Meet the Team
We are a small and mighty team of dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds, including social enterprise development, urban and rural planning, cultural heritage management, economic development, journalism, law, human rights and, of course, tourism. Having lived and worked across Canada and the world, we bring lived experiences and best practice examples from working with communities and tourism operators of all shapes and sizes. Our client-partners benefit from our combined skillsets and our aptitude for coming up with creative solutions. We bring our positive energy and enthusiasm to all our work.
#WeAreBannikin
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Trevor Jonas Benson
MANAGING PARTNER
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Caroline Morrow
PARTNER
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Kerry Sharpe
PARTNER
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Gabriella Stowell
TRAVEL TRADE SPECIALIST
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James Arteaga
PROJECT MANAGER
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Hamid Dwyer
PROJECT COORDINATOR
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Camilo Montoya-Guevara
PARTNER (ON LEAVE)
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I have the pleasure and responsibility of shepherding Bannikin into a future where the company is thriving because its team and client-partners are happy.
I am a social-minded systems thinker, progressive project manager, and entrepreneurial extrovert. After completing my undergrad in law and human rights, and graduate coursework in legal studies, I took my master's thesis in autopoiesis and corporate sustainability to London, England, where I put it on hold to pursue the craft of small business management. My experience there served as a foundation for me to open and operate several food-based businesses in the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Barbados; a place that I am so lucky to call my second home.
I sit on the Advisory Council at the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research at the Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University. I am also part of the Program Advisory Committee for the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts at Centennial College, where I developed curriculum for North America’s first postgraduate certificate in Food Tourism studies at Centennial College and taught Global Tourism Development & Social Justice for several years.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
Since tourism is made up of such a breadth of industries and it is connected to so many aspects of life, I remain excited about the potential it has to create value that is realized within and beyond the sector.
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
Anywhere in Barbados with family and friends, liming at someone's house, going for an early morning beach bath, or walking along the east coast.
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
Outside of work I am happiest spending time with my family, cooking with others, and playing football, i.e., soccer.
My home office is located in:
Kanata, Ontario.
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I oversee day-to-day operations at Bannikin, while supporting the setting and implementation of its strategic direction.
I hold a bachelor’s in Art History and Languages from Queen’s University and a Master’s in Cultural Heritage Policy and Management from Central European University.
I believe in the value of learning from others as well as from our own cultural connections. This perspective is informed by my experience emigrating from Colombia to Canada as a young newcomer and refugee. Whether on exchange in Atri, Italy or teaching English in Daejeon, South Korea or returning to Colombia for field research during my master’s – I always make it a point to explore, learn, and appreciate the diversity inherent in our world. Some of the other places I have lived include Budapest, Hungary; East Sussex, UK; and Kingston, Ontario.
My passion for exposure has pushed me to pursue language learning with enthusiasm. I am fluent in Spanish, French, and English, as well as proficient in German and Italian.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
I’m excited by tourism’s role as a connector of ideas, cultures, and peoples. Tourism stands to make the world our classroom to better understand others, appreciate and respect nature, and grow an openness within ourselves.
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
A hammock deep in the Andes Mountains. The breathtaking landscapes I grew up with and continue to feel the most like home.
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
Roaming! Whether walking, biking, or jogging, I love to explore and discover new corners of a place that I’m familiar with but can always stand to know better.
My home office is located in:
Vancouver, British Columbia.
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As a Project Coordinator at Bannikin, I work at the intersection of sustainability, research, and tourism, supporting communities in planning and growing in ways that reflect their values and priorities.
I bring graduate-level training in geography and land use planning from the University of Guelph, along with experience in GIS and business analysis. This shapes a systems-thinking approach to my work, especially when exploring how tourism connects with land use, regional planning, and community development. I also have an entrepreneurial side, having contributed to several technology and SaaS start-up projects.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
What excites me most about the future of tourism is the shift toward more community-driven, place-based approaches, where thoughtful planning helps balance great visitor experiences with what works for residents and the local environment. I’m especially interested in how data and simple sustainability tools are making it easier for destinations to make smarter decisions and build tourism that’s more resilient, inclusive, and grounded in place. I am also excited to see how existing technology can be used to help destinations maintain sustainability and to help improve visitor experiences!
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
Anywhere outdoors with a really nice view! I also enjoy visiting museums.
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
I enjoy being out in nature, doing anything: fishing, photography, paddleboarding, boating). I also love martial arts training.
My home office is located in:
Hamilton, Ontario.
