Dr. John P. Smol

Distinguished University Professor
Queen's University

John Smol, OC, PhD, FRCGS, FRSC, FRS is a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Biology (cross-appointed with the School of Environmental Studies) at Queen’s University, where he also held the Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change for the maximum three 7-year terms (2001 – 2021). Smol founded and co-directs the Paleoecological Environmental Assessment and Research Lab (PEARL), a group of ~40 students and other scientists dedicated to the study of long-term global environmental change, especially as it relates to lake ecosystems.

Since 1990 John has received 6 honorary doctorates and has been awarded >70 research and teaching awards and fellowships, including the NSERC Herzberg Gold Medal as Canada’s top scientist or engineer and the International Ecology Institute Prize. He was named a 3M Teaching Fellow and, following a nation-wide search, Nature chose John as Canada’s Top Mid-Career Science Mentor. In 2013, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his environmental work and in 2018 a Fellow of the Royal Society (London). He was elected President of the Academy of Science, Royal Society of Canada (2019-2022). John is also a Canadian Geographic Ambassador.

Kate Monk

VP, Strategy & Corporate Programs
RTO12/Explorers’ Edge

Kate is responsible for developing innovative regenerative tourism strategies and programs for RTO12, its stakeholders and the wider communities. She oversees consumer marketing, corporate communications and workforce development for the organization.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Toronto, as well as post-graduate certificates from Humber College in public relations and media copywriting. She earned the Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council; the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership's Women Leading Change certificate; and the UofT Rotman School of Management's Sustainability Leadership certificate. Kate completed the Ready, Set, (Re)Build course from the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, and the Transformational Travel Council’s Travel Designer certificate. She is currently studying for the MBA Essentials certificate at Rotman.

Kate was a key contributor to the RTO12 Business Case for Commercial Air Service at the Muskoka Airport, which successfully attracted Porter Airlines as a partner. She lead the RTO’s commercial air service marketing team and the project dispersion strategy. She oversaw the development of the Work-Integrated Catalyst Housing concept and its subsequent Foundational Framework. In 2024 she created RTO12’s Higher Yield Marketing Strategy, and works closely with the CEO on the development of the Regenerative Travel Agency.

Mike Schreiner

Leader
Green Party of Ontario

Mike Schreiner, leader of the Green Party of Ontario, became Ontario’s first Green MPP when he was elected to represent the riding of Guelph in 2018. He was re-elected in 2022 with an increased majority, gaining more than 54 per cent of the total vote.

As the Leader of the Ontario Greens since 2009, Mike’s constituents recognize him as a champion for climate action, income equality, and honest, transparent leadership. Mike is active at Queen’s Park, working across party lines to be a strong advocate for climate action, local food and water initiatives, protecting Ontario’s farmland and green spaces, affordable housing, supporting frontline healthcare workers, small business, and mental health. He has introduced legislation to cap Ontario’s carbon emissions, while making reporting on yearly emissions’ numbers mandatory; build affordable housing; reintroduce green retrofit subsidies; conserve drinking water; bring mental health services under OHIP; and to get big money out of politics.

Mike passed Ontario’s first Green law in 2019, which protects electric vehicle drivers by making it illegal to block EV charging stations and spearheaded the first Bill to be signed by all four parties, the Emancipation Month Act.

Jeremy Sampson

Chief Executive Officer
The Travel Foundation

Jeremy is a globally recognized leader and alliance builder, advocating for systems change aimed at improving the impact of the travel and tourism sector on communities and the climate crisis. Through a variety of roles across industry, academia, and the nonprofit sector, he has helped bring together public and private entities across the globe to adopt holistic measures of success, accelerate climate action, develop and promote more equitable visitor economies, and integrate sustainability across complex value chains.  
 
