AAC Board of Directors
The AAC is made up of almost 60 Ontario agricultural, agri-food and rural organizations. It is these member organizations that annually elect 16 directors to serve on the AAC board. They are joined by 2, non-voting, liaisons from the federal and provincial government.
As a corporate body, the AAC directors have one client: the Ontario agri-food industry. The AAC board of directors has a unique understanding of funding program requirements, farming and agribusiness. It’s who they are and what they do. A complete list of the AAC’s membership and sectoral structure can be found by clicking here.
Jose Buenaventura Medina
Representing: Agri-Business / Retail / Food Processor
Jose Buenaventura Medina joins the AAC board, representing the Agri-business, Food Processor, Retailer sector.
Jose was born in Mexico City and raised in Puebla, a culinary and colonial city of Mexico, He graduated from Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP) with a Bachelor Degree in Food Engineering and an MBA r. Jose also holds a Degree of Master of Science in Operations and Supply Chain Management from the University of Liverpool, England.
Jose is the VP of regulatory, Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Dessert Holdings, a Member of the board of Directors for Food and Beverage Ontario and the vice chair of Middlesex London Food Policy Council.
Jose has worked in the food industry for over 30 years in different departments (Quality Assurance, Operations, and Continuous Improvement, amongst others) in a variety of roles including Maintenance Manager, Continuous improvement Manager and Plant Manager.
Jose has a passion for family, sports (Futbol, Hockey), Mexican food, and is actively involved in various social initiatives in his community.
We have asked a few questions to learn more about Jose, read his responses below:
How long have you been on the AAC board of directors?
I am approaching my one year anniversary with the ACC board of directors.
How is the AAC making a difference for the agri-food industry?
From my perspective, AAC plays a key role in advancing the province’s agri-food industry through strategic programs delivery services, innovation promotion, and execution of collaborative industry-government initiatives.
The AAC is instrumental in driving the agri-food industry's advancement through funding support, strategic planning, sustainability efforts, and workforce development. Its initiatives promote and increase the industry's current capabilities and lay the groundwork for a resilient and promising future for our province and country.
What do you find most rewarding about your involvement with the AAC?
It is a very humbling and rewarding experience to be part of this organization and board of directors. The number of good intentions and knowledge is outstanding. It is very rewarding to me to be able to collaborate in making this province and country a better place for our families.
What challenges or opportunities are on the horizon for the AAC?
The food industry is always changing. We need to continue being resilient and adaptable. We need to make sure that information and data drives quick action. From my perspective, some of the challenges will be unplanned events in the food chain, political uncertainty, and labour and technology interactions.
The biggest opportunity for us is to adapt fast and with purpose. We are entering fascinating times where AI is changing the cost and availability of expertise, we need to embrace this tool and complement it with our cleverness.
The initiatives that AAC is working on now will provide the basis to build our future and the success of the province. (e.g. 2050 committee, strategic plan, etc.)
Why should other individuals or organizations get involved with the AAC?
Other individuals or organizations should get involved for access to information and knowledge. The AAC staff is extremely capable and helpful as well/ They are a unique source of knowledge and talent. A very useful resource to tap in to increase your probability of success when applying for a program.
What do you like to do in your free time?
My main priority is my family. I have an amazing wife (Sandra) that supports me in every aspect of my life and takes care of our two children (Fernando and Anthinea). My hobbies are music, sports, hiking, and reading.
