Scottish & Japanese heritage. Born & raised in Lethbridge Alberta. Started working in restaurants at age 14 and moved to Edmonton to apprentice at the Westin Hotel. Once complete he moved to England and worked at Savoy Hotel. After which he moved to Switzerland and continued his journey and training at 5 Star hotels in Europe. Over the years Chef Nagata has worked as executive chef in Canada, USA, China, Japan, Taiwan & Indonesia. He has operated large brigades in hotels as for 40 + years, chef Consultant for Team Canada 2008 Olympics, James Beard House Guest Chef, Chopped Canada Champion & Extensive International Promotions for Agriculture & Agrifood Canada. Chef Nagata is Currently Corporate Chef for Premium Brands Holdings Corporation with over 60 Specialty food and Distribution Companies in Canada, USA & Europe. Most recently Premium Brands Holdings, partnered with the Mi’kmaq First Nations in a 50/50 partnership of a 1-billion-dollar acquisition of Clearwater Seafoods. The largest such acquisition and partnership of a seafood company by any indigenous group in Canada. 

Chef Nagata’s Signature Modo is “Nourish Your Body, Feed Your Soul & Happy Cooking “ 

Johanna Israel-Duprey is a brand builder and culinary strategist with over 20 years of experience across North America. Prior to co-founding Brand Natural, a brand strategy and design agency specializing in food brands, Johanna led the creative efforts of Hippie Snacks/Left Coast Naturals. Johanna has worked with some of North America’s largest food brands including Kraft, Frito Lay, Rosarita, Hunt’s, Nestle and McDonald’s. Originally from New York, Johanna made her way to Vancouver 20 years ago via San Francisco and Los Angeles. She loves most things strange, heavy music and making bagels. 

I’ve spent my life in retail. I worked front line retail in customer service and retail mangement, in the warehouse picking and packing orders, and I have worked in corporate office as a merchandise manager buying for numerous and varied categories within grocery and drug. I know how a buyer thinks and what th triggers are. I know how to spot emerging and how to maintain/grow existing categories.

Mara Mennicken is a pioneering social entrepreneur & chocolate devotee renowned for founding The GOOD Chocolatier. Hailing from Germany 10 years ago and now stirring up delectable creations in British Columbia, Canada, she’s on a mission to prove that chocolate can be indulgent, highly ethical, and incredibly GOOD for you.

Mara’s company is a delicious embodiment of her commitment to sustainable, fair & organic products that make a positive impact. Her journey isn’t just about crafting wholesome treats – it’s about challenging industry norms, championing social and environmental causes, and ensuring that every bite tells a story- of fair employment, local ingredients, better sweeteners and the true feelgood effect of lightly roasted single-origin cacao. Mara continues to reshape the narrative of chocolate production and consumption for a brighter, more conscientious future. Her favourite equation is: Eating more GOOD chocolate = better You and a better World.

Chef, cookbook author, syndicated food columnist, and cooking instructor within foodservice community since 1977, Karen currently works as a product development consultant, food photographer and recipe developer. She is the recipient of a Minerva Award for Community Leadership and was acknowledged in the BIV 500 in 2021 and 2022 as a Culinary Leader and Trailblazer.