TIAC's Regional Roundtable Series: Meet The Panellists

Carol-Ann Gilliard (Assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism, Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation)

Since October 2021, Carol-Ann Gilliard has served as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. Prior to that, Carol-Ann served as the Director of Sector Diversification with the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology and the Director of Tourism Product Development, where she led the Provincial Tourism Product Development Plan. Before that, Ms. Gilliard was the CEO of Hospitality NL for seven years during which time she helped lead the development and implementation of the 10-year provincial tourism vision.  

Caroline Séguin (Senior Vice-President, Industry Advancement & Corporate Secretary, Destination Canada)

Caroline is Senior Vice-President, Industry Advancement & Corporate Secretary at Destination Canada. With over 18 years in public policy, communications, and intergovernmental affairs, she has led major initiatives across all levels of government. She oversees Corporate Communications, Industry Engagement, Government Relations, and Board Affairs, ensuring strategic alignment across the organization. Caroline also serves as Corporate Secretary, managing governance and compliance. Her leadership advances Destination Canada’s 2030 mandate and supports the tourism sector’s global competitiveness. 

Philip Mondor (President & CEO, Tourism HR Canada)

Philip is an accomplished leader with nearly 35 years of experience working with labour market stakeholders across Canada and abroad including foreign governments, pan-global organizations, Canadian and non-Canadian businesses, and various education and training bodies. His work spans over 15 industrial sectors and in 11 countries, with most of his career focused on the tourism industry.

Tourism HR Canada is a pan-Canadian organization that works on behalf of 272,000 employers and 2 million workers with a mandate aimed at building a world-leading tourism workforce. With representation from business, labour, workers, academia and more, Tourism HR Canada facilitates, coordinates, and enables human resource development activities that support a globally competitive and sustainable industry and foster the development of a dynamic and resilient workforce.

Currently, Philip member of the Labour Market Information Council and a Director on the Board of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Throughout his career, he has been called upon to offer input to various workforce policy directives with governments and associations. Philip served on federal ministerial advisory committees, several Board of Directors, and volunteers for causes that help advance workforce issues and improve opportunities for people to engage in community and meaningful employment. 

Tara Saunders (Director of Business Development, Indigenous Tourism Industry Association of Canada)

Tara Saunders, a member of The Qalipu First Nation, works with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada as Director of Business Development. In her role, Tara is responsible for implementing programs, tools and resources to help develop the Indigenous tourism industry across Canada, as well as helping to develop and stabilize regional Indigenous tourism associations.

Prior to her work with ITAC, Tara worked as the Director of Culture, Tourism and Community Development for Qalipu First Nation, which, with close to 24,000 members, is one of the biggest First Nations in the country.

During her work with community, Tara oversaw the implementation of the Nation’s tourism development strategy; Experience Qalipu. This strategy focuses on developing market-ready cultural experiences and other tourism products throughout the Mi’kmaq communities on the island of Newfoundland, connecting the visitor to the vibrant culture of the Mi’kmaq people and forming strong partnerships within the industry to lead to a strengthened economy and culture.

Tara also led the development of the provincial Indigenous Tourism strategy from Newfoundland and Labrador, took part in the incorporation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Indigenous Tourism Association and became the inaugural chair of the association in early 2020.