2023-2024 Board Members
Victoria Mellish *new
Victoria Mellish is one of Farmers Helping Farmers newest board members. She’s 16 years old and is currently attending Montague Regional High School for her third and final year of high school.
Outside of school Victoria is involved with 4H, soccer, horseback riding, farming and music. Victoria is looking forward to adding board members to her list of experiences and participating in an organization that does incredibly beneficial work.
She decided to join the board after her amazing 3 week experience in Kenya last January with Farmers Helping Farmers, as well as the numerous volunteer opportunities she's had with the group. In addition to sitting on the board as a director, she is also active on the Farmers Helping Farmers education committee.
Victoria is so excited to help and is looking forward to her first term as a board member!
Katie MacNeill *new
My name is Katie MacNeill and I am a dietetic intern studying at the University of Prince Edward Island.
This past summer, I had the amazing opportunity to work with Farmers Helping Farmers as a nutrition intern in Kenya.
Seeing the impact that the projects and work done by Farmers Helping Farmers has on the lives of Kenyas was amazing to see.
I am very excited to be a new board member for such an impactful organization.
Nora McCarthy-Joyce
Nora McCarthy-Joyce works full time with the PEI Department of Health and Wellness as Engagement and Education Specialist, playing a lead role in the advancement of gambling education and sharing resources and services to enhance the daily lives of Islanders. She holds a BA from the University of Prince Edward Island in Psychology, and a BEd specializing in Indigenous and International Education. Her master’s courses in Applied Health Services Research coupled with over 20 years’ experience working in the education field (schools, community organizations, universities and government) has fueled her passion towards helping others become their “best selves”. Nora hopes to bring that same enthusiasm and experience to her work as chair of the Education Committee for Farmers Helping Farmers.
Nora first travelled to Kenya as a pre-service teacher in 2006 teaching secondary (High School level) English, Canadian History/Geography, and Science, as well as helping to coach girls’ football (soccer) and involvement in other local projects in elementary schools and community organizations. Nora left “a piece of her heart” in Africa and has returned many times in pursuit of new learnings and experiences. Her additional learning included trips to Tanzania and Kenya, as well as travel to Rwanda to study the Rwandan Genocide and Egypt where Nora studied Egyptology, Arabic and Middle Eastern Policy and Politics at MSR University in Cairo. “This work has been life changing for me” she comments. Nora is eager to work with the FHF Education Committee to enhance visibility of their work and encourage more people to get involved with Farmers Helping Farmers in a local way – thinking “global” while acting “local”. Nora resides on the North Shore of PEI with her husband Adam, their three young children, greyhound (Boo Bear) and Pug (Dexter). Nora is committed to educating others about Farmers Helping Farmers - an amazing (global) Island Organization!
Donald Killorn
Donald Killorn is the executive director of the PEI Federation of Agriculture. From Charlottetown, Donald holds a B. Sc. in Biology from the University of Prince Edward Island and an M. Sc. in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University. He has previously worked in Costa Rica, Turks & Caicos Islands, and Belize, before becoming the executive director of Eastern Charlotte Waterways in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick.
Donald is passionate about sustainability and finding pathways to increase systems resilience through grassroots action.
Peter Cudmore
My name is Peter Cudmore. I am a teacher in P.E.I. and have been teaching for the past ten years. My parents, Barry and Ellen, were founding members of FHF and I have been volunteering with the organization since I was able to be useful at the annual BBQ.
I went to Kenya as a pre-service teacher in 2015 and taught at Ithanji Primary and am Chair of FHF's Education Committee.
Fun fact: I ran two half marathons in Kenya.
Lori Robinson
Lori Robinson is the Farm Manager at Eric C. Robinson Inc., a 6th generation farming operation located in Albany, P.E.I. As Farm Manager, Lori oversees the day-to-day operations of her family’s 2500-acre farm, concentrating on the production and sales of soybeans, grains and forages.
Lori obtained her BSc in Agriculture, majoring in Agricultural Business, from the University of Guelph in 1991 and has 27 years of experience farming in P.E.I., including 25 years growing, packing and selling potatoes.
