Kim McConnell is a champion for Canada's agriculture industry and a trailblazer in agricultural marketing. As a founder and former CEO of AdFarm, one of North America's largest agricultural marketing communications firms, he has been a major force in shaping the industry.

McConnell's contributions have earned him numerous national accolades, such as the 'Agri-Marketer of the Year', the 'Mentor of the Year' award from the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, and Calgary's ‘Inspired Business Leader’. His remarkable achievements include his induction into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2012 and his appointment as a Member of the Order of Canada in 2017.

His unwavering commitment to Canadian agriculture and its potential has been evident throughout his career. McConnell has been instrumental in launching major industry ventures, including strategic and policy development, promoting sustainability, and initiatives aimed at enhancing public trust in food and farming. He serves as a director and special advisor to numerous companies, government bodies, and industry leaders across North America. McConnell is also a fervent advocate for youth, entrepreneurs, and rising executives, inspiring them with his passion and dedication.

Dr. Rosengren graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 2001. After graduation Leigh worked in mixed animal practice in Humboldt and Weyburn, Saskatchewan. She received a PhD in Veterinary Epidemiology from the University of Saskatchewan (2008) and established a consulting service for Canada’s livestock and poultry sectors with their animal health and food safety concerns. Most recently, Leigh completed a Masters of Agribusiness from Kansas State University (2021) she oversaw the family cow-calf beef operation.

Leigh has recently joined the Canadian Cattle Association as their Animal Health and Care lead. She also sits on the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association as a director and serves as the Animal Health and Welfare committee chair.

Dr. Maulik Baxi is a Medical Health Officer and Medical Director at Fraser Health, where he oversees Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control and Immunization portfolios. His areas of interest are Vaccine Preventable Diseases with specific focus on Emerging pathogens such as Avian Influenza. His practice interests are intersectionality of determinants of health and their impact on public health outcomes. He serves as a co-supervisor for the Canadian Field Epidemiology program at Fraser Health as well as a Clinical Faculty with University of British Columbia.

Dr. Baxi completed his medical school from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in India, and his residency in Public Health and Preventive Medicine from University of Alberta. He has completed his Master of Public Health from Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York, and Graduate Certificate in Population Health Management from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Baxi is a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada and a diplomat of American Board of Preventive Medicine.

Dr Geneviève Toupin graduated from the Université de Montréal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Saint-Hyacinthe in 1997. She worked in private practice for nearly 10 years before joining the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as an Animal Health district veterinarian and then became a Disease Control Program Officer for the Quebec Region in 2009. She held this position for several years, which allowed her to build a solid experience as a technical advisor in support of the inspectorate. She has also been part of numerous emergency preparedness groups, including as National Chief of the biocontainment team and has participated in multiple disease outbreak responses (e.g. HPAI in 2013 and 2022; TB AB in 2016) as a national biocontainment coordinator, but also as a disease technical specialist. From 2014 to 2020, Dr. Toupin joined the national Operational Guidance and Expertise (OGE) centre where she continued to provide guidance to operations staff in the form of directive, operational guidance, and training, while working closely with other CFIA branches to ensure a consistent approach. Since 2021, she joined the Policy and Program Branch (PPB), first as National Veterinary Programs Specialist, responsible for foot-and-mouth disease and since 2022 as the National Veterinary Program Manager for ruminants and swine.

Murray grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Sussex, New Brunswick. He completed his undergraduate degree in agriculture and animal science from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College before completing his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island. After graduating, Murray spent two years in New Zealand in a dairy focused clinic before moving back to New Brunswick where he worked for the Government of New Brunswick in large animal practice, and with the veterinary pharmaceutical company Vetoquinol as a technical services veterinarian. He is past president of the Canadian Association of Bovine Veterinarians and the current District 12 director for the American Association of Bovine Practitioners. Murray has been an active member of the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System Dairy and the AMU/AMR surveillance networks.

