speakers caree 2026

CAREE 2026 · University of Guelph

Meet the speakers

Seven voices from across Canadian agriculture — ranching, farm economics, livestock research, agronomy, and policy — join the symposium this year. Filter by focus area to browse.

CM

Cedric MacLeod

President, MacLeod Agronomics

Executive Director, Canadian Forage and Grassland Association

Production & ranching
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Cedric operates Local Valley Beef, a grass-fed beef ranch in western New Brunswick, and has spent two decades as president of MacLeod Agronomics, an agri-environmental consulting firm focused on integrating sustainable practices across the Canadian ag sector. He has led the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association since 2015, working toward the sector's long-term success through strategic planning and management.

HW

Heather Watson

Executive Director, Farm Management Canada

Canadian representative, International Farm Management Association

Farm business & policy
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Heather leads Farm Management Canada, a national non-profit that promotes strong farm business management to help position Canadian farmers for sustainable growth. In 2022 she was named one of Canada's Influential Women in Agriculture, and in 2025 she received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for her service to Canada.

SD

Steve Duff

Farm Management Canada

Adjunct Professor, University of Guelph

Farm business & policy
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Steve grew up around dairy and beef in Northumberland County and holds a Master's in Agricultural Economics from the University of Guelph. He joined OMAFRA in 1997 and spent 15 years leading business risk management programs including AgriStability and the Risk Management Program. Steve and his wife Robyn operate a beef and cash crop farm near Colborne, Ontario, and he currently chairs the Board of Farm Management Canada as a farmer director.

JH

Jean Howden

Director of Operations

Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

Livestock research
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Jean grew up on a mixed farm in Northumberland County and holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture, majoring in Animal and Poultry Science, from the University of Guelph. Her career spans OMAFRA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Ontario Broiler Hatching Egg and Chick Commission, followed by 20 years with Ontario Pork in regulations, policy, industry liaison, and research administration. Outside of work, she enjoys Ontario's outdoors — camping, kayaking, photography, and hiking.

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Kelly Somerville

CEO

Livestock Research Innovation Corporation

Livestock research
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Kelly is originally from Mountain, Ontario, and holds a bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Guelph. She has worked as a ruminant nutritionist with Cargill, as Member Relations Manager with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, and as a Programs Analyst with the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association. She co-owns Twin Valley Cattle Co., a small purebred Angus herd, with her twin sister, and currently serves as Vice President of the Ontario Angus Association.

JL

Janice LeBoeuf

Sustainable Agriculture Lead

Arrell Food Institute

Food systems & agronomy
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Janice works at the intersection of agriculture, food systems, science, and policy, supporting collaborations including the Loblaw Net-Zero Food Systems Challenge, Feeding the Future with Canadian Technology, and the Canadian Alliance for Net-Zero Agri-food. A University of Guelph agriculture graduate, she previously served as a provincial vegetable crop specialist with OMAFRA and is a partner in her family farm in southwestern Ontario.

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Marty Vermey

Senior Agronomist

Grain Farmers of Ontario

Food systems & agronomy
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Marty has worked in Ontario agriculture for over 35 years, starting his career in corn breeding and seed production. Through a series of mergers he helped advance new trait technology, germplasm, and pesticides while working across product development, sales and marketing, and business management. His passion is agronomy, and he stays hands-on with the farming challenges of the Chatham-Kent area.

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