Tamara Kennedy-Hill, the executive director of the Green Meetings Industry Council for the past five years, is leaving the organization to become community relations director at Travel Portland, the Portland, Ore., convention and visitors bureau.
She will be replaced on an interim basis by Mariela McIlwraith, who also serves as executive director of the GMIC Sustainable Meetings Foundation and president of Vancouver-based consultancy, Meeting Change. McIlwraith is also serving as executive editor of the Convention Industry Council Manual, 9th edition. The GMIC board will conduct a search for a permanent replacement over the next few months.
“It has been an honor to serve as the executive director of GMIC these past five years,” said Kennedy-Hill. “I have seen firsthand the advancement of sustainability as value added solution in the global meetings marketplace. GMIC serves as a key partner to advance standards, education, and thought leadership.”
Returning to Travel Portland, where she worked as a convention sales manager from 2001 to 2008, Kennedy-Hill will focus on local tourism and multicultural advancement. “I am thrilled to work closely with Mariela through the transition process to continue to advance the GMIC Global educational framework and credentialing plan for the global marketplace,” said Kennedy-Hill.
