2024 Speakers

Strategist and marketing professional, Annik Labrosse has been working in the food industry for 20 years.  Her main focuses are innovation and branding, major keys in this industry where consumer needs are continuously evolving.  In food packaged good or in restaurant business, status quo is more than often synonym of decline.

Annik holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Université du Québec à Montréal, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Université de Sherbrooke.  She is also member on the Board of Directors of the Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec (CTAQ), of Cintech Agroalimentaire and of Éco Entreprise Québec.

BK Sethi, President of BK Sethi Marketing Ltd. with over 35 years of experience in importing, distributing and marketing authentic ethnic food products from around the world, offers his experience as a consultant to many multinationals, trade consulates, exporters and merchants, providing planning, execution, channel selection and communication strategies in the growing Canadian ethnic market.

His practical, hands-on experience is key to short and long term business growth plans for progressive companies who want to enter and grow their business in the Canadian market, a gateway to North America.

Carl is a Montreal-based business strategist, digital marketer and executive advisor with over 25 years of hands-on operational, marketing and retail executive experience. He has worked across a full array of business environments from the very large, such as 10 years with Costco Wholesale to working as commercial applications lead for a global B2B security technology company. In both, managing product portfolios and emerging go-to-market strategies.

As the founder of StudioRx, he advises executives, B2C/B2B solution providers and all types of ecosystem partners on how to tailor their solutions according to customers’ evolving needs and build effective commercial strategies to meet them.

He holds an MBA from Queen’s University as well as professional certificates from Stanford, Harvard and MIT.

He advises several technology startups, industry associations and innovation labs.

He is the principal advisor for the McGill University Retail Innovation Lab in Montreal, Canada. He is also, course instructor at McGill Masters in Retail Innovation (emerging technologies and new business models) and adjunct digital marketing faculty at Asian Institute of Technology MBA School of Management.

Carl is recognized by Rethink Retail among the world’s most influential thought leaders and has keynoted, chaired and/or moderated the largest retail conferences around the world. He remains a regular media contributor with global news networks.

In 2021 he published his first book; The Great Acceleration – on how the Covid-19 pandemic rapidly propelled digital transformations and the business strategies to address the challenges that followed.

Christine Plante is the founder of the Gala des Lauriers de la Gastronomie Québécoise, a celebration that rewards talent in gastronomy from the land to the table. Trained in animation, communications and food studies, she considers gastronomy to be one of a societýs great cultural and identity assets, on a par with its music, language or cinema. Host, speaker, journalist and author of the book Street Cuisine, les meilleurs restos roulants de Montréal, Christine Plante is both witness to and ambassador for the effervescence that drives the food industry, and directs her passion to communicating it to the general public with enthusiasm!

Corinne Cluis is the founder and distiller of Fove, a young distillery specializing in the production of acerums (maple brandies) and rum. Fove’s driving force is to bring out the aromatic potential of the raw material and the fermentation process, using a systematic and experimental approach to create spirits with rich, authentic flavors.
With a doctorate in molecular biology, Corinne spent several years working in the yeast industry, developing new products for distilleries and deepening her knowledge of fermentation and aroma production in distilled spirits. Driven by her passion for research, Corinne founded Fove in 2021 to follow her desire to create spirits that are both convivial and refined, imbued with a unique signature reflecting Quebec’s culture and territory.

Dana McCauley is a value proposition driven innovator who has successfully launched numerous food products and programs in collaboration with national and international food companies and entrepreneurs.

Beyond her corporate experience in marketing, product development and creative services, Dana brings expertise in the nonprofit and academic arenas to her role. She was the founding Executive Director of Food Starter, a Toronto-based food business incubator and gas pedal, which received the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in Agri-Food Innovation. As Director of New Venture Development at the University of Guelph, Dana has enabled agri-food innovators to turn their inventions into innovations that grow the economy and enhance Canada’s international reputation.

Dana has been a food media personality and keynote speaker. She is the chair of the SIAL Canada Innovation Awards jury. In 2017, Dana was recognized by WXN as one of Canada’s most powerful women in the category of Trailblazer and Trendsetter.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

Le Sublime was founded in 2021 with the ambition of popularizing the traditional Caribbean drink in Quebec and Canada. Established in Montreal, we create original, artisanal recipes to make it easy for people to make their own rhum arrangé at home.
Our playful concept in the form of DIY kits makes rhum arrangé accessible to all in 3 simple steps:
1. Choose your recipe
2. Add your drink and leave to infuse for at least a month.
3. Enjoy!

