The Canadian Federation of Agriculture represents over 200,000 Canadian farmers and farm families and strives to provide a single voice for farmers at the federal level.

Drew Black has worked on environmental policy analysis and research for the past five years at the federal level on a wide range of files with sustainability implications. He sits on a number of different federal advisory committees and value-chain roundtables which seek to address environmental issues in agricultural production and improve sustainability.

Drew works to ensure that producers’ perspectives are heard and considered in the development of federal environmental legislation, regulation and policy and is currently involved in seeking greater recognition for the voluntary actions that producers are taking to limit their impact to the environment and improve sustainability.  He has worked on a number of environmental research projects in the past and has more recently worked to coordinate the development of the CFA’s research policy and recommendations for the role of research within the next Agricultural Policy Framework.

Dr. Andreas Boecker obtained his MSc and PhD degrees in agricultural economics at Kiel University, Germany.  He has extensive experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods in market research.  In 2005, Andreas joined the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph where he now is Associate Professor.

His research focuses on traceability in the food system, innovation in farm-direct marketing, consumers’ perceptions of food-related risks and communication about agricultural production technologies and practices.  He teaches Food and Agricultural Marketing Management and Marketing Research and Analysis.

Tracy Herbert oversees the implementation of the Beef Cattle Research Council’s Knowledge Dissemination and Technology Transfer Strategy to accelerate the uptake of innovations in the beef industry related to production efficiencies, food safety, carcass quality, environmental stewardship and animal health.  She manages www.BeefResearch.ca, a comprehensive science-based resource for beef industry stakeholders, and coordinates the development and utilization of various extension resources including fact sheets, decision-making tools, webinars and videos.

Tracy also coordinates the BCRC’s Beef Researcher Mentorship Program and works to improve collaborations that improve technology transfer in Canada’s beef industry.

She has Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Communications Studies from the University of Calgary.  Her family operates a mixed farm with purebred cattle in Northwest Saskatchewan.

Gabrielle Bauer has been a freelance writer for the past 21 years. She writes magazine articles for a general audience and specialized materials for the healthcare, business, and environmental sectors. She has also written two books and received seven national writing awards.

Gabrielle has produced BioFuelNet’s Success Stories and has made presentations on effective science writing.   She lives in Toronto.

Mary Ann leads the nutrition strategy and communications for the Canadian Pork Council. In this role she has been involved in numerous nutrition and health policy initiatives.  She is President of the Canadian Meat Science Association, ad hoc member of the Food Directorate’s Food Expert Advisory Committee and chairs the International Meat Secretariat’s Nutrition Committee.

Mary Ann is a professional home economist and lives in London.

René Mongeau, agr., is President of the Order of Agrologists of Quebec since July 3rd, 2009.

Mr. Mongeau began his career as a coordinator at the Financière agricole du Québec. Then, until  August 2009, he was Regional Advisor on field crops and agri-environment at the Regional Directorate of the Western Montérégie of the Quebec Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ).

He is a founding member of the Executive Committee of Agri-rencontres du Haut Richelieu where he worked for 15 years. Mr. Mongeau was Vice-President of the Corn and Oilseed Committee of the Centre de référence en agriculture et agroalimentaire du Québec (CRAAQ), from 2006 to 2009. His accomplishments in agronomic practices, include:
•  Integration and development of various income and security programs (crop insurance and income stabilization insurance) for farmers in plant and animal production.
•  Sustainable development in agriculture including soils conservation by direct seeding, the reduction of herbicides in crops and establishing buffer strips.
•  Winter wheat crop to adapt to climate change.
•  Cultivation of switchgrass, a potential plant to reduce agricultural pollution.

Board Member of the Order since 2003, Mr. Mongeau was President of the Order Mentoring Committee. He was Vice-President of the 2012 World Congress of Agronomists, as well as President of the Conference Committee of the 2015 International Farm Management Congress and Chair of the fundraising campaign of Au coeur des familles agricoles to acquire a respite home for farmers in distress (2013-2014).

He is regularly asked to speak at conferences and conventions on topics related to agronomy, agri-environment, the use of new technologies and the protection of agricultural areas as a food source.

He is President of Agrologists Canada, the body that brings together the institutes and nine provincial regulatory organizations in the profession. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Quebec Interprofessional Council, the collective voice of the 46 professional orders of Quebec.

Mr. Mongeau is a member of the Quebec Order of Agrologists since 1978. He holds a BA from Laval University (1978) in bio-agronomy, option animal sciences.

Michael is the Director of the Research and Innovation Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), as well as the General Manager of the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), a provincial agency that provides advice to the Minister.  This includes research investment, and competitive research initiatives focused on research co-ordination, innovation and knowledge management.

In managing ARIO, Michael is responsible for a number of initiatives:  leading teams to implement a capital strategy to revitalize and transform provincial agri-food and bioeconomy research platforms, including the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and the transformation of the Elora research complex, and the management of the OMAFRA /University of Guelph Partnership Agreement.

He has a background in leading government initiatives that target issues and solutions for the rural and the agriculture sectors.  Michael is a professional engineer with an undergraduate degree from Concordia University and a Masters in Water Resource engineering from the University of Guelph.

