Debbie O'Bray, Chair
Director, Marketing Projects, Operations & Transformation | IGM Financial

Debbie is the Director of Marketing Project, Operations, and Transformation at IGM.  Prior to joining Investors Group she worked as a management consultant in 30 countries around the globe, most extensively in China, Mexico and Germany. She has served on numerous Boards including the Canadian Cancer Society Manitoba Division, Meals on Wheels, Winnipeg, and the Project Management Institute Educational Foundation.  Debbie is a  past chair of the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone, and the Project Management Institute. She was named a Fellow of PMI in 2009.

John Bayliss, Vice Chair
Senior VP, Logistics & Supply Chain | Walmart Canada

John serves as the Senior Vice President of Logistics and Supply Chain for Walmart Canada. In this role, he leads the national logistics and transportation teams which support over 400 retail stores and the company’s ecommerce business. Prior to joining Walmart Canada, John worked for over 16 Years with The Boston Consulting Group. Most recently, he was a Partner and Managing Director with BCG Canada based out of Toronto.

Ilya Bahar, Treasurer
Retired Partner, PWC

Until his retirement in 2018, Ilya managed PwC’s consulting practice for Consumer Markets in Canada, where he led strategic initiatives for leading clients in retail and consumer products. Prior to PwC, Ilya worked for ten years as a partner with IBM, where he held various executive positions in Canada and Brazil. He was also Managing Director with Premier Foods, Industrial Division, a company specialized in nutritional products for the institutional catering market in South Africa. Ilya has served on the Advisory Board of the Ryerson Retail Management School and advised the Food and Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) and Retail Council of Canada (RCC) on numerous industry initiatives.

Monica Donahue, Secretary
Human Resources Executive

Monica is an HR executive who has developed and delivered human resource solutions in several industries – including consumer products, hospitality, industrial distribution supply chain, telecommunications/technology, and financial services. She has worked for well-known local, national and global organizations including TELUS Communications, McCain Foods, Acklands Grainger, Inc. Working with peers and business leaders, she has built teams with a focus on practical and timely solutions that have contributed to achievement of strategic and business results. She served previously on the board of one of Toronto’s Community Care Access Centres, and currently serves on an HR Committee, as well as a Management Advisory Committee as a Subject Matter Expert for 2 other not-for-profit organizations respectively.

David Armour
Director of Philanthropy | The United Church of Canada

David is the President of The United Church of Canada Foundation. He brings forth extensive fundraising and foundation experience from his work as Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, as president of the United Way of Canada—Centraide Canada, and as a regional director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. David has also served as Senior Advisor to the Université Laval Foundation and has developed two new foundations, the Canadian Medical Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation. In addition to committing his time to Food Banks Canada, David also supports other national organizations, including the Pembina Institute, the Canadian Red Cross, and the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy.

Linda Beairsto
Retired Chief General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer

Linda is an Independent Board Director and Consultant at a top-tier Bay Street law firm. She retired as Chief General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corporation. Her experience spans a variety of Board leadership roles (both for-profit and not-for-profit). She also served in multi-functional executive management and senior legal leadership teams in various industries including power & utilities; pharmaceutical; healthcare; automotive parts; manufacturing; packaging; food; chemicals; commercial real estate; project development and financial services. She earned her Chartered Director (C. Dir) designation from the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University. Linda was a Finalist in two categories of the 2017 National Post & ZSA Recruitment awards: 2017 Canadian General Counsel of the Year; and 2017 Deal Making.

Allan Cosman
Retired President & CEO | Ferrero Canada Ltd.

Allan is an Independent Board Director and President of his own consulting firm. He retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ferrero Canada following a multi decade career leading consumer good organizations in Canada and internationally. Prior to Ferrero, he worked 20 years at Procter and Gamble. His experience spans a variety of Board leadership roles (both for profit and not for profit) and extensive line management responsibilities in Sales, Marketing, Human Resources and General Management. Allan is multi-lingual and has worked in a global business and multi-cultural context throughout his career. 

Mary-Jo Hewat
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Facilities | Genworth Canada

Mary-Jo Hewat brings over 25 years of human resources expertise and is currently the Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Facilities at Genworth Canada. Prior to joining Genworth Canada, Mary-Jo was the SVP, HR Business Partnerships at the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS). She holds the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation and is a Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE). Along with being a member of the Food Banks Canada Board, she sits on the Advisory Council to Ryerson University’s Human Resource Management and Organizational Design Programs.

