BRENT PRESTON, President

Farmer, The New Farm, ON ▼

Brent worked as a human rights investigator, election observer and journalist on four continents before becoming a farmer. For the past fifteen years he has run The New Farm, a wholesale vegetable operation near Creemore, Ontario, with his wife, Gillian. The farm supplies specialty retail stores and some of the best restaurants in Canada. Brent speaks often on food and farming issues, and has written for the Huffington Post, Globe and Mail, and other publications. His memoir of starting a sustainable farm was a national bestseller. Brent is the former President of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario.

(he/him)

Traditional Territory of the Tionontati (Petun) and Wendat Nations / near Creemore, ON

ALI ENGLISH

Executive Director, the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario ▼

Ali is the Executive Director of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), a farmer-led membership organization that supports farmers to build resilient ecological farms and grow a strong knowledge sharing community. Ali holds a B.Sc. in Food Production and the Environment from McGill University and a M.Sc. in Agroecology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Prior to working with EFAO, Ali spent a number of years working on farms and helped to start and run a CSA farm business. She also spent several years working at FarmStart, where she developed training opportunities and resources for new farmers across Ontario. Ali became EFAO's Executive Director in 2015, and loves supporting ecological farmers – the growers, innovators and community builders who are doing such critical work. Since taking on the role of Executive Director in 2015, Ali has supported a three-fold increase in EFAO’s programs, operating budget and staff team. Ali's strengths include collaboration and teamwork, project management, and strategic thinking and partnerships. She is honoured and excited to be working alongside such an inspiring team of individuals and organizations as part of Farmers for Climate Solutions!

ANTONIOUS PETRO

Executive Director, Regeneration Canada ▼

Antonious Petro is the Executive Director at Regeneration Canada and a Master’s candidate in soil sciences at UQAT. Born in Egypt, he began farming at a young age and cultivated his passion for soil health and agriculture. Years of experience growing food, designing agricultural systems and engaging with farmers from across Canada, combined with credentials in soil science and biology, mean Antonious’ outlook on regenerative agriculture is rooted both in science and practice. He farmed cotton, corn and raised buffaloes and goats before immigrating to Canada to pursue his dream of bringing a healthy and just food system.

BLAIN HJERTAAS

Holistic Educator, Hjertaas Farm, SK ▼

Blain has farmed all his life on the century-old Hjertaas farm. 25 years ago he began his regenerative journey by seeding grass and raising cows. Having been a high tech. industrial farmer this was quite a change. Shortly after this transition I took my first Holistic Management course. This greatly sped up my learning curve plus gave me a network of like minded people we could relate to.

The farm began to improve both financially and ecologically. Our oldest son and daughter in law came back to the farm about 15 years ago. This freed up more time and I became a Holistic Educator. This has opened many doors for me. More recently I have been involved with the General Mills pilot project on the eastern prairies. I work with 45 farms helping them to become more regenerative. This is one of the largest agro-ecological studies ever conducted.

Blain has been married to Naomi for 43 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.

DEREK LEAHY

Director & Podcast Host, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions ▼

Derek has a decade of experience under his belt as an organizer and communicator on climate and food security issues. He has worked for national not-for-profit organizations like Food Secure Canada and his articles on climate change and clean energy have been published in The Narwhal and National Observer. His agricultural experience is all over the map (literally)—a wild boar and shiitake mushroom farm in Quebec, a CSA in Ontario and cattle farms in Alberta—and he was part of Young Agrarians Alberta’s first ‘graduating class’. He currently splits his time between Calgary and whatever farm in central Alberta he is working on during the growing season.

JENNIFER DEOL

Farmer, TABA Farms, BC; Climate Activist ▼

Jennifer Deol is a long time climate activist and farmer in the Okanagan Valley in BC. She comes from a long line of farmers, who farmed in India and immigrated to Canada on farm worker programs. She grew up farming, and was a climate organizer and environmental youth advocate at UN climate conventions for a decade before going back to her family roots of farming small scale and for the community.

JULIA SMITH

Farmer, Blue Sky Ranch, BC; Executive Director, Small-Scale Meat Producers Association ▼

Julia has been farming for 12 years and lives completely off-grid at Blue Sky Ranch in Nlaka'pamux Territory near Merritt, BC. She is a founding member and Past-President of the Small-Scale Meat Producers Association where she now serves as Executive Director and Project Manage, working to build greater stability and growth opportunities for small-scale meat producers in British Columbia. She was Vice-President of the National Farmers Union where she continues to be active on the livestock committee. She is a grazing mentor with the Farm Resilience Mentorship (FaRM) Program and enjoys working directly with farmers and ranchers to help them succeed with beneficial management practices like rotational grazing. Regional food security has never seemed so important after recent climate change related wildfires, flooding, debris flows and the pandemic. In her spare time she is continuing her education and is active on the local Search and Rescue team.

