Dr. Erin Silva is an Associate Professor and State Extension Specialist in Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems at UW-Madison. She has built an internationally recognized program focused on improving organic production, soil health, and cover crop based systems. Her work supports the profitability and sustainability of organic farmers.

Joel Williams is an independent plant and soil health educator and consultant with a global perspective on sustainable agriculture. With extensive practical experience internationally, Joel specialises in integrating soil biology, plant nutrition and soil analysis to enhance soil function, crop immunity and overall system resilience.

Scott Walker has 45+ years in the Ag industry, starting on an organic farm in 1979. From managing apple orchards to developing nutrients, he now coordinates R&D in broad acres. Scott's passion for soil and plant health is evident, and his quest for research-based information has earned  him the nickname Scotty ‘Data’ Walker.

Cory Eichman began apprenticing on Biodynamic farms in 1992 and co-founded the Saugeen River CSA in 97. It is a small diversified farm with livestock and wildlands, providing vegetables, herbs, flowers, and eggs to the local community around Durham in Grey County. Since 2005, Cory has been teaching courses on Biodynamic Agriculture through the winter months.

Briann Dorin is a Postdoctoral Researcher at York University who works at the intersection of sustainable farming and pollinator health. Her research focuses on identifying practical, farm-relevant approaches that support pollinators while fitting within real-world management decisions.

Sarah Granskou runs an abundant all-season urban farm near downtown Kitchener, providing weekly shares throughout the winter. She grows climate-adapted greens and culturally significant crops while collaborating with local high schools.

Len Van Hoffen is the Vineyard Manager at Southbrook Organic Vineyards, a pioneering 57- acre biodynamic, organic, and regenerative organic vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake. A lifelong horticulturist, Len has extensive experience growing a variety of crops, including nursery stock, greenhouse plants, athletic turf, and wine grapes. A graduate of Niagara College with a background in Horticulture, Viticulture, and Winemaking, Len combines traditional expertise with innovative sustainable practices. Since joining Southbrook in 2019, he has been dedicated to enhancing biodiversity, improving soil health, and implementing low-impact farming techniques to produce premium wine grapes while preserving the vineyard ecosystem. His initiatives include introducing a wildflower habitat to support beneficial insects, advancing cover cropping strategies, and increasing carbon sequestration through regenerative farming. And definitely isn’t tech savy!

Tim Lyon is an urban farmer with twenty five years of experience and co owner of Main Street Urban Farm in downtown Kingston, Ontario. He and his wife Tracy farm in close partnership with local community groups, including a long standing collaboration with the prison farm program.

Tim co founded the Memorial Centre Farmers’ Market and is known for practical, community driven approaches to urban farming, CSA management, and small scale food production. He speaks on topics ranging from farming as a couple and bicycle powered tools to ferments, urban land access, and the role of farming in mental health and restorative justice.

Erica Shelley brings together science, storytelling, and systems thinking to strengthen the future of organic agriculture in Ontario. As a scientist, inventor, and long-time advocate for pollinators and ecosystem health, she believes that organic farming isn’t just a certification — it’s a powerful pathway to a more resilient and connected food system. With a PhD in Molecular and Medical Genetics and over a decade of experience working in sustainable agriculture, Erica now leads the Organic Council of Ontario with a focus on transparency, trust, and impact. She works closely with organic producers, policymakers, researchers, and consumers to support a thriving organic sector that centres climate action, soil health, and meaningful change. Erica is an award-winning agricultural inventor who has developed science-backed tools and biological solutions for pest and disease management — including the innovative use of fungi to support pollinator health and reduce chemical inputs in farming systems.

Heather Thoma has championed community resilience and well-being in her work with non-profit organizations and grassroots groups related to food, farming, health, and the arts at the local and provincial level for over 25 years. She has extensive experience in project coordination, community education and outreach, facilitation and partnership building.

Urban Harvest owner Colette Murphy has been at the forefront of the grow-your-own-food movement since the late nineties, when she was inspired by the lack of heirloom (open-pollinated, non-hybridized plants) and organic options available in the market. What may have started as a grassroots mission to supply Torontonians with locally harvested plants and seeds has since evolved into one which promotes stewardship of the land through greater farming consciousness.

Dr. Sadaf Mollaei is the Arrell Chair in the Business of Food and an Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph. Dr. Mollaei also holds an Adjunct Assistant Professor position at the University of Waterloo. Sadaf holds a PhD and MES in Sustainability Management and an MBA in Marketing. She also has over six years of managerial experience in the food service industry. Sadaf’s research focuses on promoting sustainable food systems, with a particular emphasis on sustainable eating behaviors and food businesses. She conducts both qualitative and quantitative research at the intersection of sustainability, marketing, and public health and is particularly interested in studying the promotion of sustainability through interventions and sustainable marketing.

Jessica Wynne-Pfenning is the sustainability specialist and a sales associate at Pfenning's Organic Vegetables. Her roles involve working with various customers across the food system to provide them with fresh organic fruits and vegetables, waste management and monitoring, wetland restoration, tree planting projects, consumer outreach, and more. Where she combined the two spheres of sustainability and sales is through food surplus diversion, where she coordinates the diversion and rescue of food that is still perfectly edible, but maybe slightly ugly or ripe, through partnerships with local organizations and Second Harvest. 

Maureen Kirkpatrick is the Director of National Foodraising at Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue charity. Maureen works with food businesses across the supply chain to recover surplus food and redirect it to frontline charities—keeping food where it belongs: on plates and out of landfills. Most recently, she helped launchFrom The Farm, a national program that raises awareness of Second Harvest’s free services and builds donor support among farmers across Canada.Before joining Second Harvest, Maureen led quality standards at The Big Carrot Natural Food Market, a worker-owned natural food store in Toronto, where she oversaw its organic processing program and sustainable purchasing initiatives. She is honoured to have served as President of the Canada Organic Trade Association and Chair of the Non-GMO Project, contributing a decade of service to both organizations.

Yasemin Zorlutuna is an award winning chef and instructor who has built a creative and entrepreneurial career in the food sector. In May of 2022, she founded FEWD (Food Equity with Dignity), a community service that takes surplus food and turns it into delicious nutritious food and serves it to the Guelph Community. Since starting they have served over 60,000 free meals and diverted 36 tonnes of food from landfills. Yasemin was honoured with the Food Waste Innovator award by Second Harvest in February of 2023. To Yasemin, food is love and she deeply believes that everyone has a right to it.