Contact Our Team

Dawn Baldwin

Director of Sales

Our Director of Sales, Dawn Baldwin, emits the Halifax Convention Centre philosophy into her work each and every day – bold, simple, fun. Dawn is a part of a likeminded team; each member has a passion for customer service and making it their personal mission to deliver unforgettable event experiences for every client.

Speaking of unforgettable – from the natural light gleaming through elegant glass windows, to the breathtaking panoramic views of the downtown core: these are just a few of the many things that Dawn looks forward to showing guests in our new facility. With Dawn’s leadership, our facility welcomes thousands of new national and international visitors to our province each year.

When she steps away from her day-to-day sales role, Dawn can be found venturing around town – anywhere from the downtown core to Point Pleasant Park; a few of her favourite places just minutes from our doorstep. Dawn is a self-professed Halifax foodie guru. The next time you’re in town, don’t hesitate to ask Dawn about her favourite places to eat in our city!

Susanne MacLeod

Senior Sales Manager, National Market

They say you can take the person out of the East coast, but you can’t take the East coast out of the person – a statement that rings true for Susanne MacLeod, who moved back to her home province of Nova Scotia 15 years ago after spending the previous 20 in Toronto.

Susanne got her start in the hospitality industry in Toronto, working in restaurants to put herself through school. From there she was inspired to dig deeper into the industry, opening her own pub for a decade before making the move back east to focus on sales in the hotel industry.

When she isn’t connecting with clients and forming invaluable relationships with them, you can find her near the ocean, gardening or cooking. She believes her success lies in being passionate about what she loves and putting service first.

The next time you’re in Halifax for an event, Susanne suggests chatting up the locals for the best suggestions on what to do/where to eat; chances are you may end up at their place for dinner!

Are you ready to experience our famous Maritime hospitality in the heart of downtown Halifax? Great, because our sales team can’t wait to connect with you!

Nicole Grimm

Local Regional Sales Manager

With more than two decades in the event industry, Nicole Grimm has great passion and is inspired by her team, which collectively has more than 80 years of shared industry experience.

As Sales Manager of Canadian Associations, Nicole works with a diverse array of incredible clients. One of her favourite elements of the new convention centre is the design – specifically, the engineered bridge trusses incorporated on the Convention Level, used to eliminate sound vibration and make every event experience just right.

A lover of seafood, Nicole’s ultimate day in Nova Scotia includes a visit to historical Peggy’s Cove, and enjoying what we Maritimers call a “feed of the local catch”. Nicole believes that Nova Scotia comes together in Halifax – and that’s what she cherishes most about our province. We’re a small seaside city with a big city feel, and a vibrant province that’s steeped in rich history.

Sonia Corra

Sales & Event System Specialist

Our Sales and Event System Specialist, Sonia Corra, would describe her team’s day-to-day approach as both authentic and truly special. As one of our tech gurus, Sonia plays a key role in the administration and application of the Ungerboeck Venue and Event Management Software.

She loves helping our organization run successful and impactful events by centralizing our internal event communications. This means that our sales and events operations teams are always in-the-know and have a deep understanding of our clients’ needs.

When she’s not buzzing around like a busy bee at the office, Sonia loves to explore the beautiful scenery that Nova Scotia has to offer. Be it a drive down St. Margaret’s Bay Road, a leisurely hike on the Rails to Trails, or trying out new local culinary experience – enjoyment is within arm’s reach from our doorstep.

Mayya Tolkacheva

Sales Associate

Meet Mayya, a Russian-born international development professional turned sales superstar! After studying abroad in Austria (and meeting her future husband from Halifax), Mayya pursued her master’s degree while working for the United Nations and International Atomic Energy Agency. In 2020, she made the move to Canada and joined the Halifax Convention Centre Sales team, where she now assists with securing business events and conducts international market research. When she's not working, Mayya loves exploring Nova Scotia's beautiful beaches and waterfront, trying new restaurants, and making connections in Halifax. With Maritime hospitality winning her heart, Halifax has become her second home, and she's excited to see it continue to grow and develop.

Jeff Totten, CMP

Director, Event Operations

A wealth of new and exciting ideas – that’s what our Director, Event Operations, Jeff Totten, believes keeps Halifax surprisingly cosmopolitan for a relatively small, East Coast city. Best of all, this goes hand-in-hand with the conferences and events we host and the connections we help build.

