As a Professor in the Shannon School of Business at Cape Breton University, Dr. Brown has taught a wide variety of courses and has taught and lectured in Cairo, Beijing, Tianjin, Zhengzhou and Zhuhai. He currently teaches in the MBA (CED) (International Business, Strategy). He is currently the Managing Director of the World Tourism Institute.

He has presented and published a wide range of academic papers and served as a guest speaker and panelist on Economic Development, Immigration, Cultural Tourism Marketing, Aboriginal Economic Development and Aboriginal Education. His research interests include regional economic development, cultural tourism marketing and Aboriginal Economic Development. He is currently researching and writing with Dr. Jane Connell a text on the development of the Tourism Cluster on Cape Breton Island.

Prior to this position, Dr. Brown served as Vice President International and Aboriginal Affairs, Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies, Vice President, External; Dean and Managing Director of Economic and Technological Innovation and Dean of Extension and Community Affairs within the Cape Breton University community. Beyond his career in higher education, he has held the positions of Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and Vice President of Industrial Development with the Cape Breton Development Corporation. He also fulfilled several other senior management roles within these public-sector corporations.

A graduate of the Sobeys School of Business at Saint Mary’s University, Terry has worked in the Cape Breton Island Tourism Industry for the past 25+ years. In that time, he has had the opportunity to work on such vital projects as the Celtic Colours International Festival, Golf Cape Breton, the 50th Anniversary of the Canso Causeway, the Louisbourg 300 Celebrations, among many others. Since 2013, he has worked with Destination Cape Breton, first in a senior marketing role and as CEO since February 2019. As a tourism marketing strategist, Terry has worked on tourism projects from Alberta to Newfoundland, but he is most passionate about working to grow Cape Breton Island’s tourism economy.

Terry currently lives with his wife Stephanie on the Mira River and is an avid boater, kayaker, and singer-songwriter.

Kwe, ni'n telui'si Matthew Patles. Mathew Patles is a Mi'kmaq from Eskasoni First Nation. He is currently working in the tourism industry at Eskasoni Cultural Journey’s Goat Island as a Heritage Interpreter. His work involves educating visitors on the Mi'kmaq way of life. He is an alumnus of Cape Breton University as well as a returning student. In the past few years, Matthew decided to pursue another Bachelor’s degree – this time in the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program at CBU. He is passionate about his culture and is motivated to help further the development of the Indigenous tourism sector within Eskasoni and other Mi'kmaq and First Nations communities.

The Honourable David C. Dingwall was installed as the 7th President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University on April 6, 2018.

Under his direction, Cape Breton University has achieved many significant milestones including launching a new strategic plan, new academic plan, an updated and inclusive executive committee, a new CBU Brand, unprecedented enrolment growth, and a revitalized campus, with plans for future growth and development.

Mr. Dingwall is highly regarded for his substantial, in-depth experience in both the private and public sectors, at both the national and international levels. In the 1993 Canadian election, under The Honourable Jean Chrétien, Mr. Dingwall was appointed to Cabinet as the Minister of Public Works and Minister of Supply and Services, Minister responsible for Canada Post, Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing, Minister responsible for the Royal Canadian Mint, Minister responsible for Defence Construction Limited, and the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Mr. Dingwall also served on several Cabinet committees, including the Treasury Board and Economic Development. In 1996, Mr. Dingwall convinced Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to host the G7 Summit in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Leaders from the G7 convened in Halifax and Boris Yeltsin, the President of Russia, was a special attendee at that session. In 1996, Mr. Dingwall was appointed Minister of Health and, in 1997, he passed the Tobacco Control Act which, at the time, was the toughest tobacco legislation in the world. He was subsequently honoured by the Canadian Cancer Society and the World Health Organization.

Mr. Dingwall also has extensive corporate governance experience. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Canadian Mint, in less than two years, Mr. Dingwall grew its revenue to more than $100 million. Mr. Dingwall was also Co-Director of the Canada China Institute for Business and Development.

He holds degrees in commerce and law from Dalhousie University, has studied Corporate Governance at Harvard Law School, and is also a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D), Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. In 1997, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Cape Breton University.

Mr. Dingwall is also a distinguished author, most recently having penned “Negotiating So Everyone Wins” - Secrets you can use from Canada's top business, sports, labour and political negotiators, the only book of its kind in North America.

He has been an extraordinary mentor to many Cape Bretoners and Canadians from coast to coast to coast, helping them establish their own careers and make a mark across our country.

