Professional Affiliation

Canada's Secretary of State for Sport, Sherpa for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and Member of Parliament for Burlington North—Milton West

Expert Bio

Represents the riding of Burlington North—Milton West. 

Adam van Koeverden was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Milton in 2019.

In September 2025, the Prime Minister appointed Mr. van Koeverden as Canada’s Sherpa for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Mr. van Koeverden led whole-of-government coordination, represented Canada in trilateral engagements with U.S. and Mexican counterparts, and strengthened relationships with the host cities, provinces, local First Nations, and domestic and international stakeholders to support a safe, secure, and successful tournament with lasting legacies across Canada.

He previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage (Sport).

Mr. van Koeverden is a dedicated community leader and one of Canada’s most accomplished athletes. He represented Canada at four Summer Olympic Games, winning a gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze medal. He served as Canada’s flag bearer at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens and the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. He won the Northern Star Award as Canada’s top athlete in 2004.

A first-generation Canadian, Mr. van Koeverden grew up at Chautauqua Co-op in Oakville with his younger brother and mother. He joined the Burloak Canoe Club as a teenager and rapidly became one of Canada’s premier athletes. In addition to being a world, Olympic and Canadian champion, he has volunteered extensively for organizations like Right to Play, WaterAid, Special Olympics Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation. Along with his father, Mr. van Koeverden is also a strong advocate for Parkinson Canada.

Before entering politics, Mr. van Koeverden worked as a managing consultant with Deloitte as well as a broadcaster, writer and producer with CBC Sports. He also served as Chair of the Canadian Olympic Athletes’ Commission and was a member of the Government of Canada Working Group on Gender Equity in Sport, promoting safe sport and addressing gender-based violence. He is a leading public speaker who has spoken to tens of thousands of students at schools in the Halton Region and across Canada.

Mr. van Koeverden graduated as valedictorian with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from McMaster University.