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KEYNOTES & SPEAKERS

KEYNOTES

Sponsored by:

Kaye Chon

Dean, Chair Professor, and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation.

Professor in International Hospitality Management of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

A frequent speaker at international conferences, Dean Chon has published over 200 papers in international journals and professional publications and has authored or edited 12 books. One of his co-authored books, Welcome to Hospitality has been adopted as a textbook in more than 100 hospitality education programmes world-wide. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing and the Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research.

In 2011, Dean Chon received the Ulysses Prize from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The Ulysses Prize, known as the “Nobel Prize in Tourism,” is annually presented to one scholar in the world for his or her lifetime contributions in creating new knowledge in tourism.

Erin Brockovich

Consumer Advocate and Environmental Activist

American consumer advocate, environmental activist, and legal clerk whose relentless pursuit of justice transformed her into one of the world's most recognized environmental campaigners. She first gained national attention in the early 1990s when she helped build the landmark case against the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) over the contamination of groundwater in Hinkley, California. The historic lawsuit resulted in a $333 million settlement—the largest of its kind in U.S. history at the time—and inspired the Academy Award-winning film Erin Brockovich, starring Julia Roberts.

Born on June 22, 1960, in Lawrence, Brockovich built her career not through formal legal training, but through determination, investigative skill, and an unwavering commitment to communities affected by environmental contamination. Over the past three decades, she has become a leading voice on issues ranging from water pollution and toxic exposure to corporate accountability and public health.

Beyond her legal and advocacy work, Brockovich is a bestselling author, television host, and founder of Brockovich Research & Consulting. She has advised law firms and grassroots organizations worldwide, helping communities confront environmental hazards and demand accountability from powerful institutions. From the water crisis in Hinkley to more recent environmental disasters, Brockovich continues to champion the rights of ordinary people, earning a reputation as one of the most influential environmental activists of her generation.

Julie Berthelsen

Ward-winning Greenlandic - Danish Singer - Speaker & Cultural Ambassador

With over 20 years of experience. Known from her breakthrough in Popstars Denmark and a long-standing music career, she engages audiences across cultures through music, storytelling, and reflection.

Growing up between Greenlandic and Danish cultures, Julie brings a personal perspective on identity, belonging, and cultural encounters. She is an advocate for inclusivity and serves as ambassador for organisations including Save the Children Denmark and The Children’s Aid Foundation working to create positive impact for children, families, and communities.

Through her work, Julie invites audiences into a reflective and hopeful space where music, creativity, and shared human experience can build bridges across cultures.

Sponsored by:

Elliott Rayner

Fractional Head of Storytelling, OWOW

Helping product and marketing teams turn complex products into clear, compelling product narratives.

He spent over a decade building products in the sports industry at Adidas and ASICS before leading marketing teams in tech at Babbel and ARION.

The research and frameworks he developed along the way now power his book, The Story Engine, and his workshops, helping teams discover, define and deliver product narratives that their whole company can tell and their customers actually believe.

CO-CURATORS

Natalia Bayona

Executive Director, United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism)

Natalia is the Executive Director of UN Tourism and the youngest person ever to hold the position. She leads global initiatives linking tourism with innovation, education, investment, and sustainable economic development.

Recognized by Forbes, Bloomberg, and the World Economic Forum, she is considered one of the most influential Latin American leaders worldwide. Since joining UN Tourism in 2018, she has launched pioneering programs supporting entrepreneurship, digital education, and tourism investment across more than 100 countries. She founded the UN Tourism Online Academy, reaching over 50,000 students globally through partnerships with leading universities. Natalia holds an Executive MBA from IE University and has taught and spoken at institutions including Harvard, MIT, and Cornell.

Oliver Wykes

COO Wind Europe

Oliver Wykes, COO at WindEurope and President-Elect at the AC Forum. WindEurope is the voice of the European wind energy industry. It represents the whole value chain of wind energy across Europe with more than 600 members. Prior to WindEurope, Oliver worked as a management consultant in various sectors. 

SPEAKERS

Amber Herrewijn

Senior Lecturer & Researcher Events Management - Coördinator Elective of Master International Leisure, Tourism & Events Management Researcher ETFI - Partner of BEFuture - the Future of Business Events - Member of ATLAS (Association for Tourism and Leisure Research and Education)

Partner of EDC (Event Design Collective) - NHL Stenden University

Senior Lecturer and Researcher in Event Management at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, where she coordinates the Event Management/Event Studies track within the Master’s programme in International Leisure, Tourism & Events Management. Through her work with the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI), she focuses on bridging academia and the events industry by developing innovative, sustainable, and future-oriented solutions for the sector.

Amber is actively involved in European research projects, including BEFuture (The Future of Business Events) and STEP (Sustainable Training for Event Professionals), where she contributes to advancing sustainability, future skills, innovation, and behavioural change within the business events industry. Her research explores topics such as sustainable events, circularity, inclusion, and the transformation of the events ecosystem.

