Women’s Grain Symposium

Amber Mac

President
Amber Mac Media

Amber Mac is President of AmberMac Media, Inc., an award-winning content development agency, an award-winning podcaster (This Is Mining and The AI Effect), and a bestselling author. She is also the co-host of the award-winning emerging technology radio show and podcast #TheFeed on SiriusXM.

In 2024, Amber was named as one of DMZ’s Women of the Year for her work driving innovation and progress in the tech industry. In 2021, Amber was named one of the Bay Street Bull Women of the Year for her leadership in the technology sector. In 2016, she co-wrote the Amazon bestseller, Outsmarting Your Kids Online, just a few years after she wrote the Globe & Mail business bestseller, Power Friending.

Amber has keynoted more than 500 events around the world and has moderated sessions with: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, former FBI Director James Comey; business coach Tony Robbins; literary icon Margaret Atwood; and many other notable leaders.

Panel discussion moderator: Victoria Berry

Director, Communications
Grain Farmers of Ontario

Victoria Berry, Director of Communications for Grain Farmers of Ontario, will lead a discussion with ag business leaders to highlight success stories, challenges, and the future potential of the grain sector.

Victoria is an accomplished communications professional with over 25 years’ experience building brands and stories at organizations including BlackBerry, Samsung, Magnet Forensics, and the University of Waterloo.

Victoria also currently serves as Chair for the AgScape board.

Amanda Norris

Senior Economist
Farm Credit Canada

Amanda Norris joined FCC in 2024 as an Economist. She has expertise in the food and beverage industries, but also does research on supply management and consumer trends. Amanda comes from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada where she amassed a wealth of economic, technical and industry knowledge through various positions including policy advisor, project lead and Economist.

Amanda holds a master’s degree in Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of Guelph. She is also a Board member of the Canadian Agricultural Economics Society where she promotes outreach and the importance of agriculture and food research.

Panel discussion: Christina Stroud

Head of Corporate Affairs
Syngenta

Christina Stroud is the Head of Corporate Affairs for Syngenta Canada where she leads the business sustainability, government and industry relations, and communication areas of the business. With over 25 years in the agriculture industry, Christina is skilled at building stakeholder relationships and finding opportunities that lead to positive outcomes for the agriculture industry. She is passionate about supporting and advancing women in agriculture and is responsible for this focus area at Syngenta.

Before joining Syngenta in 2019, Christina held senior communication and marketing roles within the agriculture sector. She earned her BA from Wilfrid Laurier University and is currently enrolled in McMaster’s Master of Communication Management. She is a member of numerous industry committees, including CropLife Canada, the National Index on Agri-Food Performance, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture; the Government Relations Institute of Canada; and the National Women in Agriculture Advisory Board.

Panel discussion: Lisa Bishop-Spencer

Canadian Centre for Food Integrity

Lisa Bishop-Spencer is a senior leader with over 20 years of cross-functional leadership experience spanning strategic planning, communications, and marketing. She is also a certified crisis and reputation manager. With over 20 years of experience as the former Director of Brand and Communications at Chicken Farmers of Canada, Lisa left the sector for about a year to work at the City of Ottawa, before running back as quickly as she could to be back with ‘her people’ in agriculture.

 As the new Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI), Lisa is dedicated to fostering public trust and building strong relationships within Canada’s food system. Her approach is rooted in transparent communication and collaboration, ensuring that the diverse voices of all stakeholders are valued, with a vision to create lasting, positive impacts in the industry through strategic, trust-based partnerships, and innovative program development.

Panel discussion: Andrea Kent

Greenfield

Andrea Kent is a highly regarded expert in renewable energy policy and market development, known for her unique success in shaping policies and raising awareness for the renewable fuels sector. A sought-after speaker and trusted voice, Andrea addresses audiences across Canada and internationally on the pivotal role of renewable fuels and environmental technologies in driving economies forward. Her insights have been featured in leading industry and national publications.

Andrea serves as Vice President of Industry and Government Affairs at Greenfield Global, Canada’s leading ethanol producer. In this role, she collaborates with government and industry leaders to develop policies that encourage renewable fuels, support innovation, and promote sustainable products and technologies. Since joining Greenfield Global in 2017, Andrea has played key roles across the company’s Corporate and Renewable Energy business units, previously serving as the company’s Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs.