Meet the Hosting Team Behind Diner en Blanc Richmond
Diner en Blanc Richmond returns on November 7th, bringing hundreds of guests together for another unforgettable evening in white. Behind the tables, the spectacle, and the energy is a dedicated team of leaders, collaborators, and production professionals who make the seemingly impossible happen. At the helm are Ayana Obika and Alysha Townsend, two experienced producers who come together to create one extraordinary evening.
Meet Ayana Obika
Ayana Obika is a self-described “multipotentialite,” which is a polished way of saying she's never been particularly interested in doing just one thing.
An event producer, planner, strategist, connector, and occasional instigator, Ayana is one of the original co-founders of Diner en Blanc Richmond. In fact, she was the person who first floated the idea of bringing the international phenomenon to Richmond and then convinced a few very capable friends to join her in making it happen.
Her professional journey has taken her through finance, procurement, government operations, event planning, partnerships, and hospitality. It is an eclectic mix that turns out to be incredibly useful when producing a secret dinner party for hundreds of people.
Ayana loves big ideas, beautiful details, thoughtful hospitality, and figuring out how to make seemingly impossible things work. She is happiest somewhere between a spreadsheet, a seating chart, a sponsor conversation, and a last-minute creative idea that probably begins with, “What if we…”
Meet Alysha Townsend
Alysha Renaé Townsend is an entrepreneur, author, holistic health practitioner, and founder of Make Me Better LLC, where her guiding philosophy is simple: leave people, spaces, and experiences better than they were found.
Her connection to Diner en Blanc began well before she joined the Richmond hosting team. As a former Table Leader, Alysha understands the excitement, coordination, and sense of community that make the experience so special.
With a background in creative experiences, community engagement, and relationship building, she brings a people-centred approach to her role as co-host. For Alysha, Diner en Blanc is more than an elegant evening dressed in white. It is about the laughter, the unexpected connections, the shared experiences, and the memories that remain long after the tables are cleared. She looks forward to helping create an experience that honours Diner en Blanc's tradition while celebrating Richmond's unique energy and community.
Saturday, November 7, 2026
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2026 Theme: Une Soirée Parisienne - La Belle Époque
