John colton

Ph.D., Head, Community Development, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Acadia University

Dr. John Colton is a Professor and Head of Community Development at Acadia University, with expertise in sustainable tourism, community development, Indigenous tourism, and community-based approaches to sustainability. His work explores how tourism and communities can support environmental stewardship, local economies, and long-term sustainability. He has extensive experience working with communities and organizations across Atlantic Canada and has served as a sustainable tourism evaluator for National Geographic in Eastern Canada.

Culinary Director, 

The Cape Retreat

Born and raised on the island, Alex grew up hearing the stories that formed generations of Newfoundlanders. The methods of preservation that fed families into the winter months and the responsibilities that fell on families to get food on the table. With a culinary identity born and sustained by survival, Alex became deeply involved in the food scene as gardens grew, wild food made its way onto restaurant menus, and the cod moratorium shifted from a present reality to a story of the past. We're rewriting what our food traditions are when it comes to Newfoundland and it's a result of the people on the island who are experimenting with new ingredients and methods. Alex is here to share a few of those who inspire her menus and impact what's possible on our island in the middle of the Atlantic. 

Chief Executive Officer, 

Tourism Jasper

Tyler Riopel is the Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Jasper, the official destination marketing and management organization for Jasper and Jasper National Park. In this role, he leads the organization’s work to strengthen Jasper’s visitor economy while ensuring tourism contributes meaningfully to the prosperity of local businesses and the quality of life of residents. With more than 20 years of experience in strategic marketing, business development, tourism, and major events across North America, Tyler has worked with globally recognized brands and events to translate ambitious visions into practical strategies and measurable outcomes. His leadership experience spans destination stewardship, organizational governance, government relations, advocacy, partnership development, economic recovery, and crisis management. He has played a central role in guiding Jasper’s visitor economy through significant disruption and recovery while advancing a long-term vision for a resilient, competitive, and community-aligned destination. Tyler holds the Certified Destination Management Executive designation and has served on numerous industry and community advisory boards throughout Alberta, with a focus on collaborative marketing, destination development, and strengthening the broader visitor economy. Outside of work, Tyler enjoys exploring the Canadian Rockies with his wife and two daughters. He is an avid downhill skier and is passionate about youth sport, leadership, and development.

Vice-President, 

Parks Canada

President & Chief Executive Officer, 

Travel Alberta

For over three decades, David Goldstein has been dedicated to building bridges between the public and private sectors to increase the global competitiveness of Canadian business.

Appointed CEO of Travel Alberta in 2021, David spearheaded the province’s post-pandemic tourism recovery strategy, achieving the fastest post-pandemic sector recovery in Canada and accelerating the long-term growth of the sector through the innovative Bootstrap Plan. A respected strategist and collaborator, David is committed to advancing sustainable growth across Alberta’s tourism sector and growing the destination’s presence at home and around the world. Fluently bilingual, David holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Glendon College. A graduate of the Institute for Corporate Governance (ICD), David is an acknowledged expert in Crown Agency governance and regularly guest lectures as part of the ICD program at the University of Calgary. 

Creative Director, 

Target Marketing

TJ is a decorated creative with a strategic mind and a passion for ideas that create change. He has worked in small independent shops and major global networks in Toronto, Halifax, and Toronto again. But it was the opportunity to work on Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism – a brand he has long admired for its advertising – that brought him back east. TJ consistently delivers smart, thoughtful, engaging, and creative solutions that achieve results. 

Co-Founder, The Masonic Project

Chair, The Marlow Foundation

Born and raised in Seal Cove, NL, Morgan has years of community building and event production experience within the arts and festival spheres. Formerly, Morgan has worked as an Auditor for the BC provincial government, a board member and treasurer of several nonprofits, and as a staff accountant.

Her interest in community building began when she worked with nonprofits that provided grants to local artists and hosted large scale art protests and multi-day festivals.

While her current focus is her two children, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue passion projects under The Marlowe Foundation including the Masonic Project.

President & CEO, 

Tourism Industry Association of Canada

Sébastien Benedict brings a policy insider’s perspective to discussions about how government decisions shape Canada’s tourism industry in practice. Drawing on extensive experience working within federal and provincial governments, he offers grounded insight into the constraints, trade-offs, and opportunities that influence public decision-making. Known for clear, pragmatic contributions, Sébastien approaches complex issues with a sense of humour and a light touch, helping audiences engage with serious policy

questions without losing sight of the human side of decision-making. A bilingual communicator, he brings context, nuance, and a collaborative mindset to conversations

about the future of Canadian tourism.

Director of Programs and Innovation, 

Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism

Nora is the Director of Programs and Innovation at the Gros Morne Institute for Sustainable Tourism (GMIST) based in Gros Morne, Newfoundland and Labrador. As part of the GMIST team, she has been fortunate to be involved in creating new programming such as LIFT, an Experience Development Program and ACTivate, a Community Development Program.  She believes that collectively discovering and sharing what is special about our places and building solid relationships can lead to stronger, more resilient communities.

Project Manager, Irish Loop Tourism,

Community Business Development Corporation Celtic

Genevieve McCorquodale is a rural changemaker, community builder, and Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) practitioner leading the Irish Loop Regional Tourism Project with CBDC Celtic, a Tourism Atlantic pilot exploring new approaches to community-led regional development. Working across more than 30 rural communities, Genevieve brings residents, municipalities, businesses, youth, and organizations together to build on local strengths and create shared opportunities. A systems thinker, she uses tourism as an umbrella for cross-sector collaboration, rural resilience, and authentic sustainability.

