Speaker Presentations

The following speakers from ODC Convention 2024 have agreed to share their presentations with ODC.

Steve has a dairy and beef background from Northumberland county. He completed a Masters in Agriculture Economics from the University of Guelph in 1996 focusing on trade liberalization in dairy between the US and Canada. After a year as policy researcher for the Ontario Milk Marketing Board, Steve joined OMAFRA in late 1997. For 15 years, Steve was OMAFRA’s lead on business risk management programs such as AgriStability and the Risk Management Program. Steve has chaired several federal-provincial-territorial committees, including BRM Policy, BRM Program Administrators, AG Trade Policy, BSE response. 

Steve is currently the Co-Chair of the Farm Income Forecasting Committee and sits on the Ag Statistics Committee. In 2016, Steve was the recipient of the University of Guelph Food Agriculture, Resource Economics Distinguished Alumni Award. Steve is currently OMAFRA’s Chief Economist and is also an adjunct professor at the University of Guelph and teaches fourth year ag policy analysis. 

Steve and his wife Robyn operate a beef and cash crop operation near Colborne Ontario. He is currently ending his first term on the board of Farm Management Canada as a farmer director and is currently board Vice-Chair.

Benoit has been a contributing member of the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) workforce since 2003, where he started his CDC career as an economist. Having always been passionate about agriculture, he obtained a bachelors equivalent in agricultural economics in France, followed by a Master’s degree in rural economics from Laval University. Benoit acquired leadership and management experience through various roles at CDC. In July 2022, he was named CDC’s CEO.

With his extensive experience within the sector and at CDC, Mr. Basillais has a complete understanding of the issues faced by the sector. His education and professional background combined with his extensive knowledge of the Canadian Supply Management System allows him to identify and present innovative approaches to each unique situation.

Mathieu joined DPAC in October 2016 as Senior Advisor, Policy & Economics, and was promoted to President & CEO in June 2018. Prior to joining DPAC, he worked with the Parliamentary Information and Research Service for 9 years where he successively assumed leadership roles with various House of Commons and Senate Committees. Mathieu was also an Assistant Director of Policy and Economics with Dairy Farmers of Canada from 2000 to 2007.

Mathieu graduated with a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Université Laval in 1999. In 2016, he earned an MBA and a Graduate diploma in accounting from Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO). Mathieu became a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA,CMA) in 2016.

He is a board member and treasurer of Voie Verte Chelsea, a not-for-profit organization that raises funds for community trail development in the municipality of Chelsea. He is also a board member and treasurer of La Fab sur Mill, a cooperative managing an Art Center and Performance Hall.

Andrew is an Executive Director and Senior Economist with CIBC, with a wide range of experience in different areas of economic and financial market forecasting. Joining CIBC in 2011, he initially focused on the U.S. and international outlook and its implications for foreign exchange and fixed income markets.  More recently, he has taken over responsibility for the Canadian and provincial outlook. He has helped CIBC win MarketWatch’s monthly contest for U.S. forecasters five times and is regularly quoted by print and electronic media.

Prior to joining CIBC, Andrew worked in London for one of U.K.’s largest banks.