Elyse Boulet is the dynamic force behind PIGEON, an award-winning agency renowned for its prowess in branding, packaging, and communication.

A forward-thinking leader, Elyse is known for her honest and collaborative approach which unites her team to create brand value with every engagement, enabling people to buy, love, and recommend brands. With truth as her rocket fuel, she orchestrates strategies, designs, and integrated marketing efforts aimed at delivering tangible ROI for clients. She is an out of the box thinker with an energetic and entrepreneurial spirit that is highly contagious. Her portfolio boasts an impressive array of projects for esteemed brands such as IKEA, Metro, Hershey, Cara, Danone, Coca-Cola, and L’Oréal, among others. Her contributions to brand strategies, design solutions, and integrated campaigns span local, national, and international markets.

In the past two years, she has been named in the IERA Women Top 10 Inspiring Women Leaders, is an RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur nominee, and included in the Honored Listee of Marquis Who’s Who. She oversees a team of fearless brand design and communication specialists in Toronto and Montreal.

Francis has been working in Nielsen’s Montreal office for over 15 years and has been Vice President, Eastern Canada for the past 2 years, responsible for the retailer and manufacturer relations teams in Eastern Canada. He is also involved in many initiatives, looking for new ways to collaborate with different partners. Curious by nature, his colleagues and clients appreciate his extensive knowledge of consumer and retail trends, both locally and internationally.

Gail Gastelu has a long and impressive 20 year background in the tea industry.  She owns and operates her own business, publishes The Tea House Times in print and digitally, travels to cover newsworthy tea gatherings, samples new products, and reviews wonderful tea rooms, restaurants, and destinations which sell or serve tea around the world. Gail is closely involved with dignitaries of foreign tea growing countries of origin and has been exclusively invited as media to experience tea plantations, factories, processing, and tea culture first hand. She speaks about tea and judges competitions too.  Gail is also producer of TeaTradeShow.com (open 24/7), TeaCourse.com and Tea Course Fast Track, co-owner of TeaEtiquetteCertified.com. Connecting businesses and consumers since 2003, her passion and drive is to help tea businesses grow and to promote tea appreciation to all.  Gail has served as an officer or advisory board member to several associations, trade shows, and organizations over the years. Her communications and relationships with businesses, consumers, and media cross the tea industry, functional beverages, nutrition, and skincare industries. Gail maintains relationships with The Tea Association of the USA, Tea and Herbal Association of Canada, UK Tea & Infusions Association, Mid Atlantic Tea Business Association, New York Women’s Culinary Alliance, Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Cosmetic Industry Buyers and Suppliers, and Cosmetic Executive Women.

General Manager, corporate director, speaker and author, Geneviève Desautels, CHRP, Distinction Fellow, ASC-C.Dir. MCC, MBA has been General Manager of Éduc’alcool since January 1, 2022.
Previously, Geneviève worked for 16 years in human resources in SMEs and large private and public companies. In 2010, she began her professional practice focusing on the development of authentic and conscious leadership skills and abilities.

Geneviève Dionne has been a member of Éco Entreprises Québec’s (ÉEQ) team since 2010 and is the architect behind the packaging eco-design and circular economy team. Over the years, her expertise has served as part of several initiatives, such as Packaging ecodesign services program, an Ecodesgin Web portal a website with a host of tools and resources for companies seeking to integrate packaging eco-design into their business practices, as well as bold projects, such as Unwrapping, the documentary and co-authoring a book titled Do we need another package? Ms. Dionne also has regular invitations as a guest speaker to share her insights on packaging eco-design, recyclability, and the transformation of business practices. She also has a graduate diploma specializing in Management and Sustainable Development from HEC Montréal and is a visiting professor at the University of Montréal’s School of Industrial Design.

A professional in nutrition, food marketing, and communication with over 20 years of experience, Isabelle Marquis has developed a unique multidisciplinary expertise, gained through both consulting agencies and food processing companies. Known for her rigorous approach, contagious passion, and strategic creativity, Isabelle is also an exceptional communicator who knows how to inspire and mobilize.