Passionate about empowering the next generation of event professionals, Amber works at the intersection of education, research, and industry collaboration to inspire meaningful change and support a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for business events

Doris Rwebangira

Managing Partner - SRC Agency

Doris Rwebangira-Parsons is an energetic and results-driven senior executive with extensive experience in strategic communications, corporate affairs, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement. With a strong background in developing and implementing impactful communication strategies, she has successfully supported organisations in strengthening their visibility, relationships, and public presence.

Her expertise spans strategic corporate communications, media relations, corporate social responsibility, conference and event management, and public speaking. Passionate about creating meaningful connections and driving positive change, Doris brings a dynamic approach to communication and leadership, combining strategic thinking with practical experience in engaging diverse audiences.

Fluent in English and Kiswahili, and currently learning Portuguese, Doris is committed to continuous learning and building bridges across cultures and communities.

Eli Gorin

CEO Americas - ATS Group

A passionate meetings and events professional who truly loves what he does, he is dedicated to helping others better understand and appreciate the value of the global meetings and events industry. He believes that industry professionals are not only catalysts for business growth but also cultural ambassadors with the unique opportunity to educate, inspire, and connect people through meaningful face-to-face meetings and events.

Ignacio Deregibus

Executive Director - IWRA

Ignacio Deregibus is an environmental policy and project management expert with extensive experience in water resources, sustainable development, and international cooperation. He is the Executive Director of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), where he works at the intersection of science, policy, and practice to advance global dialogue and collaboration on water challenges.

Throughout his career, Ignacio has led and supported initiatives focused on strategic development, research, policy support, and high-level advocacy. His expertise includes project management, environmental governance, water and sustainability issues, and building partnerships among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders worldwide.

With a strong passion for creating impact through collaboration and knowledge exchange, Ignacio brings a global perspective and leadership experience in addressing complex environmental challenges and promoting sustainable solutions.

Ksenija Polla

Director, International Development - TALLEY

She began her career as a teacher while still in college, discovering early on a passion for sharing knowledge that has remained a defining thread throughout her professional journey. This commitment to learning and education naturally led her to the association sector, where she believes organizations are far more than institutions—they are communities built on expertise, trust, and a shared purpose, enabling people to learn, connect, and advance meaningful ideas.


Her career has spanned event management, global association leadership, international development, and strategic partnerships. Throughout this journey, she has built strong relationships across regions, cultures, and sectors, guided by a deep belief in the power of meaningful collaboration.

Today, she focuses on helping associations strengthen their global relevance, foster strategic partnerships, and design meetings and experiences that are intentional, inclusive, and aligned with organizational missions. She is particularly passionate about the role of events in building communities, advancing knowledge, and creating lasting impact beyond the conference itself.


At the core of her work is a simple belief: bringing people together with purpose has the power to inspire change, strengthen communities, and create meaningful impact.

Loren Christie

Managing Director - BestCities

Loren Christie brings more than 25 years of experience in Tourism & Hospitality to his role as Managing Director of the BestCities Global Alliance. He held various leadership positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts during his 17 year career with them including Director of Sales for International Congress, Business Transient and Leisure Sales at the Toronto Metro Market. From 2017 to 2020, he moved to Destination Toronto, the Destination Management Organization for Canada's largest city, where he led the International Congress and Canadian sales teams.

For the last three years he has been running his own consulting and project management company working with a number of clients including IAPCO - as faculty, #Meet4IMpact and the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS) teaching their masterclass on Legacy and Impact, and for Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce as their Director of Business Development and Strategy. He recently wrapped up two years as the Vice-Chair of the Global Business Travel Association's Meetings & Events Committee for Canada.

He is currently a board member for Ontario's Regional Tourism Organization 9, which encompasses the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Prince Edward County wine region and the 1000 Islands. He also sits on the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee for the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario and on the Technical Advisory Committee for the GDS.

Maddalena Chiellini

Association Segment Developer - Convention Bureau Italia

Social scientist and qualitative and investigative researcher with prolonged field experience in multiple cultural settings, specialised on South Asia and gender. An accomplished freelance translator, reports and content writer and editor with a unique mix of creative and language skills, I have also worked in event organization, especially in the film industry. Currently in the final writing up stage of my Doctoral Degree in Geography and Anthropology.

Melissa Hamilton

Principal Consultant – Sustainable Meetings & Events - EarthCheck

With over a decade of experience in events and project management, Melissa brings a wealth of expertise in stakeholder engagement and operational efficiency to EarthCheck. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (Honours) and minors in Economic Policy and Italian.


She began her career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., working closely with policymakers, before moving to the Council on Foreign Relations where she managed high-profile events attended by global leaders.

Melissa’s journey brought her to Australia in 2019, where she worked as the Communications and Events Manager at SkyPoint, Dreamworld, and WhiteWater World, refining her expertise in quality management and team leadership.

