Marge Kilkelly MS CED, is a farmer/politician/rural policy advocate who has worked in community service/public policy for more than 45 years; including 16 years in the Maine Legislature, 10 years with the Eastern US Council of State Governments, and 6 years as Senior Policy Advisor to Sen. Angus King (ME-I) in DC. She currently Chairs the Maine Board of Agriculture.

Researcher/Academic: Marisa Eslao-Pamo is an early-career Assistant Professor and researcher at the University of the Philippines–Asian Institute of Tourism (UP AIT). Her work centers on tourism planning, marketing, gender, and sustainable development, with a strong focus on advancing agritourism in the Philippines. She helped develop the agritourism component of Quezon Province’s Tourism Development Plan and collaborates with local governments, farms, and academic institutions. She designed and teaches UP AIT’s first agritourism elective, mentoring future tourism professionals. Raised in a rural community, she advocates agritourism as a pathway to rural development, food security, cultural preservation, and inclusive local economic growth nationwide.

Economic Development/Destination Management: Dr. Valeria Klitsounova has been elected as a Vice-president of GAN in 2023. She has been wearing many hats during her career in agri- and ecotourism. She worked for 25 years as an associate professor at Belarusian State University on international tourism department (her majors are marketing, sustainable tourism, heritage interpretation), she was a owner and CEO of travel agency, she was a founder and chair of Belarusian association of Agro- and ecotourism for 22years and considered as mother of rural tourism in Belarus. Valeria has published 5 books including textbook about Agro-and ecotourism and numerous articles.

Bryanna Kumpula-Yung is the founder of Bar OA Farms, a cut flower and agritourism experience based in Alberta. Through on-farm gatherings, flower experiences, and storytelling, Bryanna connects visitors with the land, local food, and the people who grow it. With a background in economic development and business support, she is passionate about helping rural communities and local producers thrive. Bar OA Farms offers intimate, authentic farm experiences that celebrate seasonal flowers, meaningful connections, and the beauty of agriculture.

Eiblis Doherty is a seasoned economic development and tourism professional who currently serves as the Senior Economic Development Officer of Tourism for Strathcona County. With nearly a decade of experience in municipal economic growth and community engagement, she leads initiatives that have bolstered visitor attraction strategies, award-winning content creation, and destination development. She holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies degree from MacEwan University and has pursued further education in related disciplines at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary. Passionate about travel, food, craft breweries and adventure, she brings creativity and strategic insight to destination growth and economic vibrancy.