Patricia Baker is a research analyst with Scotiabank covering the Retail and Consumer sectors. Her coverage includes Canadian and US companies. Prior to joining Scotiabank GBM, she was employed by two other major investment dealers as a merchandising and consumer products analyst. Ms. Baker holds a doctoral degree from Concordia University, an MBA from McGill University, an M.Phil from University of Sussex and a Bachelor of Science degree from Dalhousie University

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

Dr. Ira Kalish is the Chief Global Economist of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd.  He is a specialist in global economic issues as well as the effects of economic, demographic, and social trends on the global business environment.  He has written about the economies of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Mexico and South America, and has also written extensively on global consumer markets.  He is the principal author and editor of Deloitte’s Weekly Global Economic Update.  

Dr. Kalish provides thought leadership and perspectives on economic issues, including their expected impact on business operations and trends, to Deloitte clients as well as Deloitte leadership. He has given numerous presentations to corporations and trade organizations on topics related to the global economy.  Dr. Kalish also serves on the Business at OECD Economic Policy Committee which advises the OECD on macroeconomic policy issues.  In addition, he serves on the World Economic Forum’s Community of Chief Economists.  He is widely traveled and has given presentations in 47 countries on six continents. 

Dr. Kalish has been widely quoted in the news media; his remarks have been published by the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Financial Times, Reuters, and The Washington Post.  He has appeared on CNN, CBS News, CNBC, PBS and BBC World Service.

Prior to his work at Deloitte, Dr. Kalish was chief economist at Retail Forward, a director at PwC, vice president at Bankers Trust, corporate economist at the Eastman Kodak Company, and researcher at the Institute for International Economics.

Dr. Kalish holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vassar College and a PhD in international economics from Johns Hopkins University.  He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and daughters. 

Dragons’ Den host Dianne Buckner was part of the team that launched the popular CBC Television program and has been its host since it premiered. In addition, she’s been a business correspondent for both The National and CBC’s long-running business program, Venture, travelling internationally and across North America to share the stories of entrepreneurs and disruptors of all kinds.

Buckner has interviewed prime ministers, CEOs, and innovators of all types. She brings a depth of knowledge — along with a sense of fun — when asked to host and MC events. She also has extensive experience as a moderator for panel discussions.