MPI Toronto Chapter’s 2025 Board Slate Approved

Having been submitted to membership for approval, we are happy to officially share the MPI Toronto Chapter 2025 Leadership Slate.

What's the Process?

Any Chapter Member in good standing is eligible to be nominated for a volunteer position on the Board. All successful candidates must meet eligibility criteria as set out in the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and the MPI Toronto Chapter Policies.

It is beneficial for an applicant to have already been an MPI volunteer, to understand the organization on a local Chapter and Global basis, and movement typically goes from volunteer to Chair, Director, VP, and so on.

Applicants submitted their nomination profile, along with their current resume, a letter of support from their employer, and 1-3 references.

Upon review, interviews were completed by each applicant with the Leadership Selection Committee (LSC), after which the portfolios were assigned and presented to the Membership for approval.

The 2025 term starts January 1, due to an extended term in 2023-2024 to align the fiscal calendar for MPI Global and all Chapters with the calendar year. We thank all members of the current Leadership Slate and committee volunteers for their extended service, and for agreeing to stay on for an additional 6 months past the original agreed term. Your hard work to grow our MPI Toronto Chapter and our member offerings is immensely appreciated! 

Departing members of the Leadership Slate for 2023-2024 include:

• Wentworth Willock, CMP – Immediate Past President
• Tami Adams, VEMM – Vice President, Membership
• Leanne McCartney – Director, Marketing
• Erinn Young, VEMM, HVED – Director, Strategic Partnerships
• Emilia Kim, DES – Director, Events

New members of the Leadership Slate for 2025 include:

• Kristina Hall – Director, Education
• Kris Knox – Director, Marketing and Communications
• Poonam Ruparelia, VEMM – Director, Events

Members from the current Leadership Slate who are continuing on include:

• Zaman Ishaad, CED, CMP, DES, CIS – President
• Alissa Hurley, CMM, CED – Immediate Past President
• Stephanie Rapko, CEM, CMP – President - Elect
• Brenda Perrin – Vice President, Marketing & Communications
• Dwayne Rutherford, DES – Vice President, Membership and Finance
• MC (Marie-Chantal) Thibault – Vice President, Education and Events
• Romina Kwong – Director, Membership
• Julie McMartin, CED – Director, DEI

Congratulations to all who have been selected and approved! Thank you for lending your knowledge, experience, intellect, talent, and energy to promote the success of MPI Toronto Chapter and its members.

What’s Next?

A Board of Directors Summit took place in October to welcome new Directors and VPs. There, sessions were facilitated by MPI facilitator Kate Copeland, and everyone strategized together on how to move our Chapter forward, providing optimal value for our members and fulfilling the vision and mission of MPI:

• Leading and empowering the meeting and event community to change the world.
• Connecting the global meeting and event community to learn, innovate, collaborate, and advocate.

All who volunteer to serve their fellow members work to build on the work of their predecessors and are always evolving and learning themselves. Leadership welcomes constructive discussions with members and are building committees to make the magic happen.

Thank you to the Leadership Selection Committee for your work in bringing together this slate. Thank you also to Fletcher Wright Associates Inc and Executive Director, Leslie Wright, for your support, leadership, and extensive knowledge. And thank you to Marcelo DeOliveira, Regional Operations Manager, for your big-picture insights and calm guidance in liaising between our Chapter and MPI Global.

If you are interested in your own professional development and growth, building long-lasting relationships, and developing new skills, we welcome you to apply to volunteer!