About GGC
Leadership
Board of Directors
Our board members represent and promote the hard work of Canadian grain farmers. Embodying our country’s varied agricultural landscape, they have an array of experience and are dedicated representatives of Canada’s grains sector.
Andre Harpe, Chair
Location: Alberta
William van Tassel, 1st Vice Chair
Location: Quebec
Grains Produced: Soybeans, Canola
Brendan Phillips, 2nd Vice Chair
Location: Manitoba
Grains Produced: Soybeans, Canola, Wheat, and Corn
Brad Blackwell, Director
Location: Saskatchewan
Grains Produced: Lentils, Yellow peas, Durum, Barley, Canola and Mustard
Bob Lepischak, Director
Location: Saskatchewan
Scott Hepworth, Director
Location:Saskatchewan
Grains Produced: Peas, Wheat, Canola and Barley
Jonothan Hodson, Director
Location:Manitoba
Grains Produced: Corn, Wheat, Barley, Canola, Soybeans, Grass Seed and Hay
Daryl Fransoo, Director
Location: Saskatchewan
Tara Sawyer, Director
Location: Alberta
Grains Produced: Wheat, Barley, Canola and Hay
Robert Semeniuk, Director
Location: Alberta
Grains Produced: Wheat, Barley, Canola and Hay
David Bishop, Director
Location:Alberta
Patricia Lung, Director
Location: Saskatchewan
Our Staff
GGC staff’s combined experience brings a range of expertise. See how their experience informs their work and why unleashing grain farmers’ potential is at the heart of what we do.
Kyle LarkinExecutive Director
Kyle is an award-winning public affairs executive who has spent over a decade in government relations, public relations and politics. He has managed and executed public affairs strategies for national and provincial organizations, achieving short-term and long-term objectives. Kyle has successfully changed policies at both federal and provincial levels and has had his work featured in media publications, such as The Globe and Mail, National Post, CBC, BBC and The Hill Times.
Kyle was most recently the Vice-President at a public affairs firm where he worked closely with associations from across Canada. Prior to this, he worked in numerous offices on Parliament Hill, most notably for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. Kyle has also gained valuable experience working at other public affairs and policy research firms, at a national association leading their government relations activities, and has been involved in numerous federal and provincial election campaigns.
Kyle is a recipient of the 2019 Government Relations Campaign of the Year by the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) for his work in creating the third ever national self-regulated college in Canada. He is also the recipient of the 2022 Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) Award of Distinction for his work in advancing government climate changes objectives.
Kyle holds an Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Studies and Modern Languages, with a minor in History and is fluently bilingual.
Kinga Nolan Manager, Policy & Government Relations
Kinga has a broad range of experience in the agricultural and political spaces. As the Manager of
Policy & Regulatory Affairs at Grain Growers of Canada, her role is to liaise with members and grain farmers to develop and advocate for policy priorities that support Canadian growers.
Prior to joining GGC, Kinga worked with numerous grain growers across Western Canada in the agricultural technology space, which has enabled her to thoroughly understand on-farm issues. In addition, she has a strong political acumen that supports her in analyzing policies, thanks to her experiences at the House of Commons, Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and her dedication to political campaigns. Kinga has leveraged these skills and knowledge to provide impactful results for agricultural policy development and government relations campaigns.
Kinga holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Calgary, where her research focused on Canadian agricultural value chains. This built on her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in agricultural economics from the University of Saskatchewan. Kinga is bilingual in English and French.
Hana Sabah Communications Manager
Hana is a seasoned communications expert with a deep understanding of the media landscape and a strong ability to craft stories that leave a lasting impact. Her strategic proficiency in media dynamics has seen her work published in Canada’s leading news platforms, including The Canadian Press, The Hill Times, Globe and Mail, CBC, Global News, CTV News, and internationally with CNN World. She is deeply dedicated to transforming organizations into recognized thought leaders in their fields, adeptly navigating media channels to amplify their voices across the country.
Prior to her role at GGC, Hana refined her skills at a leading public affairs agency, where she played a crucial role in bridging government and public relations to enact legislative changes and shape political agendas. Hana’s core communications skills were also cultivated through leading high-profile events and workshops for a not-for-profit organization, where she organized large gatherings exceeding 300 attendees and led national-level communications operations.
Hana’s journey into communications was preceded by a career in journalism. Her reporting on political affairs extended beyond Canadian borders to the Middle East, where her work was published across three countries, establishing her as a credible voice in international media.
Hana holds an Honours Bachelor of Public Affairs from Carleton University, specializing in Journalism and Communications, with a minor in English, Language and Literature. She is also fully bilingual in English and Arabic.
Sonia Chamberlain Administrative Assistant
Sonia is an experienced administrative assistant with over a decade of supporting not-for-profit organizations in several sectors. As the Administrative Assistant for Grain Growers of Canada, she supports the Board of Directors and staff, including coordinating event logistics, providing financial records processing and managing the office.
Prior to joining Grain Growers of Canada, Sonia worked at the organization certifying Canadian architects, at the largest labour organization in Canada representing over 3 million workers, and at the association representing veterinarians across the country. These experiences, as well as others, have shaped her deep appreciation for membership-driven organizations.
Sonia is a long-time resident of Ottawa. She is personally passionate about several local and global issues and enjoys volunteering with charitable groups who serve the communities in the nation’s capital.
Cole is an award-winning communications, marketing, and business development professional. He has used his years of communications experience to direct branding campaigns for farms, agribusinesses, and producer groups throughout Alberta and Western Canada.