2026 Ontario Tourism Summit

DR. DAVID COLETTO
Chair, CEO and Founder
Abacus Data

Dr. David Coletto is a Canadian public opinion researcher, political scientist, and commentator best known as the founder, chair, and CEO of Abacus Data, a leading polling and market research firm based in Ottawa and Toronto. Holding a PhD in political science from the University of Calgary (2010), his academic work focused on Canadian elections, including how local factors and candidate characteristics influence electoral outcomes, which has informed his broader expertise in voting behaviour and public policy analysis. Over more than two decades, Coletto has built a reputation as one of Canada’s most prominent pollsters and analysts, frequently advising governments, corporations, and organizations and providing evidence-based insights into public attitudes across sectors such as transportation, media, retail, and tourism.  Particularly in Ontario and across Canada—Coletto plays a key role in shaping public understanding through polling, commentary, and media analysis.

His firm’s surveys are regularly cited by major news outlets, and he is often called upon to interpret shifting voter sentiment as events unfold, making him an influential voice in reporting and explaining election trends and political dynamics. In addition to electoral analysis, his work extends into areas such as tourism and economic development by examining consumer behaviour, public perceptions, and market trends that affect regional economies, helping public and private sector leaders make strategic decisions. 

GWEN PATRICK
Financial Innovation Lead
Shorefast Institute

Gwen Patrick is a Canadian financial and social innovation leader who serves as Financial Innovation Lead at the Shorefast Institute for Place‑Based Economies on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, where she focuses on developing tools and strategies that strengthen local and culturally rooted economies. With a background in finance and business—including a CPA designation, experience in public accounting, and education at Queen’s University—Patrick combines technical expertise with a strong commitment to community economic development and social enterprise.

At Shorefast, a charitable organization founded to build economic and cultural resilience in rural communities, she plays a key role in advancing the “Economic Nutrition” initiative, a transparency framework designed to help businesses and consumers better understand the real impact of their spending. Patrick’s work on Economic Nutrition centres on making visible the often-hidden flows of money within complex supply chains, particularly in tourism and place-based economies where much of the spending can quickly leave the local community. 

DANIEL LEWIS
Human-Centric Workplace Culture & Sales Expert
Motivational Storyteller

Daniel Lewis, widely known as the “Human Caffeine” speaker, is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and international keynote speaker whose work focuses on energizing organizations through a people-first approach to leadership, workforce engagement, and customer experience. As the founder of the award‑winning tea brand T By Daniel, Lewis built his career within a customer-facing, experience-driven retail business, which informs much of his perspective on the tourism, culinary, and hospitality sectors—industries that depend heavily on human connection, service excellence, and memorable guest experiences.
Through his work, Lewis has become a prominent voice in redefining how businesses approach workforce and service strategy, advocating for a model where strong internal culture directly translates into stronger external experiences for visitors and customers. His insights are particularly relevant to tourism and hospitality industries seeking to differentiate themselves through service excellence, as he positions engaged employees not just as workers, but as central contributors to brand identity, guest satisfaction, and long-term business growth. 

WAHN YOON
Co-founder, L'Institut Idée

Wahn Yoon is a Toronto‑based strategist and co‑founder of L’Institut Idée, a Canadian think tank and consulting firm focused on helping organizations reimagine strategy, brand development, and long‑term growth through innovation and insight. With more than two decades of experience in brand strategy and business transformation—initially trained in global agencies such as J. Walter Thompson—Yoon has built a career leading complex, multi‑sector initiatives for major international clients across hospitality, tourism, retail, and entertainment.  

A significant part of Yoon’s work intersects with tourism and destination development, particularly in Ontario and across North America, where he has helped destination marketing organizations, hotels, and cultural attractions better understand evolving traveller expectations and emotional drivers. Through research and thought leadership initiatives—including studies on the future of travel—he identifies the motivations, values, and experiences that will shape tourism demand over the next decade, enabling destinations to design more compelling and competitive visitor offerings. 

