Darrell Toma has over 28 years of professional experience as an economist and management expert on over 390 assignments. He was a Principal with Deloitte & Touche, Edmonton for 13 years and has a specialized consulting firm (1991). He focuses on economics, market research, strategic/ business planning and project analysis. He has consulted to associations, public and private clients. He has authored publications, led professional workshops and been featured as a business/ economics/ trade expert in the media (TV, radio, print). He has published a book chapter on traits of volunteer leaders (Advances in Psychology Research, 2006) and The Knowledge Guide: Best Management Practices (2006) among many articles and reports. He has recently written a rural manufacturer’s best practice guide and has completed a number of manufacturing projects and many service business projects. He has recently set up several industry consortiums in manufacturing and the agri-food sector.

Darrell has worked in Australia, Canada, the U.S.A., Mexico, Korea, Egypt and Hong Kong, and traveled in Romania and Japan. He has completed many industry studies and macro economic analyses of new policies, economic trends and business plans. Darrell has been involved in Western Canada’s value added developments and technology assessments in functional foods, foods, bioproducts and agriculture/ forestry biotech. He has private company experience and was on a public company BOD. See www.tomaandbouma.com. He is married, has 4 boys and enjoys sports and a number of outdoor activities.

He is involved in the community, the profession and has been recognized with some awards:

• Board, WaterSmart, Calgary non-profit- water technologies/ management/ policy,
• Senior Advisor- Ottawa, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA),
• Olds College Capital Campaign Advisory Committee,
• Business Advisory Panel (past), Edmonton Regional Airports Authority,
• Member, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce,
• Past-President of the Alberta Chambers of Commerce- 22,000 business members,
• Past- Board of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce- 170,000 members,
• Past-member Strategy Committee, Alberta Agriculture Research Institute ($12m),
• Past-Board of Directors, Economics Society of Northern Alberta,
• Registration Com., Past-Board, Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta,
• Past-President, Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association (CCAA),
• Practitioner Editor, Supply Chain Management Journal, England,
• "Distinguished Agrologists” Award from the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (1997),
• “Make It Happen” Award from the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association,
• “Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal” - Community Service- Cdn Governor General (2003),
• “Alberta Centennial Medal” for community service from the Alberta Government (2005)
• Keynote speaker in AU (Beefnets Alliances), Toronto, Houston (International Livestock Congress), Western Canada on economics, trade, industry outlooks.