Join Canadian Club on February 8 for a discussion about Canada’s agricultural endowment and the linkage to global food security, as the world moves towards 10 billion people and rising incomes in emerging markets. Many have termed this the “Agriculture Century” and some speculate that this will be Canada’s opportunity to respond to the global need for food production. It’s estimated that the world will need to produce as much food in the next 40 years as has been produced in the past 10,000 years of civilization.
Named one of Canada’s 30 Fabulous Entrepreneurs of the past 30 years by Profitguide Magazine and the 2017 Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, Murad Al-Katib will relay his story of a basement startup in Saskatchewan growing into a multi-billion dollar international processor and exporter of staple foods including lentils, chickpeas, peas and pasta.
The discussion will also provide his insights into the National Strategy Table Report for Agriculture and Food tabled with the Government of Canada in October 2018 and provide perspectives on Canada’s need to focus on a National Corridors and Gateways strategy to move its products to international markets.
Murad Al-Katib
President and CEO, AGT Food and Ingredients Inc.
Murad Al-Katib, President, CEO and Board member of AGT Food and Ingredients Inc. An international agri-food commodity trading strategic business and financial thinker, Murad founded AGT Foods in 2001, building a Canadian start-up into a global billion dollar value-added pulses, staple foods and ingredient company.
Murad serves as the National Agri-Food Strategy Roundtable Chair, on the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Board and as the Economic Development Regina Board Chair. Past Boards include the CSCA, Pulse Canada and Canadian Government advisory boards and panels.
Murad’s awards include the 2017 Saskatchewan Order of Merit, a U of R Honorary Degree, 2017 “Oslo Business for Peace” Honouree, 2017 EY “World Entrepreneur of the Year”, 2016 UN Association of Canada “Global Citizen Laureate”, PROFITGuide Magazine’s “30 Most Fabulous Entrepreneurs of the Past 30 Years” list, Globe & Mail “Canada’s Top 40 under 40” and the Western Producer “44 Innovators Who Shaped Prairie Agriculture”.
Gillian Riley
Executive Vice President, Canadian Commercial Banking, Scotiabank
In the role of Executive Vice President, Canadian Commercial Banking, Gillian is responsible for the overall strategic positioning, growth and direct management of several key integrated business areas that provide financial offerings including corporate finance solutions to businesses throughout Canada. She was appointed to this position in December 2015.
Gillian began her career with Scotiabank in 1994 in Commercial Banking, and has held progressively senior positions in the Canadian Bank with Retail Mortgages, Retail Deposits & Payments, Dundee Bank and most recently, Commercial Banking.
Gillian is a member of the Risk Policy and Senior Credit Committees at the Bank. She is also Chair of Roynat Capital’s Board of Directors and sits on the Board of the Canadian Club of Toronto.
Gillian holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Hartford Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Western Ontario (Western University).
She and her husband, Chris, have three children.
