Expert Advisory Committee: member biographies

Marilyn Allen
Andrew Morse
Simone Rudge
René Lallier
Dr. Samuel K. Asiedu

Marilyn Allen

Marilyn Allen served as both a founding member and board member of the organizations that formed Anaphylaxis Canada, now Food Allergy Canada. Having lost a daughter to anaphylaxis in 1990, Ms. Allen has worked to raise awareness on the dangers of anaphylaxis and advocates prevention, through improved food allergen labelling and safe food handling. Ms. Allen was a consultant for Health Canada's Food Directorate on the development of Allergen Food Labelling Amendments and on the use of precautionary labelling. Ms. Allen previously held accreditations from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Representatives of Canada; the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's ServSafe Certification; and the HACCP Prerequisite Program for Food Manufacturers. Ms. Allen is currently a consultant for Anaphylaxis Canada, and a member of Health Canada's Food Expert Advisory Committee. In addition to being the content author, program facilitator, and certified in "Allergen Training for the Foodservice and Food Retail Industry", Ms. Allen is a team member on the development and implementation of the "Managing Food Allergies and Anaphylaxis-A Guide for Post-Secondary Institutions". Ms. Allen has extensive experience in presenting allergen risk management and allergen awareness sessions for the food manufacturing and food service industries, and was the recipient of the Guelph Food Technology Centre's 2013 Food Safety Leadership Award.

Andrew Morse

Andrew Morse joined the Flowers Canada Ontario (FCO) team in September 2011 as the Plant Health Coordinator, progressing to Plant Health & International Trade Manager, and more recently serving as Managing Director. A graduate of the University of Guelph Masters of Science program in Environmental Biology (2009), Mr. Morse worked as a contractor with the University of Guelph prior to joining FCO. Today, Mr. Morse is the Executive Director of FCO and Flowers Canada Growers (the provincial and national associations representing Canadian producers of greenhouse flowers).  In this role, Mr. Morse has strived to help flower growers understand and manage their phytosanitary obligations, while working with provincial/federal governments and international organizations to address phytosanitary and trade barriers.  Mr. Morse currently serves as a representative on the Canadian Industry Advisory Group for the North American Plant Protection Organization, where he provides insight into the phytosanitary standard setting process on behalf of Canadian industry.  Mr. Morse has been actively involved in contributing to several CFIA initiatives including the National Biosecurity Standard development process, the Plant and Animal Health Strategy, and Canada's most prominent program for trading ornamental plants: the United States-Canada Greenhouse-Grown Plant Certification Program.

Simone Rudge

Simone is passionate about supporting a sustainable food system locally and nationally. After retiring from 28 years as an instructor at Yukon College where Ms. Rudge guided students to acquire needed science, technology, and math skills, Ms. Rudge moved to the private sector and partnered in creating a grocery store business including a registered egg grading station. Ms. Rudge, along with husband Tom, and son Graham now run their own meat processing business Tum Tum's Black Gilt Meats. Tum Tum's has held the contract for the past 6 years to operate the Yukon Government's inspected mobile abattoir service and has recently built a retail meat shop to feature local products.

Ms. Rudge was a founding member of the Growers of Organic Food Yukon as well as the Fireweed Community Market which has been operating an outdoor summer since 2004. Ms. Rudge was a previous member of the CAAP council and is currently a member of the Canadian Agricultural Partnership committee for the Yukon.

As an active farmer raising certified organic poultry, pigs and hay crops, Ms. Rudge regularly assists other producers with organic questions, marketing techniques, and the documentation required to achieve regulatory compliance. Ms. Rudge volunteers as treasurer for the Growers of Organic Food Yukon, the Potluck Food Coop and the Farm to Plate Poultry Producers Association.

René Lallier

René Lallier is a veterinary entrepreneur with more than 35 years of experience in various animal health care sectors. He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Université de Montréal, as well as an MBA from HEC Montréal. Mr. Lallier has practiced as a veterinarian, and held management positions at veterinary pharmaceutical firms. He was involved in the creation of Biovet Inc., an important veterinary and food safety laboratory and a veterinary diagnostic kit manufacturer, from 1994 to 2002 as their Managing Director, and acquired the company in 2005.

Mr. Lallier sold Biovet Inc. in September 2019 to Antech Diagnostics Inc., a division of Mars Petcare, one of the most important animal health companies in the world. Mr. Lallier continues to manage Biovet Inc. and will participate in to different Antech Diagnostics committees. Since 2017, Mr. Lallier has been the Vice-President of BioQuébec, a Québec's biotechnology and life sciences network.

Dr. Samuel K. Asiedu

Samuel K. Asiedu Ph.D. is currently Professor of Plant Science teaching in the Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University. Dr. Asiedu served as Chair of Department for seven years, and played a significant transition change management role in the merger of Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, now Dalhousie's Faculty of Agriculture. Dr. Asiedu's research foci include crop production systems, post-harvest physiology/pathology, biostimulants, plant-microbe interactions and agro-ecosystems, contributing to global food security through innovative crop production systems and post-harvest management. Service has been an integral part of Dr. Asiedu's career; having served on a number of regional and national committees including Atlantic Potato Registration recommendation committees (1986-2009), Atlantic Potato Advisory Committees, the Atlantic Provinces Agricultural Services Coordinating Committee (1986-2002) and the Horticulture Nova Scotia Research Committee.

In 2017, Dr. Asiedu presented to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry to educate regarding the potential impact of the effects of climate change on the agriculture, agri-food, and forestry sectors. Dr. Asiedu has been recognized nationally and internationally for internationalization activities in agricultural transformation, particularly in the potato and vegetable sectors. Dr. Asiedu provides specialized training in potato production systems, post-harvest handling systems, agri-entrepreneurship, and food safety and quality assurance. Selected honours include Queen's Golden Jubilee Award, People's Republic of China Friendship Award and NSAC Internationalization Award.