Regional Tourism Development Coordinator, Green Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador

Nicole Holland is dedicated to growing and promoting the region as a vibrant tourism destination. Through community collaboration, destination development, marketing, trail development, branding, and industry partnerships, Nicole works to showcase the region’s natural beauty, culture, outdoor experiences, and local stories. She is passionate about bringing communities and tourism partners together to create meaningful visitor experiences while building sustainable opportunities and a stronger future for tourism throughout Green Bay.

Executive Director

UNESCO-designated Fundy Biosphere Region &

Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark

Dr. Jennifer Dingman is the Executive Director of both of New Brunswick’s UNESCO-designated sites: the Fundy Biosphere Region and Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. With a PhD in Biology, Jennifer works at the intersection of conservation, sustainable development, community partnerships, and UNESCO’s international networks. She represents North America on the Global Geoparks Network’s Sustainable Development Goals and Climate Change Working Groups and serves as Chair of the Canadian Biosphere Regions Association and Treasurer of the Canadian Geoparks Network. Jennifer also leads the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor, a collaborative initiative connecting UNESCO-designated sites across the region to advance regenerative tourism, strengthen communities, and create opportunities around Atlantic Canada’s globally significant natural and cultural heritage. Across these roles, Jennifer focuses on turning international designations into meaningful local impact, using collaboration, reconciliation, science, conservation, and sustainable tourism to connect global goals with the communities and landscapes of Atlantic Canada.

Senior Vice President, Investment and Destination Development, 

Destination Canada

Gracen Chungath is a strategic leader with 20+ years of experience driving economic growth, investment attraction, and destination development across the private sector, government, and non-profits. At Destination Canada, she directs the national Destination Development strategy and leads a coordinated pan-Canadian effort to attract investment into tourism, aligning partners across jurisdictions to strengthen supply, foster regenerative practices, and ensure long-term competitiveness. Her achievements include launching Canada’s first Tourism Corridor Strategy Program to drive cross-provincial development and climate-forward investment; initiating a Tourism Investment Thought Leaders Committee that brings together policymakers, public sector, developers,

investors, and industry leaders to shape future investment flows into tourism; convening the country’s first International Symposium on Destination Stewardship; and establishing a pan-Canadian professional forum to accelerate collaboration and innovation to catalyze tourism supply. A recognized international voice, Gracen has spoken at the UNWTO, OECD, and other global forums, showcasing Canada’s leadership in sustainability and innovation. 

Executive Director

Arctic Inspiration Prize

Jessica Winters is the acting Executive Director of the Arctic Inspiration Prize. Originally from Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, Jessica brings a perspective shaped by her lived experience as a northerner, her background in science, and a career spanning arts, culture, community development, and program leadership.

Jessica is also an award-winning artist and arts advocate. Her work across the arts and community sectors has focused on creating opportunities, amplifying northern voices, and exploring contemporary northern experiences. Through her work with the Arctic Inspiration Prize, she supports locally driven ideas and the people behind them, finding ways that investment, collaboration, culture, and capacity can help northern communities shape their own futures.

Director, Innovation

EcoNext

In his role as Director, Innovation, Colin leads Econext's programs focused on advancing clean energy innovation, collaborative R&D, and the development and adoption of emerging technologies and low-carbon solutions. He works across industry, academia, government, and other sectors to support environmentally sustainable economic development.

Executive Director

Sustainability, Environment & Regulatory Law KPMG Law

Maya Douglas is a sustainability leader helping organizations turn ambitious commitments into credible, defensible action for nearly 20 years. Her practical approach helps companies prepare for scrutiny while advancing decarbonization, Indigenous reconciliation and other priorities without overpromising.

Specializing in greenwashing risk, Maya works across legal, assurance and corporate strategy to stress-test claims, strengthen oversight and align public messaging with performance data. Her work has help consumer-facing companies get it right to avoid getting called out. Maya holds a Master of International Law focused on climate change and credentials in green building, corporate climate risk. A committed mentor, educator and writer, Maya brings an international perspective shaped by living, studying and working in New York, Stockholm, Edinburgh and London. Based in Calgary, she enjoys ultimate frisbee and exploring the mountains by foot, bike, snowboard or climbing rope.

Councillor, Grand Falls-Windsor, NL.

President Municipalities NL

Councillor Amy Coady has been a dedicated representative of the Town of Grand

Falls-Windsor since being elected in 2009.

Amy brings her expertise to several key council committees, including Corporate

Services, Community Services, and Public Works and Development. She served as

Central Director and Finance Chair of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador

prior to being elected President. Additionally, her contributions to the Federation of

Canadian Municipalities as current Third Vice-President and as a former Vice-

President at Large, past Atlantic Caucus Chair and past Chair of the Rural Forum

highlight her influence and advocacy on a broader scale. Her active participation in

the community is also notable through her leadership of the Exploits Joint Council..

Professionally, Amy is employed as a Purchasing Agent at Equinox Gold-Valentine

Gold Mine in Grand Falls-Windsor, NL.

CEO, VERB

Andy has spent more than 22 years at the intersection of digital marketing and technology in tourism and hospitality. His experience, paired with a relentless focus on results, led him to found VERB in 2004.

He started early in UX and web strategy, then expanded across every corner of digital. Today he consults with clients daily while building the VERB team in Halifax, where he takes particular pride in developing talent and giving people access to the kind of work that comes with a global travel portfolio.

Andy provides strategic counsel to most of VERB's hotel, cruise and destination marketing partners, including Royal Caribbean, Destination Canada, Destination British Columbia, Starwood Hotels, The Bahamas, and Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.