Murray is currently working on a Master’s in health management and public health at the Atlantic Veterinary College with a project focusing on antimicrobial use on dairy farms. He was the dairy subject matter expert for the Canadian Veterinary Medical Associations Stewardship of Antimicrobial use by Veterinarians Initiative (SAVI) in 2018 and 2022. He remains very active in the day-to-day operations of his family’s dairy farm, where they have implemented many of the SAVI recommendations and guidelines successfully, including zero-zero calf care, selective dry cow therapy, and following the prudent use guidelines for treatments when necessary.

Murray is very passionate about the Canadian bovine veterinary, dairy, and agricultural sectors and loves discussing dairy practice, bovine veterinary medicine, and science in general and can be reached to discuss these topics at any time. Other interests include video games, anime, nature, hiking, and history.

Betty is a former Saskatchewan Chief Veterinary Officer (2012-2020), involved in the formation of CAHSS and in the transition of NFAHWC to AHC. Since retiring as CVO, she has worked on part-time contracts related to animal health.  Over a 40+ year veterinary career, she also worked for CFIA in domestic  disease control and slaughter inspection, and in private rural veterinary practice, with a focus on swine preventive medicine. She also operated a pig barn and small sheep flock with her family. Still passionate about animal health and welfare, she actively serves on two provincial Boards ( but is trying to transition to being a small holder and grandma). The  Outbreak Support Network project has been a great match for her past experience and collaborations, and she hopes it will lead to improvements in the experiences of producers and private veterinarians involved in federally reportable disease investigations.

Elyse Germain is the Manager of Program Development in the Operations Department at Egg Farmers of Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Bio-Resource Management, Equine Management and Master of Science, Animal Behaviour and Welfare from the University of Guelph. Before joining the Egg Farmers of Canada in 2015, Elyse worked for the Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan where she got the opportunity to work with broiler chicken and hatching egg farmers on food safety and animal care programs, research and emergency management. Elyse’s work with Canadian egg farmers focuses on advancing animal health and welfare, sustainability and research. Her responsibilities include initiatives and programs such as EFC’s robust on-farm Animal Care Program, the National Environmental Sustainability and Technology Tool (NESTT) and Research Grant Program, working collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders. Elyse is based in Ottawa, ON.

After earning her bachelor's in animal science from Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Melissa obtained her DVM at the Atlantic Veterinary College. She then completed a rotating food animal internship at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2013, Dr. Moggy returned to Canada to pursue a master's degree in veterinary medical sciences at the University of Calgary, with a focus on pain and stress mitigation in cow-calf operations. Following her master’s degree, she established her own consultancy and collaborated with organizations such as the National Farm Animal Care Council. In 2024, she joined Dairy Farmers of Canada as a Sustainable Production Manager, working on Food Safety, Biosecurity, and Animal Care modules. Melissa also serves on the ABVMA’s Food Animal Advisory Committee, the Olds College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and is the Vice President of the Alberta Goat Association. In her spare time, she enjoys family life in Strathmore, Alberta, with her husband, twin boys, two cats, and their one dog.

Catherine Moores grew up on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. She graduated from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 2000 with a BSc. in Animal Science, completing her thesis on Moose Activity Patterns.

Catherine started and managed a large mink farm and industry feed kitchen in rural Newfoundland from 2003 - 2016.

Catherine was elected to the Canada Mink Breeders Association’s board of directors in 2008. She remained an active board member (including serving time as President), until 2024. At that time, she moved into the position of Executive Secretary of the Association. Catherine remains the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fur Breeders Association.

With a keen interest in animal welfare, Catherine was an active member of the Code Development and Code Assessment Committees, and participated in all of the NFACC facilitated code processes, as well as the training of auditors. She has also been involved in the branding and promotion of the mink certification program – Certifur Canada.

Catherine also participated in the development of National Biosecurity Standards for the mink industry, a Provincial Fur Farm Licensing Program (based on the Code of Practice), and helped to develop a Provincial Aleutian Disease Management Program during an outbreak in 2007.

Catherine currently resides in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, with her 17-year-old son, 8-year-old yellow lab, and 20-year-old blind and deaf cat. She is a dedicated hockey mom and AirBNB host – who loves to promote her beautiful province!