FCC 2025 Annual Conference

Dominic Barton

Dominic is Chair of Rio Tinto and the Chair of LeapFrog Investments, an impact-investment firm focused on emerging markets. He is also a Senior advisor and partner at Radical Ventures a leading AI investment firm.

Dominic completed his role as the Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China in 2021, appointed by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019.

He was a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and served as Global Managing Partner for 3 terms from 2009 to 2018.

Dominic recently concluded his tenure as the Chancellor of the University of Waterloo.

Dominic was previously Chair of Teck Resources, from 2018 to 2019, and, in 2019, served as a Non-Executive Director at Singtel.

Dominic brings a wealth of global business experience, as well as a deep insight of geopolitics, corporate sustainability, and governance.

H.E. Hlynur Guðjónsson,

Ambassador Guðjónsson was accredited as Iceland’s Ambassador to Canada in September 2021. He has 30 years’ experience in international trade and investment, public relations, advertising, and politics. He holds degrees in Integrated Marketing Communication as well as History from Emerson College (USA) and the University of Iceland, respectively. Prior to Ottawa he served as Consul General and Trade Commissioner at the Consulate of Iceland in New York, where he was responsible for the trade and investment portfolio for the United States and Canada. There he served concurrently as the General Manager of the Icelandic-American Chamber of Commerce, and as co-founder and chairman of the Nordic Innovation House New York and Nordic City Solutions. Guðjónsson also served as an appointed member of the Export and Marketing Council of Iceland from 2019 to 2023. Earlier in his career, Guðjónsson served as brand manager for Icelandic USA, Inc., a global seafood importer, wholesaler, and manufacturer, where he developed and executed the company’s branding initiatives.

Ian Burney

Mr. Burney’s distinguished, 34-year diplomatic career focused largely on advancing Canada’s global trade interests and its ties across the Indo-Pacific region, culminating with his assignment as Canada’s Ambassador to Japan from 2016-21.

At Global Affairs Canada, Mr. Burney served as Assistant Deputy Minister for International Business Development, Investment & Innovation from 2009-11 and as ADM for Trade Policy and Negotiations from 2011-2015. At the Privy Council Office, he served as Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet for Economic and Regional Development from 2015-16. For his leadership in advancing Canada’s trade agenda, Mr. Burney was the recipient of the 2014. Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) of the Public Service of Canada.

Mr. Burney retired from the Public Service in November 2021. He currently serves in a number of positions in the private sector, including as a Board Director and as a Senior Advisor at two firms in the financial services sector.

He is married and has four children.

Steve Verhuel

David McKinnon joined the Department of External Affairs as a trade commissioner in 1987. During his time in Ottawa, he held various positions related to Canada’s overseas trade, economic and diplomatic interests, including as Director for Asia-Pacific Policy (2002–2004). From 2013 to 2017, he was Executive Director of Strategic Policy and Planning, and then Director General of the Physical Resources Bureau. David’s assignments overseas have included Bangkok (1989–1992); Canberra (1994–1998 and 2009–2013), the latter as Deputy Head of Mission); New Delhi (2004–2009), where he was Minister Counsellor responsible for the delivery of Canada’s trade and investment program in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. He served in Colombo as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2017 to 2022, and as Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Canada to Central Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2024. David holds a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Queen’s University.

David McKinnon

David McKinnon joined the Department of External Affairs as a trade commissioner in 1987. During his time in Ottawa, he held various positions related to Canada’s overseas trade, economic and diplomatic interests, including as Director for Asia-Pacific Policy (2002–2004). From 2013 to 2017, he was Executive Director of Strategic Policy and Planning, and then Director General of the Physical Resources Bureau. David’s assignments overseas have included Bangkok (1989–1992); Canberra (1994–1998 and 2009–2013), the latter as Deputy Head of Mission); New Delhi (2004–2009), where he was Minister Counsellor responsible for the delivery of Canada’s trade and investment program in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

He served in Colombo as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2017 to 2022, and as Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Canada to Central Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2024. David holds a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Queen’s University.

Jeff Mahon

Jeff Mahon is Director of StrategyCorp’s Geopolitical & International Business Advisory Practice. He serves clients in navigating a fast changing political and policy environment by translating big-picture trends into tractable solutions. Armed with technical regulatory knowledge, a background in foreign policy development, and experience negotiating and executing international trade contracts, Jeff brings a unique skillset to position clients to not only prepare for and respond to risks but also to seize opportunities amidst a changing geopolitical order. 

