Her background education in rural development, animal behaviour, and on-farm dairy-cattle welfare makes her the ideal Chairholder for this initiative. Her well-established relationships with the industry partners have already helped to define on-farm standards for welfare at the national level (Dairy Farmers of Canada). As well, she has worked with local producers by investigating risk factors affecting cow longevity, and understanding barriers to the adoption of best practices (Novalait and Valacta).