the transformative power of sport to build confidence, leadership skills and grit in young women and she is committed to bringing that experience to more women and girls in the GTA.

Kamal Sandhu

Kamal is a seasoned technology executive with over 23 years of consulting and business operations experience, having served local and global clients across multiple industries. Through the management of large, complex, multi-year business transformation programs, Kamal brings deep expertise in client relations, financial and risk management, and program governance.

Kamal is a seasoned technology executive with over 23 years of consulting and business operations experience, having served local and global clients across multiple industries. Through the management of large, complex, multi-year business transformation programs, Kamal brings deep expertise in client relations, financial and risk management, and program governance.

Mike Ruthard

Mike brings his extensive background in finance and accounting, overseeing the team's financial management and budget adherence. His skills in risk management and strategic operational execution, coupled with his entrepreneurial and board leadership experience, are crucial for the team's growth and for advancing its social responsibility and inclusion goals through local partnerships and initiatives.

Mike brings his extensive background in finance and accounting, overseeing the team's financial management and budget adherence. His skills in risk management and strategic operational execution, coupled with his entrepreneurial and board leadership experience, are crucial for the team's growth and for advancing its social responsibility and inclusion goals through local partnerships and initiatives.

Shamez Mangalji

A skilled foreign exchange dealer, Shamez enhances AFC Toronto with his extensive business acumen and board experience. His enthusiasm for leadership and team collaboration combined with a strong commitment to women's sports and community involvement makes him a key player in sales and fundraising.

A skilled foreign exchange dealer, Shamez enhances AFC Toronto with his extensive business acumen and board experience. His enthusiasm for leadership and team collaboration combined with a strong commitment to women's sports and community involvement makes him a key player in sales and fundraising.

Community of Investors:

Adam Higgs

Adam Higgs, Screenwriter

Adam Higgs, Screenwriter

Andre De Grasse

Andre De Grasse, 7x Olympic Medalist and Philanthropist

Andre De Grasse, 7x Olympic Medalist and Philanthropist

Brooke Hunter

Brooke Hunter, ICD.D, GCB.D Hunter, Insurance Broker and Founder of Hunter Insurance

Brooke Hunter, ICD.D, GCB.D Hunter, Insurance Broker and Founder of Hunter Insurance

Christine Wood
Gail and Mark Appel

Gail Rose Appel, Philanthropists
Mark Appel, Philanthropists

Gail Rose Appel, Philanthropists
Mark Appel, Philanthropists

Heidi Nisker and Patrick Kerney
Jody Stocks
Julia Radcliffe and Ravi Bhat

Julia Radcliffe, Architect
Ravi Bhat, Portfolio Manager

Julia Radcliffe, Architect
Ravi Bhat, Portfolio Manager

Katherine Azuma
Kathy Cheng

Kathy Cheng, President and Founder of Redwood Classics

A special thank you to Kathy and Redwood Classics Apparel Classics for creating our first promo-only merch.

Kathy Cheng, President and Founder of Redwood Classics

A special thank you to Kathy and Redwood Classics Apparel Classics for creating our first promo-only merch.

Kevin Willer

Kevin Willer, Partner at Chicago Ventures

Kevin Willer, Partner at Chicago Ventures

Leslie Richardson and Neil Pasricha

Neil Pasricha, Canadian Author and Entrepreneur

Neil Pasricha, Canadian Author and Entrepreneur

Martha Mitchell and Jaron Waldman

Martha Mitchell, Marketing Professional
Jaron Waldman, Product Builder

Martha Mitchell, Marketing Professional
Jaron Waldman, Product Builder

Meagan Yhip

Meagan Yhip, Doula

Meagan Yhip, Doula

Michael Baumfeld
Milos Raonic

Milos Raonic, Professional Tennis Player

Milos Raonic, Professional Tennis Player

Nancy Lobb
Paul Sabourin

Paul Sabourin, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Polar Asset Management Partners

Paul Sabourin, Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Polar Asset Management Partners

Samantha and Graham Cunliffe

Samantha Cunliffe, Law Firm Partner
Graham Cunliffe, Executive

Samantha Cunliffe, Law Firm Partner
Graham Cunliffe, Executive

Sarah and Kyle Jordan

Sarah Jordan, Private Equity Executive, CEO and Board Member
Kyle Jordan, Real Estate Private Equity Executive

Sarah Jordan, Private Equity Executive, CEO and Board Member
Kyle Jordan, Real Estate Private Equity Executive

Sarah Ryerson

Sarah Ryerson, Tech Executive

Sarah Ryerson, Tech Executive

Shernee, Sunir, and Sheena Chandaria

Sheena Chandaria, Shernee Chandaria, and Sunir Chandaria, Chandaria Family Holdings

Sheena Chandaria, Shernee Chandaria, and Sunir Chandaria, Chandaria Family Holdings