Ashley Kanary is the Director of Global Agri-Food based in Toronto with Export Development Canada. He has a significant agri-food background spanning over 40 years holding executive leadership roles at Lassonde as vice-president and general manager and at BCI Foods as executive vice-president – sales and marketing and shareholder.

Kristina Farrell is the CEO of Food and Beverage Canada (FBC-ABC). Before joining FBC-ABC, she worked in government (Global Affairs Canada), as well as in government relations and public affairs, where she supported the advocacy efforts of several organizations in the agri-food sector. Farrell was included in The Hill Times Top 100 Lobbyists list for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Dana McCauley is the CEO of Canadian Food Innovation Network. She is an internationally recognized food innovation leader whose strategic vision and entrepreneurial expertise have driven wide-ranging advancements within Canada’s food sector. Throughout her career, she has successfully launched many food products and programs in collaboration with domestic and international food companies and entrepreneurs.

Francis Cooke is the president & CEO of Taste of Nature Foods, a healthy snack food developer and manufacturer. Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Taste of Nature Foods operates in contract manufacturing, private label and its own in-house brands. Its products are sold in Canada, the U.S., most of Europe and parts of Asia. Prior to becoming full-time CEO of Taste of Nature Foods, Cooke had roles as a private equity investor, board member, strategy consultant and corporate lawyer in New York, London, Sydney and Toronto.