As Marketing Director for Grocery and HRI at Groupe Première Moisson Inc., she was responsible for numerous innovation projects and product launches, in addition to actively contributing to business development in both the Canadian and U.S. markets. Now working independently, Ms. Marquis supports companies of all sizes in the Quebec and Canadian food sectors with communication, marketing, and innovation strategies. Since 2018, she has served as Innovation Ambassador for SIAL Canada and collaborates with specialized magazines and the show L’épicerie on Ici Radio-Canada Télé.

With decades of grocery retail experience, Jamie Nelson is a key member of the executive leadership team of the Pattison Food Group. Jamie began his career in the grocery business as a retail clerk in Mission, B.C., in 1980, and steadily rose through various levels of management at Save-On-Foods before joining the company’s leadership team in 2012. Today, as Chief Operating Officer of the Pattison Food Group, Jamie holds overall management accountability and strategic direction for the operations of all Pattison Food Group banners – including Save-On-Foods, the group’s largest company.

A widely respected leader throughout the grocery industry, Jamie was named the recipient of the 2023 Golden Pencil Award – the highest distinction in Canada’s grocery industry – for his lifetime contributions to the industry he considers himself fortunate to be part of. Jamie’s passion and expertise in the grocery industry has parlayed into active participation on industry boards, including that of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, for which he is chair.

Jean-François Béliveau is a seasoned creative director with over twenty years of experience in advertising, branding, and graphic design. His expertise spans the promotion of brands in various sectors, including agri-food, restaurants, entertainment, tourism, and culture.

Whether it’s in structuring and implementing brand ecosystems for renowned companies such as Gogo Quinoa, Van Houtte, La Parisienne, 3 Brasseurs, Éducaloi and Montreal Airports or in-store communication for reputable retailers and consumer brands such as Metro, Super C and Food Basics Jean-François has an intrinsic understanding of the critical moment of truth.

His impressive portfolio includes significant contributions to the identity and recognition of numerous local and international brands, including CF Montreal, IKEA, Del Monte, Nutrinor, Biscuits Leclerc, Lactantia, Astro, Cirque du Soleil, Almond Fresh, SoNice, Boston Pizza, Hershey’s, Maple Leaf, Air Transat and Mont-Tremblant. Jean-François brings valuable creative and strategic vision to his role as creative director at PIGEON, where he shapes innovative and impactful advertising campaigns.

Jean-Sébastien Michel is a Quebec entrepreneur born in Sept-Iles in 1981 who specializes in cocktail ingredients, glassware and bar accessories, wines and spirits. After graduate studies at Concordia and UdeM in political science with a focus on alcohol prohibitions and discourses, he decided to combine his passion for liquids and human behavior by working in the retail sector. First managing the oldest wine accessories store in Montreal, he launched Alambika in 2012, a precursor to the current cocktail trend.

Today, the company, with boutique and online presence, supplies hundreds of bars and restaurants across Canada and the US, has a national distribution line representing some 50 artisanal houses and develops original accessories and glasses with various Quebec trades. Described as the “secret weapon of the Montreal cocktail scene” by Eater magazine, it now promotes the Quebec offer through partnerships with the wine and cocktail world, SIAL, La Grande Dégustation de Montréal, event support, educational workshops and a cocktail column in Le Devoir.

Jo-Ann has spent her career building consumer and retail brands at Molson, Procter and Gamble, Unilever and Cadillac Fairview.

As Division President of Molson Coors and a member of its North American Management Board, Jo-Ann led the charge to sell more beer more profitably.
As founding partner and president of Nourish Food Marketing, Jo-Ann now builds powerful food and beverage brands in Canada, the United States and Europe, developing marketing strategies that help move products from the shelf to the consumer’s shopping cart, to their plate and to their heart.

She has worked with entrepreneurs to launch award-winning products and with municipal, provincial and federal agencies to create programs that support the Canadian food industry. She has also been an instructor at the Schulich Executive School of Business, FoodStarter (a food incubator), and the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada and the Association of Canadian Advertisers.

Jo-Ann is the Founding Chair of the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada, Past President of the Empire Club of Canada, where she has hosted leaders from around the world, and Past President of ABC Life Literacy Canada. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Chapter of the Dames d’Escoffier.

