BMO Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Explore 2025 Show Schedule

Christopher McFadden

Christopher brings over 25 years of experience in restaurant management and sommelier roles, primarily on Canada’s West Coast, giving him a deep and confident understanding of the hospitality industry's needs. In 2022, he returned to his hometown of Burlington, Ontario, with his wife, Joanne, to be closer to family. This is when The McFadden Group launched. His company is dedicated to empowering hospitality professionals by helping them align personal goals with core values, fostering resilience, and driving career growth within the industry. Christopher previously co-founded Restaurant Leadership 101, a program that bridges the gap between technical expertise and emotional intelligence through the development of critical soft skills for hospitality leaders. He is also in the process of launching, Fully Completely, a recovery program designed to support hospitality professionals dealing with addiction by leveraging their strengths and tapping into their behaviours, by enhancing their Emotional Intelligence. In addition to his coaching work, Christopher was a Professor at Fanshawe Toronto@ILAC and Centennial College their Schools of Hospitality and Tourism. He developed and delivered courses on leadership, ethics, diversity, personal wellness and operations management. To complement his coaching practice, Christopher has earned certifications in Hospitality Leadership (International Hospitality Institute), Addiction & Recovery (World Coach Institute), Emotional Intelligence (Transformation Academy) with Masterclass certifications in Emotional Intelligence and Positive Relationships (Positive Psychology). Christopher has spoken at the RC Show 2023 (Restaurants Canada) in Toronto, Bar & Restaurant Expo in Las Vegas 2025, and is thrilled to be speaking at the NEXT Food Expo! Christopher always shares that "To truly be happy, one must achieve a better version of themselves to be better for others” and that is exactly what he has done for himself and now helps others discover this too.

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Resilience & Retention: Building Stronger Teams from the Inside Out

Palo F | Christopher McFadden

In hospitality, resilience is often seen as a personal trait or a leadership expectation BUT real retention is built from the ground up. From dishwashers to line cooks, bartenders to concierges, the emotional weight of service is felt across every role. This workshop challenges the notion that resilience should only be top-down and instead offers a team-driven approach where every individual is part of the solution.
This session is designed to be human, honest, and highly interactive. Participants will walk away not only feeling seen, but equipped with tools to better support each other through the highs and lows of hospitality life.

Your ROI Starts With Your People: The Business Case for Human-Centered Hospitality

Palo F | Christopher McFadden

We’ve all heard the phrase, “people are our greatest asset,” but in hospitality, we don’t always lead like we believe it. We chase margins, obsess over guest reviews, and perfect our systems, while the very people behind the scenes quietly burn out. The truth is that the heart of this industry has always been human. When we treat our teams as replaceable instead of essential, we undermine the very foundation of guest experience, brand loyalty, and operational success.

Beyond the Burnout: Tackling Mental Health in Foodservice

Main Stage | Kimberly Flear | Tom Mitchell | Peter Keith | Christopher McFadden

Mental health is one of the most pressing challenges facing hospitality today. Join moderator Christopher McFadden and a powerful panel of voices from across the industry as they shine a light on the issues, share stories of resilience, and discuss strategies for fostering supportive, sustainable workplaces.