Currently, Lori sits on the Advisory Board of P.E.I.’s RuralWomen’s Business Centre and recently co-chaired P.E.I.’s Land Matters Advisory Committee.
Lori joined the Farmers Helping Farmers Board in July 2021 with a keen interest in helping women farmers in other parts of the world. Outside of agriculture, Lori is passionate about the game of curling and holds a Coaching Association of Canada Level 2 Curling Coach designation, which allowed her to coach the P.E.I. men’s team at the 2019 Canada Games.
Charlene VanLeeuwen
Charlene VanLeeuwen has degrees in Family Science and Education and is currently Coordinator of the Teaching and Learning Centre at the University of Prince Edward Island. She has traveled to Kenya three times and has an active collaboration with Kenyan colleagues at Kenyatta University on a series of curriculum and development projects involving community-based learning and women's empowerment.
As member of the Ad Hoc Visioning committee, she's been involved in a range of activities to help get ready for a planning workshop this fall.
An avid reader, Charlene is equally happy reading paper and e-books.
Past FHF Board Member Bios
Past President: Wendy MacDonald
Wendy MacDonald brings a background in public policy, research and analysis to her involvement with Farmers Helping Farmers. She joined the Education Committee in 2008, and became a member of the Board in 2014. She travelled to Kenya in 2017, working with Carolyn Francis and Liz Townsend on the Safe and Inclusive Schools project, and took on the role of Vice-President later that year. She was a member of the proposal writing team for the current Global Affairs Canada project, More Food, Better Food in 2017 and 2018.
In May 2019, Wendy retired from a 40-year career in the public services of Saskatchewan, Ontario and Prince Edward Island, and in June she became President of FHF, serving until July 2021.
During her presidency, Wendy visited Kenya again in early 2020, assisted with monitoring and reporting of the GAC project, and was involved in the work of all FHF committees. She is currently a non-voting member of the Board as Past President, and continues to be a member of the ad hoc Visioning Committee established in early 2021 to support development of a long term plan for FHF.
In her spare time, Wendy enjoys gardening, and is benefiting from her involvement with FHF to learn techniques such as drip irrigation. Wendy has four children and lives with her husband Albert in St. Andrews P.E.I.
Krista Schurman
Krista and her husband Marc, three children, Ben (19), Quinton (19) and Samantha ( 17) live in Kensington on their family farm, a 4 acre organic vegetable greenhouse. Krista helps manage the direct marketing side of the business involving the Farmer's Markets and CSA ( Community Supported Agriculture) Veggie Boxes.
Along with her part on the farm, she works full-time as a Relationship Manager at Farm Credit Canada giving her lots of opportunities to connect with farm families in other sectors across PEI.
Krista is originally from Truro, NS and graduated with her BSc from Dalhousie Agricultural Campus in 1997, and together with Marc were recipients of Atlantic Outstanding Farmers award in 2006.
Catherine Williams
My name is Catherine Williams and I am a Registered Dietitian in P.E.I. currently working in Long Term Care. I travelled to Kenya as a nutrition student in 2016, through the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship program. I have continued my work with FHF as a member of the board since 2018 and I am currently the chair of the FHF Communications and Membership Committee.
Outside of work and volunteering, my hobbies include: anything food related (cooking, baking, eating), mountain biking and scrabble.
Sarah Muthee
Sarah Muthee (she /her/hers), was born and raised in Kenya, and is employed by the PEI Public Service Commission. Sarah holds a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Prince Edward Island, and a Bachelor of Science in Foods, Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University in Kenya. Her first involvement with Farmers Helping Farmers started in Summer of 2016 when she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Diamond Scholarship to come to PEI and pursue a master’s degree. Her master’s degree thesis comprehensively evaluated the effects of food security programs that Farmers Helping Farmers does with the Women Self-Help Groups in rural Kenya.
Sarah recently became a member of the FHF's Communication Committee. She has volunteered for the organization in different capacities, including presenting at fundraising events, local community groups, schools and committees.
Sarah has a passion for educating women and children as a means to escape malnutrition, hunger, and poverty. Sarah has a keen interest in health and wellness, social justice, women empowerment, and human rights. Her mantra is that every human being deserves a dignified and quality life.