Jonathan Rodrigue is the co-founder and CEO of Still Good, a proudly carbon-negative circular economy company whose mission is to repurpose ingredients, primarily grains, to reduce food waste. Jonathan has extensive experience in implementing innovative programs for sustainable food and responsible sourcing in partnership with major corporations, retailers and social enterprises.

He has 15 years’ experience in business development, combined with knowledge of the environmental impact of food waste. His expertise in the field has led him to envision a new model for the agri-food industry where the circular economy and responsible consumption are prioritized. He has developed an “eco-valuation model”, “eco-” for ecological, but also for economic, since by working with companies, Still Good succeeds in turning what used to be a cost into a revenue stream.

In addition to piloting the Still Good company since 2017, his circular economy innovations have won multiple accolades including various Dux Manger Mieux awards, the CTAQ Ecofriendly Innovation award in 2022 and 2023, the CTAQ Food Innovation award in 2023,  Arista award in the category Québec’s young leader : Social Responsability category in 2023, the ESTim 2023 award in the manufacturing company category. In 2024, his company won one of two grand prizes in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Food Waste Challenge in the business model category, in front of over 300 companies, following a three-year selection process.

Jonathan has been a guest speaker and panelist on food waste reduction and sustainability initiatives on numerous occasions and received PMI Montreal’s Elixir Award as project manager of a national retail food waste reduction initiative. He has served on numerous advisory committees discussing waste reduction solutions, as well as on the boards of non-profit and social enterprises.

Today, he aspires to integrate his new business models into the food industry so that the circular economy, local and responsible consumption become essential practices worldwide.

Joseph Sabatier is a born entrepreneur and co-founder of the Mamie Clafoutis bakeries, specializing in artisanal everyday agri-food products. After completing his training, he honed his skills in various French companies and sought the expertise of the best to enhance his experience. At 21, he had the opportunity to become a bakery trainer and discovered the joy of sharing his craft and passion.

Joseph moved to Montreal at the age of 22 to experience the delights of Quebec. He had the chance to invest in a delicatessen, but although the business did not last, he learned valuable lessons from it.

Thus, at the age of 26, he founded the first entity of the Mamie Clafoutis group. The venture was a success, and he and his team then worked on launching a franchise in 2014, which enabled the company’s development. Joseph is an active member of the Montreal bakery scene and has been involved in creating training programs at the provincial level. He was instrumental in establishing an association of Quebec artisan bakers. A father of four boys, healthy eating is important to him, so he decided to collaborate with La Milanaise mill to create an organic flour blend that aligns with his values.

Passionate about innovation and aware of the post-pandemic reality, he and his partner decided to rethink artisanal bakery as a business equipped with technology that would offer faster and more tailored service. A significant new challenge for the retail food industry.

Julie Daigle supports the Canadian food and beverage sector to help them develop their businesses and bring new and innovative food products and technologies to market. She has spent years providing She has spent years providing mentoring and marketing services to startups and SMEs in the food sector, helping these fast-growing companies expand into new markets. She also gained extensive experience in the seafood sector during her time in Mexico and with Les Pêcheries Marinard, where she oversaw international market development for their biotech by-products.

Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology from the University of Victoria and a Master’s degree in Fisheries Management and Marketing from the Université du Québec à Rimouski. Her more than 23 years of experience include positions as Executive Director of Créneau d’excellence Aliments Santé – a food and nutrition industry cluster focused on innovation – and MYCÉLIUMaQuebec City-based food gas pedal and incubator. Julie is passionate about innovation and co-creation in food and beverage, nutrition and functional foods, and helps members access food industry financing and marketing strategy resources.

Julie is fluent in French, English and Spanish, and is an excellent resource for members who wish to work with a Regional Innovation Manager ( RCIA ) and food industry expert who can converse with them in any of these languages.

With over 20 years in the organic food sector, Kim brings a wealth of supply chain and non-profit experience to the role of Member Relations & Business Development Manager at the Canada Organic Trade Association (COTA). Honoured with the 2016 Canadian Health Food Association Organics Achievement Award, Kim continues to diligently strive to bring value to the organic sector. Kim serves COTA members through an array of benefits programs and funding opportunities which assist members in strengthening their organic businesses.

