NFU Staff
Meet the NFU Team
Dave Thompson is the Executive Director. Dave has worked with the NFU-Ontario for the past five years in various capacities including: policy research and analysis, conducting farmer interviews and managing programs. In that time, Dave also coordinated the International Programs Committee (IPC) working groups, and notably aided in the creation of the NFU’s BIPOC caucus and the farmworker membership category. He is an effective, people-centred organizer who has demonstrated a deep dedication to the NFU. Dave is an accomplished academic, holding an MA in Cultural, Social and Political Thought from the University of Victoria, BC, and a PhD in History from Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. In 2018, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Ottawa. Much of his academic work focuses on the history of labour and activism. He has also worked as a union organizer for the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
James Hannay is the policy assistant at the NFU. He is currently based on the territories of the Anishinaabe and Mississauga, also known as “London”. James’ interest in agricultural issues and policy was kickstarted by a deep concern for a just food system during the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthened by studying the politics and economics of climate change. He has particular interests in the effects of corporate concentration and financialization of agriculture, and completed his master’s thesis on the political economy of private-sector soil carbon sequestration programs in North America. While he is new to the space, he is keen to learn and eager to help the NFU further its mission of democracy, food sovereignty, positive environmental outcomes, and building vibrant communities in agriculture.
Sarah Marquis is originally from rural Nova Scotia, and now resides on the territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation, otherwise known as Ottawa, Ontario. She just completed a PhD in Environmental Sustainability at the University of Ottawa, where she researched the role of digital technologies, like AI and robotics, in transitions to sustainable agriculture in Canada. Sarah has also worked in the Senate of Canada, helping to set up an organization called Senators for Climate Solutions, which engages and educates senators on key aspects of climate change and biodiversity loss. Sarah is currently a climate activist and organizer in Ottawa with an organization called Climate Justice Ottawa. She also has degrees in human geography and environmental science.
Sarah Syed is a seasoned digital storyteller, and community engagement specialist with five years of experience supporting mission-driven non-profits. Sarah has worked on a wide range of campaigns, from community-focused climate education to wetland conservation efforts across Ontario. She has led high-impact international human rights and environmental campaigns, including global efforts to reform the coffee supply chain so it is free from human rights abuses and deforestation mobilizing more than 100,000 supporters and collaborating with journalists, unions, and advocacy groups across three continents.
Executive Assistant
Ann Smith is the Executive Assistant, working in the NFU’s national office in Saskatoon. She is the oldest of a large family, raised on a small mixed farm in northeastern Saskatchewan. She has worked with agricultural organizations for much of her career. For the last 22 years she has worked with the Agriculture Council of Saskatchewan, first as a Senior Project Officer reviewing and furthering applications for federal funding programs designed to position Canada’s agriculture and agri-food at the leading edge to capture new and innovative opportunities, and then as Manager of Levy Central, a program created to assist Canadian agricultural organizations to accurately record and collect regulated agricultural levies. Ann retired from her position with Levy Central at the end of July, 2022, and is excited to be working on a part-time basis with NFU. Ann has two adult children and enjoys classic rock music, reading, gardening and landscaping, interior design and home improvements, beekeeping, cooking (and eating).
Terran Giacomini is the NFU’s International Programs and Special Projects Coordinator. She is from an Irish-Italian family living on Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe territory. As a long-time member of the NFU, Terran has an extensive background in international solidarity organizing. She is dedicated to supporting member engagement in the La Via Campesina movement for food sovereignty and in solidarity organizing that challenge settler-colonialism and racism in the food system. Terran has her PhD in adult education and community development and is deeply committed to liberatory politics grounded in feminism and internationalism. She can be found most days walking in the woods near her family home, gardening and collaborating for social change.
The NFU also has staffed regional offices in NFU-New Brunswick (Region 1, District 2) and NFU-Ontario (Region 2).
