Erin Gowriluk is the President at Canada Grains Council. Erin most recently served as the Executive Director for the Grain Growers of Canada, where she managed the day-to-day operations and advanced federal policy work on behalf of 65,000 grain farmer members from coast to coast. She has an extensive and diverse background in agriculture policy having held senior policy roles with Syngenta Canada, the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, and the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Erin holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University.

Prior to joining CGC, Mac worked as the Director of Market Access and Trade Policy at Pulse Canada. During his time at Pulse Canada, he worked on behalf of growers and exporters of Canadian pulses to resolve emerging trade irritants and employ proactive and country-specific strategies for addressing trade barriers resulting from tariffs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and the regulation of crop protection technology. He led Pulse Canada’s government relations strategies pertaining to trade and has chaired various domestic and international industry committees focused on trade policy and market access. Mac resides in Winnipeg and holds a BSc in Agribusiness from the University of Manitoba and a Certificate in Trade Negotiations from Carleton University.

Krista Thomas is the Vice President of Trade Policy and Seed Innovation with the Canada Grains Council (CGC). In this capacity Krista has led the development of policies and positions on trade issues related to biotechnology and plant breeding innovation. Krista is an active leader in international industry forums including GAABT, and the International Grain Trade Coalition, and has presented in government forums including APEC, the Global LLP Initiative, and WTO. Prior to joining the CGC Krista held various positions with the Canadian Federal Government, including with the Canada-US Regulatory Cooperation Council, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Krista holds an M.Sc. in Plant Agriculture from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada.

Sandra joined the Canada Grains Council in August of 2020. Prior to joining CGC, Sandra spent two years working for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) as their Senior Manager of Digital Communications and Government Relations. In this role, Sandra conducted training for hundreds of professionals, lay leaders and community members and managed complex communications campaigns to advance the organization’s government relations priorities. Sandra began her career as a Consultant for T.Bjornson & Associates Consulting, a boutique public affairs firm specializing in the agriculture and agri-food sector. She worked closely with clients to coordinate lobby days and spearheaded the government grant acquisition and management for several organizations.