Speakers

Bill Adams

Vice President, Sustainability & Innovation, Mercer

Bill Adams, Vice President, Sustainability & Innovation joined Mercer in 2019. Bill is responsible for leading Mercer’s integrated sustainability strategy for their global operations. Bill has worked in a wide range of leadership roles in both Canada and the United States over the past 35 years, with his roles focused on engineering, manufacturing excellence, ESG strategy and corporate development. These roles took place with Weyerhaeuser and Domtar before joining Canfor in 2014 where Bill served as the Sr. Director, Sustainability, Strategy & Innovation based in Vancouver.   

Bill Adams is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA in International Management from APIU. In 2020, Bill was the recipient of the UBC Dean’s Medal of Distinction in the Faculty of Applied Science. Bill has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia since 1987 and currently serves on the board of FPInnovations. 

Sharleen Gale

Chief, Fort Nelson First Nation and Chair, First Nations Major Projects Coalition

Sharleen Gale has been an elected Councillor of the Fort Nelson First Nation since 2009. She is an active indigenous leader and member of the Fort Nelson First Nation and envisions a future where all members are working together to become a strong, proud, healthy, and self-reliant Nation. She is the grand-daughter of Fred Burke and Madeline Needlay. Her roots run deep in the lives of her people and she enjoys being on the land with her family exploring the territory and teaching her son the traditional ways on how to hunt, fish, and gather medicines and berries during the seasonal rounds. 

As a leader and Chief of the Nation, she understands the importance of upholding the spirit and intent of the treaty by asserting her peoples’ rights to their land and taking responsibility for ensuring that our future generations are able to live their lives in their territory in a way that honours our ancestors. Sharleen started her career at Westcoast Energy Inc. in 2000. Her various roles working in Administration, Finance, Maintenance, Planning and in Leadership have given her extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, the corporate world and the vision to ensure our people are managing our lands and our resources in our territory to the benefit of our members.  

Sharleen is the chair of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) and believes that First Nations need to have the opportunity to have equity in major project infrastructure and access to meaningful financing for these projects happening in their territories. One that focuses on a balance approach of economic prosperity and environmental stewardship. Several First Nations have formed the First Nations Major Projects Coalition for the purposes of examining how ownership of major resource projects on their lands could be facilitated and how environmental practices can be improved to meet their needs. 

The work of the FNMPC is directed through feedback received from the First Nations participating in the Coalition.

If you would like to contact Chief Gale, please email her at sharleen.gale@council.fnnation.ca 

Dr. Caroline Dépatie

Associate Dean, BCIT, School of Construction and Environment

Dr. Caroline Dépatie is an Associate Dean at BCIT in the School of Construction and Environment with a portfolio in Natural Resources and Environment which includes the Forest and Natural Areas Management Diploma.  Her academic experience is deep and includes administrative, faculty and research work for Capilano University, University of British Columbia, the College of the Rockies and Lincoln University in New Zealand. Caroline is passionate about educating the next generation of forest workers and excited to participate in this future of work panel.  

Chief Dolleen Logan

Chief of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation

Chief Dolleen Logan was elected Chief of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation on April 8, 2021. She is the 2nd woman Chief of the Lheidli T’enneh. 

Prior to her election as Chief, she served as Councilor for six years. Chief Logan has worked for the nation for the past 14 years in various capacities. 

Chief Logan brings a team-oriented approach to Council operations. She has also followed-up on her commitment to involve Lheidli Elders more in key decision making. She is also a strong advocate for regular communication with members as Council’s job is to serve the nation.   

In her spare time, Chief Logan enjoys time with her family and enjoys camping, cooking, and reading. 

Terry Teegee

Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations

Terry Teegee, is the elected Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and proudly serving his second term in this position. Terry’s ancestry is Dakelh, Gitxsan and Sekani descent and is a member of Takla Nation. As a former Registered Professional Forester, Terry was responsible for looking after the forests, forest lands and forest resources. Terry is deeply involved in natural resources development and the pertaining policies. As Regional Chief, he was an instrumental voice in the development and historic passing of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).  

Terry’s strong leadership, both provincially and nationally, was vital on the following portfolios and issues: 

• AFN Chair on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Committee 
• Co-Chair of the AFN National Fisheries Committee 
• Co-Lead on the AFN Justice and Policing Portfolio 

• Co-Chair for the Champions Table with BC Business Council 
• Tripartite Working Group (TWG) member to implement Bill C-92, Indigenous Child Welfare Jurisdiction Bill to implement the Commitment Document Provincially 
• AFN Representative on the UN Convention of Biodiversity 
• Member of the BC First Nation Gaming Commission 

Terry is known for his caring and collaborative leadership. He worked to unify and support people working together towards the recognition of our inherent rights and Title, Treaty Rights and Human Rights as Indigenous Peoples. 

Previous to become the Regional Chief, Terry was the elected Tribal Chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) from 2012-2017 and CSTC Vice Tribal Chief from 2009-2012. Previous to his political aspirations, Terry held forestry and natural resources roles with the CSTC and Takla Nation. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Resources Management (Forestry) and also a Natural Resources Technology Diploma. 

Terry and his wife Rena Zatorski have been married for 20 years and have two children, Rylie and Rowan. They reside on Lheidli T’enneh Shelley Reserve, 22 kms up the Fraser River from Prince George. 

Corinne Stavness

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

Corinne Stavness is a strategic leader with a proven record of successfully building common positions and mutually beneficial partnerships. As both a communications professional and a Registered Professional Forester, she has held senior roles in government, industry and non-profit organizations over her 20 years in the forest sector. Driven by a belief that forestry has an important role to play in society – both locally and globally – Corinne works with senior government officials, local communities, First Nations and companies to develop practical solutions to complex challenges. She joined Western Forest Products in 2022 as Vice President, Corporate Affairs and holds a Master’s Degree in Forest Economics and Policy from the University of Helsinki and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from UBC.

Joel McKay

CEO, Northern Development

Joel McKay is the CEO of Northern Development, a regional development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth in Northern British Columbia. Joel joined Northern Development in June 2012, where he handled the Trust’s communications and marketing and research. Prior to that, Joel was assignment editor at Business in Vancouver Newspaper and a journalist specializing in coverage of B.C.’s natural resource industries. Joel is an award-winning public relations professional and journalist and a proud British Columbian with family roots in the Robson Valley. He currently serves on Destination BC’s board of directors, the University of Northern B.C.’s Board of Governors and is a published author. Joel, his wife Debra and their two daughters call Prince George home.

David Elstone

Managing Director, Spar Tree Group Inc. Publisher, View From The Stump

David is a professional forester and a highly regarded forest industry expert with over thirty years of experience within the sector. David is the managing director of Spar Tree Group Inc., a consultancy firm, and the publisher of the View From The Stump newsletter as well as the associated blog, Right From The Stump. Prior to founding the Spar Tree Group, David was the executive director of the Truck Loggers Association (TLA), advocating on behalf of the businesses supporting the BC forest industry’s supply chain. Before the TLA, David worked for ten years as a senior financial analyst for ERA Forest Products Research, advising institutional investors, manufacturers, and governments on global forest product markets. In the earliest part of his career, David spent over a decade working in British Columbia’s forests. David’s consulting clientele and newsletter subscribers benefit from his unique background in BC forest policy and politics, the forest products sector and forest management by providing an independent perspective of the trends and issues affecting the British Columba forest industry. David has a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of British Columbia.

Domenico Iannidinardo

Chief Forester and Senior Vice-President, Forest & Climate at Mosaic

Domenico delivers over two decades of leadership and executive management experience to the forest industry and has been at the front of its ESG evolution. This work continues in his role as Chief Forester and Senior Vice-President of Forest & Climate at Mosaic as well as through his commitment as an active board member of the Marmot Recovery Foundation and the Private Forest Landowners Association, as President of the Association of Professional Biology and as  Co-Chair of the BC Forest Genetics Council and  Chair of the Canadian Federation of Forest Owners. 

Domenico holds degrees in forest operations and business administration from the University of British Columbia and Royal Roads University. He is an active proponent of professionalism and partnerships in all aspects of natural resource management, including through his membership in the Canadian Institute of Forestry, and as a Registered Professional Forester, Registered Professional Biologist and Professional Engineer. 

Dr Dominik Roeser

Associate Professor, Forest Operations, University of British Columbia

Dr Dominik Roeser is an Associate Professor in Forest Operations at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver where he is supporting the next generation of foresters as Program Director for Forest Resources Management and Forest Operations. He is leading a multidisciplinary research lab at UBC focusing on supply chain design, forest technology implementation, stakeholder engagement and biomass procurement.  Prior to UBC, Dr. Roeser was working at FPInnovations where he, as Senior Director, managed a multidisciplinary team focused on improving the competitiveness of the forest sector and developing practical solutions to improve efficiency in Western Canada. Dr. Roeser has an extensive background in building and leading strong national and international networks and projects focused on academic excellence, innovation delivery and implementation. He has more than 22 years of experience in forest research and innovation and has been working to innovative the forest sector and develop solutions that support sustainability and the emerging bioeconomy both in Europe and in Canada. In 2022 Dr. Roeser was nominated to the External Review Panel of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and is currently the Acting Department Head for the Department of Forest Resources Management.  

Francois Dufresne 

President, FSC Canada

A recognized leader in the forestry sector and visionary, Mr. Dufresne has been President of FSC Canada since 2012. He holds a forestry engineering degree from Laval University and an MBA. 

Mr. Dufresne has 35 years of experience in the public and private sectors where he has a proven track record in the field of financing and investment and he has in-depth knowledge of the forest industry, both at the corporate and operational level. In his duties at SGF (Société générale de financement du Québec), he played a leading role in sustainable development initiatives relating to major expenditures in forest management, forest certification and the First Nations of Canada. 

Through its contribution and vision, FSC Canada continues to exert its influence and leadership in the forest certification promoting higher standards for responsible management of Canadian forests, including upholding the rights of Indigenous people. 

Hayley Woodin

Editor-in-Chief, Business in Vancouver Media Group

Hayley Woodin is the Editor-in-Chief of Business in Vancouver Media Group, a division of the largest business news group in Western Canada. She is a North American correspondent for BBC Radio’s Business Matters program, an Overseas Press Club Foundation Scholar, a Pulitzer Travelling Fellow, a Pulitzer Center Fellow and a Gumshoe Reporting Fellow. In 2022, Hayley graduated at the top of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism class, as valedictorian, with a master’s of science degree in journalism. She has more than a decade of experience working in media relations, communications and journalism.

Jason Fisher

Partner, Advisory Services, Forestry Leader

Jason is a Partner with MNP, and one of the firm’s sustainable resource and forestry specialists. Jason brings 20 years of diverse and progressively responsible experience in the sustainable resources sector, focused primarily on the public sector, and forestry and bioenergy industries.  He has worked in the forest sector as a legal advisor, as an executive for leading lumber and wood pellet manufacturers, and as Associate Deputy Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development for the Province of BC under both Liberal and NDP governments. This mix of experience gives him unique perspective and insight into the dynamic and evolving natural resources sector. Jason also advises on issues as diverse as international trade in forest products, government relations, product development, sustainable management and policy.​

As an Associate Deputy Minister, Jason was engaged in Ministerial strategic planning and engagement with the public, First Nations, other levels of government and industry on a host of issues and programs including Forest Industry Competitiveness, the Softwood Lumber dispute, the Rural Dividend Program, the Forest Enhancement Society and others.​

Jason’s clients at MNP include forest product manufacturers, contractors, First Nations and forest and construction sector associations.​

Jason’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science, Natural Resource Management (Forestry), from the University of Northern British Columbia and a law degree from UBC. He is also a Registered Professional Forester and a non-practicing member of the Law Society of BC.​

Kurt Slocombe

Vice President, Operations, Planning & Infrastructure, Prince Rupert Port Authority

Kurt Slocombe is the Vice President, Operations, Planning & Infrastructure, at the Prince Rupert Port Authority. In this role, he provides strategic and managerial leadership in the planning, development, operations, and maintenance of the Port’s infrastructure. He’s accountable for the safe, secure and efficient use of Port facilities and critical infrastructure assets, and for the application of the Canada Marine Act and Canada Port Authority Operating Regulations as they pertain to port operations’ practices and procedures.

