Dr. David Perry President, Canadian Global Affairs Institute

Dr. David Perry is the President of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. He is the host of the weekly Defence Deconstructed Podcast and author of multiple publications related to defence budgeting, transformation and procurement. He is also a columnist for the Canadian Naval Review. He received his PhD in political science from Carleton University where his dissertation examined the link between defence budgeting and defence procurement. He is an adjunct professor at the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary and a research fellow of the Centre for the Study of Security and Development at Dalhousie University. He was previously the Senior Security and Defence Analyst of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute and Deputy Director of Dalhousie University’s Centre for Foreign Policy Studies. Embassy Magazine and The Hill Times has named him one of the “Top 100 Influencing Canadian Foreign Policy.”

Conference Co-host and MC

Claire Citeau Executive Director, Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance

Claire Citeau is the Executive Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA). In her role, Claire advocates for trade liberalization and competitive market access for Canadian agri-food exporters through bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements such as the CPTPP, CUSMA, CETA, or the WTO. Claire has a background in international trade, policy and government relations. Claire’s interest in international trade stems from having lived in Senegal, Western Africa and witnessed firsthand how global events have a tremendous impact on economies and agriculture sectors around the world. Prior to joining CAFTA, Claire held positions with Alberta’s Ministries of Agriculture and International Affairs, RBC Dominion Securities and the Canadian Encyclopedia. Claire holds a double MBA in international business as a graduate of the University of Alberta and the Montpellier Graduate School of Business in France. She lived in Senegal and France before making Canada her home.

Conference Co-host
Fireside Chat: Creating systems to get Canadian food where it is needed (Moderator)

Tyler McCann Managing Director, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute

Tyler McCann is the Managing Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. His career in agri-food policy includes working for federal ministers, farm groups, industry associations and agri-food businesses. Tyler operates a beef and goat farm with his wife and kids in Western Quebec.

Erin Gowriluk Executive Director, Grain Growers of Canada

Erin Gowriluk is GGC’s Executive Director where she leads the organization’s operations and policy work on behalf of more than 65,000 Canadian grain farmers. Prior to this, Gowriluk was Manager of Government and Industry Relations at Syngenta Canada where she worked to forge collaborative opportunities across Canada’s agri-food value chain. Gowriluk has also held senior policy roles for the Alberta Barley and Alberta Wheat Commissions and worked in policy research for the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Gowriluk holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Victoria’s Royal Roads University.

Deputy Ministers’ Fireside Chat (Moderator)

Chris Forbes Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Chris Forbes was appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in May 2017. Prior to re-joining AAFC, Chris was Associate Deputy Minister at Finance Canada from November 2016 to May 2017. In that role, he was responsible for providing advice on a wide range of economic, social, and fiscal policies. Chris was Associate Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada from January 2015 to November 2016. Chris was an Assistant Deputy Minister at Environment Canada from 2013 to 2015, focusing on environmental policies and regional programs, and he worked at the Department of Finance for a decade, in the areas of tax policy, social policy and federal-provincial relations. Before joining the federal government, Chris worked for the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Toronto Dominion Bank. He holds a Masters in Economics from McGill University.

Deputy Ministers’ Fireside Chat (Panelist)

The Honourable Peter Boehm Senator, Senate of Canada

A native of Kitchener, Ontario, Peter M. Boehm was appointed to the Senate of Canada in October 2018. He is currently the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. A former career foreign service officer, he has served as Ambassador to Germany, Minister at the Embassy of Canada to the United States, as well as Ambassador to the Organization of American States, among other foreign postings. He is a former Deputy Minister of International Development, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Deputy Minister for the Americas, North America and Consular Affairs. He served several Prime Ministers as their Personal Representative or “Sherpa” for the G8 and G7 Summits, as well as for the Summits of the Americas and Nuclear Security Summits. He was the Deputy Minister and Personal Representative of the Prime Minister for the G7 Summit, held in Québec in June 2018. Peter Boehm holds a PhD in History from the University of Edinburgh, a Master of Arts in International Affairs from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Panel 1: Agriculture, food and Canada’s relations with the world (Moderator)

Ted Bilyea Distinguished Fellow, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute

Ted Bilyea is an agri-food consultant specializing in innovation with clients in both private and public sector. He most recently served as Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). He currently acts as a Special Advisor to CAPI. Mr. Bilyea retired in 2005 as Executive Vice-President, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., having spent a very successful 35 years with the company. Prior to becoming Executive Vice President, Maple Leaf Foods Inc., he held the position of President of Maple Leaf Foods International from 1995 to 2004. Earlier in his career with the antecedent company Canada Packers Ltd., Mr. Bilyea led teams that pioneered the export of chilled beef from Canada and was the first in North America to export chilled pork to Asia. Under his leadership Maple Leaf Foods entered the specialized bakery business in Europe and became the largest exporter of food in Canada. He is a member of the board of Paterson Global Foods Inc., and is past Chair and special advisor to the board of the Canadian Agri-food Policy Institute. Previously he has served on a number of other boards including B.H.G. International Trade Inc. (major supermarket in China), Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, Afexa Life Sciences (Cold-fx), PrioNet Canada, the University of Guelph and chaired the Food Processors of Canada and Metals in the Human Environment NCE. He holds a B.A. (Hons.) and an M.A. in International Relations from York University and is the past recipient of the H.R. MacMillan Laureate in Agriculture from the University of Guelph and was inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2018.

Panel 1: Agriculture, food and Canada’s relations with the world (Panelist)

H.E. Kanji Yamanouchi Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Canada

Panel 1: Agriculture, food and Canada’s relations with the world (Panelist)

Goldy Hyder President and CEO, Business Council of Canada

Goldy Hyder is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of Canada. Founded in 1976, the Council is a non-profit, non-partisan organization composed of the chief executives and entrepreneurs of Canada’s leading companies. Members collectively employ 1.7 million Canadians across the country in every major industry. From July 2014 to October 2018, Mr. Hyder was President and Chief Executive Officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies (Canada), providing strategic communications counsel to the firm’s extensive and diverse client base. Prior to joining Hill+Knowlton in 2001, he served as Director of Policy and Chief of Staff to The Right Honourable Joe Clark, former prime minister and former leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party. In addition to his achievements in business and public policy, Mr. Hyder has a long track record of service on behalf of several charities and non-profit organizations. He is chair of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council, a board member of the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, an executive committee member of the Century Initiative and co-chair of Canada’s World Trade Organization Business Advisory Council. In addition, he sits on the advisory boards of two leading organizations promoting advancement of women leaders: Catalyst Canada and the 30% Club (Canada). Mr. Hyder is also a member of the selection board for A Seat At The Table, an initiative to encourage greater representation of people with disabilities on corporate boards. He is a past co-chair of the United Way of Ottawa’s Campaign Cabinet. Mr. Hyder is a regular commentator in the Canadian media on business, politics and leadership. He is also the host of the “Speaking of Business” podcast, which features interviews with Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders. In 2013, he received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to Canada. He holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Calgary.

Panel 1: Agriculture, food and Canada’s relations with the world (Panelist)

Nadia Theodore Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Mission of Canada to the World Trade Organization

(BA Hons and MA [Political Science], Carleton University; LLB, University of London) began her public service career at the Canada Revenue Agency in 2000. She subsequently worked with the Department of the Solicitor General, and she joined International Trade Canada in 2004. At Headquarters, she has served as director of the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, director of the Secretariat for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement and chief of staff to the deputy minister of international trade. Abroad, she served at the permanent mission in Geneva from 2009 to 2012 and as consul general in Atlanta from 2017 to 2020. Most recently, she worked as a senior vice president at Maple Leaf Foods, a Canadian consumer packaged goods company and the world’s first major carbon neutral food company.

Panel 1: Agriculture, food and Canada’s relations with the world (Panelist)

Dominic Barton Chair, Rio Tinto

Dominic Barton spent over 30 years at McKinsey & Company, including nine years as the Global Managing Partner from 2009 to 2018. He also served as Chairman of Teck Resources and Non-Executive Director at the Singtel Group in Singapore and Investor AB in Sweden. Dominic also held a broad range of public sector leadership positions, as Canada’s Ambassador to China from 2019 to 2021, and prior to that as Chair of Canada’s Advisory Council for Economic Growth and Chair of the International Advisory Committee to the President of South Korea on National Future and Vision. Currently, Dominic is Chair of Rio Tinto and the Chair of LeapFrog Investments, an impact-investment firm focused on emerging markets.

Fireside Chat: Creating systems to get Canadian food where it is needed (Panelist)

Mairead Lavery CEO and President, Export Development Canada

Since joining Export Development Canada in 2014, Mairead Lavery has put values and ethics at the center of her leadership approach. Appointed President and CEO on February 5, 2019, Mairead set out three pillars for her leadership: Champion for Trade; Environmental, Social and Governance Responsibility; and Inclusion, Diversity and Equity. These values are the centerpiece of her – and EDC’s – business agenda. Under her direction, Canada’s export credit agency has pursued ambitious objectives, achieving strong growth, and helping more Canadian companies do business in 200 markets around the world, while generating over $100 billion in trade and investment annually. In 2020, EDC became a major contributor to the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 economic response, helping deliver billions of dollars in liquidity to companies across Canada. EDC also stands as the single largest financier of Canadian cleantech, a proud supporter of women-owned and women-led businesses, and regularly ranks among Canada’s Top 100 Employers. Mairead is the Board Chair for the EDC subsidiary, FinDev Canada,Canada’s international development finance institution, and a Board member of Ontario Global 100, creating opportunities for business leaders of Ontario mid-sized companies to accelerate growth. She also sits on the advisory boards of Toronto Global Forum and Project Arrow, which is creating Canada’s original full-build, zero-emissions concept vehicle. Prior to joining EDC, Mairead held executive roles at Bombardier, where she managed a range of large complex portfolios over a sixteen-year career. She is a native of Northern Ireland, has a degree in Management and Accounting from Queen’s University Belfast, and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. She is also the first woman to occupy EDC’s chief executive role in its 75-plus year history. In 2015, Mairead experienced another very proud milestone: becoming a Canadian citizen.

Fireside Chat: Creating systems to get Canadian food where it is needed (Panelist)

Catherine Cullen Host, The House, CBC

Catherine Cullen is host of CBC’s award-winning political program THE HOUSE on CBC Radio and CBC Listen, and a senior reporter in the Parliament Hill bureau. Catherine arrived in Ottawa in 2104, and covered the final months of the Stephen Harper era and the 2015 election that brought Justin Trudeau to power. She has reported on major changes in Canadian law, including cannabis legalization and the legislation permitting medically assisted dying. She’s broadcasted from across the globe, including Beijing, Addis Ababa, London, Brussels and Washington D.C. Catherine is a familiar face to viewers of The National and CBC News Network’s Power &Politics. Before her time with the Parliament Hill bureau, Catherine worked for nearly a decade at CBC Montreal, covering stories ranging from the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster and Dawson College shooting to the drama of several Quebec provincial elections and joyful stories like the 78year-old milkman who was still happily making deliveries. Catherine has also worked in Vancouver and Toronto and guest hosted a wide variety of CBC programs, from The Current and As It Happens to World Report.

Panel 2: Food Security and Insecurity (Moderator)

Dr Andrew Powell Chief Executive Officer, Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd./Senior International Industry Advisor, Edinburgh Innovations, University of Edinburgh

Dr Andrew Powell has been in Singapore for over 30 years and is the CEO of Asia BioBusiness Pte. Ltd. He has worked as a consultant since 1995, primarily focusing on the agriculture and food sectors. Projects have included agri-food sector policy, food security, agtech and food tech, and management of open innovation systems. Clients come from both the private (MNCs and SMEs) and public sector and include Syngenta, Bayer, Tate and Lyle, Dupont Biosciences and Nutrition, CropLife Australia, USDA, APEC, UNDP, UNEP, FAO, NZ Bio, The Inter-American Development Bank, and the governments of Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Chile, Malaysia, Australia, etc. Andrew has been active in Risk Communication for 20 years, conducting training and offering advice to both public and private sector clients. He is especially interested on how innovation is communicated and advises clients on communication strategies to ensure consumer acceptance and social license to operate. Andrew is also one of three Global Senior International Industry Advisors to Edinburgh Innovations, the commercialisation arm of Edinburgh University. Andrew is Chairman of the not-for-profit Agri-Biotech Knowledge Information Centre Ltd. in Singapore and serves as SE Asia Director for UI-Global, a network of consultants supporting innovation hubs around the world. He was a member of the Alberta Government’s Research and Innovation Advisory Committee (ARIAC) from 2017-2019 and sat on the advisory board for Syngenta’s Rice Bowl Index (measuring Food System Robustness) from 2012-2018. Andrew graduated from the University of Edinburgh with honours in Biology and obtained his Ph.D. in Plant Biology from the University of Calgary. He has held research and academic positions at the University of Guelph, the National Institute for Health Sciences in Tokyo, and Tsukuba, Japan and the National University of Singapore.

Panel 2: Food Security and Insecurity (Panelist)

Richard Fadden Former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister

Mr. Richard B. Fadden was the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister from January 19, 2015 to March 31, 2016. Previously he was the Deputy Minister of National Defence starting in May 2013, he served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 2009 until 2013. He has also served as the Deputy Minister for Citizenship and Immigration Canada from 2006 to 2009, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada from 2005 to 2006, President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from 2002 to 2005, and Deputy Clerk and Counsel in the Privy Council Office from 2000 to 2002. In early 2001, he took on the additional position of Security and IntelligenceCoordinator. In the course of his career, Mr. Fadden worked in a variety of different positions across the Government of Canada including in the Department of External Affairs, the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, Natural Resources Canada and the Treasury Board Secretariat. Mr. Fadden holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Montréal, and a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from McGill University. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada. He is a native of the Province of Quebec. He is married with two children. Currently, he serves on a number of boards, is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs and speaks on a variety of public policy issues.

Panel 2: Food Security and Insecurity (Panelist)

Michel Miraillet Ambassador of France to Canada

Born in April 1960, Michel Miraillet is the Ambassador of France to Canada since 22 September 2022. Before that, he was the Director general for Global affairs of the French ministry of Foreign Affairs and the G7/G20 sous-sherpa from March 2020to September 2022. He was previously from September 2017 the French Ambassador to Brazil and to the United Arab Emirates from 2013 to 2017, after six years spent from August 2007 to August 2013 as the Director for strategic affairs and the defence policy director of the French Ministry of Defense. A career diplomat, M. Miraillet, before joining the Ministry of Defense, served as the Director for International and Strategic Affairs of the Secretariat General for National Defense, an agency attached to the Prime minister’s office conducting the coordination of governmental action on issues concerning France’s internal and external security. As a member of the French diplomatic service, Michel Miraillet held various posts abroad: deputy head of mission in Israel (2001-2004), political advisor to the French mission to Nato (1997-2000), Political counsellor in Cairo (1995-1997) and counsellor to the French mission to the United Nations in New York, in charge of security, disarmament and UNSCOM affairs (1992-1995). He served from 1988 to 1992 in Paris as the desk officer for Iraq/Iran issues and as the deputy head of the MFA’s body in charge of the control of armament exports. From 2004 to 2006, he joined the Administration directorate of the Quai d’Orsay as the deputy head of the staff department. Michel Miraillet was appointed in 2007 and in 2013 as amember of the commission drafting the French white papers on defence and national security issued in 2008 and 2013. He is graduated from ENA, France’s school for public administration, the Paris Institute for Political Sciences and various Paris universities (Masters in law and economics, Bachelor in Arts).

