Meet the drivers behind REAP-Canada's programming:
Roger Samson, Executive Director
Mr. Samson has been working with REAP-Canada since its inception in 1986, leading the biomass energy, agri-fibre, and on-farm participatory research and development programs. Mr. Samson is a leading world expert in biomass energy development and native warm season perennial grasses. He has authored over 60 publications on bioenergy, ecological farming, and climate change mitigation and has been working on bioenergy projects in North America, Europe, China, the Philippines, and West Africa since 1991. His work has pioneered ecological approaches for bioenergy production and thermodynamically efficient bioenergy conversion systems. Since 1997, he has managed international development projects in the Philippines, China, and the Gambia involving ecological farming systems development and sustainable household energy from biomass. Mr. Samson holds a B.Sc. (Crop Science) from Guelph University and a M.Sc. (Plant Science) from McGill University.
Claudia Ho Lem is the project manager for REAP-Canada's international community development programs. Since 2001, Ms. Ho Lem has worked on Agro-Ecological Village and climate change development projects involving the collaborative efforts of village farmers, local partners, and research institutions. She has extensive experience facilitating participatory assessments, training and research and gender development programs. Her work has increased self-sufficiency and environmental rehabilitation in remote farming communities. Ms. Ho Lem holds a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Science (2000) majoring in Biology, and minoring in Chemistry from the University of Calgary.
After completing her Masters in Development Studies at York University, Meredith Kushnir joined the REAP-Canada team as a research associate to support their international community development programs. Her background and areas of expertise include community development; food security, sovereignty and sustainability; gender issues; sustainable agriculture; and international food system analysis. She also has experience with collaborative research approaches, data analysis and program evaluation. Ms. Kushnir’s extensive travel and volunteer experiences throughout the world have coalesced to inform her worldview and to sustain her passion for equality.
Erik Delaquis is currently working on an M.Sc. in plant science at McGill university based on the genetic improvement of switchgrass for biofuel feedstock. This work is complemented by his involment in REAP-Canada’s switchgrass breeding programme. Erik has been working with REAP since 2010, when he began as a sustainable agriculture intern in The Gambia. He has collaborated with several West African partners on topics ranging from integrated pest management, seed saving and improvement, sustainable diversification of local crops and diets, and semi-intensive livestock management. Erik completed a B.Sc. in biology with a minor in applied ethics at the University of Victoria.
Loretta Balzamo is REAP-Canada's part-time accountant with 20 years of experience. She has worked extensively in product management and, since 1995, has provided bookkeeping services to a variety of companies and non-profit organizations. Ms. Balzamo holds an economics degree from Concordia University.
