New chairperson for Farm Credit Canada ready to help agriculture in any way possible
Jane Halford is pretty innovative and has accomplished a lot in her career.
So, why not take on the role of chairperson at Farm Credit Canada during a pivotal year in Canadian agriculture in the midst of a global pandemic which is is devastating economically, including to Canadian farmers.
“I appreciated the time in my life professionally and combined it later in life with an agriculture operation (personally) and then through my expertise (in corporate business), I felt I wanted to do it,” explained Halford who had been on the FCC board of directors for a number of years as well. “When the opportunity presented itself, I felt called to lead….have the right skills to it….but I am one part of the puzzle.”
Halford is quick to point out that the remaining board of directors a re a very diverse and eclectic group where she can draw different skillsets, life and professional experiences. She said it is her role to best put those people in the best positions and duties to help push progress in FCC programming.
She is currently operating Halford Consulting which has been “helping boards and CEO accelerate the performance the improve the success rate of incoming leaders. She has been doing that for close to the last seven years. She has also been on the University of Alberta board of governors and board member of the Canadian Angus Foundation each for three years and is the chair of the board of director of Alpha Phenomics which describes itself as ”an Alberta based technology company whose single focus is to improve the efficiency of animal protein production.”
She is also the past chair of the Institute of Corporate Directors (Edmonton Chapter) and as earned accolades ranging from being named one of the Top 100 Women in Business; Alberta’s 50 Most Influential People; a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants; and Global Women of Vision… to name a few.
Halford says you have to be organized to be able to effectively deal with all the projects both professional and personally. She says the current pandemic status quo makes projecting what will happen economically challenging to predict. She is well aware of the FCC’s role in Alberta agriculture and what assistance producers will need.
“…We have gone through highs and low before and in the last 60 years there have been ebbs and flows and we have seen tough times but we have never seen this scare before,” explains Halford.
“One of the mandates is that we help focus on that next generation; we want the young people to have a future, We need to be continuing to have those conversations on how we can help get us through our first true crisis of this generation.”
When talking with Halford, you get the impression she is someone who is realistic but confidently emphasizes the positive aspects of any situation including the current one where prospects look bleak. Not so fast says Halford.
“The capital is available for them, let’s take this as opportunities to grow something business-wise,” explains Halford.