Meet your ACTA Regional Managers

Manon Martel - Quebec Regional Manager - ACTA

Manon Martel began her career in the travel industry in 1983 and graduated from College April Fortier which is currently one of the ACTA endorsed schools. Manon started her career as a leisure travel agent for Club Voyage and after 5 years in the business moved to a corporate travel agency AMEX where she spent 23 years in roles such as Team Leader, Supervisor , mentor, trainer, suppliers relations and event planner. Manon is certified through TICO (Ontario) and CCV OPC (Québec). After Amex Manon moved back as a leisure agent for 2 years and then moved to ACTA as regional manager for Quebec regions. Manon has been successful in Quebec increasing the visibility of ACTA and has registered 106 agencies as members since January 2013  .

Lorie Cohen Hackett - Atlantic Regional Manager - ACTA

Lorie Cohen Hackett began her career in travel in 1982 working with Host Travel, owned by Ellen Tucker. She remained in the industry until 1994 and for the last seven of those years she was a branch manager with Maritime Travel. During that time she chaired the ACTA Atlantic Conference and Trade Show and served on several committees. Lorie has a strong political background, having worked with two former Members of Parliament for Saint John as well as having been involved in many political campaigns. In 2006, Lorie returned to travel and joined ACTA as Regional Manager for the Atlantic Region. 


Marlene Brown -  BC/Yukon Regional Manager - ACTA

Marlene has over 20 years experience in the travel industry, 11 years of which have been specifically in the Tour Operator business. Marlene began her travel career with Holiday House as a Reservations Agent. She then moved onto the newly formed Sunflight Holidays as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Director of Sales. Following Sunflight she accepted a position with Signature Vacations as a Business Development Administration Representative. In 2003, Marlene joined the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA) as Manager of Membership Services for Canada and in February of 2009, Marlene was promoted to Regional Manager for ACTA BC/Yukon.

Fiona Bowen - Ontario Regional Manager - ACTA

Fiona has over 20 years of experience in the travel industry and is a 1994 graduate of travel and tourism from Algonquin Careers Academy in Ottawa. Fiona started in the retail travel industry working at Anza Travel in Ottawa and then Toronto specializing in the South Pacific. In 1998 Fiona joined Qantas Vacations heading up the reservations department as Reservations Supervisor in their Toronto office. In 2001 Fiona joined the wholesale division of Australian Pacific Touring specializing in inbound tours from the South Pacific to Canada and she worked with Tour Directors across Canada. In 2002 Fiona joined ACTA and in 2009 she became the ACTA Regional Manager for Ontario. Fiona has been very involved with the Ontario retail travel agency member community over the years and works with the large agency groups across Canada. Fiona has travelled extensively to many different parts of the world and has lived in Jamaica and Ireland. She has a strong passion for the travel industry and enjoys working with people.

Shelley Morris - MB/SK Regional Manager - ACTA

Shelley Morris joined ACTA in 2002 as Region Manager for MB/SK, responsible for serving the interests of members in the region -  ensuring that ACTA initiatives in the areas of advocacy, public relations, member services and education are delivered at the region level. She is an association management professional who has worked with membership organizations her entire career. Prior to ACTA, Shelley spent 10 years with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce as Government Affairs Manager and then CEO. In addition to region responsibilities, Shelley is involved in ACTA project management, strategic planning, surveys and research. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce

Barbara Sutherland - Alberta Regional Manager - ACTA

Barbara is a Business Graduate from the University of Alberta. Her passion for travel was inspired through her travels to over 45 countries in the world . This passion steered Barbara into the travel industry where she has been an active participant for over 35 years.  Barbara broke into the industry as a Marketing Manager for a Tour Operator in Kenya and upon her return to Canada, owned and operated Leisure Connection Tours in Western Canada, specializing in escorted safaris to East Africa.  Barbara also spent time working as a top producer with a Westcan/Trek Holidays.

Barbara is an enthusiastic team member of ACTA joining the association in June, 2012 and loves her position of working for travel professionals of Canada. Barbara’s wide range of knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by travel agents is through her years and wide range of experience in the field providing education, support while encouraging agents to have some fun.    

Barbara is also an avid philanthropist and works actively to build and support an orphanage in Burundi, Africa through the Harbor4Life Youth Society. 

from the University of Manitoba.