Mary-Jo Hewat, Chair
Senior Vice President, Human Resources & Facilities | Sagen MI Canada

Mary-Jo Hewat brings over 25 years of human resources expertise and is currently the Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Facilities at Sagen. Prior to joining Sagen, 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 the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Human Resource Management and Organizational Design Programs.

Peter Singer, Vice Chair
Chairman | Thomas, Large & Singer Inc.

Peter Singer is President of Thomas, Large and Singer and has been since 1986. In 1999, he was additionally named CEO, and in 2020, Peter became the Chairman of both companies as his son, David, assumed the role of President. He has been extremely active in industry affairs. In 2000, he assumed the role of Chairman of that organization which is now a part of the Consumer Brands Association. Peter continues to be a member of the Executive Committee of the Food Industry Association of Canada and has acted as that organizations Chair and Chair of the Nominating Committee. Peter has been proud to have been awarded the food industry’s Golden Pencil award in 2008 and Life Member Designation of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers in 2012.

David Long, Secretary
Chief Executive Officer | Greater Vancouver Food Bank

David has worked internationally in Ireland, Switzerland, Great Britain and Australia before settling in Canada in 1996. He has led many high performing teams and successfully made the bold career change from the kitchen to the CEO office in 2005. David has held senior positions in different disciplines as an Executive Chef, CEO, General Manager and Vice President of Operations before accepting the role as Chief Executive Officer for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Always a passionate engaging leader David builds high performing Teams and has a proven track record of bringing fun, success and inspiration to organizations.

Rosemary McCrie, Treasurer
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.

Ryan Bahadur
VP of Finance | Keurig Dr Pepper, Canada

Ryan serves as a key member of KDP’s Canadian Executive leadership team and is accountable for Strategy, Corporate Development, and oversight of all Finance and Information technology functions. Ryan previously served in the same capacity as CFO, Kellogg Canada. Prior to becoming CFO, he served in other senior finance roles at Kellogg. Ryan completed the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership program and is a CPA.

Ilya Bahar
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.

John Bayliss
Executive Vice President, Transformation Officer | Walmart Canada

John Bayliss serves as a member of Walmart Canada’s executive leadership team and is accountable for driving the strategy, innovation, corporate development, and transformation agenda for the company in Canada. Additionally, John is responsible for delivering the new store format, real estate, and omni supply chain network infrastructure strategies. Prior to this role, John Bayliss was the Senior Vice President of Logistics and Supply Chain of Walmart Canada. Prior to joining Walmart Canada in 2015, John worked for 16 Years with The Boston Consulting Group. Most recently, he was a Partner and Managing Director with BCG Canada based out of Toronto.

Linda Beairsto
Partner, McCarthy Tétrault & President, MT>Align

Linda brings over 30 years of legal and business experience. She is a partner of McCarthy Tétrault and President of MT>Align, a wholly owned division of the firm. As President of MT>Align, Linda leads the firm’s innovative MT>Align division which has over 100 contract independent high-caliber lawyers across Canada. Prior to joining McCarthy, Linda was an executive member of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp’s C-Suite, where she was Chief General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Over the span of her career, Linda held executive management and senior legal leadership roles in various industries including power & utilities, pharmaceutical, healthcare, automotive parts, manufacturing, packaging, food, chemicals, commercial real estate and financial services. Linda holds the Chartered Director (C. Dir) designation from the Directors College, McMaster University. She is also a certified compliance & ethics professional (CEEP) granted by the Compliance Certification Board. Her experience spans a variety of Board leadership roles in both for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Linda earned her LL. B from the University of New Brunswick and her B.A. (Asian Area Studies) from the University of British Columbia. In 2017, Linda was the finalist for National Post and ZSA Recruitment awards in two categories: 2017 General Counsel of the Year and 2017 Deal Making of the Year.

Marjorie Bencz
Executive Director | Edmonton’s Food Bank

Marjorie Bencz began with Edmonton’s Food Bank in 1987 as a volunteer and in 1989, she became the Executive Director. Over the years, Marjorie’s work and dedication have resulted in her being recognized with several community awards such as an honorary diploma in Health and Community Studies from Grand MacEwan Community College and being named Global TV’s Woman of Vision. Marjorie was honoured nationally for her ongoing service to Canadians and invested in the Order of Canada in the category of Social Science in 2006. In May 2012, Marjorie was honoured with a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, in the category of Community Service. Also in 2012, she received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. In June 2015, Marjorie was inducted into the City of Edmonton Hall of Fame. Marjorie continues to believe that this recognition is not for her role, but for the collective support she receives from Edmontonians, Albertans and fellow Canadians in reducing hunger in our communities.