Jeff loves his job and industry because the work he does helps make a difference to people near and far. While our new Halifax Convention Centre opens our city to an even bigger world stage than ever before, the most exciting part of Jeff’s every day is the new visitors to our region and the impact for our local economy. For him, it’s rewarding to know that his work improves the community he lives in.

If you couldn’t tell, Jeff’s a big supporter of our famous Nova Scotia culture. He’s also a huge comic fan! On any given day, you can find him at Halifax’s infamous Strange Adventures Comic Shop. Did you know that in 1996, Strange Adventures appeared in two Superman comics, Adventures of Superman #547 and Superman: The Man of Steel #74? That’s just one of the many fun facts Jeff looks forward to sharing with you when he helps you execute your next event in our new Centre!

Stacey McLaughlin

Event Manager

Having worked in hotels and resorts across Canada for over 10 years, our Event Manager Stacey McLaughlin moved to Nova Scotia in 2016 with the goal of setting down some more permanent roots. With its mix of small-town hospitality within a larger city, Halifax was the perfect location.

With her extensive experience, dedication and passionate drive to execute memorable events, Stacey is the perfect addition to the Halifax Convention Centre team. In fact, she joined us at a pivotal point as we welcomed the first events into our new Centre.

Outside of work, Stacey can be found in the yoga studio or hiking local trails with her Bernedoodle. The Halifax region has plenty of outdoor exploration options within reach – ask Stacey to share her hidden gems with you when you join us for your event!

Kathleen King

Event Manager

Originally from Fredericton, NB, Kathleen is a proud Maritimer who was drawn to the ‘small town, big city’ feeling of Halifax. While she is quite the globe-trotter, she loves the feeling of coming home to the East Coast.

Meeting clients and delegates from across Canada and around the world has been a highlight for Kathleen in her role at the Halifax Convention Centre, as she loves meeting new people and inspiring them to love local as much as she does.

When she’s not impressing clients with her drive and passion, Kathleen can be found shopping at a local farmer’s market, craft show or getting a taste of new vegan options at local restaurants. If you’re looking for places to explore while you’re here, Kathleen would be happy to provide a recommendation, as she strongly believes Nova Scotia has something for everyone to fall in love with.

Fiona Kerr

Associate Event Manager

Fiona spent more than five years working for Halifax PRIDE organizing large-scale, multi-vendor events – from 4,000-person dance parties to 20,000-person parades. These roles required significant attention to inclusivity and equity, accessibility, sound safety protocols, and emergency response planning. Currently finishing a SMU degree, she also brings experience in promotions, marketing, communications, and fundraising.

At the Halifax Convention Centre, Fiona leads event pre-planning and oversees the delivery of events. As the Associate Event Manager, she supports our operational teams by managing detailed event information and planning.

Hailing from Baddeck, Cape Breton, Fiona is glad to continue living and working in Halifax. She is also excited to be on ‘the other side’ of event planning – as the venue operator rather than the client. After work, you can find Fiona playing The Sims, hanging with her giant orange cat Gildy, or making friendship bracelets.

Colleen Bates

Associate Event Manager

Meet Colleen - the hospitality guru at the Halifax Convention Centre! With her wealth of knowledge and expertise, clients can trust her to plan events that showcase the best of Nova Scotia. Colleen is a problem-solving pro and always goes above and beyond to exceed expectations. She's a great communicator and makes sure everyone is on the same page. And let's not forget her meticulous planning and can-do attitude! With Colleen on the team, you can rest easy knowing that every detail will be taken care of. Plus, she's just so darn passionate about her work - it's contagious!

Dihan Struwig

Associate Event Manager

Meet our new Associate Event Manager, Dihan Struwig, who joins our team from the vibrant heart of South Africa. With a wide-ranging background and a passion for diverse experiences, Dihan is a strong addition to our team.

Dihan has embraced a spirit of service, volunteering extensively in Mozambique and Malawi. A scholar with insatiable curiosity, he holds a PhD in Theology and is a qualified teacher. His thirst for knowledge has led him through a variety of courses including journalism, psychology, sport psychology, life coaching and data analytics.

In his free time, Dihan's zest for life shines through many different activities. A cycling enthusiast, climbing wall instructor, and kickboxing national competitor, he even has a passion for skydiving. His creativity knows no bounds, from sketching in quiet moments to gracing stage productions, art festivals and music videos. As a multi-talented artist, Dihan has three self-published books and directed a stage production.

With his diverse skills, passion for creativity, and background working with people to achieve their goals, Dihan is ready to help deliver unforgettable experiences for your event!