Canadian Food Focus National Advisory Council

Tracy Broughton was born and raised on a mixed farm in southwest Manitoba. She spent several years in 4-H with a main focus on beef projects. Tracy has a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba. Tracy has worked in the barley sector and as a research project manager with the Agriculture and Food Council of Alberta. Tracy joined SaskCanola in 2011 as the Policy Manager and is still with the organization, now serving as Executive Director for both SaskCanola and SaskFlax, She is a highly respected leader, with core values that include integrity, collaboration, and consensus building. Some of her recent notable achievements include the successful SaskCanola SaskFlax amalgamation, implementation of the Hello Canola partnership, and initiation of SaskCrops advocacy partnership with other Saskatchewan commissions.
Tracy also serves as Chair of the Governance Committee for Prairie Hospice Society, a community organization that provides volunteer hospice services in the home. She is also a member of the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan, an organization that supports and incentivizes value chains and supports commissions in the province with the management of a levy database. Additionally, Tracy completed the Leadership Development Program with Edwards Executive Education in January 2023 and is currently enrolled in the Director Education Program delivered by the Rotman School of Business on behalf of the Institute of Corporate Directors, which will be completed in June.
Tracy believes that breaking down the silos between rural and urban communities is essential. She thinks the rural-urban divide is a significant barrier to public trust, and it can be overcome by learning on the part of our industry and inviting city-dwelling advocates who want to embrace our sector with humble transparency. Tracy’s passionate about policy, economics, books, and cooking, and is an avid reader, podcast consumer and home chef enthusiast. The latter much to her family’s delight. She currently resides in Saskatoon with her husband Trevor and two boys.

As Director of Marketing & Communications with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), Amber strategically oversees and leads SPG’s grower communications team, communicating SPG’s value and outcomes to growers and other stakeholders. She also actively leads market development efforts to increase the awareness of lentils in the U.S. across the non-commercial and commercial foodservice industries working with chefs, culinary innovators, and industry experts. Amber sits on the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative Advisory Council and Canadian Food Focus National Advisory Council. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from the University of Saskatchewan and has a diverse array of experience working in the agriculture, hospitality, tourism, and hotel industries.

Alanna Koch chairs the Board of the Global Institute for Food Security, which discovers, develops and delivers innovative solutions for the production of globally sustainable food. In addition, she chairs the CN Agricultural Advisory Council and is a director on the board of SeedMaster Manufacturing as well as the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame.
A long-time agriculture champion and senior government executive, Alanna served as Deputy Minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary. Prior to that, she was the Saskatchewan Deputy Minister of Agriculture for nine years. As one of the longest-serving Agriculture Deputy Ministers in Saskatchewan and Canadian history, Alanna worked closely with farmers and industry and her priority was to build and maintain public trust in agriculture by focusing on science-based decision making and communicating the benefits of modern tools and technology.
Alanna has been involved in the agriculture industry, both professionally and personally, for most of her life. Before joining government, she was President of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance and was a Director with Agricore United (predecessor of Viterra), and Executive Director of the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. She was on the board of the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership and the Buffalo Plains School Division.
Alanna’s influence as a mentor was highlighted in 2021 when she was included in the Top 50 in Canadian Agriculture. In 2015, she was recognized by the Regina YWCA with the Women of Distinction Award for excellence in Leadership and Management. In 2012, Alanna received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2011, she was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame for her outstanding achievement in the sector. In 2005, her contributions to the agricultural industry and to her community were recognized when she received the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal.
Alanna is a graduate of the Canadian Agriculture Lifetime Leadership program and an Honorary Life Member of the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. She has a Chartered Director designation from the Directors College, a program of the Conference Board of Canada and the Michael D. DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Alanna and her husband, Gerry Hertz, farm at Edenwold. They have two daughters, Shayla and Keisha.

Jenni Lessard is a chef and culinary consultant based in the Qu’Appelle Valley in Saskatchewan, on Treaty Four Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.
Raised in the boreal forest in Northern Saskatchewan, Jenni’s first kitchen adventures involved the berries and plant nations that surrounded her family’s home.
At age 14, she and two friends started a hamburger stand at the local airport and her commercial cooking career took off.
From her local and Métis foods-based restaurant, New Ground Cafe, to her catering business, Chef Jenni Cuisine, she grew a reputation for innovative dishes and warm hearted storytelling.
Jenni developed and delivers the culinary portion of the award winning Han Wi Dinner series at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
With her company, Inspired by Nature Culinary Consulting, Jenni produces menus, recipes and immersive culinary experiences.
Her clients include health regions, schools, tourism businesses, restaurants, heritage sites, agricultural organizations, ingredient companies and First Nations and Métis communities.
Jenni was a judge on Season 5 of Fire Masters on Food Network Canada and Resident Chef at the National Arts Centre September to November, 2022.
When she’s not on the road or in the kitchen, you’ll find Jenni berry picking, sometimes with a headlamp to extend the daylight!

