Virtus Governing Board

Robyn Smith OAMPresident

Robyn Smith OAM brings more than 40 years of leadership in inclusive sport, governance and international engagement. First elected to the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board in 2021, she was re-elected in 2025 to serve a second term. Robyn is also a member of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee. In recognition of her outstanding service to people with a disability through sport, she was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2022.

Robyn has served as the CEO of Virtus member in Australia – Sport Inclusion Australia, and now continues as International Engagement Advisor, strengthening global partnerships and positioning the organisation as a leader in inclusive sport. Robyn has extensive experience working with government agencies, Paralympics Australia and National Sporting Organisations, and has led Australian teams at multiple Paralympic Games and international championships. She was also CEO of the Local Organising Committee for the 2019 Virtus Global Games in Brisbane, delivering a major international event with 1,000 athletes from 47 countries.

Elected President of Virtus in November 2025, Robyn brings deep governance expertise, international credibility and strategic vision, positioning Virtus to continue its global growth and leadership in sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Dina TemirgaliyevaVice-President
 

Dina Temirgaliyeva is a leading advocate for inclusive sport development and currently serves as President of the “Federation of Sports for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities” (IDSPORT) in Kazakhstan. Since founding the Federation in 2022, she has played a pivotal role in building a national system that provides sustainable access to sport for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Under her leadership, the Federation expanded to 13 regional branches and secured Kazakhstan’s membership in Virtus, making it the first Central Asian country represented in the global sports movement for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Dina has significantly strengthened Kazakhstan’s international presence in inclusive sport. She led national teams to major international competitions, including the Virtus Global Games 2023, where Kazakhstan achieved second place in the II3 category, and supported participation in the 2024 U.S. Open Swimming Championship. She also spearheaded the organization of the Virtus World Tennis and Basketball Championships 2025 in Astana, further positioning Kazakhstan as an emerging hub for inclusive international sporting events.

Beyond competition, Dina actively advocates for systemic change. She successfully contributed to legislative reforms that integrated athletes with intellectual disabilities into Kazakhstan’s national sports framework, enabling access to sports schools and creating long-term pathways toward Paralympic participation. She also launched inclusive community initiatives such as “Sports for All Without Restrictions,” supported by UNICEF, promoting social inclusion through sport and education.

Alongside her work in the non–profit sector, Dina serves as Head of the Daulet Sports Complex in Astana, where she manages major sports facilities and develops youth training programs. Her earlier career includes senior leadership roles in Kazakhstan’s financial and investment institutions, strengthening her expertise in strategic planning, governance, and sustainable project development.

Dina is currently pursuing an Executive MBA in Non–profit Management at Narxoz University and actively contributes to international inclusive sport development as a member of the Virtus Asia Executive Committee.

Yossi RomanoSecretary General
 

With more than 26 years of voluntary involvement in establishing and delivering sport opportunities for people with intellectual impairments in Israel, Yossi combines deep grassroots experience with strategic oversight. Before joining the Virtus Governing Board as the Secretary General, Yossi has been a member of the Virtus Governing Board since November 2023. He has been part of the Virtus Europe Executive Committee since 2019 and previously served on the Virtus Election Committee (2019–2023). Since 2018, he has held the dual roles of Sports Coordinator and Legal Adviser for Virtus Israel, as well as Legal Adviser to Virtus Europe, bringing together governance expertise and hands-on sport leadership at both national and continental levels.

His background includes serving as Sports Coordinator and Legal Adviser for Special Olympics Israel (2005–2017) and co-founding a volunteer cycling group for children with special needs in 2001. A certified triathlon coach, he understands athlete development pathways from community participation to elite competition.

Professionally trained as a lawyer, Yossi holds an LLB and LLM from the University of Warwick and an MA in International Relations from Bar-Ilan University, and has been a member of the Israel Bar Association since 1999. His legal expertise, governance experience, and long-standing commitment to inclusion position him to provide strong, transparent and athlete-focused leadership for Virtus, supporting the organisation’s continued global growth and integrity.

