Derek Brewin is the new department head of the University of Manitoba’s department of agribusiness and agricultural economics.

Brewin started the five-year appointment effective Jan. 1. He holds a B.Sc. in agricultural economics from the University of Alberta in 1986, and went on to do an M.Sc. at the University of Saskatchewan in 1994 and a PhD in agricultural, environmental and regional economics from Pennsylvania State University in 2004. Prior to pursuing his academic career, he gained significant policy and marketing analysis experience with industry, including Farm Credit Canada.

Brewin’s research focus has been on farm and firm level choices in marketing, location, innovation and production. His body of work has attracted speaking engagements with industry and government. His research has been supported by a broad range of industry groups representing both the livestock and crop sectors, by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and by the Province of Manitoba.

He has also taught marketing, agricultural financial management, policy and risk management. He has graduated 12 M.Sc. students and currently supervises one PhD and two M.Sc. students. He has received two awards in recognition of his efforts to deliver quality learning environments to his students; a Teacher of the Year award in 2013 and the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture award in 2009.