Dr. Brian Oleson - University of Manitoba
Dr. Brian T. Oleson is professor in the Department of Agribusiness & Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Chair in Cooperatives and Marketing at the University of Manitoba. He received his Ph.D., (Agricultural and Applied Economics) from the University of Minnesota and M.A., (Economics) from the University of Manitoba. His fields of study include cooperatives & group marketing, grain marketing and outlook governance and cooperatives. His current research and interests consists of Agricultural Cooperatives and Change; Group Marketing Organizations (Supply Management, CWB); Governance Models and Farmer Oriented Organizations; Wheat Classification and KVD New generation cooperatives in Manitoba Agriculture; Agricultural Outlook for Manitoba/Canada; and, BSE and the Manitoba Cattle Industry.

Dr. Oleson worked at the Canadian Wheat Board from 1970 to 1973 as a sales representative and then spent several years working in the area of policy analysis with Agriculture Canada in Ottawa. He returned to the Canadian Wheat Board in1981, eventually assuming the position of Executive Director (i.e. Executive Vice-President) of Planning and Communications Directorate. In support of the grain marketing program (5 billion in annual sales) of the CWB, this unit was responsible for market analysis, crop surveillance, library services, corporate communications, corporate planning and corporate policy including trade analysis. In this capacity, he closely followed and participated in the Uruguay Round from inception to implementation during which time he represented the CWB serving as an advisor to the Canadian trade negotiators. He was also a member of the Canadian delegation to the International Grains Council from 1979 to 1997.