Program at a Glance

Ice Breaker Reception

Prince George Conference & Civic Centre – Trade Show Areas 
The official kick-off to the convention, connect with colleagues and friends while enjoying some food and drinks.

Continental Breakfast

Early risers, come and enjoy some breakfast before an eventful day.

OFFICIAL WELCOME

• Greg Stewart, President, Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. & Chair, COFI Board of Directors
• Chief Dolleen Logan, Lheidli T’enneh
• His Worship Simon Yu, Mayor, City of Prince George
• Kiel Giddens, MLA, Prince George-Mackenzie
• Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, COFI

OPENING KEYNOTE

SPEAKER

• Regional Chief Terry Teegee, British Columbia Assembly of First Nations

MODERATOR

• Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, COFI

SESSION 1 – KEYNOTE

BC FOREST SECTOR ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

SPEAKER

• Kurt Niquidet, Vice President & Chief Economist, COFI

SESSION 1.5 – PANEL

ADVANTAGE / DISADVANTAGE BC? Where Do We Stand on Forest Sector Competitiveness and Sustainability? A Comparison with Other Forest Jurisdictions

PANELISTS

• Kurt Niquidet, Vice President & Chief Economist, COFI
• Glen O’Kelly, Director, O’Kelly Acumen

SESSION 2 – PANEL

ROUGH WATERS AHEAD: Navigating Global Markets

PRESENTER AND MODERATOR

• Russ Taylor, President, Russ Taylor Global

PANELISTS

• Kate Lindsay, Senior VP & Chief Sustainability Officer, Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)
• Mark Cameron, Fellow & Lead, Canada-US Relations Strategy, Public Policy Forum (PPF)
• Shawn Lawlor, Managing Director, Canada Wood Japan

SESSION 3 – SPOTLIGHTS

INTRODUCTION

• Kylie Williams, BC Regional Director, Foresight Canada

1. NEW TAKES ON HOT BUILDINGS

• Tim Caldecott, Senior Director, Sustainable Construction, Carbon & Market Economics, FPInnovations

2. HOT TAKES ON NEW TECH

• Todd Sayers, Chief Operating Officer, BC Centre for Innovation in Clean Energy

LUNCHEON PANEL

THE NEXT 4 YEARS: Canada / US Relations & Forest Products Trade

PANELISTS

• Glen Clark, Chair, BC Hydro & Former Premier of BC
• James Moore, Senior Advisor, Edelman & Former Federal Minister for Industry, Asia- Pacific Gateway
• Mark Cameron, Fellow & Lead, Canada-US Relations Strategy, Public Policy Forum (PPF)

MODERATOR

• Corinne Stavness, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Western Forest Products

SESSION 4 – PANEL

BREAKING NEW GROUND: Conservation, Consultation and Careers in BC’s Working Forest

PANELISTS

• Michael Reid, BC Program Director, Nature United
• Lennard Joe, CEO, BC First Nations Forestry Council
• Aspen Dudzic, Director of Communications, Alberta Forest Products Association & “Forestry Together” Initiative

MODERATOR

• Jason Fisher, Executive Director, Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC)

SESSION 5 – PANEL

Growing the Domestic Market for BC Wood

MODERATOR

• Shawn Keyes, Executive Director, WoodWorks BC

DAY 2 OPENING & WELCOME

• Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, COFI

SESSION 6 – KEYNOTE & PANEL

LANDSCAPE TO LOCAL: Integrated solutions to wildfire, conservation, community safety, and economic development

KEYNOTE

• John Kitzhaber, Former Governor of the State of Oregon

PANELISTS

• Ward Stamer, MLA Kamloops-North Thompson and BC Conservative Critic for Forests
• Klay Tindall, General Manager, Lil’Wat Forestry Ventures
• James Whitehead, Engagement Analyst, Mitigating Wildfire Initiative, SFU Wosk Centre for Dialogue

MODERATOR

• Zara Rabinovitch, Vice President, Sustainability & Public Affairs, COFI

SESSION 7 – PANEL
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Let’s talk about fibre

PANELISTS

• George Abbott, Former BC Cabinet Minister & Member, BC Timber Sales Review Task Force
• David Elstone, Managing Director, Spar Tree Group
• Makenzie Leine, Vice President, Business Development, A&A Trading
• Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director, BC Community Forest Association

MODERATOR

• Michael Armstrong, VP and Chief Forester, COFI

SESSION 8 – SPOTLIGHT
THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY IN BC

SPEAKER

• Hon. Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Province of BC

SESSION 9 – PANEL
CALM, COOL & COLLABORATIVE: Leadership in Turbulent Times

PANELISTS 

• Hon. Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests, Province of BC
• Chief John Jack, Huu-ay-aht First Nation
• Juan Carlos Bueno, President & CEO, Mercer International

MODERATOR

• James Gorman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, West Fraser

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE

SPEAKER

• Hon. David Eby, Premier, Province of BC (invited)

MODERATOR

• Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, COFI

PROGRAM WRAP-UP

• Kim Haakstad, President & CEO, COFI