Member at Large

Javier Gutierrez Europe
 

Javier Gutierrez brings a holistic perspective that connects athlete development, performance pathways, governance and strategic oversight within national and international sport systems, supporting Virtus’ strategic growth, partnerships and long-term global impact. Born in Madrid in 1979, Javier holds a degree in Sport and Exercise Sciences with a specialisation in high performance and brings more than 20 years of experience within the Virtus movement. Javier’s journey began in 2004 as Head of Delegation for the Spanish team at the Virtus Global Games in Bollnäs, Sweden, marking the start of his long-standing commitment to athletes with intellectual impairment.

 Since then, he has held both technical and executive roles, serving as National Athletics Coach and Technical Director of FEDDI, as well as President and Vice President of FEDDI Spain, and Vice President of the Spanish Paralympic Committee. His experience spans intellectual impairment sport and the wider Paralympic high-performance environment, including coaching elite athletes and wheelchair triathletes.

Rana GamaliAfrica
 

Rana Gamali is Director of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Coca-Cola Hellenic Egypt and a dedicated advocate for sport and inclusion. She has served as a Board Member of the Egyptian Federation of Sports for Mental Disabilities since 2016, supporting the development of opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities and strengthening inclusive sport in Egypt. Alongside her sports leadership, she brings more than 26 years of experience at Coca-Cola Hellenic Egypt, where she began her career as External Affairs Coordinator and was appointed Director of Public Affairs & Communications in 2015 before assuming her current role. Rana leads strategic engagement across public affairs and sustainability, enhancing corporate reputation while creating shared value for communities and stakeholders.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Rana plays a prominent role in Egypt’s business landscape. She is Vice Chair of the Chamber of Egyptian Food Industries and Chairperson of the Women in Business Committee at the Federation of Egyptian Industries. She also serves as a Board Member of the Swiss Chamber of Commerce and is an active member of the Trade & Industry Committee at the American Chamber, the Tax, Customs and Labor Committees at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the British Egyptian Business Association (BEBA), the Canada Egypt Business Council, and the Board of Trustees of the Sustainability Business Council in Egypt. Recognised as one of Egypt’s Top 50 Performing Women in 2017, Rana is respected for her ability to navigate complex environments, build high-level partnerships, and drive initiatives that contribute to both economic development and social inclusion.

Miguel Caraballo Fred Americas
 

Miguel A. Caraballo Fred is an experienced sport governance leader and international advocate for inclusive athletics, serving on the Board of Directors of Virtus Sport and the Virtus International Basketball Federation, representing the Americas. In these roles, he leads partnership development initiatives that expand global opportunities and visibility for athletes with disabilities, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and Down syndrome. Alongside his international work, he serves as a Physical Education Facilitator at the Humacao Regional Education Office of the Puerto Rico Department of Education. With more than two decades in education, he has held senior leadership roles, including Director of the Physical Education Program at the central level and Director of the Office for Family and Community Integration.

Miguel holds multiple graduate degrees in Physical Education Teaching Administration and Sports and Recreation Services Administration, and is certified as a Superintendent, Secondary School Principal, Project Management Professional, and international instructor across several sports. An accomplished multi-sport athlete, he has represented Puerto Rico in handball, athletics, basketball, and rugby at national and international levels, earning medals and MVP honours. He continues to advance inclusive education and sport systems through leadership, innovation, and community engagement.

Catherine Fayollet Europe
 

Catherine Fayollet is a highly respected leader in adaptive sport governance and sports medicine, with more than 40 years of commitment to athletes with intellectual disabilities and psychiatric conditions. She has been actively involved with the  Virtus member in France – Fédération Française du Sport Adapté (FFSA) since 1984, serving multiple terms on its Governing Board and acting as National Sport Doctor (2013–2021). Since 2009, she has led the FFSA Eligibility Committee and served as France’s National Eligibility Officer. She has also served as the General Secretary of INAS Europe (now Virtus Europe) from 2014 to 2025, is a member of the Virtus Eligibility Committee, and Chair of the Virtus World Medical Committee. She has represented the movement at numerous Global Games and Paralympic Games, contributing significantly to medical governance and eligibility systems worldwide.

