Originally from Montreal, Canada, Michelle Laflamme has forged a remarkable path in international sport. Now based in Germany, she serves as the Senior Manager for World Para Ice Hockey at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). With over 20 years of experience in sport management, Michelle’s career is rooted in inclusion, global development, and event excellence. Her academic background spans journalism, communications, and multilingual studies, with degrees in English, Russian, and Fine Arts.
Michelle has worked with prominent organisations and events, including the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, Hockey Canada, the Invictus Games, and the Pan and Parapan American Games, honing her expertise in sport development and event execution before joining the IPC. Michelle’s journey into Para sport began with a deep personal commitment to creating equitable pathways for all.
Since 2020, Michelle leads the World Para Ice Hockey’s entire global operation – from grassroots development to the Paralympic Winter Games – as its only full-time employee. Managing a network of over 50 international officials and liaising with 24 national teams, she steers everything from governance and competition delivery to innovation and growth strategy.
Her leadership has been marked by groundbreaking initiatives aimed at closing the gender gap in the sport. Most notably, Michelle spearheaded the creation of the Women’s Development Pathway, designed to increase female participation in Para ice hockey. The initiative has yielded remarkable results, with female athlete representation rising from a mere 0.76% to 21.75% in just three years, paving the way for the first-ever Women’s World Championships this year in Slovakia.
Michelle’s career highlights include receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the IPC International Women’s Day Award, and speaking at UNESCO’s International Disability Inclusion Conference in Paris presenting the successful initiative to bring more female athletes to Para ice hockey – a clear testament to her global impact.
