Chris Aerni
Rossmount Inn
Chef / Owner
After a traditional chef’s training in Switzerland and extended education in business studies 40 years ago, Chris Aerni travelled and worked in various restaurants and hotels gaining experience in the different kitchen ranks and corporate managerial positions from Australia to Toronto.
In 2001 he and his wife purchased the Rossmount Inn in St. Andrews-By-The-Sea, New Brunswick, an 87 acre estate set between the forest and the sea including an 18 room Inn with a fully licensed bar and restaurant.
Since then the Rossmount has gained a wonderful reputation as a culinary Inn for its creative, seasonal and market fresh “cuisine spontané”, honoring home grown, local ingredients and the people who produce them. Aside from running the day to day operation of the Inn, Chris has been and continues to be actively involved in various aspects of the sustainable food and tourism industry in and outside of New Brunswick.
As part of making his chefs dream come true, Chris forages his own wild foods through out the season and loves spending time in his kitchen gardens.

Elle Asiedu
The Re-Seasoning Coalition
Executive Director
Elle Asiedu has over a decade of experience as a marketer and small business owner in the foodservice, CPG, and lifestyle industries where she designed, managed, and delivered projects for various public and private sector brands in Canada and the US. As Executive Director of The Re-Seasoning Coalition (TRSC), a non-profit dedicated to increasing the representation and advancement of Black Canadians in the foodservice industry, Elle is responsible for ensuring the non-profit is effective as it works towards systems change through strategic programs and partnerships. Her impactful, community-centred approach has resulted in the creation and success of TRSC-led showcases at the Restaurants Canada Show including the Black Experience Pavilion and the Black Talent Networking Session. Elle’s unique background and entrepreneurial experience provides her with the know-how and the network to manage innovative industry initiatives that make a difference today while building a blueprint for tomorrow.

About The Re-Seasoning Coalition
Created in 2020, The Re-Seasoning Coalition (TRSC) is a non-profit organization working to increase the representation of Black Canadians across every organizational level of the foodservice industry. The organization takes an interactive approach to systems change by partnering with restaurants and corporate foodservice brands to equip them with the tools to be more equitable, inclusive, diverse, and empowering for the benefit of their bottom line and the communities they serve. Learn more about TRSC at thereseasoning.org.

Pete Bombaci
GenWell, The Human Connection Movement
Master of Ceremonies
Pete Bombaci is a pioneering social change leader and the founder and CEO of GenWell, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to fostering Canada’s Human Connection Movement since its inception in 2016. With an unwavering commitment to social connection and social health, Pete spearheads GenWell's mission to educate, empower, and catalyze Canadians around the importance of social health and its positive impact on mental, physical, and societal well-being.

Under Pete's visionary leadership, GenWell has become a catalyst for positive change, activating social health educational programming across sectors, including workplaces, classrooms, community organizations, and senior groups. In addition, GenWell activates six population-level campaigns annually, mobilizing Canadians to embrace meaningful connections with family, friends, neighbours, classmates, colleagues, and even strangers, fostering a culture of inclusion, connection, belonging, and community.

Pete's career in the non-profit sector predates the establishment of GenWell. Notably, he served as the Country Director of the Movember Canada Foundation for five years, leading the team to raise $142 million for men’s health initiatives and becoming the largest fundraising country globally during his tenure.

Pete is a sought-after speaker, panelist, and thought leader on the power of human connection, social health, and building cultures of connection in workplaces, campuses, classrooms, and communities. He continues to inspire individuals, businesses, policymakers, and philanthropists to invest in social connection to build a more connected Canada where everyone thrives.

Dean Cummings
Speerville Flour Mill
Manager
Dean Cummings is the Manager of Speerville Flour Mill, a leading producer and distributor of organic and stone-ground flour products in Atlantic Canada. With over four decades of leadership experience across diverse sectors, Dean brings a wealth of operational, financial, and community-focused expertise to his role.

Dean began his career in accounting and auditing, spending five years working with various private clients and businesses, conducting audits and managing personal tax portfolios. He then transitioned to the healthcare sector, where he served for 35 years in progressively senior roles. His positions included Director of Finance and Administrator at Carleton Memorial Hospital, Executive Director of four community hospitals, and Director of Community Relations and Liaison Officer, where he worked closely with 12 First Nations communities across New Brunswick.

Since joining Speerville Flour Mill ten years ago, Dean has played a key role in strengthening its operations, expanding market reach, and maintaining a commitment to organic, community-rooted food systems.

Zach Everett
Magnetic Hill Winery
Zach Everett is a visionary winemaker, entrepreneur, farmer, and spirited advocate of food tourism. He embarked on a journey to create game-changing wines from local fruit while exploring the uncharted territories of New Brunswick's winemaking potential. His love for travel, languages, and all things fermented fuels his boundless passion for winemaking and culinary experiences.

In his early 20s, Zach's life took a serendipitous turn while traveling through Germany. There, he encountered a vineyard owner during harvest season and was invited to pick grapes from 100-year-old vines overlooking a 1000-year-old village. Bonding with strangers over food and wine after a hard day's work, this experience ignited a lifelong passion. It motivated Zach to craft exceptional wines from locally sourced fruit and venture into grape cultivation in underdeveloped regions.

Fueled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Zach's passion for winemaking led him on a shoestring budget journey to immerse himself in the world of viticulture. Traveling across 16 countries, he visited over 550 wineries, learning from seasoned experts and understanding the delicate balance between tradition and innovation in crafting remarkable wines. Each encounter enriched his ability to harness the full potential of every fruit and grape variety.

What began as a fun experiment quickly evolved into a passionate mission: inspiring a new wine region along New Brunswick's Northumberland coast. Zach promotes the region's unique terroir and captivating stories, showcasing stunning beaches, delectable seafood, and exceptional wines. He is determined to establish this region as a prominent player in the Canadian and Global winemaking landscape.

When not overseeing day-to-day winery operations or globe-trotting to industry events, Zach can be found warmly welcoming and engaging with guests at the winery accompanied by his two gorgeous Australian shepherds. Beyond the world of wine, he enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, foraging for chanterelles in the wilderness, and seeking new challenges, such as scuba diving for scallops and learning to kite surf.

Sabrina Falone
SF Creative
Principal
Sabrina Falone is the Founder and Brand Strategist of SF Creative, a boutique marketing agency specializing in branding, content creation and digital marketing solutions for the food and beverage industry. As a classically trained, Red Seal-certified chef with over 20 years of experience in food marketing, Sabrina has become a trusted expert for more than 400 food brands across North America.

Known for her creative yet uncomplicated approach to food, Sabrina has built SF Creative to offer big agency capabilities with a personalized, boutique experience. Her agency, created by and for people in the food & beverage industry, combines unmatched culinary expertise with a data-driven marketing approach. With an in-house test kitchen and production studios, Sabrina and her team bring marketing strategies to life, helping clients connect with their audiences in meaningful ways.

Recognized for her culinary skills, attention to detail, and marketing savvy, Sabrina is a frequent presenter at industry events, where she shares her passion for food and her innovative marketing insights.
www.sfcreative.ca | IG @sfcreative.ca | LinkedIn Sabrina Falone & SF Creative