Virtus Governing Board

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

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.

Catherine Fayollet (FRA)Europe
Miguel Caraballo Fred Americas
Rana GamaliAfrica
Aaron BenjaminAsia

Ian ConyersCo-opted
Humberto Ferreira America

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)
  • Mayra Barbosa Dos Santos (BRA)
  • 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)