As the year tilts toward winter and the calendar fills up one more time, I find myself thinking about what it means to be not just an experienced planner but also an “aging planner” in the meetings and events world. After nearly thirty years in this industry, I feel like I am in a new season of my career. It is a season that is deep in colour and experience, but it also comes with a little chill of change.

MPI BREAKS, your new monthly source of inspiration and industry insights! Each month, our Chapter President will dive into a topic designed to spark ideas and enrich your perspective. BREAKS = Business, Research, Environment, Accessibility, Knowledge, Suppliers

Morgan Berson is a Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Canadian Museum of Nature and he wears many hats, from planning galas to coordinating themed talks and gallery openings. A mysterious secret that Berson shared about the Museum is that with a building over 100 years old his colleagues have felt the presence of ghosts!

After 14 years with MPI and a career that’s taken him across some of Canada’s most beautiful destinations, Ryan Young has built his success on something simple but powerful—people. As the Assistant Managing Director of Sales at Hilton Worldwide, he leads Canada’s global sales team with warmth, humility and care. But what really defines him is the confidence he builds in those around him.

In 2024, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) assembled a global task force dedicated to reviewing and updating the organization's Principles of Professionalism. As the world and the meetings and events industry have experienced significant transformation, these changes underscored the importance of revisiting MPI’s guiding principles to ensure they accurately reflect the current landscape of the profession.

For Lizzy Low, Assistant Director of Business Events at Ottawa Tourism, the path into destination marketing wasn’t perfectly mapped out but it was built through curiosity, adaptability, and saying yes to opportunities. When she first moved to Ottawa, while waiting for her work permit, Low started volunteering just to meet people and get involved. That leap opened the door to Ottawa Tourism, where she worked her way up from sales coordinator to a leadership role.

MPI BREAKS, your new monthly source of inspiration and industry insights! Each month, our Chapter President will dive into a topic designed to spark ideas and enrich your perspective. BREAKS = Business, Research, Environment, Accessibility, Knowledge, Suppliers

Sarah Newman is a Senior Event Planner for the Bank of Canada. She joined MPI on the advice of colleague Heidi Rodger and is keen to glean from MPI’s educational events. Newman studied journalism at university and started at the Bank of Canada initially helping to organize media events. When there was a sudden gap in the Bank’s event planning department, she embraced the chance to make the switch!

MPI BREAKS, your new monthly source of inspiration and industry insights! Each month, our Chapter President will dive into a topic designed to spark ideas and enrich your perspective. BREAKS = Business, Research, Environment, Accessibility, Knowledge, Suppliers

I’m excited to be stepping back onto the MPI Ottawa Board of Directors as your VP of Finance. The last time I served on the Board, my role was finishing during the height of COVID-19, a time when our chapter’s budget was facing a significant deficit and uncertainty was the norm. It was a challenging period, but it also showed me the resilience and creativity of our MPI Ottawa community.

For Susan Dallin O’Grady, site selection isn’t just about booking rooms or signing contracts, it’s about shaping life-changing moments. As a Site Selection Specialist for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and an 8-year MPI member, she knows how every detail can affect someone’s future. The events she manages are not galas or summits; they are medical exams where one day can decide an entire career.

Laura Matley is the Manager, Business Events for Ottawa Tourism. She lives in Ottawa and shares that one of Ottawa’s secrets to success is the sense of community and inclusivity. Imagine you are walking near Parliament, near the Byward Market and you see that there are all types of different people and cultures represented in the restaurant and retail scene.

We Asked. You Answered. Here is What We Learned and How YOU can make it happen. Back in March, we launched our bi-annual Member Survey and 35% of Ottawa chapter members took time to tell us what’s working, where you’re feeling stuck and what you’d like to see more of.

MPI BREAKS, your new monthly source of inspiration and industry insights! Each month, our Chapter President will dive into a topic designed to spark ideas and enrich your perspective. BREAKS = Business, Research, Environment, Accessibility, Knowledge, Suppliers

Dave Wilk is not only a new member to our MPI Ottawa chapter, but he is also new to his role as Manager, Business Development National East for Discover Saskatoon. While he lives in Kitchener, he appreciates all that Saskatoon has to offer!

When you meet Annick Hector, there is something about her that instantly puts you at ease. She doesn’t lead with a loud voice or a long title but she leads by example. Through her calm energy, collaborative spirit, and genuine care for others.

MPI BREAKS, your new monthly source of inspiration and industry insights! Each month, our Chapter President will dive into a topic designed to spark ideas and enrich your perspective. BREAKS = Business, Research, Environment, Accessibility, Knowledge, Suppliers

Welcome to the first installment of our new “From the Board” series - where you’ll get insights on the industry and key topics from your MPI Ottawa leadership. For this edition, I wanted to share my experience attending MPI World Education Congress (WEC), held June 16–18 in St. Louis, Missouri.

If you ask Tami LeBlanc, CMP what the secret is to building a long and meaningful career in destination sales, she’ll tell you without missing a beat: “It’s all about people.” With decades of experience in both hotel sales and destination marketing, LeBlanc brings a calm, down-to-earth energy to her role at Discover Halifax. She’s passionate about building real relationships and helping others grow and that’s been her guiding principle from the very beginning.

MPI Ottawa’s Charity Auction Helps Dreams Take Flight for Local Children. MPI Ottawa is thrilled to announce the success of our Annual Charity Auction, where our incredible community came together to support meaningful causes, including Dreams Take Flight Ottawa. Thanks to the generosity of our members, event professionals, and industry partners, we helped raise crucial funds to give deserving children the opportunity of a lifetime, a magical day at Walt Disney World.