Canola Week 2025 speaker lineup

Be sure to continue to check back, as new speakers are being confirmed regularly. As each speaker is announced, their profile will be added so you can learn more about their expertise and session topics.

Dr. François Eudes is the Director Research, Development and Technology of the Science and Technology Branch (STB) at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) since December 2015, for sites located in Alberta. He leads science experts in two Research and Development Centres (Lethbridge and Lacombe) and two Research Farms (Beaverlodge and Vauxhall), and oversee the resources associated with their science programs. Since May 2023, Dr. François Eudes is AAFC’s lead for the national portfolio Breeding Innovation and Crop Germplasm Development, which includes focus on Gene Editing, Genomics and Phenomics, Breeding, Bioinformatics and Big Data and microbiome research. He provides authoritative leadership in managing scientific capacity and mobilizing it to achieve the desired outcomes of the 10 Years Strategic Plan for Science adopted in 2022 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Strategic Plan for Science - agriculture.canada.ca).

He has been instrumental in preparing STB moving forward with the Digital Transformation mission, through recommendations co-developed by a working group on data and digital needs for science: People, Infrastructure, Data, Cyber Security, Enterprise Excellence. He represents AAFC during engagement with academia and industry stakeholders across Canada.

Dr. François Eudes completed a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1992 at the ENSAIA, Nancy, France. He then moved to Canada and pursued a Doctoral degree in Plant Biology at Université Laval, Québec, Canada, and graduated in 1998. He completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship at AAFC-Lethbridge, before being recruited as a scientist in 2000. He led a science program for 15 years, during which he published more than 50 peer reviewed scientific publications and protected innovations through patent applications. His work focused on developing breeding tools for cereal crops, such as cell culture systems, DNA and protein delivery for engineering and editing plant genomes.

Dr. Charles Geddes is a Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based out of Lethbridge, Alberta. Charles grew up on a mixed farm near Pilot Mound, Manitoba. He graduated with a B.Sc. in Agroecology and a Ph.D. in Plant Science from the University of Manitoba. He leads the Weed Ecology and Cropping Systems research program, which focuses on discovery, monitoring, and management of herbicide-resistant weeds in western Canada. Charles has published over 60 peer-reviewed research articles on topics including herbicide resistance, weed ecology, integrated weed management, and agronomy. Charles lives with his family in small-town Nobleford, Alberta; home of the Noble Blade (an agricultural implement, not a mythological sword!)

Doug Heath is the Research Manager at the Saskatchewan Oilseeds Development Commission.  SaskOilseeds currently oversees over 80 active canola and flax projects per year for the benefit of Saskatchewan’s oilseeds growers.  He comes from a diverse research and development background including canola, wheat, Camelina, carinata, and pulse research from private industry, non-profit, academia, and public research organizations.  He has a BSc Biology and MSc Microbiology from the University of Saskatchewan.

Since 2015, Chris Vervaet has served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association (COPA), representing its members on matters pertaining to the oilseed processing industry.  Chris is also a senior executive with the Canola Council of Canada (CCC), providing leadership on topics impacting all segments of the canola value chain.

His work in these roles has focused on the growing opportunities and challenges for the canola industry as the world transitions to a lower carbon future.   He leads the value chain’s efforts on renewable fuels, working closely with government and industry partners on key regulatory initiatives that are driving demand for canola, including Canada’s Clean Fuel Regulation and federal and state programs in the U.S.  

Chris grew-up on a grain farm in Manitoba, Canada and has 25 years of experience working in agriculture, primarily in areas related to policy development and advocacy.