Tanis Chalmers is currently a Marketing Strategist for Manitoba Agriculture. She focuses on creating and implementing marketing strategies that foster economic development opportunities in the Agri-food sector. Tanis has spent the past two decades fostering growth for rural communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan through economic development. Tanis is inspired by planning, partnerships, positivity. These three things create passion in a project for her! Tanis is happily married to her husband of 20yrs and has two teenage children. She loves to spend time traveling, crafting, golfing, and eating delicious local food!

Maureen Kinnear is the Vice-President of Technology Development & Services and is responsible for leading information technology sustainment and growth at G3. Maureen has more than 20 years of IT experience in software development, infrastructure engineering, risk management and strategy. She began her career as a co-op student at ExxonMobil and progressed to senior roles with her last appointment there as chief of staff to the company’s Chief Information Officer. Maureen joined G3 in 2020. Maureen holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and Bachelor of Education.

Rhett Hawkins’ is President of Kahntact, a full-service agriculture and food marketing solutions company. Hawkins has been an owner in two agencies, spent time on the client-side with Bayer CropScience, and also worked on media side with Farm Journal Media.

At Bark, Linda is the Director of Client Services, but that doesn’t come close to describing all her skills. Besides having client responsibility, Linda is the go-to person when buying media or needing to get something produced. From getting teddy bears made, to giant pigs, to large catalogs, Linda has handled it all.  After work, Linda jumps in her car and takes off. When not needed around here, Linda travels: back home to the Niagara area, to various friends across the province, or once a year off across the pond.

Crystal is passionate about communications at post-secondary institutions. Wielding a Master’s degree in Communications and Technology from the University of Alberta, her career journey has been a testament to the transformative potential of effective communication.

Crystal has led the communications and marketing teams at the University of Alberta and Northern Lights College, as well been the editor-in-chief of an award-winning national magazine focused on international aid and humanitarian development. Working in these diverse landscapes, Crystal honed her ability to convey complex issues with clarity and conviction. This experience has equipped her with a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of global challenges and the critical role that agriculture plays in addressing them.

As the Director of Marketing and Communications at Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, Crystal gives voice to the intersection of agriculture, innovation, and environmental sustainability. Today, Crystal is dedicated to reshaping the narrative around agriculture, steering it away from outdated stereotypes and towards a vision of modernity, innovation, and sustainability.

Through her work, she seeks to inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders to embrace technology, innovation, and environmental stewardship as fundamental pillars of their practice.

Joy Galloway-Jones has been at the Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University (formerly NSAC) in Truro, NS for the past 14 years in a variety of roles.  She is currently a senior instructor and teaches the internship courses for the faculty. She holds a Master’s in education degree, a Bachelor’s in Life Science, and has had several courses in Adult Education.  No stranger to agricultural, she learned to drive on a very old John Deer tractor.  Additionally, she is the cross country coach for the AC, and enjoys being part of the campus community.