Nick Jennery, Network Council Representative, Nova Scotia
Executive Director | FEED Nova Scotia

Nick is Executive Director at Feed Nova Scotia – a charitable organization with a mission to “Feed Nova Scotians in need, and to reduce that need”.  Feed Nova Scotia collects, sorts and distributes 16,000 pounds of food each day to 146 food banks, shelters and meal programs across Nova Scotia.  56% of the food distributed are perishables, primarily fresh fruit and vegetables. Prior to joining Feed Nova Scotia, Nick spent most of his career in the food industry, leading a number of provincial and national trade associations, as well as his own consulting practice. 

Rosemary McCrie
Finance Consultant | McCrie & Mundy Professional Services

Rosemary has 30+ years of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry at PepsiCo Foods Canada and currently delivering finance management consulting within the tech industry.  Along with being a board member of Food Banks Canada, she also acts as Director for PepsiCo Canada Foundation. Rosemary is experienced in governance, risk management, strategic change and integrated system implementation. She holds a Chartered Director designation from the Directors College, a joint venture of The Conference Board of Canada and McMaster University.

Lori McRitchie
Executive Director, Airdrie Food Bank

Lori McRitchie became Executive Director of the Airdrie Food Bank in 2006 when the food bank merged with a local elementary school’s breakfast program she was running. Lori leads the operations of the Airdrie Food Bank and has overseen its growth from a grassroots organization to a respected mid-sized agency that won Food Banks Canada’s Excellence in Food Banking Award in 2017. She is passionate about her work and supports other food banks through her role as a Board Member and part of Network Council. In 2012, Lori was a recipient of the Amazing Airdrie Women Leadership Award and Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee medal. In 2014, Lori was chosen as Airdrie’s “Best Citizen” for her work in bringing the community together and advocating for those in need of food support.

Lori Morrison
Retired VP, Research, Development & Quality | Kraft Canada Inc.

Prior to becoming the VP of Research, Development and Quality with Kraft Canada, Lori was Director of Global Coffee Research and Development for Kraft International (UK) and Manager of Research and Development Strategy with Kraft International in Germany. Along with being a member of the Food Banks Canada Board, Lori was also Executive Sponsor of the Kraft Canada Campaign with United Way Toronto.

Sophie Perreault
Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer

Sophie Perreault is responsible for the overall management of Farm Credit Canada’s national operations and started her career as a Relationship Manager in 1994. Sophie has an eye on building relationship and has worked in various leadership positions in credit risk. She has served as Vice-President of Operations in Quebec, Vice-President of Enterprise Integration and Innovation and most recently as Vice-President of Agribusiness and Venture Capital. She holds a bachelor of science in agricultural economics from Laval University and the Institute of Corporate Directors designation. Sophie also acts as vice-chair of the Regina Food Bank’s Board of Directors.

Keren Taylor-Hughes
Executive Director, Winnipeg Harvest

Keren Taylor-Hughes is a dynamic leader and driven by a passion to create positive change for those in need in Manitoba. Previous experience and expertise include child protection, health, change management and leadership. Keren’s passion is collaboration, relationship building and strategic thinking and her purpose is to lead, succeed and motivate people to accomplish positive change for the better within her organization and their community.

Daman Thable Rayat
Legal Counsel | Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner

Daman Thable is counsel with the Government of Ontario where she has worked for over 10 years. She is currently Counsel for the Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner and provides advice on how to manage conflicts of interest and maintain a politically neutral public service. She is a frequent presenter at local and international conferences. Previously, Daman served as counsel for the Office of the Integrity Commissioner and represented the Family Responsibility Office at enforcement proceedings in court. Daman is a recipient of the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Prix Excelsior Award for Innovation. Daman was a volunteer member of the Board of Directors of Family Services of Peel for five years, and served as president for three years.

Chris Hatch
Chief Executive Officer | Food Banks Canada

As the CEO of Food Banks Canada, Chris leads a team dedicated to deepening collaboration across a national network of food banks and provincial associations and maximizing their collective impact to assist the more than 800,000 people who turn to food banks every month. Prior to joining the team in January 2018, Chris was Executive Director of The Mississauga Food Bank for nine years and was instrumental in numerous innovative projects such as the launch of the first aquaponics farm at a Canadian food bank. In 2012, Chris received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee for dedicated service to the community and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity where he was involved in the building of two new homes in Southern Ontario.