2015 Fields on Wheels Conference – Speaker Bios

Barry Prentice, Ph.D. Dept. of SCM, Asper School of Business University of Manitoba

Dr. Barry Prentice is a respected Canadian transportation and agricultural economist. He is Professor of Supply Chain Management and a Professional Associate of the Transport Institute of the I.H. Asper School of Business at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

Dr. Prentice studied under Dr. Ed Trychniewicz and the late professors Clay Gilson and Daryl Kraft, who were the leading academics in the field of grain transportation during its transition from the era of Statutory Freight Rates, to the WGTA and the Estey Grain and Arthur Kroeger Reports. Since 1996, Dr. Prentice has organized the annual Fields on Wheels conferences that have continued to plot developments in grain transportation since the end of the Crow Benefit to the current time. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the grain supply chain and logistics theory that he has taught at the University of Manitoba since 1985. Dr. Prentice has authored or co-authored more than 250 reports and papers on various aspects of grain transportation, including the emerging use of containerization. Chris Ferris Senior Grains Analyst Canada Informa Economics Inc.

Based in Informa Economics’ Winnipeg office, Mr. Ferris is responsible for core Canadian market analysis, reporting and project work within the Canadian grains, oilseeds and special crops sectors. Since joining Informa, Chris has worked on studies including: long term trends in crop production, studies supporting trade deal negotiations, feed ingredient price-

impact studies, economic value studies of Manitoba corn and potatoes, studies of Canola production limits and value chain drivers. Chris has made numerous presentations on major and minor Canadian crops from a Global Perspective. Prior to joining Informa Economics, Mr. Ferris was the market analyst for Latin America and the Caribbean with the Canadian Wheat Board, where he analyzed

changes in commodity markets and the micro- and macro-economic environment of Latin America to identify marketing risks and opportunities. Mr. Ferris also acted as an internal consultant on numerous special projects, including a strategic marketing planning tool, customer segmentation, customer relationship management strategies and price databases. Mr. Ferris grew up on a grain and cattle farm and worked in the livestock trade before becoming an analyst. Mr. Ferris has a diploma in Business Information Systems from Herzing Career College. He received both his bachelor's (honors) and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Manitoba. Claire Citeau President CAFTA

Claire Citeau is the Executive Director of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA). In her role, Claire advocates for trade liberalization and competitive market access for Canadian agriculture and agrifood exporters through bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements such as the CETA, the CKFTA or the TPP.

Claire has a background in international trade, policy and government relations. Claire’s interest in international trade stems from having lived on three continents and witnessed firsthand how global events have a tremendous impact on economies and agriculture sectors around the world. Prior to joining CAFTA, Claire held positions with Alberta’s Ministries of Agriculture and International Affairs, RBC Dominion Securities and the Historical Foundation of Canada. Graham Parsons President OWEC

Graham Parsons is a PhD economist trained in regional economic development and environmental economics at University College London, U.K. For over forty-years Graham has practiced nearly all aspects of economic, environmental, urban, rural, agricultural, community and transport development as an academic, a senior public servant in federal and provincial governments, as a university professor, consultant to industry, governments and international development agencies and as Chief Economist

for Western Canada for the Canada West Foundation.

Over the years Graham has been involved in many aspects of grain handling reform and rationalization, including the replacement of the Crow’s Nest Freight Rates, inland terminal development, branch line abandonment and National Agriculture Strategies. Most recently he has examined the effects of the Maximum Revenue Cap and Minimum movement requirements on the future of grain handling. Graham has also been heavily involved in carbon management and water policy reform in Saskatchewan, Canada and internationally. He has completed climate change legislation and adaptation initiatives, including extreme weather events, irrigation development and infrastructure investments. Graham was born in England, grew up in Guatemala, has three grown children, and four grandchildren. He lives in Regina, Saskatchewan and works across Canada and around the world. Colin Hudon Nuffield Scholar

Mr. Colin Hudon, along with his wife and 3 young daughters own and operate F&F Hudon Farms Ltd. From 2002-2012, the operation was located near McAuley, MB and consisted of grains, oilseeds, and a cow-calf operation. In 2012 the McAuley assets were sold and the Hudon family relocated to Rosser, MB where they continue to operate a small grains and oilseeds farm.

Colin is also the managing partner of Strategic Agricultural Management Co., which provides a full suite of services for client looking to invest in farmland and agribusinesses.

Oksana Exell President and CEO WESTAC

Ms. Oksana Exell was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Transportation Advisory Council in October of 2014, assuming responsibility for WESTAC's strategic direction and leadership as it advances its role as the premier forum for transportation industry leaders in Western Canada. With background in both private and public sectors, she served most recently as founding principal and Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table, at the initiation of the

Government of Canada. Oksana received her BA from McGill University and Masters in Public Administration from University of Victoria and early in her career served in a policy role in the Government of British Columbia. Subsequently she acted as an advocate for small business in Western Canada as regional Executive Director of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. As her career progressed she was made vice-president, then president, of the British Columbia Trade Development Corporation, a Crown corporation. While engaged in the private sector she fulfilled the roles of CEO of the Vancouver-based corporation, Watertrax, an applications service provider, and COO of the geoscience corporation Terraprobe of Vancouver. Mark Hemmes President Quorum Corporation

Mark Hemmes is a career transportation executive and a founding partner of the Quorum Group of Companies. Mark is currently leading the efforts of Quorum’s subsidiary company in the monitoring and measurement of the Canadian Grain Handling and Transportation System on behalf of the Federal Government of Canada.

Prior to the creation of the Quorum Group of Companies he spent 21 years with Canadian National Railway. During his career with CN he held a number of senior management positions in both the Operations and Marketing departments of CN. He is an active participant in transportation industry policy issues through his involvement in a number of organizations. In 1998 he served as the National President for National Transportation Week in Canada and sat on the Board of Directors for the Transportation Association of Canada.

Chris Heikkinen Communications & Research Coordinator Port of Thunder Bay

Chris has been Communications & Research Coordinator at Thunder Bay Port Authority since 2010. His efforts at the Port Authority include statistical analysis and reporting, stakeholder communications and marketing. Chris is currently pursuing the designation of Chartered Professional Accountant and is a graduate of Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Prior to joining the Port Authority, Chris worked in the mining and service sectors in Northwestern Ontario. Darhl Vercaigne President Container VCMx Exchange

Darhl Vercaigne has over 25 years experience training and advising producers and agribusiness on market analysis market development and marketing risk management practices. He was Project Director and designer and market maker at VCMX global verified electronic cash commodity exchange and established Keystone Marketing Services “Marketing

Manager “ commodity risk management service in 2002, trading in both cash and regulated derivatives, commodity contract markets, and supporting logistics and foreign exchange trading facilities. Darhl has an ongoing interest in developing improved international trading and business risk management skills training and trading facilities in domestic and export markets.

Murdoch MacKay Chair Crops Logistics Working Group III

Murdoch MacKay has extensive experience in Canada's agricultural industry. He started his career in 1979 with United Grain Growers, where he was appointed to the position of Vice President, Terminal Services in 1985 and served in this capacity until 2005. Murdoch was appointed to the position of Vice President of Operations for the merged company, Agricore United, from 2005 to 2007.

Since 2007, he has held the position of President for Standoch International Inc., a firm specializing in management and consulting service to industry and government. John Coleman Senior Fellow, RGI School of Public Policy & Administration Carleton University

John Coleman is a Senior Fellow at Carleton University’s School of Public Policy and Administration, where he has worked on regulatory governance issues in transportation since retiring in 2011 from the National Research Council of Canada where he was acting Vice-President of Engineering and, for nearly two decades before that, General Manager of NRC’s surface transportation technology institute.

Since 1993 John has been a member of Transport Canada’s Railway Research Advisory Board and has organized numerous symposia and programs on behalf of the Board. He received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Carleton University and an MBA from The University of Western Ontario.

Ken Veldman Director, Public Affairs Prince Rupert Port Authority

Ken Veldman is responsible for leading the Port’s relationships with governments, communities and stakeholders. His focus is on ensuring this vital network is aware and engaged in the Port of Prince Rupert’s expanding role as Canada’s natural trade gateway to Asia Pacific markets.

Ken has over 20 years of experience in economic development, including senior roles in the Terrace Economic Development Authority, Initiatives Prince George, and Vancouver Economic Development Commission. Most recently, Ken played a key role for the B.C. Olympic Winter Games Secretariat by engaging BC companies in the business of Vancouver 2010 and global sport. Born and raised in British Columbia, Ken has a degree in Finance and Economics from Simon Fraser University.