Fast Forward 15, Destination Toronto back women in events

Fast Forward 15, the mentoring and professional development initiative for women in events, has agreed a new strategic partnership with Destination Toronto. As part of the collaboration, Nicola Alexander, UK Sales Director at Destination Toronto, will join the 2026–27 Fast Forward 15 programme as a mentor.

The move links a destination marketing organisation with a long-running sector mentoring scheme, aiming to broaden practical support and visibility for women across the global meetings and events ecosystem.

Background and industry context

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Gender representation in the events sector has been a long-standing discussion point. While women make up a significant proportion of the workforce, they remain under-represented in senior decision-making and strategic roles, particularly on the supplier and destination side of the business events market.

Fast Forward 15 was established to address that gap, offering structured mentoring, skills development and networking for women at different stages of their careers. The programme typically pairs mentees with senior industry leaders for a year-long programme focused on leadership capabilities, confidence building and practical career planning.

At the same time, destination organisations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as part of their value proposition to international planners. Partnerships that directly support talent pipelines and leadership development are becoming a more visible part of that strategy.

Key developments in the partnership

The collaboration between Fast Forward 15 and Destination Toronto brings together a mentoring platform and a North American destination that is active in the global meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market.

The partnership has two main components:

Strategic alignment: Destination Toronto will work with Fast Forward 15 to support the programme’s activities targeted at women working across the events and business tourism fields. This includes aligning with programme objectives around leadership development and career progression.
Mentor appointment: Nicola Alexander, UK Sales Director at Destination Toronto, will participate as a mentor in the 2026–27 Fast Forward 15 cohort, offering insight into destination sales, international market development and client engagement.

By adding a senior destination representative to its mentor pool, the programme expands the range of perspectives available to participants, particularly those interested in working with international convention bureaux and city marketing organisations.

Industry impact and potential outcomes

Although still at an early stage, the partnership signals several trends relevant to the wider events ecosystem:

Closer links between DMOs and talent initiatives: Destination marketing organisations are increasingly seeking routes to influence and support the next generation of event professionals. Participating as mentors provides direct access to emerging talent and first-hand insight into evolving planner expectations.
Broader skill sets for mentees: Access to mentors from a destination sales background helps mentees understand how cities bid for, win and service international meetings and events, complementing agency, corporate and venue perspectives.
Visibility of women in senior roles: The appointment of a female UK sales lead from a major North American destination as a mentor offers a visible example of women in leadership within a traditionally sales-driven, commercially focused segment of the sector.

In practical terms, the collaboration may also support cross-market connections. Participants in the Fast Forward 15 programme frequently come from agencies, corporates, associations and suppliers; engaging directly with a global destination can deepen understanding of international event logistics, market entry and stakeholder management.

Why this matters for event professionals and technology providers

For event professionals, the partnership underscores the strategic importance of structured mentoring as part of long-term career development. As the sector becomes more data-driven, tech-enabled and globally competitive, access to mentors who understand both commercial and operational realities can be a differentiator.

The involvement of a destination organisation is particularly relevant for planners and suppliers working with hybrid and international events. Understanding how cities position themselves, utilise digital tools to attract events and integrate technology into visitor journeys can help planners design more resilient, experience-led programmes.

Technology providers serving the event and meetings market may also see indirect implications:

Product feedback from emerging leaders: Initiatives like Fast Forward 15 create cohorts of digitally literate professionals who are often early adopters of new platforms. Their expectations can shape demand for registration tools, data analytics, event apps and hybrid event solutions.
Inclusion as a buying criterion: As destinations and organisers elevate diversity and inclusion in their strategies, technology partners that can demonstrate accessible design, inclusive features and representative data practices may gain a competitive edge.
Content and education opportunities: Mentoring programmes often involve workshops, webinars and collaborative projects. These can become platforms for showcasing event technology use cases tailored to career development and leadership themes.

For both planners and suppliers, the collaboration highlights that talent development, destination strategy and technology adoption are increasingly interconnected. As hybrid formats and data-centric planning continue to expand, leadership pathways need to reflect those realities.

Conclusion

The new partnership between Fast Forward 15 and Destination Toronto adds another dimension to ongoing efforts to support women’s progression in the global events sector. By combining a structured mentoring framework with the perspective of a major international destination, the initiative aims to broaden the expertise and networks available to participants in the 2026–27 programme.

While the full impact will become clearer as the cohort progresses, the move reflects a wider industry shift: destinations, organisers and suppliers are treating talent development and diversity as strategic issues rather than peripheral initiatives. For event professionals and technology providers alike, these collaborations will increasingly shape expectations around leadership, skills and the tools required to deliver future events.