OUR TEAM

Bob Wildfong

Executive Director 

Bob has been saving seeds and teaching about garden biodiversity for over 30 years. He mixes science and storytelling to reveal the secret lives of seeds, plants, and pollinators. Bob has been a member of Seeds of Diversity since 1988, and became our first Executive Director in 2002, after a career in software engineering. He teaches garden and food history at the Waterloo Region Museum, and as a board member of the Pollinator Partnership Canada helps build the movement to preserve pollinators. He is a past president of the Culinary Historians of Canada, and delights in explaining how we can learn about future food sustainability by remembering past lessons.

Email: bob@seeds.ca

Rayna Almas

Program Director

Hi everyone! I’m Rayna and I joined Youth in Food Systems back in 2019 as a summer student while finishing up my BASc. in Child, Youth, and Family at the University of Guelph. This work then inspired me to pursue graduate studies in Food Security and Urban Agriculture.

Our program means a lot to me because young people should understand how interesting, complex, and worthwhile food systems work can be, and the possibilities that exist for them to be agents of change. I am grateful to be able to spend my time contributing to and advancing youth leadership and skill building in a sector that should matter a lot to all of us: food!

Email: rayna@seeds.ca

Grace Ihejiamaizu

Program Manager 

Grace Ihejiamaizu is the Program Manager for Youth in Food Systems at Seeds of Diversity Canada. She is a youth development practitioner, educator, and social impact leader with over a decade of experience designing and leading youth programs focused on leadership, skills development, and community engagement. Grace holds a PhD in Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University, where her research explored the lived experiences of women social entrepreneurs and community-based change. Before joining Seeds of Diversity, Grace led and supported youth initiatives in Canada and internationally, including programs that empowered high-school-aged youth to explore technology, entrepreneurship, and solutions to social challenges. She is passionate about creating inclusive, youth-centered learning spaces and is particularly excited to support young people in exploring how food systems, sustainability, and community well-being intersect. Grace is grateful to join the Seeds of Diversity team and looks forward to supporting youth leadership across Waterloo Region and beyond.

 

Email: grace@seeds.ca

Jessica O'Connell

Program Assistant

COMING SOON!

Brennan Morley

Summer Program Assistant

Hi, my name is Brennan, and I am one of the YFS Summer Program Assistants. I’m 24 years old and a University of Waterloo graduate. I have both casual and professional experience gardening, having worked in the field for a few years now. My interests stem from building sustainable futures, having deep roots in community, and branching out to share plants and nature with as many people as I can. I love to joke around, make art and music, and explore hypotheticals and ideas. I look forward to meeting everyone in the YFS program!

Kiya Busby

Summer Program Assistant

Kiya is graduating from the University of Waterloo with a BSc in Health Sciences and has a background in youth programming, community engagement, and community-based initiatives. She has experience supporting and coordinating programs that create meaningful opportunities for youth learning, leadership, and connection. Through her work in nonprofit and community spaces, Kiya has developed a strong passion for creating inclusive and impactful programming. She is excited to join the Seeds of Diversity team as a Summer Program Assistant and looks forward to supporting youth engagement in food systems, sustainability, and community learning.

Sage Barnard

Summer Program Assistant

Hi everyone, my name is Sage, and I am one of the YFS Youth Program Assistants for the summer. I’m currently studying geography at the University of Guelph, with strong interest in building resiliant food systems and supporting food security. In my spare time I love to garden, cook, and connect with my local ecosystems through things like foraging and birding. I look forward to meeting everyone and supporting youth engagment with our food systems!

Luma Abuarqoub

Summer Program Assistant

Luma Abuarqoub is passionate about youth engagement, social justice, community empowerment, and making food more accessible for everyone. Luma completed a degree in Social Development Studies at the University of Waterloo and has a lot of experience working with youth. Her interest in food systems is deeply connected to her family history, as her ancestors were farmers in Palestine who cultivated and cared for the land for generations. This connection has inspired her appreciation for the relationship between food, culture, community, and sustainability. 

Through Youth in Food Systems, Luma is excited to help young people explore where food comes from, develop new skills, and build a deeper understanding of the role they can play in creating resilient and sustainable food systems.

In her free time, Luma loves biking, baking, creating art, and playing with her cat Cinnamon. She is grateful to be a part of the team, and is excited for what’s to come! (edited)

See Seeds of Diversity’s full staff and board here!