Speakers

Jennefer Griffith has been a leader in skills development and training for the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing sector for over 20 years. As Executive Director of Food Processing Skills Canada, she has led ground breaking initiatives including development of the Canadian Food Processors Institute, FoodSkills Library and FoodCert – resources that support education and career pathways for businesses and people. Recently, Jennefer and her team finalized Canada’s first Learning Recognition Framework for the industry and are in the process of completing national labour market analysis and an accreditation process for colleges, universities and private trainers. Jennefer is passionate about supporting new Canadians, Indigenous People, women and youth in finding rewarding careers. Prior to joining Food Processing Skills Canada, she held roles in government and the non-profit sector.

Mike Timani is a native of Lebanon and was born in Venezuela. He arrived in Toronto during the Lebanese civil war. He is president and CEO of Fancy Pokket Corporation in Moncton which was established in June 1989 in a 1,000 sq foot facility with three employees. Today, the bakery consists of 45,000 sq. ft. and employs 80 people. Fancy Pokket is the largest producer of pita bread, bagels, tortilla wraps and flatbread in Atlantic Canada.

Mike constructed a 58,000 sq. ft. dedicated Gluten Free facility in Lancaster County, South Carolina which produces a variety of gluten free products. The new facility began operations in August 2019.

Kevin studied International Development at the University of Calgary and has lived and worked all over the globe. He grew up in Alberta and California and now makes his home in Ottawa. His introduction to food and beverage processing was as a Vapour Heat Treatment Facility Manager at a mango plant in Australia. Kevin joined Food Processing Skills Canada in 2017 and has been leading the organization’s Labour Market Information insights since that time. At FPSC, he coordinates and analyzes the latest qualitative and quantitative information for all industry stakeholders. Kevin also represents FPSC and the industry on a variety of national and regional committees to ensure decision makers have access to the best available information. When he isn’t reviewing data, he is likely coaching, playing, or watching sports.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Pat designs and implements quantitative and qualitative research to shape decision-making in a variety of areas including policy development and strategic communications for public, private, and non-profit organizations. Pat has conducted over 4,000 focus groups over the course of his career, almost all on complex public policy issues, including skills development and education, immigration, and innovation. Pat has been conducting communications, marketing and labour market research for the Canadian food and beverage processing industry since 2016. This work includes several national surveys of processors, consumers and labour market participants.  He has conducted research for FPSC, Food and Beverage Ontario, Saputo, McCain Foods and the Government of Canada.

Raja Hatoum is a seasoned business psychologist and Emotional Intelligence (EI) expert; specializing in eLearning Experience Design and Emotional Intelligence Executive Coaching, helping individuals and organizations find and amplify their unique voices. His approach transcends traditional skills, focusing on profound leadership excellence. Certified in various psychological and EI tools and tests, he provides a rich blend of scientific understanding and engaging learning experiences. He is the co-creator of the visionary Acahkos SEL program, which is dedicated to enhancing EI and leadership in the workplace. Through a strategic partnership with Food Processing Skills Canada, he is dedicated to embedding vital soft skills in the food industry, elevating standards and fostering success. Raja’s motto, ‘Go Beyond Your Skills for Success: Transforming Self-Reflecting Mirrors into Windows of Opportunity,’ vividly illustrates his commitment to turning introspection into impactful growth and fostering connections that resonate and inspire.

Dr. Lisette Reyes-Paulino is an accomplished global learning strategist, researcher, and human performance professional specializing in learning design, leadership development, and employee listening. With over a decade of multifaceted roles and experiences across prestigious organizations, she excels in diagnosing performance gaps, designing innovative, evidence-based learning experiences, evaluating learning strategies, and measuring all aspects of the employee experience using robust research methods. Certified in Emotional Intelligence, Dr. Reyes-Paulino is the visionary co-creator behind the Achakos leadership program in collaboration with Food Processing Skills Canada. She holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University, where she has served as an Adjunct Faculty member for the online Master in Learning Design and Technology.

Krista Carr is a long-time advocate in the inclusion movement.  She is the Executive Vice President (CEO) of Inclusion Canada, one of Canada’s 10 largest charitable organizations. Inclusion Canada is a national federation of 300 local and 13 Provincial/Territorial Associations working on behalf of approximately 1 million Canadians with a developmental disability and their families. Krista has over 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector as a champion of inclusion. Before joining Inclusion Canada, she was the Executive Director of the New Brunswick Association for Community Living (NBACL), a leading provincial non-profit organization that works with people with an intellectual disability and their families to accomplish the mission of full inclusion across the lifespan. In her current role, Krista is responsible for leading the Inclusion Canada National organization, the Inclusion Canada Foundation and Inclusive Education Canada (IEC). In addition to her extensive work portfolio, Krista sits on a number of provincial and national disability-related boards and committees. She was a member of the COVID Disability Advisory Group and was Chair of the Ministerial Disability Advisory Group, established by the honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion.  Krista offers a unique perspective on disability-related supports and services, both nationally and internationally. Krista is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick (UNB) where she earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (BBA) and several diplomas in Human Resources and Management from UNB’s College of Extended Learning. She is fluently bilingual and works on behalf of CACL’s federation in both French and English. She currently resides in New Brunswick with her husband and two daughters.

Don Gallant is Principal Consultant with Don Gallant and Associates – a social policy and planning agency providing support and consultation to both public and private sectors to advance and promote social well-being and inclusion, especially for persons with disabilities.

Prior to entry into the private sector in 1998, Mr. Gallant held senior management positions with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, including Director, Division of Family and Rehabilitative Services. Under his leadership, a comprehensive array of community based programs and individualized supports for persons with disabilities and their families were developed, and he was instrumental in the introduction of the Supported Employment model within the province.

Mr. Gallant has worked extensively with agencies in both the private and public sector at the provincial, national and international levels.

At present, Mr. Gallant serves as National Director of the Ready Willing and Able (RWA) initiative – a national initiative of Inclusion Canada and the Autism Alliance of Canada (AAC).

Blaine is an analytics team leader, and he has a passion for research design and a proven ability to transform raw data into compelling insights and stories. Experienced leading high-performing teams across markets and delivering research programs that inform decision-making. Able to use an extensive background in statistics, psychology, and research methodology to communicate complex information to non-technical audiences. Works with clients across all H&K’s sectors and services to develop analytics offerings that show quantifiable impact.