COTA is the national membership-based association for organic agriculture and products in Canada. Members include growers, processors, handlers, certifiers, provincial organic associations, distributors, importers, exporters, manufacturers, brokers and brand management companies, consultants, retailers, and all points along the organic value chain.

The COTA mission is to promote and protect the organic sector and encourage the universal adoption of organic. To achieve this mission, COTA works on regulatory affairs, government relations, trading relationships, market research, market access, organic integrity, and builds public trust in organic through a variety of consumer-facing programs. Through industry task forces, webinars, or buyer missions, COTA assists businesses, whether in start-up phase or established players, to navigate the organic marketplace to discover ways to optimize their organic business portfolios.

Linda Fox is a food industry branding, marketing and commercialization specialist, able to help strengthen Canada’s position as an international powerhouse in food innovation.During her 25-year career in the food industry, Linda has worked with major FMCG and OTC brands, where she has been responsible for branding and marketing. where she has taken innovative concepts through to commercialization and launch in major food retail outlets across Canada. She knows how to make a food label stand out on the shelf, set marketing objectives and design a product launch plan and strategic go-to-market framework that drive sales growth and profitability.

Linda uses her keen curiosity and brand marketing experience to understand and capitalize on the ever-changing dynamics of the consumer journey. Her ability to marry vision and experience is particularly valuable in today’s dynamic business climate. Her focus is on aligning brand strategy with consumer needs, and Linda knows how to bring the product to a successful launch through close collaboration. Linda enthusiastically follows the latest consumer, food, beverage and technology trends to provide RCIA members with the information and advice they need to successfully bring their innovative food or beverage product to market.

Holder of a bachelor’s degree in industrial design with more than 30 years of experience in R&D, packaging engineering and marketing of food products, Mr. Papineau has a unique professional background recognized throughout Quebec. During his career, Mr. Papineau participated in and supported numerous companies such as Danone, Saputo, Coca-Cola as well as several hundred SMEs in Quebec. Several of its projects aimed to improve, develop and market new or existing products, optimize conditioning and packaging processes and techniques, without forgetting, of course, sustainability . Mr. Papineau is recognized for his great leadership, creativity and keen business acumen. He is also recognized by all his collaborators and colleagues for his great rigor, his passion for his work and finally for his human values.

Max Coubès is a well-known and influential figure in the world of mixology in Quebec.

Originally from the south of France, he grew up with the idea that the apéro was a sacred moment, a simple excuse to get together and discuss life over a drink. When he fell in love with Quebec and the world of cocktails, he realized that sophistication wasn’t always the key, but rather authentic flavors and the pleasure of drinking better.

Max is passionate about art, design and creating meaningful experiences around beverages. He has made significant contributions to the industry, whether through his own establishment, books, collaborations with distilleries, or communications and events agencies.

His expertise extends to the design of visual and taste experiences, making the aperitif a vehicle for performance and image. Since 2022, Max has also been the brand ambassador for the Ubald distillery, defending authentic artisanaldistilleries and their philosophy at every opportunity.

Michael is the founder and President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc. and a senior advisor to the Retail Council of Canada in its consulting practice. He has over 25 years of leadership experience in branding, retail, marketing and e-commerce and has been at the forefront of change in the retail industry throughout his career. Michael is the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts, including Canada’s leading retail podcast, The Voice of Retail, as well as Global E-Commerce Tech Talks, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois and, now in its second season, Conversations with CommerceNext! You can learn more about Michael here or on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to check out Michael’s latest adventure for fun and influencer enrichment: Last Request Barbecue, his barbecue cooking YouTube channel!

From the age of 16, Olivier Roy launched himself into the world of video production, embarking on an early career marked by a variety of collaborations, notably with municipal candidates, communications agencies, municipalities, as well as provincial and federal government entities, establishing his footprint in Canada, Cameroon, Nicaragua and Haiti.

His career path then led him to explore the field of marketing and video production with a Montreal-based technology company, awakening in him a deep fascination for technological innovations. In 2019, faced with the inefficiency of payment systems in bars, Olivier, with the help of his childhood friends, set out to design an innovative solution.

The emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020 forced the start-up to rethink the traditional approach to the restaurant sector. After months of intensive technological development and redevelopment, the team inaugurated Leav, a pop-up store at Montreal’s Eaton Centre, distinguishing itself as Canada’s first completely cashier-free establishment. This initiative marks the beginning of an ambitious quest to revolutionize retail with a completely mobile and unobstructed experience, a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of Olivier and his team.

