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Speakers Biography

1. Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of and Agri- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Compton—Stanstead in 2015. She started her career at the Canadian International Development Agency, working in the National Capital Region and Montréal, as well as in Morocco and Benin. She eventually settled in Compton— Stanstead to raise her family, work, and volunteer in the community. Minister Bibeau is an experienced businesswoman, and co-owned Camping de Compton, a successful tourism business that won numerous awards. She was also the Director of Accreditation for the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, and the Executive Director of the Sherbrooke Museum of Nature and Science. Active in her community, Minister Bibeau was the founder and co-ordinator of the Regroupement des institutions muséales des Cantons-de-l’Est, an association of museums in the Eastern Townships. She was a former board member of Commerce Sherbrooke, Destination Sherbrooke, Animation Centre-ville, and the Société des musées du Québec. She also served as the secretary of the Compton revitalization committee, a member of a strategic planning committee for the regional county municipality of Coaticook, and Chair of the governing board of École Louis-St- Laurent in Compton. Minister Bibeau was born, raised, and educated in Sherbrooke. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a graduate diploma in Environmental Management from the Université de Sherbrooke.

2. H.E. Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food Security (TBC) Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri was appointed as Minister of State for Food Security following the Cabinet reshuffle of October 2017. Her responsibilities include overseeing the development of the necessary infrastructure that would ensure the country’s food security objectives, in line with UAE Centennial 2071 Plan. In addition, H.E. represents the UAE federal government in the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). She is also a member of the Board of Directors

2 in the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the Board of Trustees of the Future Foundation (DFF) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Food Systems Innovation. She has also been nominated to lead some unique projects in the field of aquaculture under the initiatives of H.H. the President of UAE, through the Ministry of Presidential Affairs to establish the foundation needed for this new economic sector to develop and thrive in the country. H.E. Almheiri previously served as Assistant Undersecretary for Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, where she was appointed to oversee the Biodiversity, Fisheries, Coastal & Marine Sustainability and Marine Research departments. H.E. Mariam Almheiri received her bachelor and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) in Aachen, Germany.

3. Murad Al Katib, President and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. Murad Al-Katib, President, CEO and Board member of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. Murad founded AGT in 2001, building a Canadian start-up into a global billion dollar value-added pulses, staple foods and ingredients company.

Murad serves as Chair of the Government of Canada National Agri-Food Strategy Roundtable, on the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Board and as the Economic Development Regina Board Chair. Past Boards Murad has served on include the CSCA, Pulse Canada and a number of Canadian Government advisory boards and panels including Chairing the Advisory Board for Small and Medium Enterprise for the Canadian Minister of International Trade, participating as a panel member for the Government of Canada’s renewal of Canada’s Global Commerce Strategy, and on the Advisory Committee for the Review of the Canada Transportation Act for the Minister of Transport.

Murad’s has received a number of prestigious awards including the 2017 Saskatchewan Order of Merit, an Honorary Degree from the University of Regina recognizing his work as a humanitarian and entrepreneur, the 2017 “Oslo Business for Peace” Honouree, 2017 EY “World Entrepreneur of the Year” after being named National and Prairie Region “Entrepreneur of the Year”, 2016 UN Association of Canada “Global Citizen Laureate”, PROFITGuide Magazine’s “30 Most Fabulous Entrepreneurs of the Past 30 Years” list, The Globe & Mail “Canada’s Top 40 under 40” and the Western Producer “44 Innovators Who Shaped Prairie Agriculture.”

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4. Essa Al Ghurair, General Manager of Al Ghurair Resources LLC Mr. Essa Abdulla Al Ghurair is one of the leading business entrepreneurs in the region due to his extensive experience in industrial manufacturing and commodities trading in international markets. His vision and business strategies have resulted in the growth of various companies e.g. Dubai Mills (one of the largest canola and soya crushing plants in the MENA region), National Mills and Al Ghurair Resources, which is one of the largest business entities in the greater Al Ghurair Family and a major supplier in the field of agricultural commodities. Mr. Essa Abdulla Al Ghurair is also the Chairman of Essa Al Ghurair Investment and serves as the General Manager of Karam Foods Industries. In addition, Mr. Essa Al Ghurair is a major shareholder in Prime HealthCare Group, one of the leading healthcare providers in the UAE, which aims to be the most respected healthcare provider in the region. Mr. Essa is also: Chairman - of Awqaf & Minors Affairs Foundation Chairman - of Emirates Diving Association Chairman - of Tharawat Family Business Forum Board Member - Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry Board Member - of Emirates Council for Climate Change and the Environment Board Member - of Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology

5. Nicole Rogers, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Agriprocity The Agriprocity model began to take root when a farm girl from Canada transplanted herself to the Arabian Gulf. Having grown up on a fifth- generation cattle farm in Canada, Nicole Rogers knew well the deep engagement required to operate a farm. What she hadn’t anticipated, is the extent to which farmers miss out on opportunities by not engaging directly with the international marketplace. In taking on the role as Canada’s Agricultural Trade Commissioner to the (UAE), Nicole saw first hand the disconnect between farmers and the internationally-based buyers who use their crops. This knowledge, combined with an exceptional network of international buyers and farmers, enabled Nicole to found Agriprocity in 2013. As such, Nicole serves as a private sector representative for the United Nation’s Committee on Food Security’s Near East Food Security plenary group. She also sits on the advisory committees of the U.S.-based conference series Global AgInvesting and the Dubai Food Trade Advisory Group (DFTAG).