Panel Discussions
Panel Discussion: Accounting for the Future of Agribusiness
We are excited to welcome panelists:
Jean-Benoit Deslauriers
Head Winemaker, Benjamin Bridge
Jean-Benoit joined Benjamin Bridge in the spring of 2008 and has more than two decades of experience in the wine industry, including 16 years in winemaking.
From his start with Casa Barranca, Santa Barbara County’s very first certified organic winery, to Vino Organico Emiliana, one of South America’s early certified biodynamic pioneers, Jean-Benoit’s body of work has exclusively helped the growth and progress of sustainable and ethical operations.
In order to assist Benjamin Bridge in releasing products that are unique and ahead of their time, Jean-Benoit’s primary focus remains the ongoing evolution of wine as a cofactor of our evolution as a biosphere and society.
Charles Cho
Professor of Accounting; Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability, Schulich Business School
Charles H. Cho, PhD, CPA is Professor of Sustainability Accounting and the Erivan K. Haub Chair in Business & Sustainability at the Schulich School of Business, York University. His research interests include Social and Environmental Accounting; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); and Accounting and the Public Interest. His work was published in leading academic journals such as Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal, Accounting, Organizations and Society, Business & Society, Critical Perspectives on Accounting, European Accounting Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics. He currently serves as an Editor of Accounting Forum; the Accounting and Business Ethics Section Co-Editor of the Journal of Business Ethics; and Associate Editor of Business & Society.
John MacQuarrie
Director of Sustainability, Cavendish Farms
John MacQuarrie has been employed with Cavendish Farms since 2017 as Director of Environmental Sustainability and is a former 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.
Stephenie Fox, CPA
Senior Vice-President, Financial Reporting & Assurance Standards Canada
Stephenie started with Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) on April 1, 2015, and is responsible for the independent standard-setting board staff support who work to develop financial reporting and assurance standards for Canada. Canada has long been known both for the quality of its auditing and accounting standards and for the independent, objective and transparent structures responsible for developing the standards and guidance used in this country. Stephenie has over 20 years of experience in independent standard setting and establishing and sustaining relationships with national and international standard-setting bodies.
Prior to joining CPA Canada, she was technical director at the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board - an independent standard-setting board of the International Federation of Accountants. Stephenie was previously a senior reviewer at the Canadian Public Accountability Board and also spent 12 years as a principal working with the Canadian Institute of Charted Accountants. She started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
On the global scene, Stephenie ensures that CPA Canada’s influential voice is heard and aids in protecting the interests of Canadian enterprises that comply with accounting and auditing standards set outside our borders.
Moderator
Nancy Foran (BComm' 92)
FCPA, FCMA, C.Dir. Chair, Sobey School Advisory Council
-282x282.png)
Nancy Foran (BComm'92), a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), a Fellow of the profession (FCPA), and a Chartered Director (C. Dir.), is educated in the leading global sustainability standards and frameworks including GRI and TCFD. She is also an FSA Credential Level 2 candidate in ESG with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB ) Chair of the Sobey School of Business Advisory Council.
In 2021, Foran founded ESG Partners, where she provides guidance to companies and investors, boards of directors and senior leadership teams as they incorporate ESG factors into their organizational strategies and define their purpose to create long-term, sustainable value.