Manager, Communications

Maggie McCormick joined the Farm & Food Care PEI team in 2023. She previously worked in agriculture and food communications with the University of Guelph, most recently at the Arrell Food Institute.

Maggie is a graduate of the University of Guelph and Fanshawe College, focusing on International Development and Communications, and continues to study climate change communications and agriculture.

Maddie Stewart has been the Summer Student for Farm & Food Care PEI for the last two summers (2020 & 2021). Maddie lives in Frenchfort, PEI, on her family’s dairy farm. Maddie is a member of 4-H PEI for last 13 years and has travelled to the Royal Winter Fair in 2015 and 2018. Maddie is currently enrolled in her 4th year of Business Administration at the University of Prince Edward Island.

Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture and Land

Brian Matheson is Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture and Land on Prince Edward Island. Brian obtained his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology from the University of Prince Edward Island. He has worked with the Department of Agriculture for over 25 years. In that time he had the opportunity to work in all aspects of the department including policy, program delivery, regulatory services, industry development, sustainable agriculture, business risk management, plant health laboratories, and research.

He has served as both the Director of Policy and Regulatory Services and most recently as the Director of Policy and Agriculture Resources. Over the past five years, he has participated in national policy and regulatory discussions and negotiations at the federal/provincial/territorial table as part of his policy and regulatory responsibilities as Assistant Deputy Minister. Brian is active in his community; volunteered for over 20 years with the Sherwood Parkdale Rural Minor Hockey Association (SPRMHA) as a coach and manager. He also served on SPRMHA’s Executive Committee as the Director of Female Hockey for three years and completed a four-year term as President in May of 2019. Brian lives in Sherwood with his wife Tracey and their three children.

Program Coordinator, Farm & Food Care PEI

Jillian Ferguson is the Program Coordinator for Farm & Food Care PEI, and is a recent graduate from the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Sustainable Soil Management Certificate.

Jillian is from Spring Valley, PEI and has been involved in the agricultural industry on the Island in many capacities including agronomy roles, quality control and industry advocacy through her work with the social media group “Ag in the Field”. Jillian has a passion for local food and farming, and showcasing the hard work and dedication of our PEI farm families across the industry.

Director of Sustainability, Cavendish Farms

John MacQuarrie has been employed with Cavendish Farms since 2017 as Director of Environmental Sustainability and is currently the Board Chair of the North American Potato Sustainability Alliance. He is a graduate of Macdonald College of McGill University with a Master’s of Science degree in plant science.  After university, he worked with the PEI Department of Agriculture in a number of areas until being appointed to the position of Deputy Minister.  Following this he served in the positions of Deputy Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry and finally, Transportation, Energy and Infrastructure Renewal. John is thrilled to be back working in agriculture and food production and looks forward to the continued and sustainable growth and development of an industry that underpins the PEI economy.  Apart from John’s professional career, he is currently a Director at Large with the Delta Waterfowl Foundation.

John Jamieson is President and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). John is also a Professional Agrologist and Certified Nutrient Management Planner and has worked in the food sector for over 25 years.

Before joining CCFI John served as the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development in Prince Edward Island. He also was the Executive Director of the Prince Edward Island Federation of Agriculture and has a wealth of knowledge working with various commodity organizations. John has sat on many national and regional boards including Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Agriculture Advisory Committee and the Farm & Food Care Foundation Board of Directors.

Deputy Minister, Department of Environment, Water, and Climate Change

Brad Colwill received his Chartered Accountant designation in 2007. He is a graduate of University of Prince Edward Island, where he also assumed a teaching role as a sessional lecturer.  Mr. Colwill began his career in public service in 2009. Since that time, he worked in a variety of roles in business development and finance until 2015 when he moved to the Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning. There, he served as chief executive officer of PEI Student Financial Assistance Corporation, then executive director of Finance and Post-secondary Education until 2017 when he assumed the role of deputy minister for the department.

In May 2019, Mr. Colwill was appointed deputy minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action.  Brad resides in Stratford with his wife Rachel and three children.

Chair, Farm & Food Care PEI and President, PEI Federation of Agriculture

Keisha Rose Topic works on her family’s sixth generation potato farm, R.A Rose and Sons Ltd, and at family-owned Potato packing facility, East Point Potato, in Eastern Kings, PEI.

Keisha graduated from University of Prince Edward Island in 2013 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Raised in North Lake, and still lives there today with her husband and children. 

Keisha has been on the Board of Directors of the PEIFA since 2017.

Brian Matheson is Deputy Minister of the Department of Agriculture and Land on Prince Edward Island.  Brian obtained his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology from the University of Prince Edward Island.  He has worked with the Department of Agriculture for over 25 years. In that time he had the opportunity to work in all aspects of the department including policy, program delivery, regulatory services, industry development, sustainable agriculture, business risk management, plant health laboratories, and research.

He has served as both the Director of Policy and Regulatory Services and most recently as the Director of Policy and Agriculture Resources.  Over the past five years, he has participated in national policy and regulatory discussions and negotiations at the federal/provincial/territorial table as part of his policy and regulatory responsibilities as Assistant Deputy Minister.

Brian is active in his community; volunteered for over 20 years with the Sherwood Parkdale Rural Minor Hockey Association (SPRMHA) as a coach and manager.  He also served on SPRMHA’s Executive Committee as the Director of Female Hockey for three years and completed a four-year term as President in May of 2019.  Brian lives in Sherwood with his wife Tracey and their three children.

General Manager, PEI Potato Board

Greg Donald has been the General Manager of the PEI Potato Board since 2009.  The PEI Potato Board represents PEI potato producers working together to ensure long term profitability and sustainability through marketing, advocating, negotiation and activities that support quality potato production.  Greg has a BSc. Degree in Agriculture with a major in plant protection from Dalhousie University.  He also attended UNB and obtained a Master’s in Business Administration. 

Greg has over twenty five years of experience in the potato industry, including five years with McCain Foods in New Brunswick in the area of agronomy, potato production, potato procurement and green crop field management. He then spent 14+ years in progressively responsible management positions in the agricultural crop input business in Atlantic Canada and Maine with the Cavendish Group. Greg also participates in a number of local and industry organizations including a director with the Kensington North Watershed Association, a member of the Prince Edward Island Institute of Agrologists, a director of the Farm & Food Care PEI, a director with the PEI Farming 4R Island, a director of the Canadian Potato Council, a director of the United Potato Growers of Canada and a director of the World Potato Congress. 

Greg completed the Nuffield Scholar Program (an international agricultural adult education program) that included a study of the Potato industry in Belgium (processing focus), Holland (seed focus) and the UK (fresh focus).  Greg, his wife Becky live in Margate, PEI.  They have a daughter Abby and son Jack.  Greg enjoys family activities, boating, outdoor activities and travelling. 

Registered Dietitian

Shannon McQuaid is a Registered Dietitian and was born and raised on PEI. She completed her dietetics degree at UPEI and has been practicing on PEI for over 10 years. She describes herself as a home cook and baker and loves trying out new recipes to style and photograph. For the past 5 years, Shannon has taught nutrition and cooking classes at Sobeys, and now spends her days at home with her toddler.

Marketing Coordinator, Dairy Farmers of PEI

Aidan joined the Dairy Farmers of PEI as the Marketing Coordinator in 2021. Aidan’s duties include overseeing DFPEI’s promotion efforts across social media, radio, television, events, and so much more. He has a strong passion for marketing that grows every time he tells DFPEI’s story in a creative, unique way. He’s excited to learn more about the dairy industry and to do his part in ensuring that Island dairy and it’s producers are well-represented across the province.

 In the winter months, you can likely find Aidan at a hockey rink, whether it’s watching or playing. During the summer, you can find him either at the beach, at a bonfire, or on the golf course.

He is Past President of the PEI Federation of Agriculture.  Ron brings years of experience and knowledge to the steering committee.  He maintains all this involvement whilst he is partner at Port Hill Milking Company in Tyne Valley, PEI.  There they milk 150 cows and are cropping 1000 acres and employ five staff.  Ron graduated from Nova Scotia Agricultural College and attended McGill University.  He participates on many agriculture boards on PEI and very involved in his community. Ron and his wide Liz, have three grown daughters and two grandchildren.

Executive Director at the PEI Federation of Agriculture

Donald Killorn is the Executive Director at the PEI Federation of Agriculture.  He was born and raised in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.