Thank you for joining us at the 2024 Forest NB Industry Forum!
Event Photos
Please tag Forest NB in any online use of these photos. Need a larger copy? Email Andy at communications@forestnb.com
Download Event Presentations
Maurice LeBlanc - "Seeing the Trees for the Forest: Advances in Remote Sensing"
Thank you to our incredible speakers for helping to make the event a success!
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jamie Stephen
Managing Director of TorchLight Bioresources,
Dr. Jamie Stephen is the Managing Director of TorchLight Bioresources, a decarbonization strategy advisor and project developer providing value to governments, utilities, large industrial emitters, the transportation sector, property owners, and investment funds. Projects range from the development of energy facilities to national Net Zero strategies. Jamie has over two decades of experience in the bioenergy and carbon management industry, working at the interface of the energy, forestry, agriculture, and waste sectors. He holds a PhD in Forest and Energy Economics and a Masters in Chemical and Biological Engineering from the University of British Columbia. After growing up in the prairies and spending over a decade in Ontario, Jamie now resides with his wife and three daughters in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.
Visit www.torchlightbioresources.com to learn more.
Guest Speaker
Hon. Mike Holland
Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development, Minister of Indigenous Affairs
In his first venture into provincial politics, the Honourable Mike Holland was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in September 2018 for the riding of Albert and was re-elected in 2020 for a second term.
He was reappointed as the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development following the 2020 election.
Born in Chatham (now Miramichi), New Brunswick in 1970, Mr. Holland is the son of Phil and Brenda Holland.
Farm raised in rural New Brunswick, Mr. Holland has been an avid outdoorsperson his entire life. He is co-founder of the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation, a non-profit organization that is quickly becoming the new face of conservation in Canada.
Mr. Holland has been a local entrepreneur who sold outdoor gear which he invented. As the founder of Resourceful Redneck Inc., he successfully secured a funding partnership on the CBC TV show Dragon’s Den.
Over the years, Mr. Holland has been active with many outdoors and conservation groups, serving in various capacities from volunteer to board member.
Mr. Holland began gaining political experience in 2010, working as an executive assistant with cabinet ministers in five different provincial government departments
In his spare time, Mr. Holland enjoys exploring the outdoors with his three adult children and his partner Alison.
Event Speakers
Our event hosts diverse speakers that offer local, national, and international perspectives on innovation and opportunities in the Forest Sector.
Maurice LeBlanc
Maurice was born and grew up in NB where he still resides today. He has diverse background in forestry having worked for industry, government, forestry software developer and consultants. Maurice spans a wide range of experiences covering key aspects of forestry including strategic/operational planning, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, forest stewardship certification, carbon-based projects and of course forest inventories.
Maurice is a leader in innovative forest inventories and currently employed by Forsite Consultants as their Solution Design Specialist. He works with clients to craft custom forest inventories to meet their needs particularly in designing solutions that blend traditional methods with innovative enhanced forest inventories.
He will bring us on a journey of advancements in how new technologies have allowed us to have access to very detailed operational-level forest inventories at industrial scales.
Denis Caron
As President and CEO of the Port of Belledune, Denis Caron has a proven track record of building successful partnerships with business, government, and community leaders. A senior executive with more than 35 years’ experience working across all levels of government, Mr. Caron has demonstrated an ability to successfully negotiate critical projects and initiatives with provincial, federal, community, and industry leaders while supporting various mandates. He has also delivered, throughout his career, on the transition from strategy to tactical execution by developing and sustaining effective dialogue with and among stakeholders and key decision-makers.
Mr. Caron’s public sector experience includes almost ten years as a Deputy Minister to several departments such as Environment and Local Government, Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Fisheries, the Regional Development Corporation and Business NB. With his strong foundation in business, he managed multiple agency budgets and industry financial assistance programs.
After retiring from the Provincial Government, Mr. Caron returned to northern New Brunswick in 2015 to accept the role of President & CEO of the Belledune Port Authority, where he continues to deliver results from a vision of sustainable growth and successful regional development. He is passionate about the region and works relentlessly to support local economic and social development by maximizing results for the Port.
A husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Caron is a member of the NB Business Council, Atlantic Economic Council and serves as Director on the Board for the Association of Canadian Port Authorities.
Jason Krips
Jason Krips has been the President and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association since April 2020. AFPA is a non-profit advocacy organization that represents all of the primary forestry manufacturing companies in Alberta, including sawmilling, pulp, paper and wood pellet production. In his role, Jason works with the Alberta Forest industry and policy makers to grow this vitally important renewable and sustainable sector, which currently creates jobs for over 30,000 Albertans and generates $13.6 Billion in economic outputs annually in Alberta.
