2012 True Confessions Speakers
Jennifer Williams is the CEO of La Siembra Co-operative, creator of the Camino brand of Fair Trade and organic food products. Intent on building vibrant sustainable communities in Canada and overseas Camino products support rural livelihoods through sustainable agriculture and value-add process in rural communities. Prior to joining La Siembra Jennifer worked in Ghana on a micro-credit and rural business development initiative and has also worked and volunteered in El Salvador, Mexico and Peru. Jennifer has a degree in Anthropology and Political Science from the University of Western Ontario that supports her work in business development with producer partners in the global south. When travelling (of which she does much of for La Siembra) Jennifer is always also on the lookout for the best live music and dancing venue.
Jodie Evans is co-founder and co-director of CODEPINK and has been a peace, environmental, women's rights and social justice activist for forty years. She has traveled to war zones, promoting and learning about peaceful resolution to conflict. She served in the administration of Governor Jerry Brown and ran his presidential campaigns. She published two books, "Stop the Next War Now" and "Twilight of Empire," and produced several documentary films, including the Oscar and Emmy-nominated "The Most Dangerous Man in America" and "The People Speak." Jodie co-founded CODEPINK: Women for Peace, is the board chair of Women's Media Center and sits on many other boards, including Rainforest Action Network, Institute for Policy Studies, and Drug Policy Alliance.
Bryan Welch is the chief executive of Ogden Publications, North America’s largest media company focused on the related topics of sustainable lifestyles, rural lifestyles and self-reliance. Ogden Publications publishes Mother Earth News, Natural Home & Garden, Utne Reader and several other brands in the print, digital and video media. Their flagship, Mother Earth News, is ranked by MRI as the American magazine most likely to be a reader’s favorite and the magazine whose readers spend the most time with, among North America’s 200 largest magazines. Two years ago it was the fastest-growing product on American newsstands. It maintains a print audience of 3.5 million and hosts more than 2 million unique visitors a month on its websites.
Past SVI speakers have included:
David Berge, Underdog Ventures
Adrienne Maree Brown, The Ruckus Society
Mark Deutschmann, Village Real Estate
Amy Domini, Domini Social Investments
Mark Finser, RSF Social Finance
Margot Franssen, Body Shop Canada
Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm
Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generation
Valerie Hussey, Kids Can Press
Alice Klein, Now Magazine
Susan Kurz, Dr. Hauschka Skincare
David Levi, Working Opportunity Fund
Julia & Ed Levy, QLT Inc.
Alison Lawton, Mindset Media
Lisa Lorimer, Vermont Bread Company
Drummond Pike, Tides Foundation
Jonathan Poneman, Sub Pop Records
Bruce Poon Tip, G.A.P. Adventures
Russel Precious, Capers
Peter Robinson, Mountain Equipment Co-Op
Peter Roy, Whole Food Markets
Aqueela Sherills, CSDI
Greg Steltenpohl, Odwalla
Nina Utne, Utne Reader
Julius Walls, Greyston Bakery
Judy Wicks, White Dog Cafe
Bill Young, Social Capital Partners
Tamara Vrooman, Vancity
Aaron Lamstein, WorldWise
Arran and Ratana Stephens, Nature's Path
Terry McBride, Nettwerk Music Group
Tami Simon, SoundsTrue
Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, Letter Logic
Mike Hannigan, Give Something Back
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