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I am responsible for the strategic development and execution of ongoing media relations plans from conception and planning through implementation and reporting, providing management and hands-on involvement in all phases.
I have worked in the travel industry since 2002, getting my start as a journalist with a Canadian travel trade magazine before moving over to corporate communications with Thomas Cook North America. Working in public relations and marketing to drive awareness of the company’s trade and consumer-facing brands, I also worked closely with company leadership to implement internal communications strategies designed to drive employee engagement and satisfaction. Before making the move to Bannikin in June 2022, I led PR representation in Canada for destination clients in the U.S. and Caribbean, working to promote travel and tourism via media outreach and partnerships. I have spent most of my life in Toronto, taking full advantage of Pearson airport’s many international flights, but also spent a few years in Halifax, Nova Scotia for school, and a good chunk of time in Havana, Cuba.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
The continued momentum to make travel a force for good in the world, with more tour operators and destinations working diligently to implement more sustainable and regenerative travel practices into not only their trips but everyday operations.
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
By the lake, in the lake – any lake – but especially my cottage lake.
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
Spending time with family and friends, particularly if it is at the cottage (read: by the lake).
My home office is located in:
Toronto, Ontario.
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As a partner at Bannikin, I oversee our research and strategy work. I also have the pleasure of managing a range of tourism projects for our diverse client-partners. To date, I have been involved in 60+ tourism projects for destinations around the world.
I studied International Development and Environmental Studies at McGill University before pursuing a Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Queen's University. I also have an international Master in Wine Tourism Innovation granted collaboratively by Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Université de Bordeaux, and Univesidade do Porto. I have lived across Canada in Quebec (Montreal, Cree Nation of Wemindji), Ontario (Guelph, Toronto, Kingston) and the Yukon (Whitehorse). Internationally I have called Saudi Arabia, Panama, Mexico, Spain, France, and Portugal home. I'm always keen to apply my French and Spanish language skills to facilitate meaningful engagement.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
The growing recognition for how interdisciplinary the field of tourism is as well as its potential to contribute to sustainable food systems, rural livelihoods, and protected area management.
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
Drinking coffee by a misty morning lake, ideally with a loon or two!
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
Hiking, paddling, or cooking up a feast.
My home office is located in:
Toronto, Ontario.
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I support the strategy and development work through project management, research, as well as community and stakeholder engagement.
I hold a Graduate Certificate in Local Economic Development, a Master of Arts in Heritage Conservation, and a Bachelor in Environmental Studies in Urban Planning. My career has focused on work related to community development through tourism, economic development, urban planning, heritage conservation, public policy, and sustainability. I have lived and worked in Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Colombia. Overall, I am particularly interested in the intersections of economic development, cultural heritage, and urban planning, and how they work together in tourism development to improve the quality of life of communities. I am Fluent in Spanish and have intermediate language skills in French and Italian.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
How tourism transitions in the future as it becomes more apparent that it’s interconnected to so many other areas of our life, such as environmental conservation, social justice, cultural revitalization, and economic wellbeing to name a few.
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
At a park or by Lake Ontario in the summers, or at a cultural space in the winter.
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
Going on walks or bike rides in the summer, tasting a new food or beverage, visiting an exhibit on social history, or going to a movie or documentary at a local theatre.
My home office is located in:
Toronto, Ontario.
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I support business and destination development through trade representation, helping brands prepare for the market, strengthen their positioning, and connect with the right partners in the global travel industry.
I hold a Graduate Certificate in Ecology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). My career has centered on advancing sustainable tourism, business development, and destination growth, drawing on experience as a nature guide, eco-lodge manager, researcher, sustainability consultant, and tour operator. Across these roles, I’ve worked to connect conservation, community development, and market growth in the global travel industry. I have lived and worked in Brazil and the US. Overall. Portuguese is my first language and I am fluent in Spanish and English.
What most excites you about the future of tourism?
I’m excited to see the global travel industry evolve toward a more sustainable and inclusive future — one that generates meaningful revenue for local communities, keeps more money within destinations, and supports the conservation and regeneration of our planet. I believe tourism has the power to transform people and places, fostering deeper cultural understanding while creating tangible benefits for the environments and communities that make travel possible.
Favourite place to be outside of the office?
In the mountains of Colorado, USA and the magic island of Florianópolis, Brazil.
Favourite thing to be doing outside of work?
Hiking, cooking (and making cheese), dancing and listening to music and hosting friends and family at my house.
My home office is located in:
Both in Salida, Colorado, USA and Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