In his current role as CEO of nonprofit The Travel Foundation, Jeremy oversees a global team which has transformed the agenda-setting organization into the leading independent international NGO in the tourism sector. Prior to assuming this post in September 2019, he worked at the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in Spain, where he helped to launch the MEET Network, a destination management association for Protected Areas in Europe and North Africa.  

Michael Robbins

Director of Geopark | Leader of Tourism
Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark

Michael has over 40 years of experience as a tourism management consultant, having worked throughout Canada, as well as in the US, New Zealand/Australia, Southeast Asia, northern Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. He has focussed his career working with clients on more responsible tourism models in rural and remote areas. A particular area of interest and expertise is working with Indigenous communities and clients, particularly those in remote communities. One of Michael’s remote Indigenous clients won the prestigious Community Award in the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, sponsored by the World Travel & Tourism Council in 2014.

Michael recently retired (December 2021) as Chairman of the Board of Directors with CREST (The Center for Responsible Travel) a unique non-profit (based in Washington DC) with the mission to promote responsible tourism policies and practices so that local communities may thrive and steward their cultural resources and biodiversity.

Sarah Jarvis

Director, Community Engagement
Destination Toronto

Sarah Jarvis is currently a Director, of Community Engagement at Destination Toronto, bringing experience from previous roles at Tourism Toronto, Luminato Festival, The Walrus and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Sarah Jarvis holds a BA in Cultural Studies and Music @ McGill University. With a robust skill set that includes Event Planning, Event Management, Copywriting, Project Management, Client Management and more, Sarah Jarvis contributes valuable insights to the industry. 

Atif Duranni

Project Director, Business Transformation

Solid Waste Management Division, City of Toronto

Atif Durrani has almost 25 years of diverse experiences across all levels of government.  He is currently working at the City of Toronto in their Solid Waste Management Services Division as Project Director, Business Transformation.  He works with teams responsible for outreach activities, including the implementation of programs to drive greater waste diversion in multi-residential buildings; the provision of education and outreach to Toronto’s diverse residents and visitors; strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and key stakeholders; and considering innovative practices and technologies to change behaviour.  He is also working with a team to consider short, medium, and longer-term options for the City’s residual waste disposal needs. 

Prior to joining the City in 2023, he worked in various Provincial ministries, including the Ministries of Indigenous Affairs, Environment, Conservation and Parks, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Community and Social Services, Education and Health.  His work included setting up the resource recovery framework for Ontario through the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, the Strategy for a Waste-Free Ontario, and the Food and Organic Waste Policy Statement.  He has also worked on policies related to Indigenous economic development and reconciliation, climate change, water and soil protection, social assistance, and health research. 

Anthea Foyer

Manager, Creative Technology Office

Economic Development and Culture Division, City of Toronto

Anthea leads the Creative Technology Office at the city of Toronto.  She is a creative strategic leader and city builder with an eye to the future. Her experience includes positions including as a Curator of Digital Public Art, Smart City Project Lead, Creative Strategist, Senior Training Manager CFC Media Lab and a Community Engagement Specialist. Her expertise comprises the creative technology sector (video games, immersive, esports, emerging technologies), digital public art (incl. digital infrastructure), strategic city building initiatives, as well as interactive narrative.  She is currently the Focal Point for Toronto’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation, sits of the Board of Smart Cities World, has been a Canadian juror for the UN Task force’s World Summit Awards, served as Co-Chair of InterAccess, as well as a variety of other boards and committees.

Kim Ingram

Supervisor, Visitor Economy Office

Economic Development and Culture Division, City of Toronto

With over 15 years of experience in culture, tourism and entertainment sectors, Kim brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic planning to every project. As Supervisor of the Visitor Economy Office at the City of Toronto, Kim leads the development and implementation of programs and projects that align with the strategic direction and mission of the office. One of Kim’s key areas of focus is sustainability, where she integrates UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into annual work plans and lead initiatives to promote sustainable tourism initiatives such as the Global Destination Sustainability Index.

