Our AGTECH ACCELERATOR advisory council

 As a collective group, the AGTECH ACCELERATOR Advisory Council  shares years of experience, different views in the industry, and extensive knowledge in the global business market

Doug Zolinsky headshot

Doug Zolinsky
Director-General, Prairies Economic Development Canada

Doug Zolinsky was appointed Director-General for Prairies Economic Development Canada in 2011. Prior to this appointment, he served in Western Economic Diversification for two years as Director of Policy, Planning, and External Relations. Doug has also held senior executive positions in the Government of Saskatchewan and in the private sector. He currently serves on the board of directors of CoLabs and the Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX). Doug earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Saskatchewan and is a lifelong learner.

Kari Harvey headshot

Kari Harvey
CEO, Innovation Saskatchewan

As CEO of Innovation Saskatchewan, Kari is a leader in Saskatchewan’s innovation and technology sector. With the increasingly important role that tech is playing in growing Saskatchewan’s economy, Kari is leading initiatives to encourage more public procurement of locally developed technology, to support investment into our early-stage companies, and to develop our labor force talent, including increasing the diversity in our technology sector. Kari’s entrepreneurial spirit guides her approach and the results are a testament to her passion for Saskatchewan’s technology industry.

Kim McConnell headshot

Kim McConnell
Former Founder & CEO, AdFarm

Kim McConnell is a proud Canadian, and passionate about agriculture, food, youth, and the entrepreneurial spirit. He was the former CEO of AdFarm and led the Canadian-headquartered agency to become one of the largest and most respected agricultural marketing communications firms in North America. In 2012 he was inducted into the Canadian Agricultural Hall of Fame and in 2018 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada, Canada’s highest civilian award. Kim is a director on a number of corporate boards throughout North America, and a director on several community organizations including Calgary Stampede Foundation, Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI), and the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity.

Kim Nicholson headshot

Kim Nicholson
VP of Agtech and Innovation, Mosaic Company

Kim grew up in the heart of midwest Indiana and graduated with a degree in agronomy from Purdue University. Kim has dedicated over 30 years to the agribusiness industry. She has proven experience in the areas of strategic planning and innovation, brand development, sales leadership, general management, and operations. Before joining Mosaic in 2019 to serve on the Global Strategy Team, Kim founded NFocus Partners ( a boutique consultancy) in 2009 where she assisted start-up companies as they brought their technology, products, and services to the industry. Prior to NFocus, Kim led the consumer products division of Chemtura Corporation, where she managed the global enterprise in North America, Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Kim held the position of VP of Sales and Marketing of Nutra-Park, Inc., a biotech firm specializing in plant growth regulators. Kim served as Director of Global Supply Chain for BASF, where she managed project groups in Europe, North America, and Latin America. She joined BASF as National Sales Manager for the US crop protection division, post-acquisition of American Cyanamid, leading the integration and restructuring of the team. 

Kristjan Hebert

Kristjan Hebert
Managing Partner, Hebert Grain Ventures

Kristjan is the managing partner of Hebert Grain Ventures (HGV), a cereal and oilseed operation in southeast Saskatchewan.  HGV is a corporate partnership owned and operated by Kristjan, his wife Theresa, and Kristjan’s parents. Kristjan serves as chairman of the board for Global Ag Risk Solutions, a new cutting-edge private farm revenue insurance based out of Moose Jaw, SK.  He also currently serves on Bayer Cropscience Inc.’s Grower Advisory Forum.

Kyle Scott headshot

Kyle Scott
Managing Director, Conexus Venture Capital Inc. & Emmertech

Kyle is a Managing Director with Conexus Venture Capital & Emmertech where he plays a leadership role in all aspects of venture capital from origination to deal execution to portfolio management. Prior to Conexus, Kyle was a Vice President with ClairvestGroup Inc., where he focused on growth-stage equity investments across multiple sectors including agriculture. Kyle was also an Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Company where he led projects in private equity due diligence, and strategy and operations serving clients around the world. Kyle began his career with KPMG Advisory and has owned/invested in his own businesses for the past 10 years. Kyle holds an HBA and MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario.