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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 20 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!

Lori Forward

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Lori Forward has spent over 43 years making waves in the hospitality industry, with a rich background in hotels across Canada. Now at the Halifax Convention Centre, she’s on a mission to put Halifax and Nova Scotia on the global map.

A proud Newfoundlander, Lori’s passion for showcasing her home region’s charm is unmatched. When she’s not promoting Halifax, she’s diving into her favorite hobbies—wine, cooking, and entertaining. Lori’s dedication to hospitality and her love for East Coast living make her approach to both work and life as vibrant and engaging as the region she represents.

Mayya Tolkacheva

Sales Specialist

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 her focus is our local and regional account management and supporting our Centre’s service excellence vision.

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.

Reshma Rampersad

Sales Associate

Originally from the vibrant twin-island Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Reshma is passionate about her homeland especially the multicultural vibe, the beaches and delicious Caribbean cuisine.

Starting as an Event Management Co-Op Student at the Halifax Convention Centre while studying at NSCC, Reshma is now Sales Associate. She’s the go-to for team support and takes care of booking meetings and events for up to 150 guests.

With a knack for throwing unforgettable parties, she thrives on making clients happy and building lasting connections. Her highlight so far? The incredible 2024 Juno Awards!

When she’s not busy making events happen, you can find her soaking up downtown Halifax’s nightlife and enjoying the friendly East Coast atmosphere. With the ocean just a stone's throw away, Reshma is living her best life—beach days and delicious seafood included!

Arzoo Rahimi

Conference Attraction Coordinator

Arzoo is a recent graduate from MSVU with a Bachelor of Business Administration, concentrating in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Languages are second nature to her, being fluent in English, Hindi, Farsi and French!

With a knack for customer service, Arzoo started building her resume when she was just 15 and has held roles from airline agent to barista. Now, as a conference attraction coordinator, Arzoo is passionate about destination development and promotion, showcasing our beautiful city to visitors worldwide while wearing a smile on her face!

Outside of work, you can catch Arzoo exploring all Nova Scotia has to offer on sunny summer day trips, savouring fresh fish and chips, and hanging out with her Maltese puppy, Fiji.