Nicole Brown

Food is Nicole’s centrepiece for intentional gratitude: a medium for discovery and connection to her favourite people and her favourite places. Nicole believes people are at the heart of hospitality, leadership, and the experiences that bring communities to life. She knows meaningful moments around the table begin long before the meal is served — it’s the folks in the fields, farms, fisheries, and food businesses who form the backbone of Canada’s culinary and agritourism industry.

With more than a decade of experience in tourism, marketing, operations, and partnership development, Nicole has built a career bringing people, places, and ideas together. Her tourism career began at Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, where she discovered the impact thoughtful experiences can have on lasting memories. Since then, she has contributed to destination development and award-winning tourism initiatives with organizations including Explore Waterloo Region, Huronia Historical Parks, and Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest.

Today, as Vice President of Operations & Partnerships at the Culinary Tourism Alliance, Nicole leads strategic initiatives that strengthen Canada’s culinary and agritourism ecosystem and support sustainable growth for communities across the country. She recently completed her Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) designation through Destinations International and currently serves on the Boards of Directors for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and Attractions Ontario.