Board of Directors

Ontario Organic’s board drives the Ontario Organic Strategic Plan, providing oversight and direction to Ontario Organic staff.  The board is made up of a mix of industry and at-large representatives.  Board members serve a two-year term and are voted in by Ontario Organic members within their industry category every two years.  At-large members are voted on by all member categories. Elections take place amongst members in good standing at the annual AGM. The Executive Committee (President, Vice-President, Secretary, and  Treasurer) is then elected from within the elected board.

Board seats are allocated in proportion to Ontario Organic’s membership and value chain make-up and will be re-evaluated every few years.  Members are encouraged to bring forward issues at any time and may participate in working group as issues arise.

*The board shall seek at least one uncertified, ecological producer to be on the Board at all times.

**No member shall be elected to serve as director on the Board representing in an official capacity any one certifying body.

  • Lauren Stallard

    Value Chain (Certified)

    Lauren is the Sales & Marketing manager at Pfenning's Organic Vegetables - a 700+ acre farm that has been growing organic vegetables in New Hamburg, ON since 1981. With almost 20 years experience in the organic industry in various sales, marketing, and customer service positions throughout the value chain, Lauren is able to lend perspective from a producer, distributor, retailer, food services, and consumer point-of-view.

  • Ian Anderson

    Producer (Certified)

    Ian Anderson is an entrepreneur and farmer. He is founder and Chair of Temple Scott Associates (TSA), a government and public affairs consultancy. His work on international leadership development was recognized on the 2024 Honours List by King Charles III. He divides his time between Toronto and Willowburn, a 250-acre organic farm near Port Hope, Ontario. 

  • Norm Hansen

    Director-At-Large

    Norm Hansen is a cum laude graduate of The Ohio State University, and a graduate of the University of Windsor. He has spent his years since graduation teaching, growing cut flowers, and most recently, growing organic greenhouse vegetables. He is the Director of Research and Development for Erieview Acres. Erieview Acres is the premier Leamington area grower of certified organic greenhouse vegetables. Currently they grow in 19 acres of greenhouses at 3 locations. Norm's top priorities for the organic sector include getting Organic Standards review funding in place; enacting Ontario Organic Legislation; and increasing membership, sector organization coordination, and organic grower participation.

  • Ruth Knight

    Director-At-Large

    Ruth is an advisor, mentor and facilitator, to farmers, land managers and communities. Ruth completed a BSc. in Agriculture and MSc. in Rural Planning and Development at the University of Guelph. For over 35 years Ruth has been involved in the organic sector. As a student at Guelph, Ruth was involved in the early years of the Guelph Organic conference, as well as interning at Oak Manor Farms. During the early pioneering development of organic certification
    systems Ruth inspected organic farms across Ontario from 1988 to 1991. From 1992 to 2011, Ruth co-owned a mixed livestock farm in Belmore, Ontario. In 2005, Ruth established her independent consulting company and has provided services to a diversity of farms, businesses, and researchers. Since 2017, Ruth has taught the Organic Production Systems course to undergraduate students at the University of Guelph. Her current board appointments include; Agricultural Adaptation Council and Maitland Conservation Foundation. Past board activities include Ecological Farmers Association, several community organizations and a member based beef feeder finance club.


    My objective in participating as a board member with Organic Council of Ontario is to support the development and recognition of an Ontario organic certification as well as build the capacity of Ontario farmers and eaters to create profitable, productive and regenerative farming systems

  • Tiffany Lauren

    Director-At-Large

    Tiffany is a female entrepreneur who belongs to the BIPOC community. She has a mission to thrive, survive, and improve humanity's well-being. Born in the Caribbean, Tiffany grew up on her grandparents' biodynamic farm. They were excellent stewards of the land and taught Tiffany valuable lessons about ecological farming. Tiffany loves to explore new things and share innovative concepts. She is passionate about nutritious food, cooking, and ecological farming. Tiffany cultivates and delivers diverse, organic, and nutrient-dense food and seedlings. She is committed to educating and inspiring individuals to make healthy, locally-grown food choices that positively impact their well-being. Tiffany now operates a certified organic farm, Agápe Farmgates Ltd., and a certified organic nursery, Trout Lily Organic Plant Nurseries. Her focus is ethnocultural crops and native plants.