Geoff Lacher is a senior economist at Tourism Economics where he works to bring clarity to complex issues facing DMOs and private companies. Geoff currently manages a variety of economic impact studies and international travel databases. Additionally, he performs DMO budget analyses, cost-benefit studies, event impact research, and other custom research projects. Geoff frequently speaks at association events and board meeting on topics including tourism’s economic impacts, international tourism flows, and best practices in tourism research. Prior to joining Tourism Economics, Geoff worked as an assistant professor at Arizona State University where he managed projects examining the economic impacts of tourism and consumer preferences while teaching classes on sustainable tourism and data analysis. Geoff received a BA from Emory University, an MS from Texas A&M University, and a PhD from Clemson University.

Thomas McGuire, GATN’s co-Founder and Principal brings extensive experience in tourism and related economic impact analysis. Thomas is a skilled economist who specializes in quantitative research; economic analysis; financial analysis, evaluation; and socio-economic impact studies. His skill set includes expertise in statistical and economic analysis; research design; stakeholder engagement and regional economic analysis.

In the past three years, he has completed dozens of economic impact studies for sport and event-based tourism across Canada, including Celtic Colours 2019 and the 2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. His experiences in tourism related projects are diverse, from designed and implementing methodology to asses the economic impact of the International Tall Ships Festivals to measuring the impact of the North American in-market efforts of VisitFlanders, a three-year program to welcome visitors to participate in the commemorative programming related to The Great War (www.visitflanders.com).

With over 30 years of experience, Thomas brings a far-reaching perspective to regional and tourism economic impact analysis and economic development. Thomas completed a variety of high-profile assignments in recent years related to economic impact analysis and reporting, including the recent update of the economic impact of Golf in Canada for 2019.

Thomas has a Master of Arts (Economics), Dalhousie University, NS, a Bachelor of Arts (Economics), Dalhousie University, NS, and worked as a researcher in the department throughout both degrees and for 4 years following obtaining his Masters. He is a Member of the Canadian Evaluation Society, the Canadian Economics Association and he provides volunteer consulting services to the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Center in Halifax.

Honourable Rodney J. MacDonald served as Nova Scotia’s 26th Premier from 2006-2009 having also served as President of the Executive Council and Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs. From 1999-2006, Mr. MacDonald held Cabinet Portfolios including Tourism, Culture & Heritage, as well as being Nova Scotia’s first Minister of Health Promotion, and Immigration. He served as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Inverness from 1999-2009 winning four successive elections.

At Present Mr. MacDonald is President of Colaisde na Gàidhlig | The Gaelic College, President of RMD Development Incorporated (Consulting & Business Development), and owner of Ceilidh Cottages located in West Mabou, NS.

Rodney MacDonald is a graduate of Saint Francis Xavier University, is a former High school Educator, and holds an Executive Certification in Local Government from Dalhousie University.

Mr. MacDonald is involved with numerous Boards including but not limited to: Chair of the World Tourism Institute Advisory Council for Cape Breton University, Board Member for Nova Scotia’s Hosting Committee for the North American Indigenous Games, Strait Area-Western Cape Breton Engage NS Quality of Life Team, Friends United Advisory Board, and a former Board Member of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Strait Area Chamber of Commerce, and Destination Cape Breton.

Mr. MacDonald is a well known Cape Breton Fiddler and Entertainer having performed throughout Nova Scotia & Internationally. He lives in Mabou, Cape Breton with his wife Gayle MacDonald and is the proud father to Ryan, Sadie, Angus Finlay, and Cassie. Actively engaged in his community as a volunteer for numerous organizations, Mr. MacDonald can often be found coaching at his local arena, and assisting with fundraising efforts in his community.

Dr. Sheree-Ann Adams is a Tourism Advisor; an Adjunct Professor with Cape Breton University; a fellow of the Cruise Research Society and a published author in academic journals and books. Her contributions include Cruise Consumer Behaviour; the use of Conjoint Analysis to reduce Social Desirability Response Bias in research; and strategies to embrace the Caribbean’s cruise ship recruitment; and Sustainable Tourism labels / certification for MSMEs. She holds a PhD in Responsible Tourism Management; a MSc with Distinction in Tourism Management, a PG Cert. in Environmental Management for Conservation and Recreation and a BSc with Honours in Tourism Management.

