2025 Star Women in Grocery Award Winner Hali Burness (Q&A)
Hali Burness
Senior Director, Finance
Conagra Brands Canada
How did you get your start in the CPG business?
My first role in the CPG industry was with Molson Coors, where I worked on the imports business, specifically focusing on the Corona brand. As this was a smaller business unit within the broader Molson Coors portfolio, I had the unique opportunity to gain end-to-end exposure to the entire business process, not just finance. I collaborated closely with teams across sales, marketing, supply chain, finance, regulatory and recycling. This experience provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the CPG landscape and equipped me with a strong foundation to contribute to larger business units by appreciating how cross-functional teams work together.
What is your proudest moment?
I'm proud to be a woman in a leadership role and strive to be intentional in how I show up both as a people leader and a business leader. I aim to lead by example, particularly in demonstrating how to navigate the responsibilities of leadership, while balancing the demands of being a working mother. I actively participate in Conagra's mentoring program and serve as the sponsor of Canada's Parents in Business Employee Resource Group.
What is a career challenge you've faced?
I have led SAP [financial management software] implementations across multiple CPG organizations. Through these experiences, I gained a deep understanding of the critical importance of master data as a foundation for success. I learned the value of clearly defining success criteria from the outset to ensure alignment and measurable outcomes.
What keeps you passionate about your work?
Collaborating with peers toward a shared goal and contributing my expertise to the team is deeply rewarding. I am passionate about helping drive strategic business decisions by leveraging analytics, data and past experiences. Whether it's supporting innovation, implementing new processes or responding to evolving consumer preferences, I thrive in the dynamic nature of the CPG industry.
What do you like most about your job?
I take great satisfaction in seeing strategy through to execution and contributing to Conagra's overall goals. I enjoy working with my team to determine the best path forward and how to achieve meaningful outcomes. At the core, I like problem-solving and my role in finance enables me to tackle complex challenges and provide thoughtful options and solutions.
What is a fun fact about you?
My husband and I camped across Canada. It was an amazing and memorable way to experience the natural beauty of our country.
Click here for the full list of 2025 Star Women in Grocery Award winners.