Fields on Wheels 2024 - Speakers

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Sylvain Charlebois speaker Fields on Wheels 2024

Professor, Faculty of Management, Senior Director of Agri-food Analytics Lab, Dalhousie University

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

Known as "The Food Professor", 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. He is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. Since 2012, he has published the highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, providing an overview of food price trends for the coming year. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, now ranked as top Canadian management podcast, discussing issues in the food industries. 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.

Robert Dick

Robert Dick speaker Fields on Wheels 2024

Head of Canada's National Supply Chain Office

The Office collaborates with other orders of government, industry, and labour to strengthen the efficiency and resiliency of transportation and logistics infrastructure and operations, to improve the reliability of Canada's supply chains and contribute to productivity and affordability.  

Prior to his current role, Robert served as Assistant Deputy Minister of the Transport Canada's Pacific Region where he was responsible for safety and security oversight of federally regulated air, marine and rail modes of transportation, as well as the transport of dangerous goods; operation of airports owned by Transport Canada; and delivery of environmental programs. Under Robert's leadership, Pacific Region built successful collaboration mechanisms with industry and other levels of government that transformed how supply chain disruptions were managed in the critical Western Canadian gateway and corridor.

Robert has over 25 years of federal government experience, including in air sector policy, national cyber security, and on a range of economic, social and national security files at Transport Canada, Public Safety Canada, the Privy Council Office, and Western Economic Diversification. Robert is from Winnipeg and based out of Vancouver.

George Hajecek

George Hajecek speaker Field on Wheels 2024

Director of Business and Technology Development, MDS Aero Support

George holds the position of Director of Business and Technology Development at MDS Aero Support. MDS is a world leading supplier of validation technology in the areas of aviation propulsion, and industrial power generation.

In his current role, George works with the Business Development team to integrate new capabilities related to decarbonization, and reducing the carbon footprint of test facilities.

George has been with MDS since 1995 and has a broad background in both business development and engineering. George is a registered professional engineer with PEO and holds two master’s degrees, as well as an undergraduate degree in engineering from Carleton University.

Randy Jenkins

Randy Jenkins speaker Fields on Wheels 2024

CEO, Wiiche'iwaymagon Buying Alliance

Randy Jenkins has over 25 years experience in the Federal Government, working largely on Indigenous rights files and Indigenous programming. Having joined the Nutrition North Program in 2019, Randy has been responsible for program transformation, introducing a number of measures beyond the traditional subsidy offering while moving the entire program toward a food security focus, recognizing and leveraging Treaty and inherent Indigenous rights. Randy recently retired from Northern Affairs to take up a position as CEO of the Wiiche'iwaymagon Buying Alliance, a not-for-profit supplying food and equipment to remote communities in partnership with food banks.

Volker Kromm

Volker Kromm speaker Fields on Wheels 2024

Executive Director, Regional Food Distribution Association;

Product of an immigrant family that settled into a largely rural southern Ontario community, dependent on gardening and entrepreneurship; proud of creating possibilities. Inherited a life of servitude within a variety of old-world agrarian traditions and trades. Exchanged farm implements & auto engines for the chaos of the political scene of the 70’s and a panacea of calculus at the University of Waterloo.

Fled to a life of northern adventure, in the Thunder Bay region, growing and harvesting trees, as a forester. Diversified as a GIS specialist, a continuous improvement change agent, and a project manager. Learned the value of community involvement.

Currently enjoying the challenge of being the Executive Director of the Regional Food Distribution Association; charged with the task of transforming its mandate and implementing a vision of the organization, as a food hub, and a regional economic development partner across the north.

Proudest roles in this life are to be a dedicated grandfather, and to joyfully serve others.

Doug Mills

Doug Mills speaker Field on Wheels 2024

Senior Account Representative for Bulk, Breakbulk and Export Container cargo - Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Doug Mills brings more than 40 years of experience to his work at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, in marine, road, rail and air modes of transportation.

Doug joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in 2000, serving in the Statistics, Shore Operations, Supply Chain and Trade Development departments of the Port, where he currently holds the position of Senior Account Representative for Bulk, Breakbulk and Export Container cargo sectors. Cargo commodities in Doug’s portfolio include coal, potash, grain, sulphur, forest products, steel, project cargos, and liquid bulk products.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Doug holds a Bachelors Degree in Business and Liberal Arts from Simon Fraser University, as well as a Diploma in Marketing Management Technology and Transportation Distribution Management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Ross Prentice

Ross Prentice speaker Fields on Wheels 2024

CEO of Buoyant Aircraft Systems International (BASI)

Ross Prentice, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is a logistics and transportation expert with over 20 years of experience. He holds a professional designation in logistics from the University of Manitoba.

In 2018, Ross became the CEO of Buoyant Aircraft Systems International (BASI), a company dedicated to developing airship technology for sustainable transportation in northern regions. Prior to this role, he contributed to BASI in advisory and volunteer capacities. He's had a lifelong interest in cargo airships, influenced in part by his family background.

Ross is also a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Evotrux, a freight-matching platform connecting shippers and carriers directly for increased efficiency and value. His extensive industry experience enhances quality and transparency in freight logistics.

Through his leadership roles at BASI and Evotrux, Ross continues to contribute to advancements in transportation technology, aiming to create more accessible and efficient logistics solutions for underserved regions.

Shirley Thompson

Shirley Thompson speaker Fields on Wheels 2024

Associate Professor, Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba

Shirley is the principal investigator with the Mino Bimaadiziwin Partnership, researching food insecurity’s rates, health impacts and solutions.

Jill Verwey

Jill Verwey speaker Field on Wheels 2024

President, Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP)

Jill is married to Raymond Verwey, and they farm in Portage la Prairie on their fourth-generation family farm. Verwey Farms Ltd. is a mixed farm including 8,000 acres of grains and oilseeds and a dairy operation. Jill is responsible for the financial and environmental plans for the farm in addition to overseeing the management of each of the farm operations.

Jill was elected as President of KAP in 2023. She previously served as Vice-President from 2018-2023, and prior to that was an active member of KAP’s District 6. She has also encouraged her adult children to get involved with KAP.

Jill is also a long-time member of the Homestead Co-Op board of directors and the Portage District Hospital Foundation board of directors. Jill is active as well with the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba remains highly involved with the Portage la Prairie Curling Club. Jill is a graduate of the agriculture diploma course from the School of Agriculture at the University of Manitoba, with a major in livestock and a focus on farm management.