Jessica Rutherford

Jessica grew up in Kenora, Ontario.  She completed a Diploma of Social Work at Mount Royal College followed by a Bachelor of Human Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Science from the University of Manitoba. Her masters’ thesis focused on qualitative evaluation of Manitoba school nutrition policy. Jessica returned to Northwestern Ontario in 2012 to complete a dietetic internship with NODIP. After completing her internship, she joined the Manitoba Ministry of Health, Seniors and Active Living to develop and implement a retail subsidy program for remote Manitoba communities that do not have road access. The experience she gained from her time in NODIP was integral to her success in this position, which required her to visit and engage with remote Manitoba communities. In 2016, Jessica was appointed to the position of Nutrition Policy Analyst for the Province of Manitoba. As part of her role, she was the provincial representative on the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Group on Nutrition, which advises Health Canada on the development of Federal Nutrition Initiatives such as Canada’s Food Guide, package labelling, and food fortification. In the summer of 2021, Jessica accepted the position as the Coordinator for the University of Manitoba Master of Applied Human Nutrition Practicum Program.