2026

Arlene is a visionary entrepreneur and leader with a remarkable track record of success. She is the founder and general partner of District Ventures Capital, a venture capital fund that invests in innovative companies in the food and beverage and health and wellness sectors.

Beyond her business ventures, Arlene is a sought-after speaker, three-time bestselling author, and philanthropist. She is widely recognized for her role as a venture capitalist on CBC’s hit television series, Dragons’ Den.

With her unwavering commitment to excellence, her passion for innovation, and her deep dedication to her community and country, Arlene Dickinson is a true Canadian icon and a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and vision.

Hailey Jefferies is the founder of Prairie Fava, a vertically coordinated agri-food company pioneering the fava bean value chain in North America. Based in Glenboro, Manitoba, Prairie Fava contracts with farmers across the Canadian Prairies and processes those beans into high-quality ingredients – including whole beans, splits, and flours – for food makers and processors across North America and Asia.

Prairie Fava is a key contributor to the sustainable protein movement, and under Hailey’s leadership, the company has secured major funding partnerships with organizations such as Protein Industries Canada and PrairiesCan to advance fava as a high-functionality protein crop.

A dedicated champion of Canadian fava, Hailey is committed to making fava famous -driving its adoption with food makers and strengthening the entire value chain – from seed to shelf – to support better health and sustainability outcomes from grower to consumer.

Joseph Chaeban is President of Chaeban Artisan and Chaeban Ice Cream in Winnipeg, MB.

Back in 2016, Joseph Chaeban wanted to thank the community that sponsored his wife’s family through the refugee process and create local employment opportunities. This vision led to Chaeban Ice Cream in 2017, blending Syrian and Lebanese flavours with Joseph’s expertise as a second-generation dairy scientist. Their business is guided by five core values: care for all people always, be environmentally friendly, give back whenever possible, make everything from scratch, and support local producers.

Today, Chaeban produces award-winning ice cream, cheeses, and butter at Notre Dame Creamery, earning national recognition at events like the Royal Agricultural Fair and Sial Innovation.

Chris Warwaruk is Co-Founder/Co-Owner of Farmery Estate Brewery Inc. Neepawa, MB. Farmery Estate Brewery in Neepawa, Manitoba is a true estate brewery that grows its own barley and hops to craft sustainable, prairie-inspired alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Founded by brothers Chris and Lawrence Warwaruk, the brewery is rooted in deep agricultural heritage and a commitment to adding value to locally grown ingredients. Farmery operates with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the industry and further reduces emissions through advanced CO₂ recapture technology.

Its diverse lineup includes craft beers, RTDs, hard teas, and innovative non-alcoholic options such as malted sodas and Virgin Beer Caesars. With strong retail presence across Western Canada, Farmery continues to expand its brand and product offerings to meet growing consumer demand.

Robin Young is the Director of the Value Added Branch at Manitoba Agriculture, and leads a team of Business Development Specialists and Product Commercialization Consultants who support food businesses across the province and at the Food Development Centre in Portage la Prairie.

The goal of the branch is to accelerate the growth of the value added food and beverage industry in Manitoba, offering business development and product commercialization expertise in a single window approach. The Business Development Specialists provide access to business and marketing consultations, strategic pathfinding, cutting-edge industry training, funding opportunities, and operate the Business Pathways interactive online resource.

In its 45+ year history, FDC has established itself as an internationally recognized leader in food research and development for domestic and international markets, and the expert scientists at FDC work with clients of all sizes to ensure they can successfully innovate and grow.

Andrew Doerksen is a partner in Beaver Creek Farms Ltd. The farm is a family owned, 3rd generation potato and grain farm located near MacGregor MB.

They have been participating in on-farm trials for 10 years, and have seen great value in learning through on-farm research, with a variety of crops and trials.

In addition to farming, Andrew and his wife Rylee are grateful to have five children, and can be found in various rinks across Manitoba for most of the winter.

Kristen Phillips

Brittany Cousins

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