Avni Soma is a scientist, small business owner and community leader from Canmore, Alberta, with a background in healthcare and over 15 years experience in the food industry.

Committed to affecting change in local food systems, Avni launched and ran a successful organic, fair trade tea company (2006-2013), before she co-founded and developed Farm Box (2010-2016) which was acquired in 2017. Farm Box was a social business that was founded on supporting local agriculture by building direct relationships with farmers and was an early market leader in the organic food box delivery model.

Avni helped start Alpine Edible Schoolyards, a not-for-profit enterprise that combines urban farming and educational school gardens. Avni served on the board of the Bow Valley Food Alliance, a not-for-profit that fosters community-based food systems. Currently, Avni sits on the National Food Policy Advisory Council as well as on the board of Alberta Food Matters. Avni is a member of the Coalition for Healthy School Food and operates a hot lunch program that she started at École Notre-Dame des Monts in Canmore, Alberta.

A passionate cross-country skier, Avni spends her time on the trails envisioning ways to improve local food systems. She is committed to inspiring meaningful change in her community, and will always bring some Alberta carrots to the table.

Avni holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Master of Science in Physiology from the University of Calgary. She is fluent in English, French and Gujarati.