Milda Salciute

Director of Events Consulting and GDS-Academy

Milda Salciute brings over 12 years of sustainability expertise to the meetings and events industry. As Director of Events and Academy at the Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS-Movement), she oversees event consulting and the GDS-Academy, a learning platform for destination leaders and event professionals. Milda expertly manages the social, economic, and environmental impacts of events and guides clients in developing regenerative event strategies. Previously, she was a Strategic Project Manager at TNW and managed education and sustainability initiatives at IMEX Group. Originally from Lithuania, Milda now lives in Amsterdam and enjoys nature and outdoor adventures. 

Nellie Swart

Professor, Director Executive Education - Graduate School of Business Leadership

Professor of Tourism at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Chair of Tourism Educators South Africa. A respected academic, researcher, and industry leader, she holds a Doctorate in Commerce (Leadership, Performance and Change) and is a Certified Meetings Professional (CMP).

With more than 70 publications and several influential book contributions, Prof. Swart is recognised for advancing tourism education, sustainable development, and leadership across Africa and beyond. Her work has earned numerous accolades, including recognition among the Top 40 Women in MICE, the 100 Most Powerful People in African Hospitality, and the Top 5 Women in Leadership in Africa, as well as the 2025 AAXO ROAR Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry.

An internationally sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, and advisor, Prof. Swart is passionate about developing future tourism leaders, promoting gender equity, and driving innovation and sustainable growth in the tourism and events sectors.

Nigel Brown

Director Global Alliance - BestCities

Nigel started his career at the head office of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) in Amsterdam. He was part of the event organizing team of the association and served 7 years organizing a host of events on all continents. During his tenure he gained extensive project management skills and was responsible for implementing new technologies at ICCA events. Prior to joining the team Nigel worked as Project Manager for Singex Exhibition Ventures, the event organizing arm of the Singapore EXPO.During his period at Singex he gained experience working on trade & consumer shows and conferences.

This all-round experience has given him insights into both the client and supplier sides of the events industry.Nigel holds a Bachelor of Hotel Administration, Bachelor of European Hospitality Management from the Hotelschool The Hague and a culinary diploma from the Amsterdam College of Hotel and Gastronomy.

Ploy Thirapongphaiboon

APAC Food Systems Partnerships Associate Director

Nantaporn Thirapongphaiboon (Ploy) joined GFN in May 2024 as the APAC Food Systems Partnerships Associate Director and is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

She is a seasoned professional in partnership engagement and marketing communications with a strong background in the food industry and a passion for food system transformation.

Throughout her career, Ploy has worked with a diverse range of stakeholders, including farmers, chefs, businesspersons, and consumers, within the sustainable food supply chain. Her extensive experience has underscored her expertise in fostering collaboration along the food supply chain to create meaningful impacts.


Before joining The Global FoodBanking Network, Ploy served as the Senior Outreach Manager at Scholars of Sustenance, Thailand’s first-ever food rescue foundation, for nearly four years. Leading the Outreach department, she spearheaded impactful collaborations across public, private, and academic sectors. Notably, she brought the National Food Bank initiative to the government’s attention, influencing food donation policy recommendations and achieving fundraising goals to sustain food rescue operations.


Ploy’s interest in reducing food waste and improving food security began in 2017 while pursuing her master’s in Social Entrepreneurship at Goldsmiths, University of London. During this time, she volunteered with a local food charity, Food Cycle gaining firsthand experience in food rescue and cooking for the homeless. She continued her journey during a gap year in the Netherlands in 2019, working as a circular cook at Instock, the first restaurant to turn surplus food into casual fine dining meals.


Additionally, Ploy is a certified Natural Chef from the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London, where she gained knowledge about the health properties of good food and the environmental impact of human consumption. She is committed to ensuring That good food is accessible to everyone.


Sarah Jung

Sales Manager - Messe München

Sarah Jung is an international venue sales professional based in Munich, specialising in supporting association congresses and international business events from the initial enquiry through to venue selection and long-term partnership development. With extensive experience in complex RFP and bid processes, Sarah works closely with event organisers to create tailored venue solutions that meet the strategic needs of global events.


Having lived and worked in the United States, Sarah brings a valuable international perspective and a deep understanding of cross-cultural collaboration within the business events industry. Through her role, she combines a strong sales mindset with in-depth knowledge of Munich as a leading congress destination, helping organisations deliver successful and impactful events.

Simone Bianco

Assistant Professor of Strategic Management at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University's School of Hotel and Tourism Management

His research focuses on startups, competitive dynamics, and strategic positioning within the hospitality and tourism sectors, with first-author publications in all leading journals in the field. Before entering academia, Simone spent several years in operational and management roles across hotels, restaurants, and industry associations in both Europe and the United States. He holds a PhD from Virginia Tech, an MSc from the University of Delaware, and a BA from the University of Pisa.

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