Pier-Alexis has spent the last fifteen years of his career communicating his love of wine. From London to New York to Sydney, he has experienced the joys and intensity of working for Michelin-starred establishments such as Dinner by Heston Blumenthal , The Modern and Manresa Restaurant.

In 2014, he won first place at the Concours International des Jeunes Sommeliers held in Copenhagen.

A top-level competition in which participants from fifteen different countries had to demonstrate their sommelier skills and know-how. In 2016, he became one of the few people to achieve the title of Master Sommelier before the age of 30. A title held by 249 people worldwide, including 5 individuals in Canada and just 2 in Quebec. Obtaining the title of Master Sommelier is one of the most difficult and respected certifications in the wine world. To obtain this title, candidates must demonstrate expertise in blind tasting, wine and beverage service, as well as the most in-depth knowledge of the world of wine.

In 2017, Pier-Alexis was named Best Sommelier of Quebec by the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, in addition to being crowned Best Sommelier of the Americas by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale in May 2018. In 2019, he represented the Americas at the Best Sommelier of the World competition held in Belgium, making it into the world’s top 10, among representatives from over 60 countries.

Since 2018, Pier-Alexis has been President of P-A Soulière Sélection Ltée, offering services including restaurant and hotel consulting, event organization and tasting, wine cellar management as well as training & education. He also produces and distributes maple syrup around the world.

Renée-Maude Jalbert is Vice-President of Marketing at Krispy Kernels, a Canadian company that processes and distributes savoury snacks. Before joining Krispy Kernels in 2002, Renée-Maude worked in the wines and spirits marketing field at Maxxium House, an establishment that represents a portfolio of iconic brands, such as Robert Mondavi, Masi, Absolut Vodka, Rémy Martin and Jim Beam.

Renée-Maude Jalbert possesses a leading edge expertise in the food marketing sector. During her career, she has implemented numerous marketing campaigns aimed at establishing brand influence and dominance for Yum Yum and Krispy Kernels.

Renée-Maude combines a strong creative acumen with an in-depth knowledge of everyday consumer products marketing and sales. She has actively participated in the development of several product innovations, including Viva vegetable chips in 2004 and, most recently, St-Hubert BBQ flavoured potato chips.

Robert Dion a une vaste expérience dans le domaine du commerce de détail et des services alimentaires. In 1984, he founded his very first company specializing in the importation of European non-alcoholic beers and fine products. After the purchase of his company by a Quebec distributor, Robert Dion continued to build his experience in the food industry by becoming a sales representative and then an account manager for the food service division of J.M. Schneider’s, now known as Maple Leaf Foods.

In addition to his experience in retail and foodservice, Robert Dion is the creator and editor of the specialized magazine Hotels, Restaurants & Institutions, a leader in Quebec since 1996 because of its high quality content that meets the needs of industry professionals. In the early 2000s, his company took the technological turn by offering its customers a complete, user-friendly and dynamic website: www.hrimag.com.

Over the years, Robert Dion has established a respectful relationship with his readers and collaborators and has become an influential resource in the agri-food family. Today, in addition to being the editor of this renowned magazine, Robert Dion acts as a facilitator, speaker and consultant, both in Quebec and abroad.

Robert Dion has received many honors, including the Personality of the Year Award from the Société des chefs du Québec and the prestigious Sandy Sanderson Award from the Canadian Culinary Federation for his journalistic integrity.

Shabnam Weber – the president of The Tea and Herbal Association of Canada – is a leading authority and industry voice on all things tea in Canada. The association, which represents members from bush to cup, provides proactive leadership in the areas of advocacy, generic promotion, education and information in order to ensure the long-term viability of the tea industry. It also serves as a source of information and research about tea, and it offers a Tea Sommelier Certification program which can be taken anywhere in the world.

Stéphane has helped organizations create powerful branding and meaningful communication campaigns rooted in an in-depth understanding of consumers, markets and cultural truths for 30 years.

He’s held marketing management positions at both client and agency level, leading brand strategy and positioning for a wide range of companies, from start-ups to to national market leaders throughout the Canada and US.

