David Thompson, president and CEO of World Potato Congress Inc., has announced three new appointments to the WPC board of directors and its international advisory committee.
Appointed to the board of directors are Canadians Peter VanderZaag and John Jamieson, while South African André Jooste has been appointed to the international. advisory committee.
Peter VanderZaag, president of Sunrise Potato Ltd. in Alliston, Ont., fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Hubert Zandstra. VanderZaag will track and report on potato-related issues throughout East Asia and China, as well as offer advice to the WPC regarding its programs and initiatives.
“Dr. VanderZaag’s academic, business and agricultural background make him an ideal director,” states a WPC press release announcing the appointments. “His ability to work collaboratively with others is recognized and appreciated by his peers across the globe.”
Jamieson is Deputy Minister of the Prince Edward Island Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the former deputy, John MacQuarrie.
“Mr. Jamieson has been responsible for directing activities on a diverse range of agriculture industry priorities including policy implementation, government relations and regulatory matters. He is a professional agrologist with a wide range of experiences [and his] experience dealing with government agencies will bring added strength to the board as we move forward,” states the media release.
Jooste is CEO of Potatoes South Africa, and has extensive experience in business, academia and agriculture throughout South Africa. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Ben Pieterse.
“With his comprehensive knowledge of the potato industry across the African continent, we are confident André will make a significant contribution to our efforts there,” said Thompson in the release.
According to Thompson, the three appointments will strengthen the board and the international advisory committee while the WPC strives to achieve objectives set out in its new strategic plan. Adopted last year, the plan encourages a proactive role for the Congress in the global potato industry, particularly in terms of promoting growth and development in regions where opportunities emerge from challenges.
To learn more about the Congress, visit the WPC website