Erin MacGregor has been a registered dietitian and passionate food and science communicator for over 15 years.
Erin is an experienced clinical dietitian in the hospital setting, where she translates the latest clinical research into common sense nutrition advice for a wide range of patients. She is also the owner of Erin MacGregor Nutrition Communications, where she consults with a wide range of clients to create engaging food and nutrition content for a variety of consumer and professional groups.
Erin is most passionate about writing and speaking on topics including misinformation in the media, agriculture, biotechnology, and food marketing, with the goal of helping Canadians understand where their food comes, so they can make food choices based on facts,
not fear.

Erin O’Hara is the vice-president of communications and member services at CropLife Canada where she oversees the association’s efforts to help the public and policy makers understand the benefits and safety of plant science innovations.
Erin has been at CropLife Canada for more than a decade. Prior to joining CropLife Canada Erin worked as a marketing writer helping clients across various sectors tell their stories. She graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism degree. Erin is also a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program Class 17.

Becky Parker is an Industry Relations Manager at FCC, working with a variety of stakeholders to support Canadian agriculture and food. Having grown up as the seventh-generation on her family farm outside of Guelph, Ontario, she has deep roots in the industry and is committed to helping it continue to thrive.
Prior to FCC, Becky held roles at CropLife Canada and BC Agriculture Council, where she helped to advance public trust and advocated for tools and technologies that help farmers succeed.
Passionate about helping youth realize their potential in ag, Becky studied ag-career promotion as a Nuffield Scholar, sits on the Board Advisory Council for Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, and is the chair of the Canadian Agri-Business Education Foundation. She is also proud to act as a director for the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health, and to sit on a Research Advisory Board for the Conference Board of Canada.
In her free time Becky enjoys travelling, or soaking up the splendour of British Columbia, where she currently lives. She is happiest outside, be it gardening, hiking, kayaking or camping.

Cami Ryan, BComm, PhD, is Senior Business Partner for Industry Affairs and Sustainability with Bayer Crop Science Canada, a Bayer Science Fellow, and a Professional Affiliate with the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan. With a broad academic and professional background in social sciences and economics, Dr. Ryan passionately advocates for science-based policy in the agriculture industry. Dr. Ryan is a prolific researcher whose recent work focuses on how the “attention” economy and social media shapes public opinion, regulatory decisions, and the agriculture industry’s license to operate. Cami is also a regular guest and contributor to podcasts, editorials, and other media outlets. Cami and her husband, Blair, live in the Foothills of Alberta, on a small acreage with their collection of critters. Cami is a grandma, an artist, an avid reader, and likes to restore vintage dollhouses in her spare time.

John F.T. Scott is an economist specializing in the Food Distribution and Retail sector. He is the former CEO of Canada’s largest retail grocery association (The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers). He currently analyzes strategies and speaks on Canada’s food industry. He is renowned for weaving the preferences of the evolving consumer into the dynamics of the industry.
John holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is Immediate Past Chair of both the Board of Governors of Niagara College and the Board of Directors of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI). He also served as Chair of the acclaimed Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and is a Past Director of the Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency (ALMA). He currently serves on several industry Boards including Food Retail Firms in Ontario and British Columbia.
John is an Honourary Member of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute and one of four individuals to have received both of the highest recognitions in Canada’s retail food industry – the Golden Pencil (Hall of Fame) and the Spirit of the Independent Award (Inspiration to Entrepreneurs in the Grocery Industry).

Dorothy is a passionate advocate of Canadian food and farming. She holds degrees in home economics and education from the University of Saskatchewan, leveraging her background to promote greater consumer understanding of Canadian food and farming, as well as fostering positive relationships between consumers and farmers.
For over 25 years, Dorothy has organized farm tours for food influencers, such as dietitians, journalists, chefs, and food writers. These tours, which began with Canola Camp in Saskatchewan, have expanded across the country.
Dorothy has also been instrumental in developing a range of agrifood marketing strategies, including CanolaInfo, Saskatchewan Bounty, HealthyFlax, Spread the Mustard, Pick Pork, and the Saskatchewan component of the International Year of the Pulse campaign. In addition to her marketing work, Dorothy served as the Executive Director of Cuisine Canada and the Greenhouse Growers of Saskatchewan. She has written a food column for The Western Producer, edited the Growing Saskatchewan magazine, and co-authored the Discover the Pulse Potential cookbook.
Dorothy believes that food is a powerful connector and the most intimate way that consumers come to understand agriculture. As the Managing Director of Canadian Food Focus with Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, she spearheads Canadian Food Focus, a public trust initiative and marketing strategy that includes a consumer-friendly website. This project won a national Canadian AgriFood Marketers Alliance Award for Best Website Directed at the Public in 2022. Currently, Dorothy co-chairs the National Consumer Engagement Working Group for AAFC. In 2023, Dorothy was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Penny Eaton is a farm girl turned communications specialist who works to answer consumer questions about farming and food production. At Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan, Penny manages stakeholder relations, coordinates events and communications projects and oversees funding requests and reporting.
Before joining FFC SK, Penny established her own consulting firm, providing writing and communications services to a wide base of clients. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Saskatchewan and is originally from a farm near Rosetown, Saskatchewan. She’s a proud Riders fan and probably takes Halloween a little too seriously.