She began her early career in the hospitality sector at Grenada’s five-star Calabash Hotel. She later joined team Grenada Board of Tourism as a marketing executive before moving to a senior management position in Grenada with the regional hotel chain Rex Resorts. Her subsequent international work experience includes the global cruise brand Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines - shipboard in the Pursers and Shore Excursions Departments; All Leisure Group’s Voyage of Discovery - Antarctica Expedition and Excursion team; and the Destination Management Company, St. Lucia Reps / Sunlink Tours. She is best known in the Caribbean as the Founder and former C.E.O of Tourism Services Limited, owner and operator of Adventure Tours – Grenada, an award winning soft-adventure shore excursions brand in her homeland Grenada. She successfully positioned Destination Grenada in the Adventure Tours market for stay-over and cruise ship guests. She was a Non-Executive Director with The Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association; The T.A Marryshow Community College and The Grenada Board of Tourism. She served on the Hurricane Ivan Tourism Recovery Committee; Chaired the Product Development Committee of the GBT and spearheaded the planning, design and delivery of several social marketing, cause promotion and environmental stewardship projects under the auspices of the GHTA.

She relocated to the UK in 2006 and spends much of her time with her husband shipboard in Asia and managing their personal ‘Responsible and Carbon Neutral Life-Style’ project in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Dennis Campbell, CEO of Ambassatours Gray Line and Murphy’s on the Water, began his career at 7 years of age, when he realized on a bus tour that 'little old ladies have a lot of money'. Dennis began tour guiding at 15, started a tour company at age 17, a publishing company at 19 and a bus company at 21. Dennis’ tenacity with contacting the major Cruise Line executives in the early years, has positioned the company today, as the largest shore excursion operators in Atlantic Canada working with all the major Cruise Lines.

The company now employs +400 staff, has a fleet of over 5 sightseeing vessels, 6 Harbour Hopper amphibious vehicles, 4 gift shops and operates Halifax waterfront’s largest restaurant, bar and patio. Ambassatours Gray Line is one of the largest land and water sightseeing companies in Canada with four locations in Atlantic Canada and as well as recently adding Gray Line Niagara Falls Ontario.

Born and raised in Sydney, Cape Breton, Marlene Usher began working for the accounting firm of KPMG while taking her Chartered Accountant degree, which she completed in 1992. She worked as a senior manager at KPMG for approximately 12 years where she obtained a wealth of experience in private and public sector business and consulting services.

In March of 2007, Marlene was appointed by the Federal Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a federal Crown Corporation, ECBC which was charged with economic development where she worked until 2014. In February 2015, Marlene took the position of Chief Executive Officer of a newly incorporated Port of Sydney Development Corporation. Marlene oversees the day-to-day operations of the port which include Cruise traffic, industrial traffic, real estate and business development.

Marlene has recently been a member of the Cape Breton University Board of Governors for five years and is presently a member of the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University. She has been the spokesperson and champion of the United Way campaign in her community. Marlene was the Chair of the Board for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation and on the executive of Destination Cape Breton and chair of finance and audit for the board of the Nova Scotia Community College.

Ross Cloutier is an adventure tourism consultant who has worked in over 40 countries developing community and indigenous tourism product. He started his career as an international mountain guide and this has continued as the British Columbia Search and Rescue Coordinator (1987-1992), and Founder and Past Chair of the Adventure Studies Department at Thompson Rivers University (1992-2018). Ross’ current work revolves primarily around adventure tourism business development work in Canada’s north, Chilean Patagonia, and other high latitude locations such as Greenland and Iceland and as a sought-after expert witness in adventure tourism and outdoor education litigation.

Ross recently completed an Adventure Tourism Opportunity Strategy for Cape Breton Island – Northern Highlands Region for Destination Cape Breton. He will speak specifically about the opportunities and challenges of developing an adventure tourism economy in Cape Breton.

Martin graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies and Humanities with Business Management Courses and an International Baccalaureate Diploma. He is currently the Development Director and General Manager at Ski Cape Smokey. Martin competed as an elite athlete and was a member of the Czech Republic National Ski Team.

Kelly Deveaux has worked in Nova Scotia's tourism industry for 20 years, in various positions with the municipal, provincial and federal governments, as well as the private sector. With a Bachelor of Public Relations degree from Mount Saint Vincent University, Kelly spent the early part of her career with the former Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage before jumping to a Cape Breton-based marketing agency where she managed a variety of tourism clients throughout Atlantic Canada.

After joining Parks Canada nine years ago, Kelly now leads a large team in Cape Breton Highlands National Park who deliver exceptional experiences to visitors. From the front lines to product development, community partnerships and park management planning, Kelly works with her team to manage day-to-day operations in a busy national park, while also planning for growth and opportunities in the future.

