NASA engineer Farah Alibay to speak at TDC's conference this fall

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) has announced its keynote speaker and theme of its upcoming annual conferences, which will take place on September 20 and 21, in the Greater Toronto Area, right after its Quebec edition on September 13 and 14 at the Saint-Hyacinthe Convention Centre.

"This year, we are taking the powerful symbol of the star to new heights," said Karine Gagnon, general manager of TDC, in a press release. "Our travel professionals embody this symbol, acting as guiding stars for their clients, helping them navigate a vast sky of choices with expertise and a touch of inspiration. This theme resonates even more deeply with us, as the star has always been part of TDC’s DNA through our affiliation with Transat."

For many years, TDC's annual conferences have been the "ultimate opportunity" for members of our network to gain direct access to its many resources. 

"Tools that help them grow both professionally and personally while strengthening their businesses in an ever-expanding sky of choices," Gagnon said. 

A Space star 

This year, as part of a one-on-one conversation with Gagnon, TDC will welcome renowned NASA engineer Farah Alibay, who will share the story of how she successfully secured her dream job.

“It is a great honour for TDC to welcome such a distinguished scientist, and I can't wait to hear the story of this inspiring woman with an atypical background. And who better than a NASA engineer and space explorer to bring us closer to the stars,” stated Gagnon. 

Born in Montreal to parents originally from Madagascar, Alibay grew up in a small town north of the city before pursuing her studies at Cambridge University in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston. 

She joined NASA in 2014 and became widely known in 2022 for her pivotal role in deploying the Perseverance rover, on Mars.

“It almost seems like destiny that she piloted a machine to explore the red planet—sharing its name with one of her defining qualities: perseverance. Nothing in her career was handed to her. As a racialized woman in a competitive field, she overcame failures and obstacles to rise through the ranks and achieve her dream: becoming an engineer at NASA. If there is one way to truly embrace your own 'star power', it is by drawing inspiration from extraordinary individuals like Farah Alibay," Gagnon said. 

This is only a brief overview of the content that members of the TDC network can expect at this flagship annual event; other speakers and various workshops will be added to the list. 

Preferred partners: Present & Engaged

Gagnon also highlighted the invaluable role TDC's preferred partners play in the annual event, providing network members with unparalleled access to product specialists. 

"Our partners contribute in so many ways—most notably through their in-person presence, which allows our members to engage with them directly, as well as through their content contributions that support business development,” said Gagnon. 

“Hosting an event of this scale without the support of Transat—by far our most important business partner—would be unthinkable. I would even go so far as to say that the bond we share is essential.”

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.