Kim’s journey includes previous roles as Manager, Cultural Services at the Town of Milton, Event Manager at Exhibition Place, Manager, Venues with the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Para Pan Am Games and Patron Services Manager, Massey Hall. These experiences provided the opportunity to develop expertise in event planning, sustainability initiatives, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships. Kim’s passion for driving positive change in the cultural and entertainment sectors is evident in her work, where she constantly seeks innovative ways to connect people and communities through impactful experiences.

Angela Nagy

President & CEO
Greenstep Solutions

Angela is a sustainability expert with more than 20 years of experience in project management, business development, marketing, and public relations. She has lived and traveled extensively throughout the US and Canada, working with all levels of business, and utilities, as well as various levels of governments, on a variety of engineering, energy efficiency, environmental and sustainability-related projects. Angela is certified in Organizational GHG Accounting and as a Sustainability Practitioner through The Natural Step.

Mark Fraser

Director, Culture and Inclusion
Toronto Maple Leafs

Following his 14-year professional hockey career, Fraser was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs to create an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion department for the historic franchise. His role as Director of Culture & Inclusion is the first amongst NHL clubs. Mark harnesses his personal experiences and skills to work directly with players, staff and the different Maple Leafs business units, leading efforts to educate and grow hockey’s culture to become more inclusive and diversify the Maple Leafs brand. He also serves as a member of the NHL’s Player Inclusion Coalition.

Uzair Jaffer

Manager, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Uzair’s passion is working towards a healthier planet and more equitable societies, and he has over a decade of experience working in sustainability. He is currently the Manager of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, where he leads ESG reporting and communications, stakeholder engagement, and global human rights strategy. Uzair holds a Master of Sustainable Development Practice from the University of Waterloo, a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Toronto, and is certified in Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR®) by the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).

Justin LaFontaine

Program Lead & Founder
Tourism Innovation Lab

Justin has been developing innovative and award-winning tourism initiatives for over 20 years, and currently leads Tourism Innovation Lab, an incubator created to find, foster and support new tourism ideas and entrepreneurs through seed grants and mentorships. The Lab and its "Spark" Program were launched in Windsor Essex in 2018 and have now expanded to regions across Ontario and British Columbia.

Svetlana Lazareva

Chief Experience Creator
Lavendar Fox

Svetlana Lazareva is the Chief Experience Creator at Lavender Fox, where she leads with a philosophy inspired by Native Wisdom, Forest Bathing practices, and the Hygge lifestyle. At Lavender Fox, we believe that our true native language is nature itself.

Lavender Fox is an invitation to unplug from the demands of daily life and immerse oneself in the serenity of our natural setting. Nestled among lavender gardens, a cascading waterfall, sensory paths, a conifer alley with hammocks, and a 100-year-old cabin where luxury meets rustic charm, Lavender Fox offers a unique retreat. Guests can also enjoy our tea room, bonfires, wood-fired pizza oven, and the tranquility of being surrounded by the forest.

Experience the essence of each season in our outdoor Hygge space, where gadgets are left behind, time slows down, and every sense is attuned to the forest's melody. Lavender Fox encourages guests to feel cozy from the inside out, embracing simplicity and fostering a sense of well-being.

Svetlana Lazareva serves as the Chair of the Ontario Lavender Association, bringing her passion for lavender and nature to a wider community.

Adam Morrison

President & CEO
OTEC

As OTEC’s President and CEO, Adam leads OTEC’s workforce development consulting services, working with industry, government, educators and communities to ensure businesses and destinations are prepared for the changing market. His commitment to workforce innovation has resulted in a broad portfolio of research, technology and sector-level strategy projects.

Adam is driven toward the continuous improvement of product and service offerings at OTEC and across the workforce ecosystem. Recent initiatives include a national systems-change exploration with the Future Skills Centre – Centre des Compétences futures (FSC-CCF) to design and field test components of a technology-enabled employment and training platform. Adam also led the design and launch of ALiGN, an online psychometric assessment model being deployed across Ontario. With a passion for understanding the ROI of new tools and models, Adam has collaborated on demonstration projects with leading research and evaluation partners like the Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation (OCWI), Blueprint ADE and the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC).