Mr. Keith Henry is a Métis person that was born in Thompson, Manitoba and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

Mr. Henry began his career in 1995 with teaching positions and has become well known for his strategic administrative and negotiations skills. Since 1998 Mr. Henry has led numerous provincial, federal and industry negotiations on a variety of issues. He has been personally responsible for financial administration of several Indigenous non-profits and has a proven track record of success.

Mr. Henry has become an international Indigenous cultural tourism leader receiving Indigenous recognition as the former CEO for Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (AtBC). In April 2014, the inaugural World Indigenous Tourism Alliance award recognized the work of AtBC and Mr. Henry’s leadership. Mr. Henry has been spearheading the growth of authentic Indigenous tourism in Canada as he worked to redevelop the national Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada as elected chair when this organization incorporated in April 2015. In October 2015 Mr. Henry took the full-time role as the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada’s President and CEO. In Canada Mr. Henry continues to be recognized across the country as one of the leaders in Indigenous tourism and has led many new initiatives including the multiple national strategies to grow Indigenous tourism, contributions to the development of national standards on market readiness and authenticity, and multiple research projects on the economic progress of Indigenous tourism.

Mr. Henry was recognized as one of Canada’s 150 Ambassadors in 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary. Mr. Henry was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa from the University of Guelph in 2020. Mr. Henry dedicated time in the Indigenous community and is the elected President of the BC Metis Federation since 2011.

Darrell Bernard is from the community of Membertou, Unama’kik, of the Mi’kmaw Nation. Darrell has spent many years serving his community as a public servant and council member. Darrell has spent many years of performing with the Sons of Membertou, a traditional drum group. Performing in many concerts, Powwows and festivals over thirty years.They have played across Canada and internationally. They were nominated for an ECMA their album Wapna’kik, and a Juno in a collaborative effort with John Gracie.

Darrell is a founding member of the Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network, and currently serves as the vice-chair of that organization. He is the Nova Scotia member for the Board of directors for the Indigenous Tourism Canada. Darrell also serves on the Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative, for the Bras D’or Lakes. Darrell is on the authenticity committee of KMKNO and has recently accepted a position on the Board of Directors of Destination Cape Breton.

Darrell, his wife Sharon Bernard and best male friend Austin Christmas are partners in Kluskap Ridge RV campground Ltd. in Englishtown, NS. They are just completing their fourth season of running this beautiful campground on St Ann’s Bay.

Robert Bernard is a business owner of Diversity Management Group (DMG), an Indigenous firm which is based out of We’koqma’q First Nation in beautiful Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He prides himself on helping to rediscover the true and authentic culture and heritage of his Mi’kmaw people through tourism initiatives aimed at cultural recognition and resurgence. He currently works as the Atlantic Indigenous Tourism Coordinator for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Bernard has always worked towards increasing the capacity of Mi’kmaw communities, organizations, businesses and individuals covering areas such as business and community development/planning, cultural revival through tourism sector integration and investment and socio-economic investment strategies.

Most recently Mr. Bernard founded the Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network (NSITEN) and works to promote Indigenous owned businesses involved in the mainstream tourism sectors. One of the key goals has been to identify authentic cultural knowledge enhancement opportunities involving the protection and transition of historic and traditional knowledge through the eyes of the Elders. This has been identified as one of the main priorities. These involve sensitive topics as the protection of language, traditional and authentic cultural practices, protection of traditional medicines and recent work towards identifying strategies that enhance Indigenous food sovereignty for the Mi’kmaw people.

Grant MacDonald is one of Canada’s leading sport tourism and major event professionals. With significant experience, his work includes 30-years of experience in amateur sports, sport tourism, government, and the private sector. Through event hosting, he has been leading the development of strategies and new business for most of his career. With a trusted reputation, Grant MacDonald has helped cities, destinations, facilities and rights holders make strategic decisions, build business and improve process.

Grant recently served as the Chair of Sport Tourism Canada’s COVID-19 Recovery Task Force and is the Head of Consulting for Sport Tourism Canada. Grant is currently serving as the General Manager of the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championship. Earlier in his career Grant worked with Hockey Canada and other organizations in Halifax staging the World Junior, World Women’s and World Men’s Hockey championships. Grant also is a consultant with FLOOR13, a Canadian boutique consulting firm dedicated to bringing innovative solutions to traditional problem solving for the tourism industry.

