Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) is led by a Board of Directors representing 15 livestock organizations across Canada, including: livestock producers, auction markets, livestock dealers, feedlots, veterinarians and processors. CCIA is an independent organization and the responsible administrator of traceability for beef cattle, bison, sheep, and pending regulation goats and cervids.

The Executive Committee is as follows:

Chair Lyle Miller, Alberta Cattle Feeders’ Association
Vice Chair Howard Bekkering, Alberta Beef Producers
Finance Chair Dr. Oliver Schunicht, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
Executive Member Ivan Johnson, Maritime Beef Producers
Executive Member Ken Perlich, Livestock Markets Association of Canada
Past Chair Pat Hayes

The Board of Directors are responsible for strategic initiatives, evaluating financial performance, providing guidance and upholding CCIA’s role as leaders in national traceability. Each year CCIA publishes an Annual Activity Report which is available online at: canadaid.ca/annual-report/

CCIA’s committee structure provides strong and engaging on the ground support from its Board Members. Committee chairs include Lyle Miller, Technical Advisory Committee; Dr. Oliver Schunicht, Finance and Audit; Duncan Barnett, Board Governance and Development; Ken Perlich, Human Resources and Ivan Johnson, Communications.

PhotoRepresentative / Member Organization




Lyle Miller, Chair*
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Chair
Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association




Howard Bekkering, Vice-Chair*
Alberta Beef Producers


Dr. Oliver Schunicht, Finance Chair*
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association


Ivan Johnson, Executive Member*, Communications Committee Chair
Maritime Beef Council


Ken Perlich, Executive Member*, Human Resources Chair
Livestock Markets Association of Canada


Don Hargrave
Beef Farmers of Ontario


Duncan Barnett
Board Governance and Development Committee Chair
British Columbia Cattlemen's Association


Yvonne Mills
Canadian Bison Association


Matthew Atkinson
Canadian Cattle Association


Matt Bowman
Canadian Cattle Association


Ryder Lee
Canadian Cattle Association


David Saretsky
Canadian Livestock Dealer’s Association


Cam Daniels
Canadian Meat Council


Kim O'Neil
Canadian Meat Council


Corlena Patterson
Canadian Sheep Federation


Sylvain Bourque
Les Producteurs de bovins du Québec


Nancy Howatt
Manitoba Beef Producers


Jason Pollock
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association


Pat Hayes, Associate Member
Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association


Shawn Wilson, Associate Member
Canadian Beef Breeds Council


Ian Thorleifson, Pending Member
Canadian Cervid Alliance


Anton Slingerland, Pending Member
Canadian National Goat Federation

* CCIA Executive Committee Members