Biography
Lori joined George Brown College in 2019 to co-develop the Honours Bachelor of Food Studies, the first degree of its kind in Canada. She is a leading food policy analyst, known for her wide-ranging experience as an academic, a food policy specialist with the City of Toronto, and a non-profit leader. Lori holds a PhD from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she researched the role of creative public procurement in sustainable food system transformation, drawing on her own experience as a non-profit leader promoting institutional procurement of sustainable local food. Lori has worked extensively with businesses along the food chain – from farmers, processors, and distributors to chefs, foodservice managers and retailers. She is also an experienced teacher, formerly at the University of Toronto, where she was a lecturer and Coordinator of the Global Food Equity Initiative. Prior to engaging with food issues, Lori was a nationally recognized broadcaster and journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She is the author of numerous academic and popular publications.
Areas of Specialization
- Honours Bachelor of Food Studies program
Areas of Expertise
- food systems
- food and cities
- food procurement
- food movements
- food policy councils
- community food security
Career Highlights
- Public Speaker on food issues, 2006 to the present
- Food Policy Specialist responsible for the Toronto Food Policy Council, City of Toronto, 2017-2019
- Lecturer and Coordinator of the Global Food Equity Initiative, New College, University of Toronto, 2012-2017
- Member of the Ontario Minister of Agriculture’s Strategic Advisory Committee, 2006
- Founder and President of Local Food Plus, 2004-2012
- Food Policy Consultant, 1997-2004
- Broadcaster and Journalist, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1982-1997
Other Activities
- Advisor to the UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies
- Advisor to the Centre for Studies in Food Security, Ryerson University
- Advisor to the Toronto Food Policy Council, City of Toronto
- Research Associate with the FLEdGE Research Network (Food: Locally Embedded, Globally Engaged), Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Wilfrid Laurier University
- Adjunct Professor, New College, University of Toronto
- Member of the Canadian Association for Food Studies
Awards
- Governor General’s Medal for Academic Excellence for PhD Dissertation, 2017
- Wilfrid Laurier University Medal of Excellence for PhD Dissertation, 2017
- Best PhD Paper, Agriculture in an Urbanizing Society, Roma Tre University, 2015
- Finalist for a Clean50 Award for Contributions to Sustainability, 2015
- Social Science and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Scholarship, 2014-2016
- Fellow of the Ontario Hostelry Institute, 2012
- Woman of the Earth Award, Yves Rocher Foundation, 2008
- Toronto Green Leader, Toronto Life Magazine, 2007