For Stéphane, a deep understanding of the consumer behavior, the product category and retail environment is critical. Creative and visionary, he’s contributed to the success of brands such as, CF Montréal, Nortera (Arctic Gardens, Del Monte), Nutrinor, St-Hubert Retail, Royale, Cavendish Farms, Danone, Vintners Quality Alliance of Ontario (VQA), Unibroue (Sleeman), Lavo, Dainty, Abbott Nutrition, Fontaine Family, Perdue Farms and I.D. Foods, to name a few.

Stéphane’s analytical mind and intellectual curiosity, coupled with decades of experience in marketing communication and branding, make him a dedicated brand specialist and true strategic partner.

Stewart is a recognised thought leader in the retail industry, with a comprehensive understanding of retailer strategies, format evolution, digital transformation, and cutting-edge innovation. His insights have helped numerous companies stay ahead of the curve in this ever-changing landscape.

As part of IGD Consulting, he collaborates with international business leaders on strategic projects that drive growth and profitability. Stewart’s expertise has garnered attention both domestically and internationally, leading to frequent speaking engagements. He is also a regular commentator in the media, sharing his perspective on current trends and developments in the retail industry.

Tyson MacInnisTyson MacInnis is a Prince Edward Island-based consulting firm specializing in mentoring food and beverage innovators in creating a business model, target markets and how to successfully expand their entrepreneurial ventures.

Tyson holds an MBA from Dalhousie University, with a specialization in international business and a minor in finance and marketing. He has over 20 years’ experience in helping food innovators grow. He was Director of Business Development at the Food Island Partnership. In this role, he identified opportunities to improve supports such as seed funding and, through a collaborative approach, led the development of a food start-up competition, a mentoring program for food gas pedals and a food scale-up facility, and organized the first Food Automation Atlantic event.

Tyson draws on his experience as a food marketer, small business founder and economic development consultant to meet the needs of Canada’s innovative food and beverage industry. He enjoys helping innovative new food and beverage companies get the advice, connections and financing they need to thrive.

Zeeshan Fazal is a Regional Manager at EDC, responsible for a team of Relationship Managers supporting Canadian companies to penetrate, grow and succeed internationally. He is also responsible to strategically increase EDC’s support to Québec companies in Agriculture and Agri-food sectors.

Mr. Fazal has significant experience in assisting Manufacturing, Technology and Innovation companies to go, grow and succeed internationally. Prior to his appointment to the Business Development team, Mr. Fazal held various underwriting positions for Accounts Receivable Insurance, Bank Guarantees and Loan Guarantees. He was also a Lean Sustainability Advisor where he collaborated closely with internal stakeholders to help lead projects, improve operational efficiencies and client communication processes.

Outside of EDC, Mr. Fazal was a lecturer at McGill University where he taught International Finance, Corporate Finance and Financial Statement Analysis. Most recently, he also taught a course on Business Valuation at the Smith School of Business at Queens University. Furthermore, he taught CITP professional designation courses on Global Value Chain and International Trade Finance.

Mr. Fazal holds a Master of Business Administration from the Smith School of Management (Queens University), a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting and Biology from McGill University. He is also a Certified International Trade Professional (CITP | FIBP).

Vice-President, Product, IVADO Labs

Jack Klejka focuses on helping executives shape their AI strategy and transform their business at scale by creating and deploying unique AI-based solutions that generate competitive advantages. He is actively participating in guiding organizations in their efforts to join the Canadian AI ecosystem and establish successful AI execution capabilities and talent creation. Prior to that, he led corporate strategy and transformation efforts for Fortune 500 companies at PwC Strategy& (formerly Booz&co.) and Monitor Deloitte. He also managed the investment strategy planning of $60 billion of private equity AUM at Quebec’s pension fund CDPQ.

Diane J. Brisebois is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Retail Council of Canada (RCC) and has held that position since 1995. Prior to joining RCC, Diane held the position of President and CEO of the Canadian Office Products Association for 14 years. Diane has spent more than 38 years leading retail industry associations in Canada.

Retail Council is the largest retail association in the country representing more than 45,000 retail establishments of all shapes and sizes from coast to coast. RCC`s membership covers all retail segments including general merchandise, grocery and pharmacy and accounts for more than 70% of all retail sales in the country excluding auto and gas sales.

