Rebecca Lee

Rebecca Lee brings a diverse portfolio spanning technical applications, participatory research, co-creation of solutions, extension services, advocacy, and team leadership. Her experience has cultivated a profound understanding of sustainable agriculture, encompassing social and economic dimensions, biodiversity impacts, and landscape resilience, all while addressing community needs.

She excels in challenging environments that test her critical thinking and strategic problem-solving skills, adeptly engaging diverse groups across cultural, social, and linguistic spectrums. Her passion lies in the agriculture-environment interface, focusing on sustainable food systems, farmer-centric climate resilience, and fostering collaboration to achieve shared goals while ensuring farmers' livelihoods.

Her skills include:

- Accomplished leader with over two decades of success in industry and government stakeholder engagement, knowledge mobilization, and not-for-profit organization management.

- Proficient analytical thinker skilled at forging productive partnerships, fostering consensus on strategies to tackle complex challenges, and orchestrating efforts across multiple organizations.

- Passionate connector with a background in nature-based solutions, executive leadership, and project management, dedicated to advancing organizational missions.

Some of her accomplishments include:

- Pioneering participatory research and extension methodologies to promote environmentally friendly horticulture production through farmer empowerment and technological innovation.

- Leading negotiations and providing scientific support to develop science-based regional phytosanitary standards with Canadian, US, and Mexican stakeholders, balancing trade facilitation with national plant resource protection.

- Representing growers on influential sector committees, including shaping the Canadian Grocery Sector Code of Conduct, and contributing to strategic initiatives at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada roundtables.

- Establishing the Colombian Cut Flower Research Centre through multi-stakeholder consultation, participating in tri-lateral planning at the North American Plant Protection Organization, and leading advocacy strategies at the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada.

- Evaluating grant programs for the Colombian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture and serving on the evaluation panel for World Bank-funded agricultural projects in Colombia.

- Holding key roles such as Director on the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s Pest Management Advisory Council, co-Chair of the Canadian Plant Health Council, Chair of the International Federation of Produce Standards, and currently serving on the Canadian Council on Invasive Species.

Rebecca is trilingual (English, French, Spanish).