2025 KTT Symposium

Elin Gwyn has spent 25-plus years advancing knowledge mobilization in the agri-food sector, bridging research, industry, and communities for greater impact. She played a key role in developing the Alliance Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT) Program, funding over 140 projects with more than $9.6 million invested at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. 

A champion of innovation, Elin introduced new KTT models, strengthened collaboration, and integrated knowledge mobilization throughout project life cycles for increased engagement. She has actively advocated for plain language training and graduate student symposiums, fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Her leadership in Indigenous agricultural food system research has led to the establishment of an annual Indigenous Research Symposium, enhancing participation and awareness. Committed to inclusivity, she ensures research findings are accessible, breaking down barriers and shaping policies for more effective knowledge sharing.

Elin’s lasting impact continues to shape the future of knowledge mobilization through innovation, collaboration, and accessibility.

Dr. Laura Van Eerd is the Charlotte Products Chair in Net Zero Soil Management at the University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus. 

The goal of her internationally-recognized research program is to advance understanding of how agricultural practices influence soil health and biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen. This research is aimed at finding solutions for farmers that enhance soil care, crop productivity, and profit margins. Her innovation and foresight led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art long-term experiment that has advanced global knowledge on cover cropping in temperate climates. 

She has co-authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications (H index =33, citations=3770 Google Scholar), including Best Paper Award 2018 in Canadian Journal of Plant Science and those in top-tier soil science and agronomy journals. 

Dr. Van Eerd teaches soil principles and co-led the textbook chapter on soil health for Digging into Canadian Soils: An Introduction to Soil Science. In addition to awards acknowledging her significant contributions to teaching, research and extension, Dr. Van Eerd is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Agronomy (2023), a Soil Champion (Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association 2021) and named an Influential Women of Canadian Agriculture (2020).

Susan brings a proven suite of practical, analytical, and communication skills to applied agricultural research, teaching, and outreach with an academic background in agriculture, education, pollination biology and environmental science (Ph.D, University of Guelph).  

She is a recognized expert on the agroecology of cucurbit crops, including their most important pollinator, the ground-nesting solitary squash bee and has published extensively on the ecology of ground-nesting bees in farming contexts. 

Susan maintains strong working relationships with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, agricultural non-profit organizations, and the Ontario beekeeping industry. She has written two technical guides for farmers, Protecting Pollinators from Pesticides: Cucurbit Crops and Technical Guide for Preserving and Creating Habitat for Pollinators on Ontario’s Farms in collaboration with Pollinator Partnership Canada.  

Susan is the lead researcher for an Alliance-funded KTT project to develop and promote a pollinator and pest scouting tool for Ontario cucurbit growers called SCOUT IPPM.

Dr. Rose Buitenhuis is Director of the Biological Crop Protection Program at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. She has been at Vineland since 2010. She is responsible for the development and implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) technologies against pests and diseases, supporting sustainable crop management practices for ornamental and production horticulture.

Rose received her MSc in Biology at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands in 1997, and her PhD in Entomology at Laval University, Québec in 2003. She worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Harrow and the University of Guelph.

Leith is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, in the Ontario Agricultural College, at the University of Guelph. He is a registered professional planner (RPP) and holds membership with the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP). 

At the core of Leith’s research program, Sustainable Community Planning Development, is a central theme of supporting the long-term resilience and sustainability of rural communities and their residents. Committed to inclusive and impactful research, individual projects examine rural health, mental health and addictions, economic development, green infrastructure, and rural-proofing policy. 

Christina is the founder of Crowley + Arklie Strategy & Co., a strategic marketing, communications and leadership business, serving clients across Canada. Focusing on 1:1 client work, corporate training, facilitation, speaking, and 1:1 business coaching, Christina helps brands, businesses and leaders communicate their ‘why.’ With a particular focus and a number of clients in Canadian agriculture and food, Christina is on a mission to transform the way we communicate our leadership in agriculture-food. 

Dr. Marcia Chiasson is a biologist with a background in aquatic animal physiology and genetics. She holds a BSc and MSc in Biology from the University of New Brunswick and a PhD from the University of Guelph, where her research focused on genetics and breeding in aquaculture species. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Aquaculture Technologies Canada and worked with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs before joining the University of Guelph.

Since 2018, Marcia has managed the Ontario Aquaculture Research Centre, where she leads academic research and champions knowledge transfer and translation to the aquaculture sector. She develops and hosts workshops, creates online learning tools, and works closely with industry to make scientific findings practical and accessible. She also volunteers as President of the Ontario Aquaculture Association and serves on the board of the Aquaculture Association of Canada.

RJ Taylor is a second-generation fish farmer and owner of Springhills Fish in Ontario. They raise trout, salmon and Arctic char in Grey County and on Manitoulin Island in partnership with Sheshegwaning
First Nation. 

RJ is the Managing Director for the Ontario Aquaculture and Vice-Chair for the Livestock Research Innovation Corporation. And was recently appointed to Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario. 

He rejoined the family business in 2017 after a career leading science education initiatives across Canada at Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, the University of Toronto and Dyson. RJ was selected for the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference in 2017, and has been on the board for the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance since 2018. RJ holds an honours degree in sociology and business from the University of Waterloo.

Ashleigh Domingo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences within the College of Biological Science. She currently collaborates with communities, community health organizations, and an interdisciplinary team of researchers to support community-led responses to improve food access. 

Ashleigh obtained her PhD from the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo and holds a MSc in Population and Public Health from the University of British Columbia. Her interest in community food actions reflects her passion for working with communities to strengthen local capacity and identify solutions to catalyze change.

Kerry-Ann Charles is a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation, a proud mom of 2 boys and has been a Team member of Cambium Indigenous Professional Services (CIPS) since 2017 as the Environment Partnership Co-ordinator.  

She has over 17 years’ experience working within her community in various capacities, including serving on Council and the last 10 years as Environment Coordinator.  She has had great success in initiating and building relationships with various environmental organizations, developing partnerships to coordinate and carry out various environmental activities with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners as well as promoting education and community involvement in environmental initiatives within her own community as well as others.  

As a result of this work, Kerry-Ann has gained international recognition and has been asked to speak nationally as well as internationally in the area of Indigenous perspectives on environmental initiatives. Her wide range of career experiences gives her a unique perspective that can be very valuable when assisting others wishing to find their balance of operations and carrying out their environmental responsibility. 

Visit Dr. Ryan Gibson's School of Environmental Design and Rural Development profile page. 

Alexandra (Alex) is an interdisciplinary researcher and artist who serves as Creative Advisor at the Arrell Food Institute (AFI). She works at the intersection of research, art, and design to co-create and mobilize knowledge through community-driven, collaborative approaches.

Alex holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Guelph, where she partnered with the Inuit community of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut on Inuit-led climate adaptation. This work shaped her commitment to relational and intersectional research.

At AFI, Alex supports creative components across projects, contributing to strategy, knowledge mobilization, and visual communications.