Our Team

Since joining the Association in early 2001, Reg has held several key positions within the organization and has been in executive leadership positions for over half of his career.  

Appointed to the position of President & CEO in February 2019, Reg has seen The Grove grow from an idea on paper to a flourishing agri-food accelerator, has led the organization through a pandemic, and is focused on the implementation of the Association’s newest strategic plan.

Committed to the industries that we participate in, Reg joined the board of the Canadian Association of Fairs & Exhibitions (CAFE) in 2024 and was elected to represent the Signature Racetracks on the board of Ontario Racing in 2025. Reg was recruited to the Business Cares Food Drive committee in 2023 and happily supports this invaluable community effort. Reg has also served as a board member for Tourism London, the London Sports Council, and was a member of the Middlesex London Sports Hall of Fame selection committee.

When not at work, you can probably find Reg on his bicycle; sometimes on his way to work, sometimes just out for the pleasure of riding. “Reggie” is the President of Off The Front Sports, a not for profit, youth cycling team based out of London. Not surprisingly for a rink rat, he is also a diehard London Knights fan.  

Heather has been a passionate and dedicated member of the Western Fair Association for more than three decades; that’s a long time with one organization.  Ask her why and she will tell you, “The Association's mission, its values and great people.” - that’s her short answer.  

If you get a chance to sit and talk shop with Heather, who has held many WFA roles throughout her career, you will feel her deep love and appreciation for the place and the people.  It is not uncommon to hear her reference what she calls ‘the magic’ of WFA, because you don’t devote that much time to something you don’t enjoy doing every day.  

Heather in her executive role as Culture Liaison engages with internal and external stakeholders representing WFA and sharing the story and opportunities to work with and collaborate on, events and programming with our progressive, innovative and unique Agricultural Society.  

Heather shares with team-members and business partners alike why WFA is unique in the communities it serves.  “It’s a mature not-for-profit organization – almost 160 years and still strong, and its longevity is due to our innovative, progressive, and community-focused actions which are guided by the collective heart of our people.”

Heather believes strongly that the generational experience passed along through the years from our Membership, Board, Volunteers and Employees has defined WFA’s culture as one that is most successful when it is – respectful, inclusive, decent and caring, providing a place and space for people to belong. She is the perfect choice to embrace WFA’s new Culture Liaison role, and she is delighted to support the Association’s ability to foster well-being for WFA and the community it serves, now and into the future.

Ken began his career in the Fair and Event Centre industry at the Western Fair Association (WFA) in 1991, a place, and people; he holds near and dear. He held many roles at WFA including Projects and Facilities Manager, and Director of Operations, before being pulled away to bring his well-respected experience and dedication to another in the fair industry, but truth be told he left his heart at Western Fair.  

Following several years applying his expertise in Fair Management, Master Site Planning, Capital Projects, Security and Facility Operations at the OC Fair & Event Centre in Costa Mesa, California as the Chief Operating Officer, his heart called him home.      

Returning to WFA in August 2025, as Vice President of Operations, Ken is committed to helping WFA contribute to our vibrant community.  Now responsible for the Fair, which holds a special place in his heart, as well as Event and Facility Operations, Food & Beverage, Security, Environmental Stewardship, and the Master Site Plan, Ken is proud to continue the operational legacy he started as a young man with WFA.  

Ken is focused on our future and the ability of our sites and facilities to continue to serve our community for generations to come, and we are delighted to have him back on the team.  

Kris Dinel is a hometown guy, with a heart of gold, and lots of hustle.  He spent his first 17 years working and learning the business of WFA, and he fell in love with the organization’s ability to contribute to community.  

Kris is a natural networker and collaborator, and you have likely connected with Kris at some point from his early days at the Sports Centre, and numerous roles in sales, sponsorship, marketing, entertainment, business development, the heart and soul of our organization - the Fair, and many Boards and Committees around the City.  

He stepped away for a few years to focus on other experiences, starting his own businesses and raising a family of four with his wife Stacy, never losing touch with WFA.  We were delighted when Kris returned to the place he belonged in 2024, to help in the final stretch of the Association’s latest agri-food business, The Grove, and jumped right in like he never left.      

Heart and hard work pay-off at WFA and Kris recently accepted the position of Vice President of Strategy leading the future vision of the District.  If he hasn’t met you, he would love to and share why his heart never left the Association and some of the strategies WFA is working on now.    

 Zohaib joined the Association in 2022 as a young man, with a new family, in a new country who had decided to make Canada his home. All he needed at the time was that first big opportunity to build his career and start his life and lucky for us - he applied to Western Fair Association.  

Recognizing his work experience as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with skills in finance, audit, and corporate governance would mesh beautifully with our not-for-profit agriculture society, we were excited to have him join our team. His global and national experience with previous companies would also inject WFA with fresh perspective, innovative ideas and little did we know at the time, a great sense of humour.  

His financial skill was impressive but what really stood out for our team was his desire to make a difference in his new community, his care and compassion, his work ethic and a heart of gold. He came from a land far away, but Zohaib is Canadian to the core, and a true-blue believer in WFA’s capacity to contribute to our community’s well-being.    

More importantly, we feel he was meant to be a part of this team, at this time in WFA’s history, and will play a key role in advancing the Association’s long-term strategic, major projects, and capital plans as our new Vice President of Finance.  

If you haven’t had a chance to connect with Zohaib at the District, you might run into him at a Cricket field, or the latest restaurant – he is a foodie, but if he’s not with his WFA family, he is busy being a dad and husband and all that comes with raising a family.    

Rob often refers to himself as wearing many hats at Western Fair, and that’s true. He’s a Midway Manager for our annual fair - look for the tallest guy on the fairgrounds wearing a Western Fair ballcap and you’ve found Rob. A life-long rink rat, he runs the Sports Centre currently and has coached his daughter’s hockey team from time-to-time, so let's throw a helmet in his hat pile. He has overseen facilities, grounds and event operation teams so he must have a hard hat somewhere, and recently he accepted the new challenge of overseeing WFA’s Food and Beverage operations, so now we have to get him a chef’s hat!  

All this variety makes Rob a jack of all things at The District, and we are so fortunate to have his knowledge and expertise in those areas, which is now focused on our future with some exciting new food and beverage experiences and strategies in the works. Rob is a gifted conversationalist; he has a hundred great stories to share about Western Fair and the innovative experiences we offer and how we can all help contribute to a vibrant community. So, we hope you get a chance to connect with Rob in the community, or come on by and check out the District, he’s our best tour guide, with a sense of humour to boot.  

When not at work, Rob enjoys spending time with his wife Brandy, daughter Daisy, and two dogs. And that chef’s hat we got him; he wears it at home too.  Rob makes a mean brisket and is known for attempting new culinary creations on the stove, smoker and charcoal grill for his family and friends. He’s a team player as an avid hockey, golf and slo-pitch player and he most proud to be part of our team, helping to deliver our signature event, creating vibrant, inclusive and innovative experiences, and ensuring Western Fair District is a place everyone can have a little fun and belong. 

Greg has been with the Association since 2010, beginning as announcer and assistant manager at The Raceway before moving into the position of Director of Racing and recently transitioning back into Director of Equine Programming.  

His proudest accomplishment at WFD was his team’s work in positioning The Raceway as the highest wagering Signature racetrack in Canada – a business unit the new Raceway team continues to take to new heights.  

Having grown up in Prince Edward Island he was exposed to Agriculture and realized how critical the industry is in people’s everyday lives. He is proud to be part of an organization that supports all facets of the Agri-food industry.  

Greg is a ‘wannabe’ culinary master who enjoys creating new dishes. He also enjoys days at the beach or a round of golf whenever possible. He also stays involved with the broadcast side of the industry and hosts race coverage annually on CBS sports in the U.S. and for Primetime Racing in Canada.  

Michelle began with the Western Fair Association in 1996 at the IMAX Theatre, where she started as a student. Since then, she has embraced every opportunity to learn and grow, taking on a variety of roles that have deepened her understanding of the organization and the people who make it special.

Driven by a strong commitment to supporting others, Michelle pursued studies in Human Resource Management and earned her Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) designation. She brings both expertise and empathy to her role, championing mental health, well-being, and community engagement. Her goal is to foster a workplace where employees feel supported, valued, and empowered, contributing to a culture of collaboration, respect, and engagement.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time outdoors—gardening, paddleboarding, hiking, and playing pickleball—and is passionate about staying active and connected with her family and community. 

Angela has spent over 15 years leading marketing for various organizations within London.  She began her career with Western Fair Association from 2010-2013 in digital marketing, winning international awards for her social media campaigns for the 2012 Fair.  

In her time away, she continued her marketing leadership holding VP and Director roles within successful finance and software companies including CitiFinancial, Voices.com, and HRdownloads. She was also proud of the work she did within start-ups including launching The Factory Adventure Park within 100 Kellogg in 2018 and a construction management software, Graditi, in 2025.  

Angela returned to Western Fair Association in 2025, excited to use her creative skills, collaborative approach and forward-thinking approach towards an aligned passion of building a strong London community through shared experiences and events.  

Angela loves to spend her free time hosting her own events for friends and family, as well as painting watercolours and acrylics. 

Jennifer von Ruczicki leads with heart, purpose, and a deep commitment to strengthening community connections. Having first worked with Western Fair Association from 1999 to 2011, Jennifer returned in 2025 to continue fostering meaningful partnerships, creative events, and initiatives that celebrate the region’s agricultural roots while inspiring innovation and belonging.

With over 25 years of experience in event and project management, Jennifer has held leadership roles with Fanshawe College, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and London Health Sciences Centre. She’s known for her collaborative approach, community spirit, strategic mindset, and passion for helping others thrive.

Outside of work, Jennifer proudly serves as an Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces in the Cadet Instructors Cadre (COATS/CIC), mentoring youth in leadership and citizenship. She’s been happily married to her husband, William, since 2004, and together they share the joy of raising two wonderful sons. 

Tara began her career at Western Fair District in 2011, starting in the Finance department, where she gained a strong understanding of the Association’s financial processes and internal operations. Over time, she transitioned into the role of Executive Assistant, where she supports the organization’s membership, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team.

Born and raised in London, Ontario, Tara has a deep-rooted connection to the city and a strong sense of community. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband Ben, their dog, and two sons. Whether cheering them on at the hockey rink, playing pickleball, or relaxing with family and friends, she enjoys making memories with the people closest to her.

Looking ahead, Tara is excited to continue growing in her role while staying connected to the heart of the organization and the community she calls home.