Prior to joining StrategyCorp, Jeff served on important files and policy areas with the Canadian federal government. His most recent role was Deputy Director at Global Affairs Canada’s China Division where over several years he covered range of files including investment; science, technology & innovation (STI); economic security; and policy surrounding promotion of Canada’s key economic sectors: energy & resources, finance, automotive, life sciences and cleantech. While at Industry Canada he served as Senior Adviser at both the Investment Review Division and the Investment Attraction Directorate. Prior to joining the federal government, he was Nunavut’s Chief Negotiator for the Canada Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), where he spearheaded the creation of the Regulatory Reconciliation and Cooperation Table (RCT), a new intergovernmental institution designed to reduce red tape and enable interprovincial business. He also founded an international trade brokerage company focusing on Canadian agricultural exports to China.

Jeff is a keen observer of international relations, trade policy and geoeconomics, with publications in the Globe & Mail, Financial Post, Asia Nikkei, the Toronto Star and more. He is also serves on the board of directors for the Ottawa Jazz Festival.

Lauren Martin

David McKinnon joined the Department of External Affairs as a trade commissioner in 1987. During his time in Ottawa, he held various positions related to Canada’s overseas trade, economic and diplomatic interests, including as Director for Asia-Pacific Policy (2002–2004). From 2013 to 2017, he was Executive Director of Strategic Policy and Planning, and then Director General of the Physical Resources Bureau. David’s assignments overseas have included Bangkok (1989–1992); Canberra (1994–1998 and 2009–2013), the latter as Deputy Head of Mission); New Delhi (2004–2009), where he was Minister Counsellor responsible for the delivery of Canada’s trade and investment program in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. He served in Colombo as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from 2017 to 2022, and as Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Canada to Central Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan, in 2024. David holds a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Queen’s University.

Lisa Wallenda Picard

Lisa was selected as President and CEO for the National Fisheries Institute in December 2022. NFI is the largest seafood trade association in the US, representing the industry from water to table its members include boatowners, producers, processors, importers, exporters, aquaculture operations, as well as retailers and restaurants. She and the NFI team are focused on promoting a diverse industry by coalescing around the many benefits of seafood.

In her previous role as the Senior Vice President for Policy, Trade and Regulatory Affairs at National Turkey Federation, Lisa oversaw all regulatory matters both domestic and international. Earlier in her career, Lisa was the Chief of Staff for USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, the 10,000 person agency that regulates and inspects meat, poultry, catfish and egg products for distribution in the U.S. and abroad.  Prior to joining FSIS in 2002, Lisa served as National Director of Public Relations for Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey.  She also spent several years advocating on animal welfare, agriculture and technology issues.  

Picard earned her Executive Certificate in Non-Profit Management at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, her Masters in Legislative Affairs from the George Washington University and her Bachelors degree in Communications from Flagler College. She is an avid hiker and passionate baseball fan.  A native of Sarasota, Florida, she resides in Virginia with her family.

Christine Penney

Christine Penney is Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs for Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership.  Clearwater is proudly Indigenous owned and is a global leader in sustainable wild seafood.  With over 28 years of dedication at Clearwater, Christine serves on the senior leadership team and was Clearwater’s first female executive.

Christine holds Bachelor of Science and Masters of Marine Management degrees from Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. She plays a leadership role in global fisheries sustainability initiatives, dedicating time to serve on the board of the Association of Sustainable Fisheries and the FISH standard for crew.  She currently serves on the board of the Fisheries Council of Canada and the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia and has previously served on the boards of the Canadian Association of Prawn Producers, Atlantic Groundfish Council and the Marine Stewardship Council. 

Christine currently serves as the inaugural Chair for the Board of Certified Seafood International, a third-party certification program with global reach, assessing environmentally responsibly fisheries management.   

Colin McMillan

Colin McMillan is a lifelong participant in the BC seafood industry. Working on tender boats in salmon season and attending UBC Commerce in the off season.

After years in family businesses Colin joined the Canadian Fishing Company in 2019 in sales positions and now as VP for Corporate Relations.

He has two teenagers and lives in the historic fishing town of Steveston.

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.