Bios:

KRISTEN SCHROEDER is Managing Director at Real Food for Real Kids (RFRK), a Toronto-based healthy catering leader serving nutritious meals and snacks to schools and child care centres across Ontario. With extensive experience designing menus and services that prioritize real, wholesome ingredients and inclusive allergy-safe options, Kristen works across procurement, menu planning and service design to support healthy eating habits in children. She also helped scale RFRK’s Real Food Forward program, expanding access to nourishing meals for kids and families in need. Kristen’s leadership is rooted in innovation, quality and equity in school food environments.

CATHLINE JAMES is the CEO and founder of Wise Bites Collections Inc., a Canadian bakery based in B.C. dedicated to creating nutritious, allergen-friendly snacks that are free from the top 11 allergens. Inspired by a lifelong passion for healthy food and inclusive eating, Cathline has evolved Wise Bites from baked goods into a broader portfolio of allergy-aware products and functional foods. Her entrepreneurial journey spans several business ventures and reflects a commitment to building food that everyone can enjoy confidently – making healthy, safe snacks accessible for families, schools and communities.

ASHLEY BYRNE is Program Coordinator at Food First NL, a provincial nonprofit in Newfoundland and Labrador that advances the right to food for all. In her role leading school food initiatives, Ashley works collaboratively with communities and policymakers to strengthen equitable access to healthy meals for students across the province. She brings expertise in food security, community engagement and inclusive program design, advocating for expansive, accessible school food programs – including efforts tied to Canada’s national school food program. Ashley draws on her academic background in environmental studies and education to inform holistic approaches to nourishing every child.

KATE REID is Director, Food Service at Food Allergy Canada, a national nonprofit empowering Canadians living with food allergy to live safely and confidently. With over a decade of experience in the foodservice sector spanning operations and risk management, Kate leads strategy and initiatives to integrate practical allergen-aware practices into foodservice environments. She holds a Bachelor of Public Health and partners broadly with industry, government and community stakeholders to advance inclusive food safety standards. Kate’s work focuses on driving awareness, education and actionable tools that help foodservice providers support individuals with food allergies.