Bio:

TARA GALLORO is a Policy Development Officer with Toronto’s Poverty Reduction Office. She brings a decade of experience in public health nutrition to her work advancing equitable, community-focused policy solutions. As a Registered Dietitian with a Master of Public Health in Community Nutrition, she blends technical expertise with a deep commitment to improving population health and wellbeing. Her career has centered on addressing the social determinants of health and strengthening systems that support food security, wellbeing, and dignity for all Torontonians.

LIANNE HOLLAND is the Senior Manager of Social Enterprise and Community Wealth at North York Harvest Food Bank. Since 2019, she’s driven the growth of NYH’s social enterprise, FoodReach, a non-profit food supplier and distribution service to the community food sector. Lianne’s leadership has empowered FoodReach to enhance food access and catalyzed food systems change for the sector, benefitting food banks, child and youth programs, school food programs, drop-in kitchens and institutions in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area.

LATIFAT OPALUWA serves as a Board Director and Program Leader at Yes Youth and Women Can (YYWC), a nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth and women through education, community development, and inclusive social initiatives. In her leadership roles, she helps guide organizational strategy while overseeing programs that expand access to opportunities and essential resources for diverse communities. Latifat works closely with partners, educators, and stakeholders to design and implement practical, community-driven solutions. She is passionate about advancing equity, sustainability, and social impact, and her work focuses on strengthening resilient systems that support long-term community growth and wellbeing.

KAREN HUTCHINSON works at the intersection of the local food system and food literacy in Caledon and Headwaters Region. She works on finding innovative ways to transition the local food system while educating the next generation of ‘environmental eaters. Many days this is very hands-on work including managing the Albion Hills Community Farm, teaching youth at the farm or in their schools or helping organize school gardens and edible education workshops. This work is to engage and educate the local community about food and farming. 

CHERYL JOHNSON is the Executive Director of the BC Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation, an organization that has been bringing BC foods and agriculture education to students throughout the province for over 20 years. She is a collaborative and entrepreneurial innovator with over 20 years of Non-Profit executive leadership experience with mission-driven organizations including work in agri-tourism, conservation, rural economic development, and sustainable food systems. Having grown up in a multi-generational farming family, Cheryl has deep roots in agriculture and a proven track record in building strong partnerships, guiding strategic organizational growth, and empowering diverse teams to achieve lasting impact.