As President & CEO, Jason is accountable to the AFPA Board of Directors for providing leadership and vision to all aspects of the AFPA, including achieving strategic, financial, policy, and operating objectives. In his role, Jason leads a team of service-oriented and knowledgeable professionals to resolve tough industry challenges and to seek out industry opportunities.
Prior to joining AFPA, Jason spent nearly 20 years with the Government of Alberta in numerous roles, with his last 6.5 years as Deputy Minister of two different ministries – Economic Development, Trade and Tourism and Agriculture and Forestry.
Jason began his career in the public service in 2000 and held a variety of legislative and policy positions in several ministries. A lawyer by training, who articled at McLennan Ross, Jason has a strong and diverse background in the areas of industry policy, issues management, team building and stakeholder engagement.
Steven Street
As a long-time industry advocate, Steven has spent more than 20 years developing domestic markets for wood products by creating new opportunities, driving change, and expanding the acceptance of wood structural systems in Canada. His 14 years with the Canadian Wood Council’s WoodWorks initiative have imbued his work with a deep understanding of wood design, materials, supply, and off-site prefabrication.
In his current role, he works with a dynamic team, bringing value and new opportunities to the program’s partners. With many high-profile projects moving wood construction into the mainstream, knowledge transfer and market acceptance have never been more important to the wood industry. His approach to market transformation harnesses the power of collaboration, practitioner education, and specific project support.
Steven is an active board member of the Ontario Structural Wood Association, and sits on RESCON’s technical council, assisting with technical knowledge transfer pertaining to wood structural systems, code issues around wood use, and helping develop strategies needed build a low-carbon Ontario.
Kate Lindsay
Kate works in sustainability, biodiversity conservation, climate action and policy. She is a wildlife biologist and has spent 20 years working in the fields of species at risk recovery, sustainable resource development and more recently on Climate Change mitigation and adaptation. She has held roles with the forest industry, federal, provincial and municipal governments, as well as being the principal at an environmental consulting firm.
Kate is responsible for working with FPAC members, partners, and governments to advance environmental and climate leadership files, as well as evidence-based federal policy. Kate is a member of the National Nature Advisory Committee, the National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) Strong and Resilient Economies Roundtable, Canadian FireSmart Advisory Committee member and Forum member for the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosure.
Guilherme Simon
Guilherme is a member of the Forestry and Biomass team at AFRY Management Consulting, based in London/UK. Since joining AFRY, he has served forestry clients worldwide, focusing on wood sourcing, forest resource assessment, investment analysis, digitalization, and forest carbon. Before joining AFRY, Guilherme worked in the pulp and paper industry in Brazil in areas such as wood supply, forest operations, forest inventory, and process improvement.
Crystal Gauvin
Crystal is the primary author of FEA's Lumber Market Status & Trends newsletter and is responsible for FEA's Sawmill Profiles She also contributes to a variety of FEA’s projects and reports, enabling the company to provide a deeper analysis for clients.
Crystal has worked in the industry since 2008, previously specializing in forecasting housing, PB/MDF, and engineered lumber markets across North America.
In addition to her work at FEA, Crystal is a three-time World Cup Champion professional archer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Xavier University and a Master of Science Degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island.
Thank you to our event sponsors!
Champion Level Event Sponsor
Acadian TImber
Acadian Timber is one of the largest timberland owners in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern U.S. and has a total of approximately 2.4 million acres of land under management. Acadian, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, owns and manages approximately 760,000 acres of freehold timberlands in New Brunswick, approximately 300,000 acres of freehold timberlands in Maine and provides timber services relating to approximately 1.3 million acres of Crown licensed timberlands in New Brunswick.
Acadian’s primary business is forest management and the production of timber. Acadian has flexibility with respect to the uses of its freehold timberlands in addition to timber harvesting and strives to generate income through other opportunities including real estate and environmental solutions.
Supporter Level Event Sponsors
Arbec Forest Products
Arbec Forest Products Inc. specializes in OSB and is committed to providing its customers with high-quality, environmentally friendly, sustainable products. The company employs approximately 450 people. It has one plant in Miramichi, New Brunswick and two plants in Quebec, in Saint-Georges-de-Champlain and Amos.
Arbec Forest Products Inc. is a division of Placements Free 2 Be Inc., the holding company owned by Quebec businessman Joey Saputo
Interfor
Building Value in All Dimensions
Interfor is one of the world’s largest forest products companies with operations across North America and customers around the globe. With an annual lumber capacity of approximately 5 billion board feet from world-class facilities, we strengthen local economies, build value for our employees and customers and participate in sustainable forest management with sustainable building materials.
Exhibitor Level Event Sponsors
