Aicha Smith-Belghaba
Chef
Quell is proud to host the inaugural 2-day unconference focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the food, drink and hospitality industry.
Held at the Evergreen Brickworks on March 28-29, 2023, the unconference will disrupt the traditional conference approach and thinking.
“BUSINESS HAS THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER TO CHANGE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE OPEN, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY”
The only unconference in Canada focused on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the food, drink & hospitality industries
An unconference centering 100% of voices and expertise from underrepresented groups with lived experiences
An unconference serving and highlighting diverse and smaller food businesses, outside of traditional conference food offerings
An unconference designed to inspire tangible action plans to impact change and new thinking
Programming for the unconference is built on the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will
listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering theapplication of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these
pillars within the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.
Programming for the unconference is built on the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will
listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering the application of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these
pillars.
Programming for the unconference is built on the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will
listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering theapplication of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these
pillars within the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.
Chef
Chef, Food Advocate, Educator
Founder, Canadian Women in Food
Co-Owner, Bar Mordecai and Owner of Stave
Co-founder, Vinequity
Chef, Media Personality & Entrepreneur
Top Chef Canada Season 9 Winner, Chopped Canada Season 3 Winner
Winner of Survivor season 41, media personality, keynote speaker, writer
Executive Chef
Owner/Founder Simpl Things, Ahma, Love of Cocktails
CEO, Foodpreneur
Executive Chef, Educator, Chair of ICAN
Author of “Take Back the Tray”, Activist, Educator, Executive Chef
Founder & CEO of AlZEN Consulting. Academic leader, Entrepreneur, Author of Labor Crisis in Hospital
Award-winning Director, Photographer & Creative Director of T&T Supermarket
Co-founder, Executive Director, not 9 to 5
Vice President, Organizational Culture and Inclusion for the Toronto Raptors
General Manager, Toronto Raptors
Executive Director, Advance Music
Founder of LHarper Consulting, Author, Professor, Consultant
2-time Master Chef Canada alumni, chef, entrepreneur
Founder of AddaBlooms
Lavelle Hospitality
Co-Founder, Quell, Founder, HighBell Group Author of The Double Happiness Cookbook
Lavelle Hospitality
General Manager, Doordash
Executive chef
CEO, T&T Supermarket
Chef
Chef, Owner of Wanderlust
Director, Policy and Government Affairs, Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
People who are connected to
food | drink | hospitality
Policymakers
Educators
Business leaders
Decision makers
Community leaders
Visionaries
Changemakers
Questions. Lots of them.
Taking comfort in being uncomfortable is progress.
Thinking differently and unlearning.
Learning to fall in love with the problem.
Immersive and interactive.
A safe space to learn, share and grow.
We don’t check boxes. We encourage meaningful action and accountability.
The programming is designed within the four pillars of Leadership, People and Culture, Brand, and Food. Attendees will listen, learn, participate, and apply alongside one another as they are led by industry leaders through sessions covering the application of diversity, equity, and inclusion in each of these pillars.
6:00-9:00pm
Opening Party @ Bar Modecai
KEYNOTE PANEL | Presented by Creemore Springs
Winning Strategy: When stepping to the plate with two or more strikes against you
8:45am
OPENING KEYNOTE | Presented by Foodism TO
10:15-11:30am
CONCURRENT SESSIONS A
1. DEI & leadership: Breaking Through Invisible Barriers: Leadership Journeys | Presented by Restaurants Canada
2. DEI & people/culture: Neurodiversity at Work
3. DEI & brand: Designing an Inclusive Customer Journey | Presented by ORHMA
4. DEI & food: Is it Spicy? A Journey in Flavour, Taste, and Tolerance | Presented by Chicken Farmers of Canada
11:40-12:55pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS B
1. DEI & leadership: Decolonizing the Table | Presented by University of Guelph
2. DEI & people/culture: Recruiting and Retaining Equity-Seeking Talent | Presented by LCBO Spirit of Sustainability
3. DEI & brand: Leveraging Human-Centered Design for DEI | Presented by Destination Toronto
4. DEI & food: Local Food is Indigenous Food: Unpacking our Connection to the Land that Feeds us | Presented by Canola Eat Well
2:00-2:45pm
EXECUTIVE PANEL | Industry Executive leaders breaking barriers and sharing their journey of adversity
2:50 – 4:05pm
CONCURRENT SESSIONS C
1.DEI & leadership: Adaptable Leadership in Nightlife, Bars and Restaurants | Presented by Lavelle Hospitality
2. DEI & people/culture: Addressing and Overcoming the Labor Crisis | Presented by Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
3. DEI & brand: Beyond Land Acknowledgements
4. DEI & food: Survey Says: Appreciation vs. Appropriation? | Presented by USDA
4:15-4:50pm
CLOSING PANEL | Presented by Destination Toronto
John Wiggins, Vice-President of Organizational Culture and Inclusion, Toronto Raptors
Doors open at 6pm
6:45 – 11pm
Closing Party @ Axis
Social cocktail event and fundraiser hosted in collaboration with Will Lou & Alex Wong