From right to left: Mike Douglas, Margaret Walton, Krista Chapman, Bethanee Jensen, Collette Aeschlimann, Peter Peeters, Sara Epp, Megan Mills, Melanie Williams, Matt Colley, Marsha Paley.
(Absent from photo: Judy Coward, Mark Reusser)
If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors, please contact us.
Marsha Paley
Board Chair
Marsha is a Principal Planner with a GTHA municipality, with a career spanning the federal government, conservation authorities, and municipalities, including roles as Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk. A graduate in agriculture, environmental studies, public administration, small business, soil science and water engineering, she is dedicated to farmland protection, resource management, rural economic development and stewardship. Marsha is a registered professional planner, certified municipal officer and personal property appraiser. She is also the volunteer Chair of Heritage Burlington, a writer about antiques, an artist, and a mental health advocate.
Peter Peeters
Vice Chair, Chair of the Land Securement & Stewardship Committee
Peter owns and operates his family beef farm in Omemee. His cattle, Pinzgauers, are a novelty in the area with their distinctive markings and docile nature. Peter is also a Board Director of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, and serves on the Victoria Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Victoria Beef Producers, and Peterborough ALUS.
Melanie Williams
Secretary
Melanie is a professional planner with experience in land use planning, policy and program development for Agricultural and Natural Heritage Systems. In her professional role, Melanie supports agricultural advisory groups in achieving their agricultural action plans and in their delivery of agri-environmental stewardship programs. Melanie is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and also a volunteer with her local Community Kitchen and 4-H Association.
Peter Ghattas
Treasurer, Chair of the Finance Committee
Peter Ghattas, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Management, focuses on accounting professionalization, audit oversight, and audit standards-setting processes. His research explores the dynamics of public oversight in auditing practices and employs primary data from interviews and secondary data from public documents to reveal the performative nature of public oversight, emphasizing its symbolic and tangible aspects. His recent work on an OMAFRA grant opened his eyes to the importance of Ontario’s farmland. While he admits to not be an expert in agriculture, this experience intrigued him to learn more about the industry and would like to contribute to its preservation.
Sara Epp
Director
Sara is the Assistant Professor in Rural Planning & Development at the University of Guelph and a long-time supporter of OFT. Sara has a PhD in Rural Studies focused in Land Use Planning from the University of Guelph. Skilled in Rural Development, Sustainability, Data Analysis, Agriculture, and Research, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the board. Sara has participated in past Farmland Forums as a panelist, as well as an emcee and facilitator.
Judy Coward
Director
Judy has an extensive background in policy and economic development. Having recently retired, Judy had a successful career as the Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Advisor for OMAFRA in the Peterborough area. Combining her experiences growing up on a farm in Lindsay Ontario, with her vast knowledge of municipal planning, zoning policies, rural economic development, and her experiences working with municipalities, the province, various agricultural and horticultural societies, rural businesses and farming communities, Judy has an astute way of seeing all sides on the topic of farmland protection.
Matthew Colley
Director, Chair of the Policy and Education Committee
Matthew is a Development Planner with the Region of Waterloo. His passions are focused on community planning while ensuring the long-term protection of our agricultural resources. Matthew has been volunteering with OFT in varying capacities over the past several years.
Collette Aeschlimann
Director
Collette and her family immigrated to Canada to pursue dairy farming, so agriculture has been a fortunate constant in her life. She feels that naturally, those limbs branch out to growing an appreciation for nature and conservation. She is an avid hiker and enjoys the outdoors. Somedays, if the weather permits, Collette enjoys the smells and winds of the countryside on two wheels. When she’s done having fun, she enjoys working as a realtor, and living in a City deeply rooted with a conservation mentality.
Mike Douglas
Director
Mike manages a small farm in Ramara Township, Simcoe County and is actively involved with many environmentally minded groups and organizations. He has experience in the nuclear industry as a shift control technician with Ontario Power Generation, teaching and training adults with Georgian College, geophysical survey work in remote locations with MPH Consulting, chemical industry with Domtar Chemicals and alloy steel industry with Kubota Metal Corp, formerly Fahramet in Orillia.
Mark Reusser
Director
Mark is a farmer in Wilmot Township in Waterloo Region where he grows turkey, grains and hay. He is currently the Vice-President of the Waterloo Federation of Agriculture, and a Director with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Mark is passionate about how good urban and rural planning can help preserve both farmland and the natural landscape. In his spare time, Mark tends a large garden where he grows heritage tomatoes, watermelon and other assorted vegetables and also finds time to collect glass and porcelain insulators.
Melanie Williams
Secretary
Melanie is a professional planner with experience in land use planning, policy and program development for Agricultural and Natural Heritage Systems. In her professional role, Melanie supports agricultural advisory groups in achieving their agricultural action plans and in their delivery of agri-environmental stewardship programs. Melanie is a graduate of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program and also a volunteer with her local Community Kitchen and 4-H Association.
Krista Chapman
Director
Krista is passionate about rural and agricultural economic development and sustainability. As an Economic Development Officer with the County of Wellington, she enjoys supporting the growth of the local agriculture sector and communities across Wellington County. Krista also brings with her experience in providing research, insights and strategic planning services to support agriculture and rural sustainability. Krista holds her master’s degree in Economic Development and Innovation from the University of Waterloo, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a major in economics and policy from the University of Guelph.
Kalinga Jagoda
Director
Kalinga Jagoda is a Professor of Accounting in the Department of Management at the University of Guelph. He brings over 20 years of industry and academic experience in the areas of management accounting, financial accounting and entrepreneurship. His main areas of scholarly interest include accountability, performance management, innovation and entrepreneurship. His current research involves agricultural research pertaining to climate innovation as he assesses net-zero agri-food landscapes. He has served on the boards of several national and international academic and professional bodies.
Sandy Kursis
Director
Growing up on a family farm in a tight-knit rural community instilled in Sandy a lifelong dedication to environmental stewardship. Following a diverse career in financial services, government, and consulting, she returned to her roots, “retiring” to that same farm. Faced with encroaching development and a proposed highway threatening her community, she transformed her “retirement” into advocacy. As a former Director with the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, Sandy is now deeply involved in agricultural advocacy and local community-building initiatives, which include fostering and training a C.O.P.E. service dog.
Jenna Khoury-Hanna
Director
Jenna is an Associate Lawyer at Kinch Eddie Litigation with expertise in civil litigation, focusing in municipal, land use, and planning law. Jenna has a keen understanding of the full kit of tools available for this type of law, making her an invaluable asset for these types of cases. She is known for her in-depth research and innovative approach to problem-solving, often finding alternative solutions that result in positive outcomes. Her education included a focus on the environment, sustainability, and land use. This, coupled with her personal passion for this area of law, makes Jenna a powerful advocate for her clients.
Jacob Kearey-Moreland
Director
Jacob Kearey-Moreland is an agroecological farmer, educator and PhD Student in Educational Studies at Lakehead University in Orillia. He serves as the chair of the City of Orillia’s Food Access and Sustainability Working Group, Co-Chair of the Simcoe County Food Council’s “School
Food Working Table”, board member at The Sharing Place Food Centre and Coordinator at the Lakehead Farm Lab. As well, Jacob is a research assistant with the Common Ground Network, a federally funded (SSHRC & AAFC) research network focused on building a network of experts and practitioners within the social sciences and humanities in collaboration towards a more just and sustainable agri-food system. Jacob is also a contract lecturer at Lakehead University and Georgian
College. His teaching, research, and community work center on ecological and social justice in the food system and society.