Senior leadership out at Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions

There’s been a major change in the senior leadership team for the Alberta Wheat Commission and the Alberta Barley Commission.

The commissions, which are in the process of merging, are not publicly naming which individuals are involved, but RealAgriculture has confirmed that long-time general manager Tom Steve and chief operating officer Syeda Khurram are among those no longer with the commissions.

The changes were effective April 26, 2023.

Tom Steve (Photo: Alberta Wheat & Barley Commission website)

Syeda Khurram (Photo: Alberta Wheat & Barley Commission website)

Hasan Kazmi (Photo: Alberta Wheat & Barley Commission website)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Board of Directors and the Executive Council are working with staff at the Wheat and Barley Commission to ensure a smooth course of business while a thorough search for a replacement is conducted,” say Alberta Wheat board chair Greg Sears and Alberta Barley board chair Tara Sawyer, in a joint statement shared with RealAgriculture.

“To protect the privacy of our employees, we will not be commenting on the nature of the departures,” say Sears and Sawyer.

“We believe with the Board’s ongoing engagement and support, our organization will continue to dutifully execute on its mandate to support our industry and its farmers,” they say.

The two commissions have shared office space and administrative staff since 2013, and have been operating with a joint management structure since late 2017. Members voted in favour of merging in a vote last fall, with the plan to officially amalgamate as of August 1, 2023.

The Alberta Wheat Commission is also an administrator of the federal Advance Payments Program, offering farmers interest-free and low-interest cash advances through its “FarmCash” program. The program manager, Hasan Kazmi, is also part of the change in leadership and is no longer with the commission.

Related: Voters approve amalgamation of Alberta Wheat and Alberta Barley

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Categories: Crop Production / News