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Co-chairs

Hon. Damien O'Connor, New Zealand

Minister of Agriculture

Hon. Damien O’Connor serves in New Zealand’s 53rd Parliament as Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity, Minister for Land Information, Minister for Rural Communities, and Minister for Trade and Export Growth.

First elected to Parliament in 1993, Minister O’Connor has previously held a number of Ministerial and Opposition roles including Food Safety, Tourism, Immigration, and Health. Minister O’Connor’s background in farming drives his work in the primary sector and he is a passionate advocate for thriving rural communities and industry growth. He believes in New Zealand’s ability to be world leaders in producing sustainable and nutritious food for a growing global population.

In his spare time, the Minister is an avid sportsman and can often be found out and about on his motorbike or playing for the Parliamentary Rugby Team.

Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

A graduate of the University of Sherbrooke in Economics and Environmental Management, Minister Bibeau worked for 10 years as a project manager in international development, before becoming an accomplished tourism entrepreneur and very involved in her community.

Elected Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead (Quebec) in October 2015, Marie-Claude Bibeau is very proud of Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy that she had the privilege of developing and implementing while serving as Minister of International Development and La Francophonie.

In March 2019, she became Canada's first female Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Minister Bibeau is responsible for supporting farmers in managing their risks and promoting the sustainable growth of the sector through research, innovation, and market development. She is also particularly committed to the implementation of Canada's first Food Policy.

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