Speakers

Mohamad Fakih
Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador are excited to welcome Mohamad Fakih as our keynote speaker at our Annual Conference and Trade Show. Mohamad will address the conference on April 7, 2022, in the afternoon and discuss leadership, innovation, and a kinder capitalism.
Arriving in Canada, Mohamad Fakih had $1300 in his pocket. He bought a near-bankrupt restaurant and built it into one of North America’s fastest-growing Middle Eastern Halal food chains – Paramount Fine Foods. And all while becoming one of the country’s most respected philanthropists.
He’s also received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Food & Beverage in 2014 followed by the 2016 Business Person of the Year Award by the Toronto Board of Trade, the 2017 Leadership Award by Restaurants Canada, and the 2017 Top 25 Immigrants Award by Royal Bank Canada (RBC).
Mohamad inspires audiences to implement strategies that result in successful teams and businesses while ultimately giving back to the community in effective and sustainable ways, and sharing your success with others in order to create lasting change.

Brenda O’Reilly
Born and raised in Torbay, Brenda O’Reilly boasts over 30 years of experience in the Hospitality and Food-Service industry, most of them as an owner/operator. Her range of business experience includes catering, fast food, full-service restaurants, hotel food and beverage, fine dining, micro-breweries, casual dining, and pubs.
Ms. O’Reilly presently co-owns and operates four food and beverage establishments in St. John’s: O’Reilly’s Irish Newfoundland Pub, Mussels on the Corner, Yellowbelly Brewery & Public House, and YellowBelly at the St. John’s International Airport. She is currently the Chair of Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador’s Board of Directors.
Ms. O’Reilly has also served on various boards and committees, including: a 19-year term with the Restaurant Canada Board and is also an Honourary Director, St. John’s Board of Trade, National Restaurant Board for the United States, the Federal Committee with the Status of Women and an advisory committee with the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation. She was also instrumental in starting the George Street Bar Owners Association and served as a member of the Executive Committee for most of the last 18 years.
In addition, Ms. O’Reilly, supports many charity organizations including: Children’s Wish, Candlelighters (Camp Delight), Daffodil Place, Salvation Army Christmas Hampers, St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Hamper Drive, Alzheimer’s Association and The Janeway.

Keith Henry
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.

Marc Sequin
Marc has more than 30 years’ experience in public policy and advocacy, including more than 15 years working for a member-driven, national industry association. He joined TIAC in September 2021.
Before TIAC Marc held the position of Senior Vice President, Policy, at the Canadian Media Producers Association where he worked with a broad spectrum of teams and stakeholders across Canada in the assessment, development and advocacy of strategy policy initiatives, and led the organization’s government relations activities. During his tenure, Marc successfully led several major policy development and advocacy initiatives related to the Canadian feature film and broadcasting sectors.
Before joining the CMPA, Marc held several increasingly senior positions within the federal departments of Communications Canada and Canadian Heritage where he led or significantly contributed to several national policy initiatives.
Marc is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal, holding a Bachelor of Arts with a Specialization in Communication Studies.
He lives in Ottawa, and is an avid runner, cyclist, tennis player, photographer, and musician.

Marsha Walden
Marsha’s career spans leadership roles in strategy and organizational renewal, marketing and communications, corporate social responsibility, operations management, and business innovation. She has worked with enterprises in many of Canada’s flagship industries and found her true calling in tourism.
Marsha joined Destination Canada as President and CEO in August 2020 in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is proud to lead a team of passionate professionals who share a common purpose of inspiring those with glowing hearts to fall in love with Canada – enriching the lives of visitors and enhancing the quality of life of Canadians. Previously, Marsha led the team at Destination British Columbia, initiating ground-breaking strategies for tourism development and data-driven performance marketing.
A resident of North Vancouver, Marsha holds a bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and is an active volunteer with the YMCA of Greater Vancouver, BC Business Laureates, and The Presidents Group championing inclusive employment. Marsha’s glowing hearts Canadian moment was wildlife touring in Haida Gwaii and witnessing the prehistoric-looking spectacle of humpback whales bubble-net feeding nearby. “Their power and intelligence was breathtaking and humbling.”