  • Ann-Marie Saunders

    Producer (Certified)

    Ann-Marie grew up in Beamsville Ontario, on the fruit and table-grape farm that her parents purchased in the mid-1960s. Currently the family operates the farmland as an organic winegrape vineyard which has been certified since 2013. With a focus on healthy soil in support of healthy plants, this eventually led her to further explore the Regenerative Agriculture branch of Organic farming and the simple, yet profound concept that it’s better to work with and not against Nature. Ann-Marie is keen to actively support Ontario Organic initiatives aimed at expanding the reach of the Organic value-chain within our local communities: building sector relationships, providing data and educational resources as well as advocating for trust and integrity on claims of Organic in Ontario.

  • Shenali Madhanaroopan

    Value Chain (Certified)

    Shenali Madhanaroopan is currently employed as a Corporate Impact Analyst at Riverside Natural Foods, home of the organic snack brand, MadeGood. Prior to joining Riverside, she earned her Master of Environmental Studies in Sustainability Management from the University of Waterloo. Her graduate experience provides 3+ years of expertise in conducting analytical research and robust life cycle modelling of organic production systems and the organic product value chain. She has spoken at the COTA Organic Summit in 2020, and presented research at LCAFoods in 2022 and the Guelph Organic Conference in 2023 where she moderated the Regenerative Organic Oats panel spearheaded by the Canadian Organic Growers. She is passionate about truly representing the benefits of organic agriculture from a research and data perspective to meaningfully engage and educate people on the value of organics to our environment, society, and collective future. She is keen to address the organic research and data gap in Canada, improve organic visibility and accessibility at the retail level, and educate people on what organic really means and what it stands for.

  • Dean Martin

    Treasurer – Producer (Certified)

    Dean Martin and his two sons operate Harrow Organic Farms, located in Harrow Ont. They farm 1500 acres of Certified Organic grains and oil seeds in Harrow and on Pelee Island. Dean has been a cash crop farmer in the Harrow area for 40 years and began transitioning to Organic in 2005. Dean is a University of Guelph graduate of 83A, a former director for The Seed Corn Growers of Ontario, a past speaker at the Southwest Ag Conference and the Guelph Organic Conference.

    • Guillermo Anderson


      Guillermo was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and began his career in marketing and advertising in Toronto. Over the past twelve years, he has worked across the artisanal food value chain—from hospitality and butchery to market gardening and the dairy industry—on both sides of the Atlantic. This immersive journey deepened his understanding of niche food systems and affirmed the universal need for connection and meaning, as championed by the Slow Food and Farm-to-Table movements. It also cemented his commitment to organic principles, holistic management, and regenerative agriculture as essential pathways to a thriving collective future.


      He is the founder of In Season Marketing, a consultancy dedicated to supporting eco-niche and purpose-driven food enterprises. He currently serves as fractional COO and marketing lead for St. Brigid’s Creamery, Canada’s first and only dairy to be certified organic, doubly regenerative, and animal welfare approved. From his home and flower farm in Holland Centre, Grey County, Guillermo is raising a family, pasturing poultry, and planning to one day steward a small herd of dual-purpose, small-framed cattle.

      He is passionate about contributing to a circular, transparent, and community-rooted food system—one in which local organics outsell conventional options, and where reconnection nourishes producers, processors, and communities alike.

      • Evan Hall


        With 15+ years in organic grocery, Evan is Senior Category Manager at Goodness Me and a former owner/operator of an organic-focused online store. He's passionate about improving access and equity in the organic food system.

      • Isaac Braun


        Isaac Braun is a greenhouse professional at Nature Fresh Farms, an organic agriculture professional dedicated to sustainable farming and soil health. He has experience in organic crop production and environmentally responsible growing practices, with a focus on natural soil fertility and pest management. He's passionate about producing healthy food while protecting the environment and supporting biodiversity. His goal is to continue developing his skills and contribute to the growth of organic agriculture in his community.

      • Krysten Cooper


        Krysten Cooper is the Director of Corporate Culture and Sustainability for Yorkshire Valley Farms (YVF). Over her 11+ years with YVF, her work has focused on how the organization can achieve its goal to Make Food Matter More. She leads initiatives that support employee development, drive community engagement, and progress YVF’s goal to have a climate-positive impact through its actions. Krysten has been involved with Ontario Organic for over 8 years, most recently as the outgoing Board Chair. She continues to support Ontario Organic by volunteering on committees. She lives in Prince Edward County with her husband and two children.