Amy Argentino has been working with the Canadian Horticultural Council in various roles since 2003 and is currently in the position of Manager, Projects and Programs. She has extensive experience with coordinating projects and government agreements, including her management of CHC’s Agri-Science Cluster for Horticulture 2. The research activities in Cluster 2 bring together expertise from academia, industry and government to address key challenges in the apple and potato industries. Amy also organizes the CHC’s Annual General Meeting. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Bronwynne Wilton brings a unique combination of expertise in the agri-food and rural sectors combined with a practical ability to transform complex ideas into tangible solutions.  Through her experience managing a comprehensive knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) program, Bronwynne has worked with researchers across the agri-food and rural sectors to develop and implement effective KTT strategies and outcomes aimed at improving the success of the Ontario agri-food sector as well as improving rural community vitality.

Dr. Wilton holds a PhD in Rural Studies, a Masters of Science in Rural Planning/Landscape Architecture, in addition to a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.

Lana Culley joined Vineland Research and Innovation Centre in 2012 as the Director of Business Development. Vineland’s unique business model requires integration of the business team in research projects from the onset, and Lana works with Vineland’s scientists to implement partnership and intellectual property strategies to enable commercial success and create impact for the Canadian horticulture sector. 

Lana has significant experience negotiating collaborative research initiatives, managing intellectual property portfolios and developing licenses for agricultural technologies and plant varieties with commercial partners. She has also played a key role in developing the strategic relationships necessary to create successful long-term programs. Lana has expertise in evaluating research projects and integrating them with business activities to maximize the value of research and development investments.

Chidi Oguamanam is a full professorial faculty member at the Centre for Law, Technology and Society and affiliated with the Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability, the Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics at the University of Ottawa. Professor Oguamanam obtained his early legal training in Nigeria before completing his graduate (LL.M and Ph.D.) degrees and Canadian practice certification from the University of British Columbia. He is called to the Bar in Nigeria and Canada and has long and ongoing professional legal practice experience.

His practice and research interests focus on various legal and policy issue-linkages to intellectual property law, especially in the areas of biotechnology, biodiversity, genetic resources, pharmaceuticals, agricultural knowledge systems, food security and food systems; public health law and policy; indigenous peoples, indigenous knowledge; human rights and the global governance of knowledge in development contexts.

He is widely published and has authored and co-edited several books in addition to scores of refereed journal articles. His sample publications include International Law and Indigenous Knowledge (University of Toronto Press, 2010); Intellectual Property in Global Governance (Routledge, 2012); Innovation and Intellectual Property: Collaborative Dynamics in Africa (University of Cape Town, 2014) (co-editor).

Christine Teixeira obtained her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Ottawa in 1999.  She then went on to complete postdoctoral fellowships, in the Departments of Biochemistry and Clinical Health Sciences, at the University of Alberta. In 2003, Christine transitioned out of academia for a short-lived career as a research scientist with Isotechnika Pharma, a small pharmaceutical company in Edmonton.

In 2004, Christine joined the federal public service as a Patent Examiner with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).  During her time at CIPO Christine has had the opportunity to work in several different divisions within the organization, including: as a Senior Patent Examiner in the Biotechnology Division and as a Member of the Patent Appeal Board.  Her current position is as the A/Project Coordinator of Examination Practice in the Patent Administrative, Policy and International Affairs Division at CIPO. In this capacity, her work includes the development and dissemination of examination practices within CIPO and involves liaising with both internal and external stakeholders.

Seema Bissoon-Haqqani obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Ottawa in 2003.  She then completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at National Research Council of Canada, before joining the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) as a Patent Examiner in the Biotechnology Division.  In addition to her 10 years’ experience as a Patent Examiner, Seema has worked as the Acting Training Officer for the Examination Sector at CIPO for the past year.

She has been actively involved with the Outreach Branch at CIPO as a strong advocate for IP and Science outreach and in 2012 she was awarded a Diamond Jubilee Medal for her volunteer work in Science Outreach.  Seema is also passionate about diversity and inclusion and is an active member of the Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada Inclusiveness Committee.

Jonathan Roch is a Partner at MBM Intellectual Property Law, assisting clients with the creation, protection, management, commercialization, licensing and enforcement of their intellectual property rights including patents, trademarks, copyright, industrial designs and trade secrets. Jonathan also represents clients in domain name disputes.

Jonathan has extensive experience drafting and prosecution of patent applications worldwide in a broad range of technologies including biochemistry, medical devices, environmental sciences and general mechanical inventions. Jonathan also has experience in drafting and negotiating intellectual property agreements, including assignment, partnership, agency, service, publishing, manufacturing, design, sales, supply, distribution, consulting, research, development, marketing, employment, independent contractor, non-disclosure, confidentiality and licensing agreements.

Jonathan has been a guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa on exceptions to exclusive rights conferred by patents, the Patented Medicines Price Review Board (PMPRB) and Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime as part of a larger course on intellectual property law as it relates to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Jonathan is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Bachelor of Applied Technology (Biotechnology) at La Cité Collégiale in Ottawa.

Jonathan is a Registered Canadian Patent and Trade-mark Agent and practices in both French and English.

Christine Piché has 20 years of experience in the management of Intellectual Property. Her career at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) began as an Intellectual Property Advisor, working with various inventors to protect and maximize the value of their IP.

Christine is now the Director of Business Support at NRC. She leads a diverse team of professionals responsible for strategic management of NRC’s Intellectual Property, contract management, technical business services as well as client relationship management.

Christine is a Patent Agent registered to practice in both Canada and the US. She also holds an MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ottawa.