Meet the team
This volunteer run organization is held together by 4 executive members, an Advisory Board and a stellar Youth Council. Executive members are responsible for day-to-day operations, logistics, marketing and finance, while committee members provide expertise for programming and events. The Advisory Board consists of some of the GTA’s most active community leaders in the sports and diversity realm. The Youth Council works closely with the Executive team to plan and deliver engaging and impactful programs.
Executive Team
Photo credits: @girlfriendsproject_
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AMREEN KADWA, 23 | Founder and Executive Director
Amreen's involvement in rugby includes everything from playing, coaching, mentoring and... getting injured. In Grade 10, she started playing rugby with her high school Victoria park CI's pilot team. She never imagined that 7 years later, rugby would still be a part of her life. After highschool, Amreen continued to play with Yeomen Lions RFC in Toronto. She also worked as a Youth Rugby Development Intern with the Toronto Inner-city Rugby Foundation for two years doing outreach in her local community and helping grow the game. Amreen had won numerous awards commending her dedication and passion to the sport. She believes that wearing hijab while playing sports has helped her develop adversity, confidence and strength. Amreen is a recent graduate of the Economics and International Development programs at the University of Guelph and hopes to assimilate her love for sports, arts and culture with her passion for economic advancement and growth in the community through this project and career. Amreen is also a henna artist and an avid supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs. |
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HABEEBAH MOTALA, 20 | Director, Operations and Logistics
What has motivated Habeebah to be a part of Hijabi Ballers is that it empowers Muslim women in her community by diminishing societal and traditional barriers. Habeebah is currently a Human Resources student at York University and contributes her organizational and communication skills towards Hijabi Ballers' initiatives and programs. She believes that with groups like Hijabi Ballers, we can contribute to level the playing field and build a better community. |
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FARHEEN KADWA, 23 | Director, Marketing and Outreach
Farheen communicates the Hijabi Ballers vision to Muslim women, local athletes, changemakers and community members through marketing, social media, and outreach. Her work and volunteer background supports youth, community development, and effective public engagement. Farheen is a passionate activist, artist and environmentalist. She holds a Biology graduate from UofT, a Research Analyst certificate from Humber College and is currently working with Humber's Sustainability team. |
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FAREEHA BHANA, 22 | Director, Finance
Fareeha is a student at Ryerson University, studying Business Management with a major in Law & Business and minor in Accounting. With her experience in field hockey, rugby, and provincial OFSAA wrestling, Fareeha's goal is to break the stereotype that sports are meant for boys! Hijabi Ballers represents something that is quite close to her: the idea that sports is for everyone. Despite gender, age, race, and religion, we can all come together and play on the same team for the same sport that we all love. That is the reason she plays for the Hijabi Ballers team. |
Advisory Board
SHIREEN AHMED
Shireen is a writer, public speaker and Sports Activist focusing on Muslim women in Sports. Not only is Shireen an athlete herself, she is an advocate and community organizer through her work with Youth of Colour on empowerment projects. Shireen is an avid sports coach and mentor. She is a regular contributor to Muslimah Media Watch, a Global Sports Correspondent for Safe World For Women and works on the Muslim Women in Sports website and has bylines at TeenVogue, The Guardian, Vice Sports and The Establishment. . Shireen’s blog “Tales from a Hijabi Footballer”, where her passion for sport, politics and women’s issues collide, has been recognized by Sports Media for its candid discussions. She is currently working on her first book and drinks a lot of coffee. Shireen lives in Toronto, Canada with her family.
@_shireenahmed_ | www.shireenahmed.com
Shireen is a writer, public speaker and Sports Activist focusing on Muslim women in Sports. Not only is Shireen an athlete herself, she is an advocate and community organizer through her work with Youth of Colour on empowerment projects. Shireen is an avid sports coach and mentor. She is a regular contributor to Muslimah Media Watch, a Global Sports Correspondent for Safe World For Women and works on the Muslim Women in Sports website and has bylines at TeenVogue, The Guardian, Vice Sports and The Establishment. . Shireen’s blog “Tales from a Hijabi Footballer”, where her passion for sport, politics and women’s issues collide, has been recognized by Sports Media for its candid discussions. She is currently working on her first book and drinks a lot of coffee. Shireen lives in Toronto, Canada with her family.
@_shireenahmed_ | www.shireenahmed.com
IGE EGAL
Ige is a sport-for-development practitioner in Toronto who has development programs to ensure that sport and particularly rugby is accessible financially, geographically, and culturally. His work over the last six years with TIRF has resulted in the strengthening and diversification of the rugby community in Toronto. As Executive Director, Ige builds partnerships with governing bodies, rugby clubs and the education, private, and public sectors to build stronger communities. Ige was named one of Toronto’s Vital People in 2016, through the Vital Toronto Fund at the Toronto Foundation. He is a provincial soccer referee with more than a decade’s worth of referee experience and is a Liverpool FC fan.
@tirfrugby
Ige is a sport-for-development practitioner in Toronto who has development programs to ensure that sport and particularly rugby is accessible financially, geographically, and culturally. His work over the last six years with TIRF has resulted in the strengthening and diversification of the rugby community in Toronto. As Executive Director, Ige builds partnerships with governing bodies, rugby clubs and the education, private, and public sectors to build stronger communities. Ige was named one of Toronto’s Vital People in 2016, through the Vital Toronto Fund at the Toronto Foundation. He is a provincial soccer referee with more than a decade’s worth of referee experience and is a Liverpool FC fan.
@tirfrugby
ASMA KHALIL
Asma Khalil is a Master’s student at the University of Toronto who is researching the sport experiences of young Muslim women in sport. After completing her undergrad in Kinesiology, Asma’s love for sport and physical activity was reignited. She is a fierce social justice advocate and works to ensure that sport spaces are inclusive for all. If she’s not travelling or baking, you will likely find her curled up with a cup of tea and a good book.
Asma Khalil is a Master’s student at the University of Toronto who is researching the sport experiences of young Muslim women in sport. After completing her undergrad in Kinesiology, Asma’s love for sport and physical activity was reignited. She is a fierce social justice advocate and works to ensure that sport spaces are inclusive for all. If she’s not travelling or baking, you will likely find her curled up with a cup of tea and a good book.
LAUREN WOLMAN
As a PhD candidate at York University, Lauren is currently researching sport participation in Muslim communities. Her PhD research in Cultural Sport Psychology examines sport participation of youth and young adults living in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas in Toronto. She has been a rugby player since her teenage years, having played virtually every position on the field and has even played in Europe. Currently a Girls Rugby Director at a local Toronto Rugby Club, Lauren is passionate about making sport spaces inclusive, which includes taking into consideration and respecting players’ culture and religion.
As a PhD candidate at York University, Lauren is currently researching sport participation in Muslim communities. Her PhD research in Cultural Sport Psychology examines sport participation of youth and young adults living in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas in Toronto. She has been a rugby player since her teenage years, having played virtually every position on the field and has even played in Europe. Currently a Girls Rugby Director at a local Toronto Rugby Club, Lauren is passionate about making sport spaces inclusive, which includes taking into consideration and respecting players’ culture and religion.