What is regulator-tested governance?

Regulator-tested governance refers to board oversight practices validated through formal regulatory scrutiny — not just theoretical frameworks. As Board Chair of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario from 2021 to February 2026, Michael Levinson led governance through an Auditor General Value for Money review, navigated a complete governance restructuring, and oversaw a new industry funding model under ministerial reporting accountability. These are accountability conditions most corporate directors never encounter.

What did Michael Levinson learn from chairing the TICO board?

Five years chairing the Travel Industry Council of Ontario through COVID-19, an Auditor General review, and major governance restructuring produced one core lesson: governance isn't about control. It's about creating the conditions for good decisions to be made — especially when stakes are high, the timeline is political, and the margin for error is thin.

What is TICO and what does it regulate?

TICO — the Travel Industry Council of Ontario — is a statutory regulator responsible for consumer protection and industry oversight across 2,400 registered travel businesses in Ontario. Michael Levinson served as Board Chair from May 2021 to February 2026, the first ministerially appointed Chair under the Travel Industry Act.

Governance · February 24, 2026 · 3 min read

What Five Years Chairing a Regulator Taught Me About Governance

Five years chairing the Travel Industry Council of Ontario — appointed during the height of COVID-19, through a governance restructuring, an Auditor General Value for Money Audit, a new industry funding model, and a modernized certification platform — produced one lasting lesson: governance isn’t about control. It’s about creating the conditions for good decisions to be made when the stakes are high and the margin for error is thin.

I was appointed during the height of COVID-19. The travel industry was in freefall. The regulator’s mandate, funding model, and board composition all needed to be rethought — simultaneously, and under public scrutiny.

Over the course of my tenure, our board:

Restructured governance from 100% appointees to balanced representation across industry, public, and government stakeholders
Navigated a Value for Money Audit by the Auditor General of Ontario
Implemented a new industry funding model
Launched a modernized education and certification platform for 2,400+ registered travel businesses

None of that happened because of any single person. It happened because of a board that understood its role, a staff team that executed under pressure, and an industry that showed up when it mattered.

What I’ll carry forward

Governance isn’t about control. It’s about creating the conditions for good decisions to be made — especially when the stakes are high, the timeline is political, and the margin for error is thin.

That’s the lens I bring to every board and advisory engagement. If your organization is navigating complexity — whether that’s AI disruption, regulatory change, growth transitions, or succession — I’d welcome the conversation.

Originally published on Medium. Canonical version at youneedastrategy.com.

Michael Levinson

Independent Director and Strategic Advisor based in Toronto. Former Board Chair, TICO (2021–2026). Founder, BookDirect — one of the first online hotel reservation platforms globally. Four decades building, operating, and governing before advising.

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