In 2019, the Fisheries Council of Canada in partnership with the National Fisheries Institute in the United States, kicked off Future Leaders Canada, a professional development program tailored for the seafood sector.
Future Leaders is a year-long program designed to enhance the knowledge and leadership skills of rising seafood industry leaders through a unique hands-on program focused on production, sales, companies, and the industry.
“The Canadian seafood industry is extremely diverse. This program seeks to expose Future Leaders Canada participants to the various aspects of the seafood industry and allow ample opportunities for networking with classmates,” says Paul Lansbergen, President, Fisheries Council of Canada. “In addition to facility tours, each class is shown several one-of-a-kind experiences on Parliament Hill and with retailers and restaurants,” adds Paul.
The program combines in-depth exposure to diverse issues along with the opportunity to network and learn with a small group of industry peers representing the leaders of today and tomorrow.
“The Future Leaders program allowed me to experience first-hand different areas of the seafood industry that I would otherwise not have had the opportunity to see,” says Kris Smith, Director Asian Sales, Ocean Choice. “There was also a diverse group of participants from a broad range of companies who have become part of my network across Canada and across the sector,” adds Kris.
Since the inception of the program, Ocean Choice has had four employees: Kris Smith, Shane Sullivan, Nelson Stone, and Joycelyn Moulton complete the program. This year, Jonathan Bragg is attending the program that kicked off its first session in Ottawa in April. “We are committed to investing in the continued development of our employees,” says Blaine Sullivan, President, Ocean Choice. “Participating in professional development programs such as Future Leaders, empowers our employees with new skills and knowledge, which in turn boosts morale,” adds Blaine.
In addition to employees participating in the Program, Ocean Choice has also been part of the curriculum for participants. In 2023, the Program travelled to Newfoundland and Labrador, where the participants were able to take a tour of Ocean Choice’s state-of-the-art, green class groundfish vessel, the M.V. Calvert.
Ocean Choice also sponsors the Culinary Teambuilding Networking Event that is held every year in Chicago. This is a fun-filled event that allows program participants to create a delicious meal with some of Canada’s high-quality seafood.
The Fisheries Council of Canada is a non-profit trade association that represents companies engaged in the harvesting, processing, importing, and marketing of wild-capture fish and seafood in Canada.
For more information about the Fisheries Council of Canada and the Future Leaders Program, visit: https://fisheriescouncil.ca/.