Jack DeWit is the new chair of the Investment Agriculture Foundation, succeeding Don Low who stepped down from the board at the organization’s annual general meeting April 8.
DeWit was previously vice-chair of the organization, which has 13 directors. New to the board this year are Paul Devick, representing livestock, and David Machial, representing the tree fruit and grape sectors.
DeWit takes the helm as IAF expands not only the breadth of programs it administers, but prepares to develop its own programs aimed at responding to the changing needs of the BC farm sector. It will do this with the assistance of a $20 million trust fund it’s developing with the remainder of the original 1996 federal grants it was set up to administer.
Low had been chair for six years, and was praised at the meeting as having been “a real asset to the organization.”
In one of his final acts, Low introduced a new remuneration schedule that will see the chair receive $1,200 a year (down from $1,500) while the vice-chair will receive $400 and the treasurer and secretary will each receive $200.
The compensation reflects the volume of paperwork the executive handles, especially as IAF activities expand.
In addition to the new role for DeWit, the IAF executive for the coming year includes James Pratt as position of vice-chair. Glenda Gesy and Angela Groothof continue in their roles as treasurer and secretary, respectively.
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