Kurt moved to Prince Rupert in 2007 as part of the start up team for Fairview Container Terminal.  During his time at the terminal Kurt held positions of increased responsibility, including Director of Operations, as well as Director, Gateway Operations Centre (a joint venture between DP World and CN Rail). Kurt has a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree from the University of Manitoba Asper School of Business. He lives with his wife, Julie, and their four children in Prince Rupert.   

Kate Lindsay

Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)

Kate Lindsay, is the Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC). Kate is responsible for working with FPAC members and partners on environmental leadership, including; net-zero, sustainability, climate change adaptation and resiliency, species at risk and biodiversity conservation. Kate has been with FPAC for over ten years. 

Kate is from British Columbia and prior to working at FPAC, Kate held roles with government, the forest industry and with an environmental consulting firm. She is currently a member of the Nature Advisory Committee of the federal government, as well as a member of the ‘Economy and Workers’ table advising on the National Adaptation Strategy.

Lennard Joe

Registered Professional Forester, Member, Nlaka’pamux First Nation, CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council

Lennard, (Traditional name of Suxwsxwwels, meaning Grizzly Man) brings over 30 years of natural resources and business experience into his current roles. He is a Registered Professional Forester, a member of the Nlaka’pamux First Nation, and CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council. 
As the original stewards, and with a knowledge that goes back generations, First Nations are key players in the transformation of the forest sector within their traditional territories, addressing the economic, social/cultural, and environmental challenges of managing forest lands and resources. Lennard is actively involved in the resource sector within his territory as well as throughout Canada and the world. 
Living in balance, Lennard carries the corporate knowledge of his nation and continues to practice its protocols and traditions. His role as an Indigenous professional forester has opened doors in Indigenous Governance, provincial and federal government, industry, academia, and forest certification. 
Lennard has served — and continues to serve — on many boards of societies and companies: 
• Chair, Scw’exmx Tribal Council 
• Director, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) 
• Director, Project Learning Tree (PLT) Canada 
• Director, National Aboriginal Forestry Association 
• Director, Nicola Similkameen Innovative Forestry Society 
• Director, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology Board of Governors 
• Director, Interior Loggers Association.

Mayor Simon Yu

City of Prince George

Mayor Simon Yu has been an active member of the Prince George Community for nearly 50 years.   

Mayor Yu’s scope of work and community involvement includes: 

• Director for University of Northern British Columbia 
• Director for the Prince George Airport Authority 

• Founding committee member of Woodwords Initiative 

Mayor Yu is a professional engineer who has taught engineering at College of New Caledonia and he had an active consulting engineering business servicing the Northern B.C. region prior to becoming the Mayor of Prince George. 

Greg Stewart

President, Sinclar Group

A Chemical Engineering graduate of the University of British Columbia, Greg began his career working at Teck Cominco’s metallurgical facility in Trail, British Columbia. After completing an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario in 2005, Greg returned to Prince George, BC to work for the family business, Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. Greg spent his first three years leading Winton Homes, where he gained valuable experience in the retail and engineering side of the business. Greg was named Interim President of Sinclar Group Forest Products in January 2009, and President in October 2009. 

Sinclar Group is an integrated forest products company founded in 1962 by Greg’s grandfather, Bob Stewart, in partnership with Ivan Andersen. The company continues to operate today by the same values upon which it was founded: leadership, family and community. Sinclar Group has grown to be a leading supplier of SPF stud lumber to North America and Japan through its Apollo, Lakeland and Nechako mills. Included in the group of companies are Premium Pellet, Winton Homes and Cottages, and other partnerships aimed at extracting the full value of the fibre processed.  

In addition to his role at Sinclar, Greg serves as Chair of the Council of Forest Industries and Wood WORKS! BC provincial steering committee, a Governor at the University of Northern British Columbia, a Director on the Board of the BC Lumber Trade Council, and Past Chair for BC Wood. 

Greg lives with his wife and two daughters in Prince George, British Columbia. 

Mitchell Zulinick 

CEO and COO, Arrow Transportation Systems Inc. | CEO and Chairman, BioNorth Energy | President, Streamline Transportation Technologies Inc.

Mr. Zulinick has held roles in operations, marketing, strategic development, and senior leadership for over 30 years.  Has been involved in and led businesses including transportation, distribution, materials handling, logistics, manufacturing, marine services, software development and bio energy.  In his current role, he is responsible for all key operating and support activities for the Arrow Group of Companies. 

Melissa Sanderson

Assistant Deputy Minister, BC Public Service

Melissa’s career in the resource sector began when she was with Nova Scotia Power. She moved back to BC to pursue a career with the BC Public Service. She worked with the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources until she became Assistant Deputy Minister for the Forest Policy and Indigenous Relations Division in the Ministry of Forests. The Division is now called the Timber, Range, and Economics Division. 

Melissa is dedicated to supporting the economic development, building strong communities across the province and Indigenous reconciliation. As ADM responsible for the Intentions Paper, she is leading the modernization of the forest sector to meet today’s current challenges and opportunities in forest management. In April 2022, Melissa became the lead ADM for the Ministry of Forests Safety Program and is also responsible for Timber Pricing, BCTS Provincial Operations, Compensation and Business Analysis, Trade,  Economics and Range. 

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Simon Fraser University, grew up in Surrey, BC and currently resides in Victoria.  

Ray Ferris

President and Chief Executive Officer, West Fraser

Ray Ferris is the President and Chief Executive Officer of West Fraser. Ray joined West Fraser in 1997 and has held a number of positions in Alberta and British Columbia including Vice-President, Lumber, Vice-President, Wood Products, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer and President and Chief Operating Officer. Ray is a professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.

Cheryl Jahn

Reporter, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group

Cheryl Jahn has lived in Prince George since 1995, and has covered stories around forestry extensively. A graduate of Carleton University and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, she has been a member of the media since 1993, launching her career in Grand Forks, BC. She has been in Prince George, reporting for radio, print and television since 1995. 

Tricianne Kasubuchi

Director, Talent Development, Canfor 

Tricianne brings over 25 years of expertise in Learning and Leadership Development, Talent Management, and Change Management as a seasoned talent development practitioner. With a strategic mindset and a passion for creating scalable, human-centered solutions, she has helped organizations unleash the full potential of their most valuable asset, their people. Having worked across diverse industries, including Retail, Financial, and Tech, she currently serves as the Director of Talent Development at Canfor, where she leads the execution of the company’s talent strategy that is focused on cultivating a future-ready workforce equipped to fill critical roles that will help to drive Canfor’s success.

Rod Bianchini

Chief Strategy & Compliance Officer

Rod Bianchini is a passionate advocate of the skilled trades, where he continues to push for accessibility to training and careers and is a driving force behind the new Skilled Trades Certification.    

He brings an extensive background in the skilled trades to his position, as a qualified Roofer. For almost a decade, Rod has shaped the success of SkilledTradesBC, starting as the Manager of Apprenticeship Advisors in 2013 and then being appointed as Director of Industry Relations. This was followed by his appointment to Chief Operation Officer, a role in which he leveraged his passion for collaboration and intentional engagement to provide strategic direction to his team and their work with the Sector Advisory Groups and other industry stakeholders. He also worked closely with the Indigenous Initiatives team to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities through innovative community-based training programs and partnerships. 

Elizabeth Shirt

President, GLOBE Series

Elizabeth is a recognized energy, sustainability, and clean technology expert with nearly 20 years of experience. She has spent her career working with industry, innovators, investors, governments and environmental organizations, in pursuit of the policy, technical, financial and cultural solutions that will help accelerate a cleaner, more sustainable future. As President of GLOBE Series, she leads a passionate and highly skilled team that convenes the innovators and changemakers who are accelerating the clean economy.

In her previous role as Emission Reductions Alberta’s Executive Director of Policy and Strategy, Elizabeth was responsible for leading on strategic initiatives and events. These ranged from developing ERA’s Technology Roadmap to delivering its biennial, three-day SPARK conference. She led the organization’s strategic stakeholder engagement and partnerships initiatives, and held the pen on its annual business plan.

Prior to joining ERA, Elizabeth served in various roles with the Government of Alberta, including Director of the Climate Change Secretariat that supported the development of Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan and Director of Innovation Policy and Programs within Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education. Elizabeth’s previous experience also includes providing government relations support to Capital Power and providing policy advice to the Canadian Electricity Association in Ottawa and the Nuclear Energy Institute in Washington, DC.

Elizabeth has a master’s degree in economics from George Mason University and bachelor’s degrees in economics and geography from the University of Mary Washington.

Doug Rooke

General Manager, Winton Homes

Doug is a senior forest industry leader with over 30 years of experience currently overseeing Sinclar Forest Group’s custom home manufacturing business in Prince George, BC.  Doug has worked primarily within the forest sector throughout his career with previous roles in forest management planning with both Sinclar Forest Products and BC Timber Sales, then as Director of Corporate Procurement with Canfor, and more recently as VP Capital and Energy with Conifex Timber Inc.  Doug is now focused on leading a growth oriented team at Winton Homes to capitalize on significant off-site manufacturing opportunities in the commercial and residential construction sectors.  Doug has a BSc in Forestry from UBC, a MBA from Haskayne School of Business in Calgary and is a BC Registered Professional Forester.

Clyde Scollan

President, Construction Labour Relations Association of British Columbia

Clyde Scollan is president of the Construction Labour Relations Association of British Columbia. Previously, within the association, Scollan held the positions of director of labour relations and labour relations officer. Active in his community, he currently serves as a board member of the BC Centre for Women in the Trades. He is a past board member and past president of Skills Canada BC. Scollan holds his bachelor of commerce from the University of British Columbia. 

Kelly Levis

VP, Industrial Products, CN

Kelly Levis was appointed Vice-President, Industrial Products in October 2018, based in Montreal. In this role, she leads the industrial products division, which oversees forest products and metals and minerals markets. Prior to that, she had been Assistant VicePresident, Industrial Products since July 2015.  

Ms. Levis joined CN in 1997 after seven years in the pharmaceutical industry. She began her career at CN as a commodity manager in CN’s Petroleum and Chemicals business unit and moved into Sales in January 2000 after being transferred to Chicago. She subsequently served as Director of Sales and Pricing for CN’s international freight forwarding subsidiary CN WorldWide Inc, Director of Supply Chain and Director Sales US.  

Ms. Levis holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago at Chicago, and a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Statistics & Decision Sciences from Concordia University in Montreal. 

R.M. (Rick) Jeffery

 President and CEO Canadian Wood Council

Rick Jeffery joined the Canadian Wood Council in February 2022 as the President and CEO.  Rick served on the CWC board for 14 years and was the Interim President and CEO from April 2018 to October 2019.  During that time, he was responsible for running CWC and Wood WORKS! and conducted a full strategic review of the organization as well as developed a new Strategic Plan and Blueprint for moving forward.  The Plan and Blueprint were unanimously adopted by the CWC Board.   

Rick Jeffery is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of proven leadership in the natural resources sector with 20 years of Association leadership.  Rick brings strong integrity-based leadership, strategic thinking, organizational management, fiscal responsibility, effective communication, and a commitment to high-quality professionalism to the Canadian Wood Council.

Laura Smith

Forest and Climate Specialist, Nature United

Laura has worked for Nature United as a Forest and Climate Specialist since 2021, focusing on natural climate solutions in Canada’s forests.  She comes from a forestry family and began her career with 14 years of working in BC forestry, including time with the BC Forest Service, International Forest Products, and the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest.  More recently, Laura spent about 12 years working on Parliament Hill on a variety of policy files, including the environment, Indigenous affairs, natural resources and fisheries.  When not working, Laura can often be found enjoying the outdoors or volunteering for Campbell River Search and Rescue. 

Hon. Nathan Cullen

Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Nathan Cullen was elected MLA for Stikine in the 2020 provincial election. He previously served as minister of Municipal Affairs, minister of state for Lands and Natural Resource Operations, as chair of the Environment and Land Use Committee and a member of the Cabinet Committee on Economy. Nathan proudly served as Member of Parliament for the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley for 15 years, from 2004 to 2019.  He is a strong advocate for the residents of Northern BC and has worked throughout his career to promote sustainable development. During his time in Ottawa, Nathan was recognized multiple times by his peers at the Maclean’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. He also served as Official Opposition House Leader and held critic roles for Finance, Natural Resources,  Environment, Ethics, and Democratic Reform. Nathan has worked to encourage the participation of young people in politics and public policy and has supported young entrepreneurs in the Northwest in starting and growing their businesses. Nathan has run a consulting business specializing in strategic planning and conflict resolution. He has previously worked in international development in Africa and South America. He lives with his wife and twin sons in Smithers.

Paul Rasmussen

President, Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association

Paul is a Registered Forest Technologist (RFT) with over 30 years of experience in BC’s Natural Resource sectors, mostly in Forestry.  He has held a diverse range of positions, both in industry and the BC Government.  During his time with the provincial government, Paul enjoyed several operational, strategic leadership and Executive roles, concluding his career with the Province as an Assistant Deputy Minister with the Ministry of Forests.  Paul is well known for his ability to connect with people, often supporting and cultivating productive relationships between others.  Paul is very much a ‘people person’, who values getting to know folks better, before he rolls up his sleeves and jumps into whatever tasks are at hand. 

Since leaving Government in 2021, Paul has been operating a consulting business, working on projects of importance to him, with a focus on Indigenous economic development and other community or forest industry centered work.   

In November 2022, Paul began working as President of the Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association, representing 12 member mills, one Community Forest Corporation and many Associate members.  This latest role is “right up Paul’s alley” offering opportunities to continue focusing on work and relationships that will help build a better future for BC’s Natural Resource Sectors and the economic stability those  sectors provide BC’s communities and its citizens. 

Hon. Bruce Ralston

Minister of Forests

Bruce Ralston was first elected MLA for Surrey-Whalley in 2005. He was re-elected in 2009, 2013 2017, and 2020. He is the Minister of Forests and previously served as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

Bruce served as the Official Opposition critic for Natural Gas Development, Trade, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, and also served as Opposition critic for finance, agriculture, international trade, the Asia Pacific strategy, and intergovernmental relations. He served as chair of the Legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts from 2009 to 2017, and as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services from 2006 to 2013.

Bruce operated his own law firm in Surrey for many years, and continues to maintain his membership in the Law Society of British Columbia.

From 1995 to 2006, Bruce was elected to four consecutive terms as a member of the VanCity Savings Credit Union board of directors. He served as a chair of the board from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, BC Business magazine recognized Bruce as one of B.C.’s five leading board chairs. From 2003 until 2005, Bruce acted as the chair of the board of VanCity Enterprises, a VanCity subsidiary with a mandate to provide innovative housing solutions throughout the Lower Mainland.

Bruce also served as a councillor on Surrey City Council for 1988 to 1993, where he advocated for planned development for healthy neighbourhoods for Surrey families. He is a former member of the Boards of Directors of Surrey Memorial Hospital and the Surrey Public Library.

A former president of the B.C. NDP, Bruce was born in Victoria and grew up in Vancouver. He has degrees in history and law from the University of British Columbia and a degree in history from the University of Cambridge in England.

Bruce is married to Miriam Sobrino. They have three children who grew up in Whalley and attended public schools in Surrey and New Westminster. Their elder son attends graduate school in the U.S., while the other two are pursuing undergraduate post-secondary degrees in Canadian universities. The family is active in their communities through a number of community and sports organizations.

Stew Gibson

COO, Paper Excellence Canada

Stew Gibson is COO of Paper Excellence Canada and oversees five pulp and paper facilities operating in western Canada.  Paper Excellence Canada is part of the PE Group which now includes Domtar and Resolute operating in North America.  Stew joined Paper Excellence Canada in 2019.  He was raised in a rural BC forestry community and now has 35 years of pulp, paper and forestry experience.  He is currently a board member with COFI and Forest Products Association of Canada.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and master’s degree in Pulp & Paper Engineering from the University of British Columbia, and an Executive Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.   

Nick Arkle

CEO, The Gorman Group

Nick is CEO for the Gorman Group based out of West Kelowna, BC with additional operations in Revelstoke, Salmon Arm, Lumby and Oroville, Wa.  Prior to this position he had been the Chief Forester of the company. He has been connected with the Gorman Group since 1975. 

