Dairy and beef farmer Jennifer Hayes has been appointed as the first woman chairperson of the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) for a four-year term.
Hayes was first appointed to the CDC in January 2017 in the role of commissioner and has held the position for four years. She took the role of chairperson on December 23, 2021.
A third generation farmer on Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, Hayes co-owns PineCrest Farms in Shigawake with her father and uncle. She has extensive governance experience which she obtained through her active participation with L’Union des Producers Agricoles (UPA), defending regional interests in dairy, beef, and agricultural development.
Marie-Claude Bibeau, minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada says she is proud that Hayes will be the first woman to hold the position.
“A dairy farmer and leader in the Gaspé community, she has extensive governance experience, including as a commissioner of the organization. I am confident that she will continue to be an assist to the Commission and help the industry remain competitive, productive, and innovative,” says Bibeau.