The Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association is taking a different approach than most other farm organizations with its management.
Rather than hiring internal staff, the voluntary farmer-run advocacy group has contracted Osborne Interim Management to look after day-to-day operations, policy development, stakeholder engagement and communications.
The Osborne team includes Dave Quist as Executive Director, Norm Dreger for stakeholder engagement, and Shannon Foster for communications.
“The Wheat Growers are very pleased to be working with the Osborne Interim Management team. We have seen substantial growth in the past number of years and I believe that they will continue the momentum as we grow forward,” says Wheat Growers chair Jim Wickett.
Dreger is no stranger to the Canadian cereal industry, having formerly led Syngenta’s cereal crop operations in North America. Quist previously served as the vice president of the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, the executive director for the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, and as director of operations in Stephen Harper’s office when Harper was the leader of the Official Opposition in Ottawa. Foster has a 20-plus year background in advertising and communications.
The change in management follows Robin Speer’s departure earlier this fall to become the manager of public affairs for CN Rail.