Panel 2: Food Security and Insecurity (Panelist)

Alanna Koch Board Chair, Global Institute for Food Security

A farmer, industry leader, long-time agriculture champion, former senior government executive and experienced corporate director, Alanna Koch is the Board Chair of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan. She is on the board of SeedMaster Manufacturing and the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame, is Chair of the CN Agricultural Advisory Council and an active member of the Global Farmer Network. She works with farmers and the agriculture industry through her consulting company, KoHert Agri Inc. Prior to this, she served as Deputy Minister to Premier Brad Wall and Cabinet Secretary and was the Saskatchewan Deputy Minister of Agriculture for nine years. As one of the longest serving Agriculture Deputy Ministers in Saskatchewan and Canadian history, Alanna worked closely with farmers and industry and her priority was to build and maintain public trust in agriculture by focusing on science-based decision making and communicating the benefits of innovation and modern tools and technology. Alanna has been involved in the agriculture industry, both professionally and personally, for most of her life. Before joining government, she was President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and was a Director with Agricore United (a predecessor of Viterra), and Executive Director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. She has been widely recognized for her contributions to the agricultural industry and her community, but her greatest honour was her induction into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2011 for outstanding achievement in the sector. Alanna and her husband, Gerry Hertz, farm at Edenwold, SK, and are committed to sustainable crop rotation practising minimum tillage and utilizing advanced crop technology growing grains, oilseeds and pulse crops. As a farmer and advocate for agriculture, she actively promotes how agriculture is a solution for environmental, economic and social sustainability. She knows first hand that farmers and ranchers are responsible stewards of land and livestock – the challenge is to connect with consumers on shared interests and communicate how sustainable agriculture is providing safe, nutritious, plentiful and affordable food to Canadians and the world.

Lunch (Speaker)

Dr Meredith Lilly Associate Professor, Carleton University

Meredith Lilly is an Associate Professor at Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) where she holds the Simon Reisman Chair in International Economic Policy. Dr. Lilly is a national award-winning researcher with extensive experience in public policy development and executive branch decision making. She previously served as Foreign Affairs and International Trade Advisor to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and oversaw within the Prime Minister’s Office Canada’s free-trade negotiations with the European Union, South Korea, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership among other files. Dr. Lilly’s current research is focused on North American trade relations, Canada’s trade diversification strategy, and economic sanctions. She is a member of the Deputy Minister’s Advisory Committee on International Trade, an Advisory Board member of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, an Expert Panelist with the Council of Canadian Academies, and a Canadian delegate to the North American Forum. In 2022, she concluded her term as Associate Director of NPSIA’s MA program. She meets regularly with foreign governments and diplomats, and is a regular media commentator on Canadian trade strategy.

Panel 3: Canadian Agriculture in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging Canada’s strength in the region (Moderator)

Jean-Marc Ruest Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel, Richardson International Limited

Jean-Marc Ruest graduated from St. Boniface University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also holds a Bachelor of Law from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge. He was called to the bars of Ontario and Manitoba and, after starting his career in private practice, joined Richardson International in 2002. Jean-Marc is currently Richardson’s Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and General Counsel. In this role, he manages all legal affairs for Richardson International and its subsidiaries and oversees Richardson’s relations with governments and industry associations. Jean-Marc has been actively involved in Canadian agricultural policy matters as a member of the Western Grain Elevators Association Management Committee, Cereals Canada, the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity and the Canada Grains Council. In 2021, Jean-Marc was recognized by Canadian Western Agribition as one Canada’s Top Fifty Most Influential People in Canadian Agriculture.

Panel 3: Canadian Agriculture in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging Canada’s strength in the region (Panelist)

Kevin Auch Farmer and Chair of Pulse Canada

Kevin operates a dryland and irrigation family farm in southern Alberta. He has always had a keen interest in improving the long-term productivity of his own farm and of Canadian agriculture in general. He has been a board member of the Southern Alberta Conservation Association and has been the Chair of both Alberta Canola and Alberta Wheat. He is currently a director on the Alberta Pulse Growers and the Western Grains Research Foundation and serves as the Chair of Pulse Canada. 