Grant led both Events Nova Scotia and Events Halifax and played a lead role in the development of the provincial tourism strategy for Nova Scotia in 2013. He began his career in amateur sport while also working as a Scout for the Toronto Blue Jays for eight years, including the World Series year of 1993.

Stacey is passionate about Nova Scotia. After more than 15 years in the broadcast industry, she joined the provincial government in 2006 and is currently the Director of Events Nova Scotia at Communities, Culture and Heritage. Stacey understands the power and opportunity major events provide Nova Scotia. Her team introduced the Nova Scotia Event Strategy in 2018, the first of its kind, guiding government’s work and investment of major events. Stacey experienced the power of events first hand, through her work for Nova Scotia at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, and the World Sprint Canoe Kayak Championships in 2009. In 2015, Stacey helped put Nova Scotia on the national stage, managing hundreds of volunteers and a Host Committee as Chair of Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards show.

Dr. Lisa Barrett is a clinician scientist with expertise in infectious disease and human immunology. She received her PhD (2008) and MD (2005) from Memorial University in Newfoundland. Her doctoral work investigated anti-viral responses to Hepatitis C virus in the context of HIV co-infection.

Dr. Barrett extended her medical training and completed an internal medicine residency at Dalhousie University in 2009 and an adult infectious disease fellowship at the University of Toronto in 2011.

She completed postdoctoral and clinician scientist training at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, where she was the immunologic lead on several early phase clinical trials investigating direct-acting antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C virus and a Phase 1 trial of immune based therapy for Hepatitis B virus. Her postdoctoral human immunology studies examined the impact of Hepatitis C infection and viral clearance on immunologic aging.

Dr. Barrett joined Dalhousie University in 2013 and established the Senescence, Aging, Infection and Immunity Laboratory, which combines her infectious disease and immunology expertise and is comprised of an expert team of clinical and basic science researchers.

With a mother who was a cook and a father who was a butcher, Chef Daryl MacDonnell says he was always surrounded by good food. Since receiving his diploma at The Culinary Institute of Canada, Daryl’s résumé includes a variety of cooking experiences from coast to coast and internationally as well. Daryl speaks with great appreciation for the mentorship and knowledge he gained from working with Chef Tony Murakami at Winnipeg’s St. Charles Country Club. Chef Murakami’s philosophy for success comes firstly from “being a good human being”.

This philosophy is one that Daryl has always carried with him. As a successful chef who has in turn mentored many young students, there is no denying that Daryl’s leadership style is founded on compassion and the sincere motivation of seeing others grow in their culinary development. Checking off one of his own professional goals, Chef MacDonnell most recently worked as the Executive Chef at Cape Breton’s world-renowned Ketlic Lodge. Taking most of his inspiration from French and Asian cuisine, Chef Daryl’s cooking style has remained rather simple: he allows the freshness and quality of locally sourced ingredients speak for themselves. Chef Daryl’s newest project, Woodroad, cultivates years of experience, an encyclopedia of favourite flavour profiles, and a passion for bringing unforgettable culinary experiences to those who are lucky enough to sit at his table.

Alicia Lake, MBA, is a lifelong resident of Victoria County, Cape Breton. She is a graduate of Cape Breton University, holding undergraduate degrees in community studies and political science; an MBA in community economic development, as well as a diploma in public administration and business management. Alicia grew up on a small farm in Iona, and has dedicated her life to strengthening the local food economy and celebrating good food. Alicia is the Executive Director of the Cape Breton Food Hub, a multi-stakeholder co-operative that operates an online marketplace to make it easy to get products from local producers into the hands of consumers and restaurants.

Gordon is the Executive Director of the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia (RANS). He took over the position to rebuild the association and make it a core element in the management and evolution of the food & beverage sector in Nova Scotia.

Gordon has a background in retailing, manufacturing and many years as a consultant for Tourism Hospitality across Canada and the US. He has been the first Director of Tourism for ACOA where he managed a multi-million-dollar portfolio in development of Tourism across the Atlantic Provinces. He has served a TIANS first president, Vice Chair of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC), Managing Director of Check In NS, Canada’s first online reservation system for the tourism sector and on many national boards and Task Forces.

He has won numerous awards including, Ambassador Award, Retailer of the Year, Small Business and Tourism Association Executive of the Year for Canada.

Gordon resides between Halifax and the South Shore of Nova Scotia with his wife Diane and his favourite saying (from his grandfather) - “Good things come to those who wait, but only after those who have hustled.”