Diane has and continues to serve on several boards across North America.

Michel Rochette has been at the heart of Quebec’s economic and political ecosystem for more than 20 years and is the president of the Quebec section of the Retail Council of Canada since 2021. An outstanding communicator, Mr. Rochette has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of public policy and trade issues affecting the retail sector in Quebec. A university lecturer, he is also the author of the book 150 ans de petites et grandes révolutions, published in 2017. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rochette served as vice-president of the Conseil du patronat du Québec (CPQ), as an executive with the renowned public relations firm NATIONAL, and in political and government circles in Quebec.

Pierre-Alexandre Blouin has been President and CEO of the Association des détaillants en alimentation du Québec (ADA) since 2018, and has been with the Association for nearly 20 years. ADA aims to serve well-served communities aware of the impact of their consumption choices thanks to the expertise and proximity of food retailer-owners. As a lobbyist, he regularly intervenes in the news while serving on various committees related to the bio-food and environmental industry, notably on the Conseil d’Aliments du Québec (CPAQ), the Comité sectoriel de la main-d’œuvre du commerce de l’alimentation (CSMOCA), and the Comité consultatif sur les normes du travail. He frequently participates in conferences and has collaborated on several studies.

Mr. Blouin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Public Relations from UQÀM and a Certification in Leadership and Management Skills from the Leadership Institute (2016). On a personal basis, Mr. Blouin is also involved with a sustainable development organization and minor soccer in North Montreal, where he resides.

A true reference in social entrepreneurship, Marie-Josée Richer is shaking up the business world. By co-founding PRANA at the age of 24, she probably didn’t imagine she would play an active role in transforming the landscape of the North American food industry. Today, the company is a leader in the organic industry and the number one organic snack brand in Canada.

Driven by the desire to have a positive impact and address social and environmental issues, Marie-Josée uses entrepreneurship as a driver of change. This earned her the Arista Award in 2016 in the category of “Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Growing Enterprise” from the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal (Young Chamber of Commerce of Montreal), and she was chosen to be one of the four official dragons for the 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons of the TV show “Dans l’œil du Dragon” (“In the Eye of the Dragon”).

Rachel Ladouceur is Senior Director of Marketing at Café William, a Canadian company with the ambition of creating the most sustainable coffee in the world! In her role as Marketing Executive, she deploys the strategy of product innovation, marketing, partnerships, advertising, public relations and touches everything that allows to connect with an ever more informed consumer. Over the past year, she orchestrated the national launch of the sustainable coffee collection in the retail and online market for Café William. In addition, she led the awareness campaigns around the announcements of the transport of coffee by sailboat, the first electric industrial roaster in the world and the inauguration of the Sherbrooke factory. Her career was forged in industries of passion, an essential component to accelerate the impact of her professional contribution! Whether in cosmetics alongside Madame Lise Watier, in fashion at Holt Renfrew or at Arterra Wines Canada, Rachel draws on the power of know-how to create engaging brand stories. A courageous, authentic and dynamic leader, she believes in the importance of team mobilization to push boundaries and create value.

Shawn Woods is Farm Manager at GoodLeaf Farms’ Research and Development farm in Truro, Nova Scotia. Originally from Nova Scotia, Shawn attended Saint Mary’s University, after graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce he accepted a position with Scotiabank moving to Ontario, and over his 15-year banking career held variety of roles. After leaving the bank to focus full-time on his role as co-founder at ‘Futurescape Corporation’ he was fortunate to travel extensively across Canada evaluating new technologies. While backpacking through Southeast Asia in 2016 and seeing the value farmers brought to small villages he decided to relocate back home to Nova Scotia and try his hand at sustainable food production.

Sarab Hans is the president of Hans Dairy, a Mississauga, Ont.-based family business specializing in South Asian dairy products. The company was founded in 1997 by Sarab’s parents. She joined the company more than a decade ago and has steadily grown Hans Dairy from independent grocery stores and small mom-and-pop shops to big banner chains. Hans Dairy is now widely distributed across Ontario, a no small feat for a company that caters to a niche market of South Asian dairy consumers. Hans Dairy makes yogurt products, smoothies, fluid milk for further processing, rice pudding, and a butter line. The company’s USP is its clean ingredient deck and taste that offers a home-made feel.