Graduating from the BC Institute of Technology in the Forestry Technician program in 1980 he continued his education graduating from the University of BC in 1984 in the ‘Bachelor of Science in Forestry’ program. He obtained his Registered Professional Forester status in 1987. 

Nick served on, what was then, the ABCFP council board and was President from 1999-2000.  

He has represented the forest industry, and its interests, on many regional and provincial initiatives over the years and was the chair of COFI between 2011-2014. 

He currently sits on the board of COFI and the BC Lumber Trade Council.  

Nick believes in the full, and all, values of the land and the product in the market and that it will only be through understanding and collaboration between First Nations, government, communities, employees, contractors and customers that will achieve the full benefits that society wants to see and experience from the forest industry.   

Garry Merkel

Co-chair, B.C. Strategic Old-Growth Review Panel

Garry Merkel was the co-chair (along with Al Gorley) of the cabinet-appointed Old Growth Review Panel.  This panel conducted an extensive outreach process that received input from thousands of people across British Columbia and helped inform their final report, “A NEW FUTURE FOR OLD FORESTS, A Strategic Review of How British Columbia Manages its Old Forests Within its Ancient Ecosystems” (OGSR).  This review made 14 recommendations and summarized a prerequisite paradigm shift required to change the management approach in British Columbia from a managing for “timber subject to constraints” to “holistic ecosystem health/integrity.”   Garry was asked to return as a member of a 5-person Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel (along with Lisa Matthaus, Rachel Holt, Dave Daust and Karen Price) who was responsible for conducting a technical analysis to identify deferral areas that met the criteria established in the OGSR Recommendation 6.  Garry was asked to again return as an independent mentor, coach, facilitator and advisor to support the government in its leadership role, the forest sector and ultimately the land sector of the province through this transition. 

Sue Paish

CEO, Digital Supercluster

As CEO of the Canada’s Digital Cluster, Sue leads a portfolio of digital innovation and talent-building projects destined to deliver over $3.7 billion in anticipated revenue for Canadian companies. The Cluster’s portfolio focuses on the commercialization of Canadian-made digital technologies that improve human health, accelerate the economy to net-zero and build a skilled workforce for the digital world. The Cluster brings together industry, academic, community and public sector partners to solve some of industry and society’s biggest challenges by collaborating to build technology breakthroughs. Results to-date include a data platform adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the new global standard in the fight against anti-microbial resistance, which is currently responsible for over 5 million deaths per year; an ‘earth x-ray’ that leverages muon tomography to effectively identify and measure deposits of critical minerals up to 1 km underground; and skilling programs aimed to generate over 9,000 job placements. 

Sue also serves on the Boards of TELUS International, CORIX and Own the Podium. She has received numerous recognitions for her community contributions including a King’s Counsel, an honorary Doctorate of Technology, Influential Women in Business Lifetime Achievement Award and the Peter Lougheed Award for Public Policy. Sue’s greatest joy is spending time in Canada’s wilderness with her husband, daughters and granddaughters. 

Linda Coady

President and CEO, The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI)

Linda Coady was appointed President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) in July 2022.  COFI represents forest companies in BC that produce wood for construction, biofuels, and pulp and paper.

Prior to joining COFI, Linda was the Executive Director of the Alberta-based Pembina Institute, a leading Canadian environmental think tank on climate and energy issues. Her previous roles have also included Chief Sustainability Officer for Enbridge Inc., Vice-President of Sustainability for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Vice-President of the Pacific Region for World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada, and Vice-President of Environmental Affairs for MacMillan Bloedel Ltd and the BC Coastal Group of Weyerhaeuser Canada.

Linda has been a Distinguished Fellow at the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and has taught corporate social responsibility at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. She has also served on advisory groups to different levels of government, including as a member of the City of Vancouver’s Greenest City Task Force, the 2015 Advisory Panel to the Province of Alberta on Climate Leadership, and the 2018 Generation Energy Council on Canada’s Energy Future established by Natural Resources Canada. She is currently a member of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which provides independent advice to the federal government on meeting requirements under Canada’s new Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act.

David Coletto

CEO, Abacus Data

Dr. Kathy Lewis

Interim Vice-President Research and Innovation, and the Interim Dean Faculty of Environment at the University of Northern British Columbia

Hon. David Eby

Premier of British Columbia