Canada Area Conference 2025

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Magdie de Kock lives in South Africa where she was born and raised by her devoted parents on a rural farm and enjoyed a carefree childhood. She is happily married to Johan, and they have recently celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.  Their three married children and their spouses, including four adorable grandchildren, bring joy and happiness to Magdie and her husband!  She loves spending time with her family, taking long leisurely walks with her husband on their Free State farm. Magdie loves reading, writing and cooking and her idea of happiness is sitting down with her family at the dining room table for Sunday lunch!

She is a qualified Pre-Primary School Principal and has a lively interest in education and early childhood development.  She is a Life Coach and received training in International Meeting Procedures and Meeting etiquette.  She serves on the Boards of Trustees of various South African cultural organisations. She is passionate about her interest and involvement in voluntary work and serves her local community with dedication.  

Elected to the Board of Trustees of ACWW first in 2013 as the Chairman of the Communications & Marketing Committee, Magdie was elected World President of ACWW in 2019.  In 2023 she was re-elected, unapposed, to serve in this position until 2026. She rose from a rural background in a developing country to global stages where she represents millions of members of ACWW with sincerity, confidence and enthusiasm.

Magdie agrees with the words of Maya Angelou who said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”, and she strives to apply this wisdom to her life.

Veronica Carroll is the CEO of the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island. In her

most recent leadership positions in healthcare philanthropy, Veronica has successfully raised

campaign funds for new builds and improvements to acute healthcare facilites across three

health authorities in British Columbia.

Over the past eight years in her current role, Veronica has championed a total deployment of

$60 million supporting community and public healthcare services and programs across

Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. In addition, during the onset of covid restrictions,

Veronica and her team launched a capital campaign to build and operate Q̓ʷalayu House, a

Home Away From Home in Campbell River, BC, which opened to its first family in August 2021.

Veronica and her team are currently raising $10 million for a 2025 build of the Foundation’s

third Home Away From Home on Vancouver Island. This third home will be the Foundation’s

largest, with 16 rooms for families with children accessing healthcare in Nanaimo, BC.

With an MBA in Management Consulting and over two decades as a Certified Fundraising

Executive, Veronica has a proven track record of philanthropic leadership. She has 30+ years

raising funds for pan-Canadian, provincial, regional and community health-related charities,

environmental causes, and social service agencies, and is well respected among her peers in the

philanthropic community.

Cammy is a passionate advocate for agriculture and a dedicated protector of her children’s future. Having lived in the Cowichan Valley since the age of two, she and her family have been deeply involved in the community for decades. In 2011, Cammy and her husband started Lockwood Farms, a thriving operation that supplies fresh eggs to over 8,000 people and provides organically grown vegetables to over 400 families. Under her leadership, the farm has grown from 3 laying hens to over 6,000, ensuring a market for every egg. Her expertise in the Canadian egg industry has been recognized, with Cammy serving as a witness in several parliamentary committees. She has gained valuable insights into the systems that allow 150 family-run farms to supply all of BC’s eggs.

Cammy is also a strong voice for her community, serving on several boards for community organizations. She has helped resettle refugees, organized events, fundraised, donated, and mentored other community leaders. In 2019, Cammy and her husband James were awarded BC’s Outstanding Young Farmers, a testament to their dedication and hard work. She takes pride in her products, standing behind them every week at the Duncan Farmer’s Market.

Cammy entered politics when the devastating effects of climate change threatened both her farm and her children’s future. Disappointed in the government’s response to climate catastrophes, she is determined to put people, not corporations, at the center of BC politics. Cammy’s commitment to her community and her firsthand experience in agriculture make her a powerful advocate for a sustainable and prosperous future.