Mr. Brandon Lee was appointed as Consul General of Canada in Seattle in 2017, with accreditation for Washington State, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

Brandon Lee joined the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFATD) in 2004. He has a background leading management and innovation, and he has held several executive and management positions within the department. From 2007 to 2011, he oversaw reform activities to strengthen Canada’s international presence and became the Department’s first Director of Innovation. From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Lee held senior positions at the World Trade Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross (both in Geneva), spearheading major organizational and international reform initiatives. From 2015-2017, Mr. Lee was Consul General of Canada in San Francisco, with accreditation for Northern California and Hawaii.

Previously, Mr. Lee worked in the private sector as a pioneer in online banking in North America and with large-scale telecommunications and IT management consulting firms

An experienced global maritime leader in the areas of policy, government, and related law, Bud Darr is Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs of MSC Group which operates in 155 countries.

Having served in the US Navy, Merchant Marine, and Coast Guard, as well as being an accomplished ocean yacht racer, Bud’s longstanding connection with the sea and ships is both personal and professional.

Bud began his education in Submarine Nuclear Engineering and later obtained his formal undergraduate education at the US Merchant Marine Academy, where he was trained as a Deck Officer. During his service with the US Coast Guard, he studied law at the George Washington University Law School. He most recently led the Maritime Policy efforts of the Cruise Lines International Association prior to joining the MSC Group in 2017.

Today, Bud is engaged across MSC’s Cargo and Passenger divisions, developing the company’s central Government Affairs function, based at the Group’s headquarters in Geneva. He is closely involved in MSC’s response to developments in environmental public policy and regulation and other industry-wide issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, maritime security, safety at sea, and international shipping policy. He serves on the Boards for the UK Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO, International Chamber of Shipping, Liberian Shipowners’ Council, and Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel.

Zakary Kirkpatrick was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska and developed a passion for showcasing his home state from a young age. After working as a naturalist and captain for Allen Marine Tours, Zak graduated with a degree in Advertising with an emphasis in Account Management from Brigham Young University, and determined to apply his education in the state and industry he loved. Zak now lives with his wife and two sons in Sitka, where he serves on the executive team of Alaskan Dream Cruises as the Corporate Director of Marketing & Public Relations.

Laura Martinson is a lifelong resident of Juneau, and the owner of Caribou Crossings, a local retail business that has been sharing Alaskan artists and Alaskan banter with visitors and locals alike for over 25 years. Having earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in business management and business administration from University of Alaska, local business has long been a passion of Laura’s. Prior to ownership, managing operations at Caribou Crossings initiated Ms. Martinson’s involvement in Southeast Alaska’s tourism industry, where she has spent 20 years advocating for growth of the industry and the businesses that comprise it. Laura’s love for her hometown runs deep, and when she isn’t representing Juneau and its offerings to her customers, she can be found enjoying the outdoors by land or sea with her family.

Carol Fraser is the regional director of sales and community marketing for Aspen Hotels of Alaska which has 8 hotels in the state of Alaska. Carol got her start in hotel management in 1992 where she fell in love with not only hotel operations, but selling the experience of Alaska to people from around the world. She has held various positions in the state from Denali National Park to Glacier Bay and has been a part of building over 11 new hotels in the state. Carol has been very active in statewide marketing for the tourism industry with positions on the Alaska Hotel and Lodging Association and the Alaska Travel Industry Association board of directors. Currently she serves on the Resource Development Council board of director’s executive committee, and is the president of the Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel.