Minister MacAulay announces appointments to the Farm Credit Canada Board of Directors

OTTAWA, Nov. 17, 2017 /CNW/ - Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced today the following appointments to the Board of Directors of Farm Credit Canada. The appointees come from diverse backgrounds and have extensive knowledge and experience in fields related to the agriculture industry, including farming, finance, law and science.

• Mr. Del Anaquod (newly appointed as Director, term of three years)
• Mrs. Bertha Campbell (newly appointed as Director, term of four years)
• Ms. Laura Donaldson (newly appointed as Director, term of four years)
• Ms. Michele Hengen (newly appointed as Director, term of three years)
• Mr. James Laws (newly appointed as Director, term of three years)
• Mr. Govert Verstralen (newly appointed as Director, term of four years)
• Ms. Jane Halford (re-appointed as Director, term of three years)

These appointments were made under the Government of Canada's new approach to Governor in Council appointments. This approach supports open, transparent and merit-based selection processes that strive for gender parity and reflect Canada's diversity, to support Ministers in making appointment recommendations for positions within their portfolio.

Quote

"I am very pleased to announce the appointments of these outstanding Canadians to Farm Credit Canada's Board of Directors. Their diverse knowledge and expertise will be definite assets to the important work being done by Farm Credit Canada providing products and services to farmers and businesses across rural Canada. "
     -       Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick facts

• FCC is Canada's largest provider of business and financial services to producers, agribusinesses and agri-food operations, with a healthy loan portfolio of more than $32 billion.
• Board Members for the Farm Credit Canada Board of Directors are appointed by the Governor in Council upon the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Additional links

• Farm Credit Canada

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Biographical Notes

Del Anaquod
Mr. Anaquod is the former President and a full Professor with the First Nations University of Canada. A graduate of Harvard University, Mr. Anaquod has extensive international and national work experience including involvement in over a dozen Boards from Vice-Chair of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development to Chair of one of Canada's largest Aboriginal investment companies. Throughout his career, he has had a number of significant accomplishments including being the Principle Founder on the establishment of the First Nations Bank of Canada and other Aboriginal financial lending institutions.

Bertha Campbell
Mrs. Campbell has a strong background in agriculture. Throughout her career, she has always been involved in the family farm while working as a Public Health Nurse. Mrs. Campbell co-owns and operates, with her husband, a 2000 acre potato, dairy, and beef family farm operation. She currently serves on the University of Prince Edward Island Board Of Governors and on the Prince Edward Island Food Partnerships' Board of Directors, as well as the Board of Amalgamated Dairies Ltd. She is the former President of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture.

Laura Donaldson
Ms. Donaldson completed her law degree at the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. Ms. Donaldson has enjoyed a career spanning three decades as a respected lawyer with particular expertise advising financial institutions and governments on Risk Management. Ms. Donaldson is very active in her community including as a member of the Federal Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee for the Province of British Columbia and on numerous governing bodies for amateur sport.

Michele Hengen
Ms. Hengen is an actuary with over 25 years' experience in the areas of risk and strategy within the insurance, investment and pension consulting industries. Ms. Hengen is currently the President of Elite Strategies, a consulting company focused on helping organizations with risk management and strategic planning.  Her most recent corporate role was as Vice-President and Chief Risk Officer for Co-operators Group Limited. She is also very active in her community including past roles with the Regina Women's Network Board of Directors and is currently involved with a mentorship program for at-risk youth.

James Laws
Mr. Laws has an extensive background in agriculture. A graduate of the University of Guelph and a professional Agrologist with 36 years of work experience, Mr. Laws was most recently the Executive Director of the Canadian Meat Council for more than 12 years and the Executive Director of the Canadian Farm Business Management Council prior to that.  Mr. Laws has just returned to Canada from Tanzania, East Africa where he worked as a volunteer advisor as part of the Canadian Executive Services Organization and from Senegal, West Africa in March where he worked as a volunteer advisor for Winrock International.

Govert Verstralen
Mr. Verstralen is a former Principle Officer and past President and CEO of Rabobank Canada.  With over 45 years of experience and knowledge of the retail banking and financial industry and broad knowledge of the agribusiness sector. Mr. Verstralen is very active in his community including his work fundraising for the Scarborough Centenary Hospital.

Jane Halford
Jane Halford has held various leadership and advisory positions over her career. From 2003 to 2005 she worked for the Institute of Chartered Accounts of Alberta as the Director of Practice Review. She served as the Chief Executive Officer for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Alberta and as Executive Director of the Chartered Accountants' Education Foundation from 2005-2013, and was its Registrar from 2005-2011. Most recently, Ms. Halford helped co-found BOLT Transition – a firm specializing in leadership transition. She is also currently President of Halford Consulting, Inc.

SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Halifax