Panel 3: Canadian Agriculture in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging Canada’s strength in the region (Panelist)

Trevor Sears President & CEO, Canada Pork

Trevor has 30 years of experience in the exporting proteins from Canada. In October of 2019, he was appointed the President & CEO of Canada Pork. In this role, he is tasked with leading the dynamic Canada Pork team to achieve its mission of improving the access, awareness and growth of the Canadian pork industry. Prior to Canada Pork, Trevor spent most of his career in the pork industry with Maple Leaf Foods, where he developed extensive experience in strategic management and global business development. During his time in the trading department of Maple Leaf Foods International, he managed accounts including frozen and chilled pork sales to markets including Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, China, Singapore, and Taiwan. Trevor held various progressive roles at Maple Leaf Foods until his departure as Director of Sales & Marketing in Global Business Development.

Panel 3: Canadian Agriculture in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging Canada’s strength in the region (Panelist)

Carla Ventin Senior Vice President, Government Relations, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCPC)

Carla is Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP), the largest national industry association representing companies that manufacture and distribute the majority of everyday essential products found on grocery and drugstore shelves. From FHCP’s Ottawa Office, Carla advances the industry’s priorities with federal and provincial governments to help shape policies that support Canadian manufacturers, and promote the understanding and contribution of the industry. She has over 20 years’ public affairs experience in the association, private, government and not-for-profit sectors in Canada, the US and the EU. Carla has 15 years of experience specifically in agriculture and agri-food. While in government, she was director of communications to two federal cabinet ministers including the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. She owned her own public affairs firm working on projects in the crop nutrient sector, and also worked for agri-food clients for NATIONAL Public Relations. Outside of Canada, Carla did political party development work for the Central and Eastern European Team for the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs in Washington DC. In Hungary, she worked for NATO while the country joined the alliance and was responsible for launching the country’s first NATO Information and Research Centre. She was also a visiting university lecturer in international relations. Carla graduated from the University of Guelph and holds masters degrees from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and the University of Waterloo and University of Guelph.

Panel 4: Food Security Today (Moderator)

Sébastien Abis Director General, Club Demeter (France)

Panel 4: Food Security Today (Panelist)

Elly Vandenberg Director, Global Office Canada, United Nations World Food Programme

As Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Global Office in Canada Elly Vandenberg is a champion for global sustainable development. WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
In 2020, Elly established an official WFP presence in Canada by formally opening a national Global Office based in Ottawa, reaffirming the longstanding partnership between WFP and the Government of Canada. This enables WFP to engage more directly with Canadian parliamentarians, civil servants, non-governmental organizations, universities, research institutions, foundations, the private sector and the Canadian public. Elly catalyzes Canadian philanthropy, innovation, technology, evidence, and expertise. Elly leads an effective Canadian hub that provides WFP visibility and leverages Canadian opportunities and partnerships. Elly has over three decades of experience including roles in national, international and multilateral global development organizations and field work in peace building and human rights. Elly holds a degree in international development from the University of Toronto and professional executive coaching certification from Integral Coaching Canada.

Panel 4: Food Security Today (Panelist)

H.E. Ahmed Hafez Ambassador of Egypt to Canada

Ambassador Hafez is the Egyptian Ambassador to Canada. He is a career diplomat who has been in the Egyptian diplomatic service for 23 years, working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters, as well as abroad, representing Egypt. Most recently for the past four years until September 2022 – he had assumed the position of the Official Spokesperson of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Public Diplomacy department. Prior to that, Hafez was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Egyptian Representation Office to the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah. He has previously worked as well in the political section of the Embassy of Egypt to the United States of America in Washington, D.C; before that he had also been assigned to the Egyptian Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. At MFA Headquarters, Hafez had assumed the position of Cabinet Advisor to the Foreign Minister for Israeli/Palestinian affairs and the Middle East Peace Process. During his career, he also handled Levant affairs as the Director for Syria and Lebanon. Earlier, he was a department official in the Bureau for multilateral international economic relations, at the Foreign Ministry. Prior to joining the diplomatic service, Hafez worked in the private sector as a marketing/brand management executive for Procter & Gamble in Cairo, Egypt.

Panel 4: Food Security Today (Panelist)

Steve Verheul President, Steve Verheul Consulting Inc and former Special Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Finance, International Trade Policy

Mr. Verheul retired from the Federal Public Service in October 2022 and is now a Principal with GT and Company Executive Advisors, as well as President of Steve Verheul Consulting Inc. Prior to his retirement from the Public Service in 2022, he served as a Special Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Finance. From 2017 to 2021, Mr. Verheul was Assistant Deputy Minister of the Trade Policy and Negotiations Branch at Global Affairs Canada. In addition to this role, Mr. Verheul was Canada’s Chief Negotiator for the negotiations that led to the Canada-US-Mexico Trade Agreement (the new NAFTA). Prior to that, Mr. Verheul was served as Canada’s Chief Trade Negotiator for negotiations between Canada and the European Union in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade from 2009-2016, leading that negotiation from its beginning through to its successful conclusion. Prior to that appointment, he worked in international trade policy at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada from 1989 to 2009, where he worked on the NAFTA negotiations, the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations that led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Doha Round of WTO negotiations. He was Canada’s Chief Agriculture Negotiator from 2003 to 2009, responsible for leading Canada’s involvement in international trade negotiations on agriculture, including the WTO. Mr. Verheul graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1984, after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in Political Science.

Panel 5: Food Power: Agriculture and Food as Canada’s Advantage (Panelist)

The Honourable Ralph Goodale High Commissioner, Canadian High Commission in the UK

Ralph Goodale assumed his responsibilities as High Commissioner for Canada in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in April of 2021. Raised on a family farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan, Mr. Goodale received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Regina in 1971, and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1972. He has practical experience in business, law, agriculture and broadcasting, as well as federal and provincial politics. Ralph Goodale was first elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1974 at the age of 24, representing Saskatchewan’s sprawling rural riding of Assiniboia. In the 1980s he served as leader of the provincial Liberal Party, and was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan in 1986. Mr. Goodale returned to the House of Commons in 1993 as the Member of Parliament for Wascana, and was subsequently re-elected seven consecutive times, becoming Regina’s longest-serving MP. A member of the federal Cabinet under three Prime Ministers, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (1993-1997), Minister of Natural Resources (1997-2002), Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2002), Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2002-2003), Minister of Finance (2003-2006), and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2015-2019). In March of 2020, Mr. Goodale became a special advisor to the Prime Minister for Canada’s response to Iran’s shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 which claimed the lives of 55 Canadian citizens, 30 permanent residents of Canada and dozens of others with Canadian links. This role is on-going in pursuit of transparency, accountability and justice for the families of the victims. Mr. Goodale is accompanied by his wife, Pamela.

Panel 5: Food Power: Agriculture and Food as Canada’s Advantage (Panelist)

Chantelle Donahue Vice President & Sustainability Director - Cargill Agricultural Supply Chain North America

Chantelle Donahue is the Vice President & Sustainability Director– Cargill Agricultural Supply Chain North America (CASC-NA) for Cargill Inc. In this role she is a member of the senior leadership team and leads the sustainability strategy & execution for CASC-NA. Chantelle brings over 20 years of experience to her current role. Previous roles include Commercial Leader for Cargill Global Edible Oil Solutions – Specialties, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Cargill in Canada, supply chain and general management at Prairie Malt Limited/Cargill Malt, merchandizing for Cargill Limited and various roles which focused on agriculture research. Chantelle is a strong leader and collaborator within the industry as evidenced by her previous and current roles in numerous agri-food related boards and initiatives – with sustainability and public trust, and is committed to ensuring Canada is at the forefront of a thriving agri-food sector. In 2019, Chantelle was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame and is currently, the Chair of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute. Chantelle has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (with Distinction) from the University of Alberta, where she obtained a double major in Marketing and Agriculture Economics. Along with her husband Greg, Chantelle operates a grain farm in Biggar, Saskatchewan. She is the proud mother of her daughters, Abby & Sally.

Panel 5: Food Power: Agriculture and Food as Canada’s Advantage (Panelist)