SUPPORT OSHOF

Brenda Andress

Brenda Andress is a pioneering leader in Canadian sport, best known for advancing women’s professional hockey and championing gender equity. As founding commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, she helped establish key partnerships and expand the game’s reach. Through SheIS, she continues to unite sport leaders to support women’s sports, creating lasting impact through advocacy, leadership, and structural change across the industry.

Brenda Andress

Founder of SheIS Sports Network (2021), being a singular mobile platform dedicated to women’s sports.

President & Founder of SheIS (2017-present), the 1st organization to mobilize sport community to support women’s sports; includes leaders from all major sports.

Acted as the Inaugural Commissioner of the Canadian Women’s Professional Hockey League (2008-18); developed club-to-club partnerships with the NHL, including Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs; secured use of the (then) ACC for 3 All-Star Games; secured a Canadian broadcast deal with Rogers Sportsnet; obtained compensation for staff and players in 2018; oversaw expansion teams in Boston and China; Jayna Hefford succeeded Brenda as Interim Commissioner in 2018.

Obtained her hockey referee certificate (achieving the highest ranking of Level 6).

Named one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women by the Canadian Assoc. for Advancement of Women & Sport (2014); named by Hockey News as one of “The Powers of the Future” (2018); won YWCA’s “Women of Distinction “award for championing diversity and accessibility in sport (2013)