Lorna Baird B.Sc., M.Sc.

Lorna Baird has been with Olds College of Agriculture & Technology since October 2021 and is kept busy with a dual role at the College. She is the Manager of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Olds College Centre for Innovation (OCCI) where she helps people with new business ideas and small to medium-sized businesses access networks of people, organizations and programs that can help them develop their entrepreneurship journey. Lorna also supports Business Development for the TACLP at the College where she continues to help those same individuals and businesses develop, validate and demonstrate new technologies or innovative techniques. 

Lorna finds it rewarding to support the development of new and innovative ideas, and her aim is to ensure current and prospective clients and partners are aware of the exciting ongoing work and potential opportunities with the College. In continuation of her passion for entrepreneurship, she also co-chairs the Central Alberta Regional Innovation Network (CARIN) which is one of eight Regional Innovation Networks, or RINs, across the province that are supported by Alberta Innovates. The networks work collaboratively and share ideas and noteworthy practices. Within the College community, Lorna is also a member of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee and the OCCI in the Community Committee.

Lorna holds a B.Sc. in Animal Science from the University of Manitoba and an M.Sc. in Livestock Behaviour and Welfare from the University of British Columbia. After her studies, she spent four years running a cattle lameness research program at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute in Northern Ireland. When she returned to Canada, Lorna settled in Calgary and worked with the livestock and poultry industries in roles at Alberta Farm Animal Care, and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. 

Outside of work, Lorna is a proud mom of her 8-year old daughter Molly (named after Lorna’s grandma in Scotland) and they recently welcomed puppy Lewis into the family — a sweet and energetic German short-haired pointer. Lorna wears a lot of hats at work and home, but loves to stay busy as you can easily tell from her bio!