Sithembiso Nkosi has 20 years’ experience in sport development as a practitioner, physical education teacher and as a coach. He holds a BA in Sport Science and honors degree in Human Movement Studies specialising in recreation and sport management from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In football he has a Confederation of African Football (CAF) C license, a Coerver Coaching Youth Diploma, a KNVB introductory coaching course as well as a SAFA Youth Coaching Course.

David Shapiro serves as President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Boston, America's first YMCA. Previously, he led MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership for nearly 11 years, dedicating his career to driving equity through relationships. His expertise has been recognized by organizations like the Stanford Social Innovation Review and the BARR Foundation. In 2022, he received the Boston Celtics' inaugural "Bill Russell Mentoring Award."

David has held leadership positions with the U.S. Golf Association Foundation and the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay. He serves on multiple boards including the Institute for Nonprofit Practice, America's Promise Alliance, and The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport. In 2022, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker appointed him to the board of trustees of Bunker Hill Community College.

Jon is a veteran soccer coach who has dedicated over two decades to developing young players in the Boston area. Known as Coach Rud to his players, Jon has been the head coach of the Boston Latin School Girls' Varsity Program since 2012, where he's helped transform the program into a consistent contender more often than not qualifying for the Division I State Tournament. But Jon's impact extends well beyond high school soccer. He's been a cornerstone of Jamaica Plain Youth Soccer for nearly 20 years, its longest serving president at 13 years and serving as the girls travel director for 17 years. He's coached players at every age from U-8 through high school, helping to nurture both a love for the game and developing soccer talent.

Born and raised in England, Mike Smith's passion for sports led him from captaining Harvard's soccer team to playing professionally in the US and in Massachusetts' Portuguese leagues. After founding the Soccer Network in Boston, he held key leadership roles at Special Olympics, eventually becoming CEO of Special Olympics Europe. For the past decade, he has served as Network Development Director at Coerver Coaching, shaping youth development programs across fifty countries. Now based in Barcelona, Mike leads Big Idea Sports, focusing on human-centered technology for player and coach development. Throughout his career, his mission has remained constant: helping young people learn and love sports while developing the skills and confidence to express their unique personalities both on and off the field.

Rick Fenoglio is a pioneering soccer scientist whose research on Small Sided Games has shaped youth development methodology across the UK. His thirty-year academic career includes conducting research and analysis of Manchester United's 4v4 Pilot Scheme and authoring their Academy Performance Plan. Currently serving as European and USA senior scout for City Football Group, Fenoglio combines his expertise in sports science with practical talent identification. He continues to influence player development through his work as an Academy auditor and consultant.

A coach and educator who bridges the worlds of professional academy and grassroots football. Over the last decade, Temisan has served as an Academy Coach at several Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham, and Fulham, working with over 700 elite youth players. He's the founder of Excellence Academy, which provides specialist coaching services across more than 35 professional football clubs, and the Coach Accelerator Community, where he helps develop the next generation of football coaches. Through his work with both grassroots clubs and professional academies, he has gained unique insights into youth development at all levels of the game. His mission, simply put, is to inspire and support coaches working in the youth game on their coaching journey.