Adam’s sector-based work includes a range of strategy and consulting services including projects such as Ontario’s Tourism Workforce Development Strategy 2012-17, commissioned by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), and the Tourism SkillsNet Ontario network of sector-based training consortia, launched in 2018.

Adam contributes regularly to various industry advisory committees and non-profit boards. He speaks frequently on the topics of workforce innovation and sector-based workforce planning. He joined OTEC with Canadian and international experience in corporate training, organizational research and HR / human capital consulting. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Capacity Development Studies with a specialization in soft systems methodologies.

Evan Hazenberg

Director, Labour Market Intelligence
Tourism HR Canada

Evan Hazenberg is the Director of Labour Market Intelligence at Tourism HR Canada, where he works on identifying, addressing, and overcoming labour challenges in the tourism sector.  Before joining Tourism HR Canada in 2022, he taught for five years at the University of Sussex, England.   

Ryan Snider

Professor of Tourism Management
Humber College

Ryan was raised in Nairobi, Kenya where his parents were teachers at an International School.  After returning to Canada for high school, Ryan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and his Master of Arts degree in International Development.  After graduation, Ryan worked in various relief and development projects throughout Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.  Through living in close proximity with the rural poor, Ryan gained an appreciation for the local culture, language, and challenges that are currently facing sub-Saharan Africa.

After completing his Ph.D. in Geography and Environmental Management (focusing on  Sustainable Tourism), Ryan was employed as a Full Time professor at Humber College (Toronto).  His current research interests include participatory research amongst the indigenous Maasai communities of Kenya, with a specific focus on the role of sustainable tourism as a tool for development. 

Culum Canally

Professor
Humber College

For the past 20 years, Culum has worked with universities, colleges, and private enterprises throughout Canada and the United States to develop and implement innovative sustainable tourism curriculum and resources. In addition to his work in education, Culum is a founder of Together We’re Bitter, Ontario’s first cooperatively-owned craft brewery; a hospitality business on the principles of sustainable tourism. Culum holds a PhD in Geography from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MSc in Recreation Management and Tourism from Arizona State University. 

Steven Debassige

Cultural Integrity Lead
ITO

A proud Ojibway Anishinaabe with a strong and deep-rooted connection to his home community of M’Chigeeng First Nation; Steven brings to Indigenous Tourism Ontario as its Cultural Integrity Lead, over 30 years of senior hospitality, business management, operations, and development experience.

Steven is an experienced operator with some of Canada’s leading hospitality corporations, from the small and independent to some of the industry’s leading major national and global brands from many points across this nation. A business development focused leader with a passion for excellence in customer service, attention to detail and overall guest satisfaction.

A committed lifelong learner that loves the outdoors and continues to explore his history, culture, the world around us and being one with nature. Steven continues his Sundance ceremony and Firekeeping knowledge that support him to walk with the Seven Grandfather teachings, both personally and professionally.

Thorben Wieditz

Executive Director | Director
Fairbnb Canada Network | Fairbnb Co-op Canada

Thorben Wieditz is trained as an urban geographer and planner at Toronto's York University and TU University of Dortmund, Germany. He is the co-founder of MetStrat, a public interest campaigns firm, the executive director of Fairbnb Canada Network, a not-for-profit advocacy organization involved in regulatory efforts in short-term rental markets across Canada, and a director with Fairbnb Co-op Canada, a cooperative short-term rental platform that partners with community land trusts to square sustainable tourism with affordable housing. He is an advisory board member of InsideAirbnb, a NYC-based project that provides data and advocacy about Airbnb's impact on residential communities and serves on the board of directors of Fairbnb Co-op in Bologna.