WFS Awards: Recognising professional excellence, celebrating global impact

Ahmed Abdul Ghaffar is the Executive Director of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, bringing over two decades of experience from the Royal Bahraini Navy and extensive involvement in sports administration. He is a graduate of the Naval University for Postgraduate Studies (USA) and has served as Secretary of the Bahrain Swimming Federation and Director of Bahrain’s delegation to the Asian Games.

Chris Gerstle is the Director of Strategy and Development at European Leagues, the organization representing professional football leagues across Europe. He is responsible for supporting member development, commercial strategy, and fostering competitive balance within European football

Esteban González is the 3×3 Digital Content Senior Manager at FIBA, responsible for leading the digital, content, and social media strategy for 3×3 Basketball globally. With more than 10 years of experience in sports media, he oversees content planning and execution for major events including the FIBA 3×3 World Tour and the Olympic Games, focusing on audience engagement and innovative storytelling to grow the sport’s international fanbase

Karla Hernández Valdez is the Gerente de Innovación – Estrategia Comercial at the Federación Mexicana de Futbol, where she leads innovation and commercial strategy initiatives. She previously held roles in tech governance and has a background in business management.

Tomasz Kowalczyk is Head of Innovation at the Polish Football Association, where he leads the Innovation Hub, driving collaborations with startups and technology partners to advance sportstech, digital solutions, and sustainability across Polish football. With over a decade of experience in innovation management, he also works as an Innovation Designer at Rebels Valley and is recognized for fostering ecosystems that connect sport, business, and technology