A tourism development specialist, Shannon has more than 15 years of international experience working at multiple levels of tourism development and delivery. She has worked for global and specialist tour operators and for destinations as a tourism development strategist. In her role as Chief Sustainability Officer for The Travel Corporation (TTC), a family of 40 travel brands operating worldwide, Shannon leads the development and implementation of the group’s sustainability strategy including the groups journey to net zero. Shannon also oversees the TreadRight Foundation, TTC’s not-for-profit dedicated to supporting projects under the foundation’s three pillars of Planet, People and Wildlife.
Shannon regularly participates in key industry forums and committees including USTOA, PATA, ATTA, UNWTO, WTTC, Tourism Cares and more. In 2018 she was recognized by Canadian Traveller Magazine as a Top 40 under 40 in the Canadian travel industry and in 2021 as a Top Performer by the World Travel & Tourism Commission, the latter for her efforts driving sustainability at TTC. She has guest lectured at Harvard University and is regularly called on by media to share insights into the development of a sustainable tourism industry.
She holds an MSc in Tourism and Environmental Management, where she focused on integrating the principals of sustainability into marine based ecotourism, and an undergraduate degree in Outdoor Recreation and Environmental Education from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Her first and best job was as a sea kayaking guide in her home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
