BCBC Staff
The BC Blueberry Council is staffed by a small team and supported by external contractors as needed to fulfill promotional programs domestically and internationally. If you wish to learn more about the council and our activities, please contact us via email at info@bcblueberry.com or by phone at 604 864 2117.
Anju Gill
Executive Director
Anju Gill is currently serving as the Executive Director with BC Blueberry Council. Her 12 years of experience in government and public relations along with education uniquely position her in supporting the diverse growing needs of the highbush blueberry industry. She has a BA in Social Cultural and Media & Communication Studies and Masters in Political Science. In her past positions, she worked closely with diverse stakeholders and all levels of government on public policy matters. In addition, as a Community Relations Organizer for a national political party, she engaged diverse stakeholders to inform policy directions. This meant strategically working with community activists, government officials and political operatives for desirable outcomes. Through these experiences she attained the knowledge and skills to identify issues while addressing them by strategic planning, streamlined administration and implementation with foresight.
In her current position, Anju is applying her background and skills to enhance the established programs and seek new opportunities, especially in the area of grower support and market access. With highbush blueberry industry growing globally comes challenges of competition and effective chain management. To address these challenges, Anju’s vision is to provide enhanced grower support for optimal growth and gaining competitive edge not only domestically but internationally. Her current position is a good fit for her vision as BC Blueberry Council’s mandate concurs.
Clara Moran
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Clara Moran is a graduate from the University of British Columbia, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Art History and Visual Arts. She is passionate about bold and direct marketing strategies, developing fruitful professional connections, and finding creative communication solutions. Clara organizes domestic and international marketing efforts, coordinates BCBC’s public presence at local and global trade shows and events, and oversees BCBC social media accounts.
Karen Carter
Office and Finance Manager
In January 2021, Karen Carter was hired to manage office communications, finance, and grower education programming, under the title Finance and Office Manager. Karen processes and organizes essential project materials, ensuring the Council runs effective programming for its 600+ members. She works collaboratively within the office to provide the best support to the Council’s members, fostering relationships and building trust. Karen and her new puppy (Magnum!) liven up daily life in the office.
Eric Gerbrandt
Research Director
Eric Gerbrandt is a plant scientist with a specialization in applied horticultural research in berry crops. He serves as the Research Director for the BC Blueberry Council as well as BC’s raspberry and strawberry industry organizations, working to expand collaboration and research capacity with academic, private and government partners to improve the bottom line for berry growers.
Michael Dossett
Berry Breeder
Michael Dossett came to British Columbia in 2011 after completing his Masters and PhD in Horticulture at Oregon State University with the Corvallis USDA-ARS small fruit breeding program. Since 2013, he has led Blueberry, Raspberry, and Strawberry breeding efforts for the BC Industry in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. This program emphasizes the development and practical application of molecular and statistical tools for the development of new varieties that will meet the needs of growers and consumers.
Major Dhillon
Food Safety Coordinator
Major has worked as the Food Safety Coordinator at the BC Blueberry Council since 2014 and has over 20 years of experience in the highbush blueberry industry. Prior to working at the BC Blueberry Council, Major worked in blueberry production and nursery plants for 12 years. He has extensive educational and research background in Agronomy. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, and a Masters and PhD in Agronomy. In addition, he completed advanced training in Forestry/Agroforestry and their relation with land use at the University of Oxford. Major is responsible for providing support to highbush blueberry growers in acquiring CanadaGap certification through one-on-one education on farm food safety concerns and guidelines, audits and risk assessments. He helps to develop, adapt and improve good agriculture practices for the protection of natural resources. Major also assists blueberry growers to obtain cost share funding to mitigate food safety hazards on farms.