KAREN MURCHISON

Executive Director, Canadian Organic Growers ▼

Karen comes to Canadian Organic Growers following seven years with the PEI Certified Organic Producers Cooperative where she served with four highly competent board Chairs and was supported by various board members, government staff and many many industry partners. During her tenure, organic production expanded to more than 12,000 acres, sector leaders were instrumental in developing comprehensive strategies for water use, carbon capture and most recently agroforestry. The launch of Growers Station, a local food distribution hub, in 2021 stands as her greatest achievement in her capacity as a research coordinator. Karen studied agronomy at Dalhousie University and business at the University of Prince Edward Island, she is a professional agrologist and practicing agronomist and has held numerous volunteer positions, most often with food-related community organizations. She has three grown children and currently lives in downtown Charlottetown.

KEN COLES

Executive Director, Farming Smarter ▼

Ken is a passionate agri-innovator with 27 years in agriculture research and extension in private industry, government, and a non-profit charity, Farming Smarter. Ken has built Farming Smarter into a world class agriculture innovation hub and believes strongly that regionally focused groups are essential to ensure that farms remain competitive and resilient. Ken holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Science from Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. He is a 2022 Nuffield Scholar, a professional Agrologist and certified crop advisor.

MARA SHAW

Executive Director, National Farmers Union ▼

Mara Shaw is the Executive Director of the National Farmers Union. Mara brings technical training and non-profit management to her work. Former Executive Director of a good food NPO in Kingston, Ontario that changed the conversation about food and the food system in the region. Mara managed the interface between agriculture, development, and the environment as Watershed Management Coordinator of the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority. She holds a M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology and B.S. Honours in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She has chaired the Food Policy Council for KFL&A and serves on other local boards. She is the recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris Award and the Inspiring Woman of the Year from the BanRigh Foundation.

MARK HOIMYR

Owner and operator, Box H Farm, SK ▼

Mark Hoimyr is the owner and operator of Box H Farm in Gladmar, Saskatchewan. Mark, his wife Laura and their family run a cow/calf operation and direct-market grassfed beef, pastured pork and honey. Over the past 20 years, their farm has evolved from a conventional mixed grain and cattle operation to a forage-based business that focuses on the health of the land to grow nourishing food. Mark enjoys the challenge of learning new ways to manage cattle and grazing that promote healthy soil on his native prairie and tame pastures, while systematically eliminating all the barbed wire he possibly can.

SARAH BAKKER

Co-Founder, Field Sparrow Farms, ON; Vice President, Operations, Canadian Climate Institute; Chair, Fair Finance Fund ▼

Sarah Bakker is the co-founder of Field Sparrow Farms, located on 100 acres in Bobcaygeon, ON where they focus on regenerative agriculture practices that protect habitat for grassland bird species. Currently, they market grass-fed beef and pastured chicken via an online store. She is also the Vice President, Operations for the Canadian Climate Institute and the Chair of the Fair Finance Fund. She has 18 years of experience in marketing and fundraising multi-million dollar projects in the non-profit sector and has previously served as the General Manager for the NFU-O and on the Board of the Organic Council of Ontario.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Currently on parental leave

Karen Ross ▼

Download Karen's bio

Karen Ross (she/her) has worked with farmers and policy makers on sustainable food systems for over 15 years, with a strong focus on supporting farmers to improve environmental outcomes and meet the challenges of climate change. As Executive Director of Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) -- Canada's first pan-Canadian alliance of over 20,000 farmers dedicated to supporting the sector’s climate transition -- Karen has built strong and diverse networks of advisors and partners across the agriculture sector in Canada. She has served in various advisory roles to the government on the subject, and has been appointed by Cabinet as a member of the Net-Zero Advisory Body. With a PhD and advanced degrees in agrarian political ecology and environmental biology and as an author on several peer-reviewed papers, Karen has a firm grounding in the value of credible research to inform farmer decision making, policy and programs in the field. As a small scale farmer herself, she knows first-hand the rewards and challenges of farming in a climate changing world and she is committed to ensuring that agricultural production benefits farmers, health, environment and the economy.

(she/her)

Traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin, Huron-Wendat, and Anishinabewaki Nations / near Namur, QC

INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Andrew Rushmere ▼

Andrew farmed vegetables in Alberta and B.C for 13 years. He has worked in the academic and not-for-profit sectors overseeing sustainable agriculture teaching and research programs, advocating for sustainable agriculture policy federally, and in curriculum development and implementation. He completed a BA in International Development and Geography at Queen’s and an M.A. in education at SFU. All these experiences feed his commitment to advancing low emissions, high resilience solutions in agriculture with producers. He lives outside Duncan, BC with his partner and two daughters

(he/him)

Unceded traditional territory of the Quw'utsun people / Duncan, BC

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR

Joy Mudjar ▼

Joy Mudjar is a recent BSc. Environmental Sciences graduate from the University of Guelph. She hopes to make a positive impact at FCS by combining her multidisciplinary knowledge with experience gained through co-op placements at the Regional Municipality of Peel and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Plant Health Strategy Section (CFIA). At the CFIA, she recognized the importance of providing resources and support for implementing on-farm biosecurity measures to combat invasive species and plant pests. Joy is looking forward to supporting the FCS Coalition and contributing to the FaRM learning hub’s mission to help Canadian farmers in enhancing their farms, especially amid climate change.

(she/her)

Traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas // Hamilton, ON

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT

Virginie Lavallée-Picard ▼

Virginie brings her skills in strategic planning, project management and community engagement to help support and grow the impact of Farmers for Climate Solutions. Her BA in Human Ecology focused on global climate policy and organic farming, and she later obtained her MA from Concordia University researching food system planning. Virginie co-founded and manages Wind Whipped Farm and the Local Food Box on Vancouver Island, BC.

(she/her)

Traditional territory of the Lekwungen People / Metchosin, BC

DIRECTOR OF POLICY

Geneviève Grossenbacher ▼

Geneviève has spent the past 15+ years leading and contributing to projects, policy and government relations for sustainable agriculture in Quebec, Canada and abroad. She comes to FCS having been the Executive Director of the Table agroalimentaire de l’Outaouais, the Réseau Agriconseils de l’Outaouais, and the CREDÉTAO; as a Policy Manager at SeedChange and as a Manager of a farm-to-school program. Geneviève also served on the Board of Directors of several agriculture organizations, including as the president of Écoute agricole, a not-for-profit focused on supporting mental health in our sector. Geneviève co-owns Notre petite ferme, and has won several distinctions, including Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ award (2021).

(She/her)

Traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin, Huron-Wendat, and Anishinabewaki Nations / Lochaber-Partie-Ouest, QC

FaRM PROGRAM MANAGER

Crystal Arsenault ▼

Crystal holds a B.Sc., summa cum laude from the University of Victoria. She was a certified organic farmer before moving into various administrative positions for producer associations. Her UX Certification and experience with software design and organic subject matter consulting has resulted in the roll out of certification and farm management software. Her connection with the farming community has informed and helped drive her work toward greater equity in agriculture. In her role as FaRM Program Manager, Crystal supervises the delivery of the Farmers for Climate Solutions (FCS) Farm Resilience Mentorship (FaRM) Program.

(she/her)

Unceded traditional territory of the Quw'utsun people / Duncan, BC

FaRM PROGRAM MANAGER

Farmer Engagement and Learning

Rosalie Gillis-Madden ▼

Rosalie Gillis-Madden has a B.Sc. from McGill University and has been a Certified Crop Adviser since 2010 and a Professional Agrologist with the Nova Scotia Institute of Agrologists since 2014. She completed her M.Sc. at Dalhousie University in 2015 where she studied the nitrogen dynamics of novel green manures in Eastern Canada. She started working in knowledge mobilization and technology transfer with the University of Vermont Extension in 2009, working predominantly with dairy systems and field crops. Joining Perennia Food and Agriculture as Nova Scotia's Vegetable Specialist in 2015, Rosalie became the On-Farm Climate Action Fund Technical Project Manager in 2022, supporting farmers and agronomists in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador in sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gases through improved nitrogen management, cover cropping, and rotational grazing. Rosalie works with both conventional and organic producers and strives to support farmers and the agriculture industry in being environmentally and economically sustainable. She is passionate about soil health and supporting informed decision-making to enable the adoption of beneficial management practices that are suitable to each farm and business model.

(she/her)

Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People / Prospect, NS

FaRM PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Brenda Hsueh ▼

Brenda Hsueh is a Canadian-born Chinese agroecological sheep farmer, who left a financial career in downtown Toronto to start her own farm in 2009. She ran a 1 acre market garden, growing vegetables for CSA members in the GTA for 14 seasons, as the sheep flock and their meat and fibre products increased. Now she is also working with FCS to help more farmers convert to climate beneficial farming practices through the FaRM Program. She wants to see farming become the climate crisis saviour it should be, building soils, sequestering carbon, being a moisture sponge, and providing habitat for countless species.

(she/her)

Traditional territory of the Mississauga, Odawa and Anishinabewaki, subject to treaty No. 45 ½ of 1836 Chesley, ON

SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Gabriela Warrior Renaud ▼

Gabriela is a senior communicator with experience building communications, engagement, and digital strategies. Gabriela combines storytelling and traditional communications tactics to build effective and compelling strategies to support the advancement of FCS’ goals. She has worked in the non-profit and private sectors, supporting organizations to shape their voice, expand their reach and grow their communities. Gabriela holds a BA in Communication Studies from Concordia University. Alongside her work, she has been producing a documentary project exploring mixed race identities and experiences.

(she/her)

Unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people / Ottawa, ON

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Ben Lewis ▼

Ben has spent two decades as a communications specialist helping member-driven provincial and national organizations develop vibrant and compelling communications campaigns. He is a strong believer in the impact we can have when we work together. At FCS Ben works as part of the communications team to give farmers in Canada a strong voice as they demonstrate how agriculture can be part of the solution to climate change. He has an MA in Communications and Culture from Toronto Metropolitan University and operates a small fruit and vegetable farm with his partner.

(he/him)

Traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation / Chatsworth, Ontario