FCC 2025 Annual Conference
Join us in the nation’s capital for Canada’s premier fish and seafood event!
Accessing Global Markets in Turbulent Waters
FCC’s Annual Conference October 1st & 2nd, 2025 Fairmont Chateau Laurier Ottawa, ON
Canada’s Best and Largest Fish and Seafood Event is Back!
Considered to be one of the most important industry gatherings – this exclusive conference brings together over 175 delegates from across the Canadian fisheries and seafood sector, including:
- Canadian fish harvesters, processors
- Seafood industry leaders
- Government officials, and
- Other key stakeholders and policy influencers
Tackling the Issues That Matter Most
This year’s theme addresses the critical challenges of trade uncertainty, tariff issues, and unpredictable market conditions facing the Canadian fish and seafood industry.
Network
Join 130+ of Canada’s fish and seafood industry leaders, decisions makers and stakeholders.
Learn
Attend sessions led by some of the industry’s best speakers and thought leaders.
Enjoy
Dine on some of the best seafood Canada has to offer!
A Dynamic Agenda to Inform and Inspire
The Conference agenda is taking shape and will provide a great day of interactive presentations and engaging discussions on key topics that matter most to you.
FCC has negotiated a great rate for you to stay at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier. Don’t wait long – click here to reserve your guest room and take advantage of the savings!
Contact Sharon Leslie, Executive Assistant, Office & Conference Coordinator, Fisheries Council of Canada, at info@fisheriescouncil.ca or 613-899-5688 for general questions about the venue, reservations, and agenda.
2025 Speakers
Opening Remarks from FCC’s Chair
Alberto Wareham
President & CEO, Icewater Seafoods
Markets Overview
John Sackton
President, Seafood Datasearch
Perspectives on the Current Global Trade Landscape from Current and Former Ambassadors
Dominic Barton
Former Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China
What’s Next in the US, EU and Asia, and What It Means for Canadian Fisheries
Steve Verheul
Principal with GT & Company Executive Advisors and former Chief Trade Negotiator for CUSMA and CETA
David McKinnon
Senior Fellow, Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada and former senior Canadian diplomat
Canada, the Indo-Pacific, and a Shifting Geopolitical Order
Telling Industry’s Story
Lauren Martin
Senior Director Public Affairs and Corporate Counsel, Canadian Meat Council
Dr. Sylvain Charlebois
Professor, Food Distribution and Policy
Faculty of Management, School for Resource and Environmental Studies
Senior Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab
* Subject to change
Alberto Wareham
Alberto Wareham is a leader in the seafood industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and across Canada, carrying forward a seven-generation family legacy as President and CEO of Icewater Seafoods. Under his leadership, the family-owned business based in Arnold’s Cove, NL has prioritized sustainability, quality, and community prosperity. He has invested in state-of-the-art processing to enhance efficiency and quality, attracting and retaining premium global customers through the ups and downs of the cod industry.
Icewater’s world-class facility is the only plant in North America focused on year-round North Atlantic cod production and one of only 6 in the world approved to sell to UK-based multinational retailer Marks & Spencer. The plant has been in operation since 1979 despite the moratorium in 1992 and its 225 employees work nearly year-round. In 2025, the plant proudly processed 100% Canadian cod.
Alberto is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal, specifically for his role as a strong advocate for responsible fisheries management and for his unwavering commitment as a principled and ethical business leader.
Alberto has Bachelor of Commerce Co-op Honours degree from Memorial University. He has worked in the fishery since 1992 and he joined the family business in 2007. He is the current Chair of the Fisheries Council of Canada, Vice-Chair of the Association of Seafood Producers and Chair of the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation.
John Sackton
John Sackton is the Founder of SeafoodNews.com, and President of Seafood Datasearch. He has been in the seafood industry for more than 45 years. During his 20 years as publisher of SeafoodNews he wrote daily news stories and market analysis on crab, lobster, shrimp, cod, pollock, salmon and other products. He has worked with both harvesters and processors on market outlooks in Alaska, Newfoundland, Maritime Canada, and the US West Coast. He has been giving an annual overview of US seafood markets to the FCC for more than fifteen years. He retired as Editor of SeafoodNews in 2019 but has continued writing his monthly opinion and commentary column: The Winding Glass.
John Sackton will give his annual review of the US Seafood Market, with emphasis on major products important to Canadian Exporters. He will discuss current developments in US seafood demand, consumer behavior, and trade and tariff issues affecting seafood from a Canadian perspective.
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.
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.
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.
Sponsoring the 2025 FCC Conference
Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to position your company at the heart of this vital Canadian industry.
This is where you get seen and heard, where relationships are forged, and your brand can shine in front of the exact audience you need to reach.
Your sponsorship demonstrates leadership, continued support and commitment for this important annual industry event. Don’t forget to send this to your supplier community and let them know about this exclusive, high-impact event!
Contact Sharon Leslie, Executive Assistant, Office and Conference Coordinator at Fisheries Council of Canada, at info@fisheriescouncil.ca to discuss our amazing sponsorship opportunities
Thank You to our 2024 Sponsors!
See the list of 2024 sponsors with links to their web pages! We appreciate their support and hope that you will encourage them also!
We look forward to seeing you at the conference!
Attendance Rates
| Conference
Registration Rates Plus taxes and service charge | Early Bird (before Aug. 15th) | Regular (after Aug. 15th) |
|---|---|---|
| Member | $799 | $899 |
| Non-Member | $1199 | **$1299 **Upgrade to $2,000 to become a Supporting Sponsor! (includes conference pass) |
| Government | $349 | $399 |
| Academia & NGOs | $349 | $399 |
| Welcoming Network Reception | ||
|---|---|---|
| Members, spouses, academia | $99 | $149 |
| Non-Member | $349 | $399 |
| Closing Reception & Gala Dinner | ||
|---|---|---|
| Members, spouses, academia | $149 | $199 |
| Non-Member | $349 | $399 |
Plus taxes and service charge
Register Today to Secure Your Spot
Join leaders from across Canada’s fish and seafood sector at this year’s Annual Conference. Reserve your place now to connect, learn, and shape the future of our industry together.