Culinary Tourism Alliance
2024-2025 Board of Directors

The CTA seeks to maintain a Board with a diversity of experience and perspectives, including race,  gender, geography, and areas of expertise to support organization in achieving its mission and vision.  

The CTA Board strives to meet the 50/30 challenge and will be holding space for  candidates that enable us to advance gender parity and increased diversity on the  Board. 

Nominations for passionate folks to join our 2025-2026 board will open in late summer, 2025.

Meet the Board

  • Richard Willett

    (he/him)

    Chair

    Principal, Willett Hospitality

    Connect with Richard on LinkedIn

  • Sarah Jarvis

    (she/her)

    Vice Chair

    Director of Community Engagement, Destination Toronto

    Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn

  • Emily Haynes

    (she/her)

    Treasurer

    Executive Director, Taste of Nova Scotia

    Connect with Emily on LinkedIn

  • Kelly O'Brien

    (she/her)

    Secretary

    Associate Dean, Faculty of Hospitality & Horticultural Science at Durham College

    Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn

  • Andria Barrett

    (she/her)

    Member at Large

    Connect with Andria on LinkedIn

  • Carl-Éric Guertin

    (he/him)

    Executive director, The ÉCONOMUSÉE® Network Society

    Connect with Carl-Éric on LinkedIn

  • Ellen Walker-Matthews

    (she/her)

    CEO, Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association

    Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn

  • France Dionne

    (she/her)

    Executive Director General, ITHQ

  • James Leppan

    (he/him)

    Senior Manager, Destination Development, Explore Edmonton

    Connect with James on LinkedIn

  • Lorie Watson

    (she/her)

    Economic Development Specialist, Town of Okotoks

    Connect with Lorie on LinkedIn

  • Nancy Small

    (she/her)

    CEO, Tourism Richmond

    Connect with Nancy on LinkedIn