IAN BAILEY
Parliamentary Bureau Reporter
Globe and Mail

With a journalism career spanning several decades and experience reporting across the country—including roles with The Canadian Press, the National Post, and other major outlets—Bailey has built deep expertise in covering Parliament Hill, federal elections, and regulatory developments, often interpreting how government actions influence industries and regions across Canada, including Ontario.

While his coverage is not exclusively focused on tourism, Bailey’s work intersects with the sector through his reporting on federal policies, funding announcements, economic programs, and infrastructure investments that directly impact tourism and hospitality industries in Ontario and beyond. His reporting frequently examines government strategies related to economic development, trade, transportation, and national events—areas that are closely tied to tourism performance and destination competitiveness.

Through his widely read “Politics Insider” updates and broader political coverage, Bailey provides context on how federal decisions influence regional economies, including key tourism drivers such as major events, cultural industries, and cross‑border travel conditions. 

LOREN CHRISTIE
Managing Director
Best Cities Global Alliance

Currently the Managing Director of the BestCities Global Alliance, Christie has held senior leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Destination Toronto, where he led international and national sales efforts and helped position Toronto—and Ontario more broadly—as a leading destination for global meetings and conventions.  His career has consistently focused on advancing destination competitiveness, workforce development, and innovative business event strategies, while his early experience as a tour guide and his long tenure in hotel leadership give him a deep, practical understanding of the visitor experience from the ground up.

Christie’s work is closely tied to tourism in Ontario through both leadership and governance roles. He serves on the board of Regional Tourism Organization 9, representing key destinations such as Prince Edward County, the Rideau Canal, and the Thousand Islands, and has contributed to initiatives with the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario and other sector groups focused on sustainability, inclusion, and long‑term destination development.

RICHARD ANDERSON
Executive Director
Smart Serve Ontario

Since taking on his role in 2017, Anderson has led Smart Serve Ontario—the organization responsible for delivering the province’s officially authorized Responsible Alcohol Beverage Sales and Service Training Program, approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and required for individuals working across bars, restaurants, events, and tourism venues.  

Through Smart Serve Ontario, Anderson plays a vital role in strengthening Ontario’s tourism ecosystem by supporting the people who deliver frontline visitor experiences. The organization trains approximately 100,000 individuals each year and is deeply integrated into hospitality, culinary, and tourism programs across colleges, universities, and even secondary schools, ensuring a consistent standard of safety, professionalism, and service across the province.  His leadership has also helped expand initiatives that respond to evolving industry needs, including training for new alcohol retail environments, partnerships to support workforce well‑being, and ongoing education to promote responsible service practices in an increasingly complex and competitive tourism landscape.

RICHARD C. POWERS
MBA, LLB, ICD.D
University of Toronto

Richard Powers, an associate professor and leader in corporate governance education at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, is this year’s winner of the Peter Dey Governance Achievement Award from Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC).

At the Rotman School Prof. Powers previously served as the Associate Dean where he was responsible for Full-Time and Part-Time MBA programs as well as the Master of Finance program.  It was during this time that he began focusing his interests on governance-related matters.

An internationally recognized expert in both corporate and not-for-profit governance, he is the National Academic Director of the Directors Education Program (DEP) and the Governance Essentials Program (GEP) which are offered in partnership with the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD). 

RYNA YOUNG
Regional Head
KBRS

Ryna Young is a Toronto-based executive search and human capital leader with extensive experience in workforce strategy, talent development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), positioning her as a knowledgeable voice on human resources challenges relevant to Ontario’s tourism and hospitality sectors. As Regional Head of Executive Search and DEI Lead at KBRS, she brings more than two decades of experience advising organizations across public and private sectors on leadership recruitment, talent pipelines, and organizational transformation, including roles that span human resources, operations, and executive leadership. Her work focuses on delivering integrated talent solutions—such as recruitment, assessment, coaching, and succession planning—designed to help organizations respond to evolving workforce needs, a priority area for labour-intensive industries like tourism and hospitality.