Tony Chow
President | Kellogg Canada

Tony Chow is President, Kellogg Canada and a key member of the Kellogg North American Leadership Team. He began his Kellogg career in Canada in 2003, serving in several customer leadership roles of increasing responsibility across the Canadian Sales organization. In 2010, he was promoted to Vice President, Sales, in the U.S. He repatriated to Canada in 2012 as Vice President, Sales and became Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales in 2017. Prior to his current role, he served as President of the Kashi Company. Tony currently serves on the board at Food & Consumer Products Canada, The Grocery Foundation and, most recently, joined Food Banks Canada’s Board of Directors. Tony received his Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and completed the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program.

Sylvie Cloutier
Chief Executive Officer | Quebec Food Processing Council (CTAQ)

Since 2010, Sylvie Cloutier has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Quebec Food Processing Council (CTAQ). She was first Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs at CTAQ between 2003 and 2010. Prior to joining CTAQ, she was Vice­President, Communications for the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors and Executive Director of the Canadian Grand Prix New Products Awards from 1999 to 2003. From 1993 to 1999, she worked as a public affairs and public relations consultant for Hill and Knowlton in Ottawa and independently with several companies and organizations including the Canadian Space Agency and the Canadian Mining Association. From 1984 to 1993, Sylvie worked in the federal government as Director of Communications Operations at the Privy Council, as Director of Communications for Canada 125 and as Press Secretary and Legislative Assistant to the President of the Treasury Board of Canada Canada and the federal Minister of Industry. Sylvie holds a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Ottawa and has pursued studies and training throughout her career.

Barbara Gosse
CEO | Trellis Canada

Barbara brings over 20 years experience in the charity sector creating innovative solutions addressing social justice issues. As Founding CEO of Trellis Canada, she operates a national consultancy addressing the protection of human rights and assists organizations to do the same. Previously, she was the Founding Chief Executive Officer of The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, where she provided national leadership and spearheaded the design, development and launch of the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. Barbara has held leadership positions with the Canadian Women’s Foundation and Prosper Canada. She has presented evidence to federal and provincial legislative committees, and participated in national and international consultations respecting poverty, homelessness, disability rights, gender-based violence and human trafficking. Barbara is the recipient of the 2018 Ontario Premier’s Women Building Communities Award.

Dany Hétu
Executive Director | Moisson Rive-Sud

Dany Hétu served in the Canadian Armed Forces as an Infantry Officer. He has worked at all levels, strategic, operational and tactical, both at home and abroad. He was deployed on several missions including in Afghanistan. After more than 32 years of service, he joined Moisson Rive-Sud. Among his professional activities, Mr. Hétu was an Administrator for the Caisse Desjardins des Militaires. He has a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Political Science from the University of Ottawa and is a Certified Corporate Director (ASC), having completed the University Certification Program in Corporate Governance of the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés de l’Université Laval.

Randall Kahgee
Senior Counsel | Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP

Randall Kahgee is Senior Counsel with Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP and specializes in indigenous rights law, with an emphasis on community-based processes and government-to-government negotiations. He served as Chief of the Saugeen First Nation for four consecutive terms from June 2006 to June 2014. He has worked with First Nation governments across Canada and participated in significant agreements between First Nation communities and provincial and federal governments on energy matters, including issues relating to the development of nuclear facilities, transmission lines, wind energy projects, as well as environmental matters. He has extensive experience in consultation and accommodation related issues and has also been involved in the negotiation and implementation of land claim and self-government agreements and participated in a number of successful impact benefit negotiations. He has advised First Nations on a range of governance related issues. Randall received his BA (Hon) from York University and his LLB from the University of Toronto.

June Muir
Chief Executive Officer | UHC – Hub of Opportunities

June Muir has worked in the food assistance and charitable sector since 2000 when she undertook a career change and joined the team at UHC – Hub of Opportunities. As Chief Executive Officer, she leads a high-performing, interdisciplinary team working to ensure that the Windsor-Essex community is made aware of the ongoing needs of low-income individuals and families. June is a passionate, dedicated individual and a strong voice who makes a difference in the quality of life for those facing unemployment and financial hardship. June has been and continues to be at the forefront of developing partnerships with community service providers in Windsor to ensure there’s a strong focus on rebuilding a stable future for UHC’s clients.

Daman Thable Rayat
Corporate Secretary and Counsel | Infrastructure Ontario

Daman is a proud public servant and lawyer with a practice focused on ethics and governance. She currently serves as Corporate Secretary and Counsel for Infrastructure Ontario, an agency of the Ontario government. Previously, she was Director of Public Sector Ethics for the Office of the Integrity Commissioner (Ontario) where she led the office’s oversight activities for several mandates including conflicts of interest, whistleblowing and public sector expenses. Daman has served on and advised several non-profit and public sector boards. She received her B.Sc (Forensic Science, Biology and Chemistry) from the University of Toronto and her LL.B. from the University of Ottawa and most recently her ICD.D from the ICD-Rotman, Directors Education Program.