Year: 2025
Wendy Magnes
As Director, Economics and Corporate Initiatives, with the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, Wendy is known for establishing enduring partnerships and establishing critical operational linkages between key partners and organizations across BC and other areas. As part of her role, Wendy leads the Ministry’s team responsible for… Read more
Dave Cowen
As CEO of The Butchart Gardens, Mr. Cowen leads a creative and diverse team of over six hundred staff in the stewardship of a world-renowned horticultural experience. As a National Historic Site of Canada, Butchart receives over one million annual visitors and offers diverse entertainment, shopping and dining options. Mr…. Read more
David Holder, CDME
As a tourism professional for over 25 years, David Holder co-founded Clarity of Place in 2020 with the objective of helping destinations find better alignment with the communities they serve. The firm was acquired by Longwoods International in January of 2023, strengthening their ability to provide research-based recommendations to build… Read more
Greg Takehara
Greg has been the CEO of Tourism Cares since 2019. He previously served on its Board, acting as its Chairman before becoming CEO. Prior to Tourism Cares, Greg was the President of Trip Mate, Inc., a travel insurance administrator. His career has spanned thirty-four years in the travel industry. Greg… Read more
Christian Van Buskirk
Christian Van Buskirk is an Associate Teaching Professor at the Gustavson School of Business and brings over 25 years tourism industry experience in the private and public sectors. His experience ranges from marketing and coordinating province-wide tourism initiatives to owning and operating a destination marketing organization (DMO) and customer experience… Read more
Calen McNeil
Calen and partners started their first restaurant in 1999. Having recently celebrated the 25-year anniversary, Zambri’s Italian restaurant is a Victoria BC institution. Calen’s business background has been a great compliment to the passion and artistry required to produce amazing food and hospitality. In 2011 Calen, who’s nickname is “Big… Read more
Brenda Holder
Brenda is of Cree/Iroquois lineage and is pleased to follow her heritage as a traditional guide from the Kwarakwante of Jasper. She is a Traditional Knowledge Keeper of plant medicine from her Cree lineage and teaches courses on plant medicine, offers unique and fun hands on workshops on plants and… Read more
Gunjan Menon
Gunjan Menon is a Producer-Director, National Geographic Explorer, and the founder of the impact-first studio Beyond Premieres, dedicated to moving hearts with powerful documentaries. Her work has garnered over 50 awards across 20 countries, broadcast on Nat Geo Wild, BBC, PBS, Discovery, and Disney+. Her 2018 student BAFTA-shortlisted ‘The Firefox… Read more
Lebawit Lily Girma
Lebawit Lily Girma is an award-winning Ethiopian-American journalist passionate about leveraging travel as a tool for economic equity, inclusion and cultural preservation. A former lawyer turned global storyteller, she brings 15 years of experience in sustainable tourism coverage. Lily currently reports full-time on travel for Bloomberg News, where she also… Read more
Tyler Riopel
Tourism Jasper, the official marketing organization for Jasper and Jasper National Park, showcases Jasper as it really is: an awe-inspiring and authentic Rocky Mountain destination full of charm and adventure. As CEO, Tyler is dedicated to ensuring the organization delivers on this promise and the entire community benefits from the… Read more