Esmeralda Smith Romero – Co-Chair

Esmeralda is determined to support a sustainable textile industry in Canada. She has been cultivating her interest in sustainable fibre since 2017, when she founded Olive + Elliot and pivoted from a career in strategic communications. Olive + Elliot seeks to root local textile supply chains in regenerative agriculture, while reaching for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2018, Olive + Elliot won a Visionary Award from MaRS Discovery District and George Brown College Fashion Exchange. In 2019, working with three farms in Ontario, Esmeralda trialed a variety of textile crops including flax, milkweed and natural dye flowers. The same year Esmeralda was an Ontario finalist at Pitch@Palace. Olive + Elliot is launching in 2022 and you can find out more here: oliveandelliot.ca.

Jonathan Bellot – Treasurer

Jonathan joined the Upper Canada Fibreshed in the Spring of 2021, having been introduced to the organization through it’s strategic planning process. He brings 15 years of experience across customer service, communications, internal audit, product management, change management, and operations and strategy consulting to his role as Treasurer.

Currently, Jonathan runs his own consulting practice, serving small to medium sized businesses in the Greater Toronto area. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, and a master’s degree in strategic management.

Jack Fallon – Secretary

Born and raised in Sonoma County, California, Jack is proud to be from the fibershed that started our movement. He first cultivated an interest in sustainable textile production while studying interior design. Since then he has worked in the design of custom home furnishings and soft goods, and currently works as lawyer practicing Estates and Elder Law. Jack remains passionate about scaling regional textile economies that create safe, environment-conscious, profitable jobs, which in turn create safe, durable, end-products that add value for consumers. Jack has experience with community-organizing in the realm of municipal planning, and is excited to engage with people at every stage of our local supply chain to help our fibreshed flourish.

Kelly O’Donnell – Advisor
Kelly is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of New Brunswick. She began her career in the high tech industry in Ottawa but soon transitioned to focus on green building and sustainability. With her LEED AP certification, Kelly has applied her expertise in green building practices on a global scale, including as far away as Abu Dhabi. Upon returning to Ottawa, she assumed the role of program manager for UL Solution’s ECOLOGO sustainability certification program. Through her work in sustainability, Kelly has gained recognition as a trusted advisor in environmental certifications, ESG, and renewable energy. Recently, she has joined the Upper Canada Fibreshed as an advisor, combining her passion for sustainability and natural fibres to support the initiatives of the Fibreshed membership.

Lindsey Weber – Committee Chair

Lindsey is an entrepreneur, small-scale sheep farmer, and fiber artist dedicated to making a positive impact. Holding a degree in International Development from Guelph University focusing on sustainability and business relations she created Field & Fleece in 2023. A bespoke handcrafted farm business, Field & Fleece is dedicated to producing and sourcing Ontario-grown fleece and transforming raw wool into various usable forms and creations. Her mission is to see Canadian wool utilized to its fullest potential and promote local product development and manufacturing. Focusing on fostering community engagement at all levels she strives to educate others on the incredible benefits, value and richness of Canadian wool and the sustainable practices that underpin her creative journey.

Barbara de Kat – Committee Chair

Barbara de Kat grew up in Lynden, Ontario, surrounded by a horse pasture and corn fields. She has been passionate about textiles since childhood and attended 4H Homemaking Clubs. After studying Fashion Design and Technique at Sheridan College, she worked in Theatrical Costuming for The National Ballet of Canada. She now lives in Muskoka and freelances by picking up daily costume jobs at concerts or on films. Barbara is passionate about saving the planet and hopes to make “Fibreshed” a household term.