In parallel with her sport leadership, Catherine is a qualified psychiatrist and sports medicine specialist, holding a Doctorate in Medicine, specialist qualifications in Psychiatry and Sports Medicine, and a Master’s degree in Health Economics. She served for more than 20 years as Head of an Adult Psychiatric Department and later as Medical Director of the Fondation des Amis de l’Atelier, supporting 70 institutions for individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism, and psychiatric conditions. She continues her clinical practice in Arcachon and Paris while contributing to education and international conferences in sport and mental health.

Ian ConyersCo-opted
 

Ian Conyers has been actively involved with Virtus since 2015 through Athletes Without Limits and was appointed to the Virtus Governing Board in 2021. He has served as an Official Representative at multiple Virtus Winter Games, including Seefeld, Austria (2023), Zakopane, Poland (2024), Bessans/Vichy (2025), Kitzbühel Open (2026), and Kazakhstan (2026). He has also attended three Virtus Global Games — Ecuador (2015), Brisbane (2019), and Vichy (2023) — demonstrating his long-standing commitment to the international development of the movement.

In addition to his work in sport, Conyers served as an elected member of the Michigan Senate from 2016 to 2019. During his tenure, he held leadership roles, including Minority Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee and served on the Economic Development and International Investment, Energy and Technology, and Banking and Financial Services Committees.

A former varsity athlete in football and track and field, Conyers earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Government and his Master of Arts in Urban and Regional Planning from Georgetown University, combining academic excellence, public service, and sport leadership throughout his career.

Aaron BenjaminAsia
Humberto Ferreira America

Humberto L. Ferreira is a highly experienced teacher, coach and international sports leader who has been involved in the Virtus movement since 1989, beginning his work at the age of 18 in a school for people with intellectual disabilities. Over more than three decades, he has played a key role in advancing high-performance pathways and inclusive sport systems. He currently serves as Technical Director at CBDI, where he leads sports management and high-performance strategy development, while also guiding the organisation and preparation of national teams.

Humberto has extensive international event experience, leading the Brazilian team across five Global Games. He has also attended three Pan American Games and three Paralympic Games. In addition to his event leadership, he is active in the scientific and education sectors, contributing to eligibility processes and delivering national and international professional training courses. He has delivered lectures and in-person courses across more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, supporting the development of coaches, administrators and sport professionals across the region.

Virtus Committees

Eligibility Committee

The Eligibility Committee determines all aspects of policy and procedure regarding eligibility for athletes with an intellectual disability and provides expert guidance on all matters relating to eligibility.

  • Chair of Eligibility Committee – Prof. Jan Burns (Governing Board)
  • Catherine Fayollet (FRA)
  • Kirsten Van Heerdon (RSA)

Anti-Doping Committee

The Anti-Doping Committee determine all aspects of policy regarding doping control, provides support and guidance to event organisers, and oversees TUE and other administrative procedures.

  • Chair Anti-Doping Committee – Trudi Jackson (USA)
  • Dr Marcelo Patricio (BRA)
  • Dr Matsontso Mathebula (RSA)
  • Caio Medaur (BRA)

TUE Committee

  • Dr Marcelo Patricio MD (BRA) –  TUE Committee Chair
  • Dr Halim Jebali (TUN) – TUE Committee Member
  • Georgia Cahill (NZE) – TUE Committee Member
  • Halim Jebali (TUN) – TUE Committee Member
  • Henry McKinney (GRB) – TUE Committee Member
  • Iara Andrade (BRA) – TUE Committee Member
  • Mohy El-Din Nail (EGY) – TUE Committee Member

Sport Committees

Please see the individual sports pages for details.

Elections Committee

The Elections Committee oversees the nomination and election procedures for the Governing Board.

  • Ian Fullagar (AUS)
  • Renat Khamitov (KAZ)

Medical Committee

Catherine Fayollet (FRA) – Chair of Medical Committee

  • Ralph Belig (FRA)
  • Dr. Amy Berglund (USA)

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee receive financial reports and advise on all financial matters.

  • Chair of Finance Committee – Karon Nicol (GBR)
  • Paul Charnvit (THA)