The UBC Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) Program is looking for Project Partners to offer real-world Graduating Projects for their students from May to August 2023. Each project is supported by UBC Faculty members and staff, and can be either paid or unpaid, as long as it offers a quality learning experience and meets the MFRE scope. 

• UBC MFRE is a one-year professional master’s program that integrates Economics, Business & Policy knowledge to meet the challenges and opportunities in the Food, Resource & Environmental sector using Data Analytics & Quantitative skills.
• The Graduating Project is a 6-credit work experience course designed to give students a professional learning experience while completing quality project deliverables for the Project Partner. The Graduating Project takes place from May to August 2023.

 BCFB members have been great collaborators with the UBC MFRE Program, including repeat Project Partners who have benefitted from the students’ skillsets.

Key Takeaways:

•  Learn about the UBC MFRE Program and different ways to collaborate with them.
• Connect if you have a real-word project in finance, market research, or data analytics this summer.
• Some benefits of participating in a Graduating Project include: 
  • Win-win outcomes: Receive high quality deliverables, while providing valuable real-world experience to graduate students.
  • Unique structure and targeted support: Individual support by UBC Faculty Members and MFRE Staff with the expertise and skills in the food and environment sector. 
  • Innovative thinking: Access to UBC students with a fresh perspective to help you address an existing problem or research a new opportunity.
  • Mentorship: A leadership opportunity to mentor or train young talent in your field of work.
  • Valuable network: Potential year-to-year project collaboration, talent pool, or referrals for potential employees through the growing number of highly skilled alumni.

 Presented by:

• Dr. Kelleen Wiseman, MBA, PhD 
  • Dr. Kelleen Wiseman is Director of the Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) program at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has extensive experience in the agri-food industry in Canada and the US. She has worked for agencies such as Farm Credit Canada, the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Oracle Corporation, and has managed her own business development consulting business. With more than 15 years of teaching and mentorship experience at UBC, Dr. Wiseman’s classes focus on food and agri-business entrepreneurship, finance, market research and strategy. agri-food sector. Having worked with agricultural industry associations, businesses and government ministries, Hannah holds deep sector knowledge at both the provincial and national level. Pairing this with her skills as a researcher, she is well placed to provide excellent client service.
• Janelle Tan, PMP, MFRE
  • Janelle Tan is the Graduating Projects Manager for the Master of Food and Resource Economics (MFRE) program at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has 10 years of experience in the agri-food industry, and has worked for organizations such as the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Bimbo Canada in project management, data analysis, and process improvement. She combines her passion for professional development and skills in project management to help students succeed in their Graduating Projects. 

Join your peer BC Food & Beverage senior HR professionals at BCFB’s HR Roundtable. Hosted by BCFB member, Daiya, facilitated by Ivy Leung, Fresh Direct Produce & Heather Johnson, HR West, for a lively discussion on HR planning. 

HR Planning: How To, Hot Topics, How Can We Assist

It is that time of the year where HR departments are typically finalizing their plans for the upcoming fiscal year or are well into executing plans for the current calendar year.  Or perhaps you don’t have formalized HR plans for the year and want to learn more about HR planning and hear what others are doing.  

In this session we will hear about your HR planning, and determine how this Roundtable can support your initiatives and/or any risks you see to your plans.  

February 16th Roundtable Outline

• Review a simple model for HR planning including the key elements of an HR plan
• Structured open discussion on HR planning

Who should attend?

• Mid-Senior Level HR Professionals in the Food & Beverage Industry  

*Please note spaces are limited to 15 participants for this roundtable*  

*Light refreshments and snacks will be served*

Thank you to our HR Roundtable Sponsor

Do you need to get your products to market quickly and efficiently either through in-store retailers, on your website and eCommerce? Then let GS1 Canada get you started on the right track while we provide support throughout your growth!

Presenters, Alain Picard and Pierre Lessard, will take you through the identification process starting with the essentials of generating barcodes for your products, providing the right data and standardized images required by retailers, distributors and digital commerce platforms. We will share training and subsidized assist programs catered for start-up and scaleup operations. For those organizations already with GS1 Canada, we will welcome your questions and feedback during our Q&A period. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Product identification essentials
•  Understand barcodes and relevance to your business
•  Managing product information through digital network essentials
•  Understand retailers, distributors, eCommerce industry standards and requirements
•  Understand and respect regulatory requirements

 Presented by:

• Alain Picard, Advisor, Community Engagement of GS1 Canada

  Alain joined GS1 Canada as an Advisor with the Community Engagement team. This new division was created in early 2022 with the main objective of supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs get their products to market quickly and efficiently.

  Part of his mandate is to work closely with Trade Associations and Educational Institutions alike. The goal being to support, educate and familiarize their members with GS1 Global Standards emphasizing the importance of minimizing start up and scale up hurdles along the way.

  Alain pursued studies in technical sciences and subsequently took the business management route where he worked over 20 years in the conference communication industry. He then started his own business in Wholesale Packaging Distribution in the Food and Grocery sector.  He truly enjoys sharing his experience and building relationships which bodes well in his current role.

• Pierre Lessard, Director, Community Engagement of GS1 Canada

  As a key team member at GS1 Canada, Pierre has wide multidisciplinary knowledge of the organization. Over the last 15 years, he has occupied a variety of roles and is recognized by the industry at large for the exemplary nature of his work.

  He is considered a leader in the food industry sector and has a broad range of skills in product marketing leadership. This stems from product design, sourcing, and business development to sales in the retail and foodservice sectors.

  Pierre continues to look for ways to be proactive by way of his actions and education. He recently completed a certificate in relationship-based selling.

  corporates and institutions. Sean’s primary focus is helping financial professionals drive material improvements in working capital management, planning and operating margins. 

Thank you to our 2023 Title Sponsor: