2025 Forest NB Industry Forum – Forest NB

Please join us on March 12 & 13, 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Fredericton for the 2025 Forest NB Annual General Meeting and Industry Forum.

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Purchase your Industry Forum Ticket

Tickets are now available on Eventbrite!

Please note, there will be no on-site registration and Eventbrite ticket sales end 2 days before the event.

Join us again this year for an insightful and engaging Industry Forum.

Building on the success of our previous forums, the 2025 Forest NB Industry Forum invites you to explore the future of New Brunswick’s forest sector. With the theme “Embracing Change and Growing the Impact of NB’s Forest Sector,” this year’s forum will focus on the transformative opportunities and challenges facing our industry while highlighting innovation, collaboration, and the important role of the forest sector in New Brunswick’s economic and environmental future. Join us in a dynamic, solutions-driven conversation about how we can embrace change, harness new opportunities, and continue to expand the positive impact of New Brunswick’s forests for communities, the economy, and the environment.

The Annual Industry Forum will take place March 12 & 13, 2025 at the Crowne Plaza – Lord Beaverbrook Hotel. This event hosts diverse speakers and exhibitors offering valuable perspectives on innovation and opportunities in the Forest Sector.

Event Agenda

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

1:30p-3:30p -Forest NB AGM (Garrison Room)
5:00p-6:00p - Registration - (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
5:00p-6:00p - Reception & Networking - (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
6:00p-8:00p - Welcome & Dinner (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
7:00p-8:00p - Keynote address: Mark Symes: "Are you Moving Fast Enough and in the Right Direction? - How the best organizations in the world operate with a different Rhythm of Reflection and how they Lead Change Differently."
(Ballroom, Ground Floor)
8:00p-10:00p - Hospitality Suite - (Junior Ballroom, Mezzanine Floor)

Thursday, March 13, 2025

7:30a-8:30a -Networking Breakfast (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
8:00a-9:00a - Registration (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
9:00a-9:10a - Welcome Address (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
9:10a-10:40a - Morning Speaker Series -Enhancing Forest Management and Protection
10:40a-11:10a - Coffee break, Networking, & Tradeshow - (Junior Ballroom, Mezzanine Floor)
11:10a-12:00p - Panel Discussion: Forestry's Economic Outlooks in a Changing World (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
12:00p-1:00p - Industry Forum Lunch - (Ballroom, Ground Floor)
1:00p-1:15p- Remarks from Hon. John Herron, Minister of Natural Resources
1:15p-2:00p - Networking, & Tradeshow - (Junior Ballroom, Mezzanine Floor)
2:00p-3:50p - Afternoon Speaker Series - Innovation and Action: Shaping Forestry's Future
(Ballroom, Ground Floor)
3:50p-4:00p - Closing Remarks & Door Prizes Draw - (Ballroom, Ground Floor)

Keynote Speaker

Mark Symes

Founding Partner, Symplicity Designs

As one of the three founding partners of Symplicity Designs, Mark has been
leading training and large-scale transformations with Symplicity Designs for
over a decade. Mark specializes in business transformation and strategy in all
sectors and with businesses of all sizes. By leveraging the Symplicity
methodology, he has helped over 500 Atlantic Canadian organizations prosper
across the region.

Mark holds multiple designations in Improvement and Analytics. He has 15
years of experience in performance excellence and is passionate about
helping organizations clarify their strategy and Lead the change required to
execute it.

Multiple organizations have recognized Mark for his contributions, including
CFI Magazine, which named him one of the Top 20 under 40 in the Canadian
Forest Industry, in 2023.

In his time away from work, Mark manages his family's sixth-generation
family farm, sits on the Board of Directors of the Ruffed Grouse Society of
Canada and spends whatever time he can afield. He currently resides with his
wife, Marie, their 3 dogs and 2 horse, in Grand Barachois, New Brunswick.

Keynote address: Are you Moving Fast Enough and in the Right Direction?

How the best organizations in the world operate with a different Rhythm of Reflection and how they Lead Change Differently

Event Speakers

Our event hosts diverse speakers that offer local, national, and international perspectives on innovation and opportunities in the Forest Sector.

Crystal Gauvin, Senior Economist - Forest Economic Advisors (FEA)

Crystal Gauvin is a Senior Economist at Forest Economic Advisors (FEA), a leading North American wood products analysis firm. With over 16 years of experience in the wood products industry, Crystal provides clients with in-depth market analysis and actionable insights.

Crystal has led the development and launch of PricePulse, North America’s first transaction-based price report for wood products—a multi-year initiative transforming price discovery in the industry.

Additionally, she serves as the lead author of FEA’s weekly Wood Markets Status & Trends (WMST) report and is responsible for FEA’s Sawmill Profiles. Her expertise extends across numerous other projects and reports, enabling the company to deliver deeper, data-driven analyses to clients.

Crystal’s dedication to excellence extends beyond FEA. A three-time World Cup Champion professional archer and ESPN color commentator, her commitment to hard work and precision translates into her work at FEA, where she cultivates lasting client relationships by providing individualized support and ensuring prompt follow-up.

She holds a BS in Mathematics from Xavier University and an MS in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from the University of Rhode Island.

Crystal can be reached at +1 (401)580-6921 or cgauvin@getfea.com.

Heather Boyd, Executive Director, Forest Sector Council

Heather Boyd is a dynamic and results-driven leader with a passion for building strong relationships and driving meaningful change. As Executive Director of the Forestry Sector Council, she leads strategic initiatives and daily operations to develop a sustainable, diverse, and highly skilled workforce in Nova Scotia’s forestry industry.

A proven change-maker, Heather led the launch of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture’s AgSector Program and played a key role in implementing the province’s first bulk milk supply chain electronic data system with Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia. Her leadership extends beyond the workplace—she has served on numerous boards and committees, was a municipal candidate for County Council, a Big Sister, and made history as the first female Chair of the Maritime College of Forest Technology Board of Governors. A lifelong learner, Heather is driven by a commitment to growth, innovation, and purpose.

Jeff Yeomans, Director Coal Transition, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships - NB Power

Jeff Yeomans is the Director of Coal Transition within the Business Development and Strategic Partnerships division at NB Power. Jeff has held several positions within the utility including station operator, senior operator, shift supervisor, operations superintendent, technical superintendent, business development advisor, commissioning manager, project manager, and is currently the Belledune Clean Fuel Project lead.

Jeff is a 1st class Power Engineer and has been with NB Power for 36 years with a majority of that time in the generating side of the business.

Pierre Michaud, General Manager - WASKA

Pierre graduated from the University of Moncton in 1985, with a Bachelor in Science
Administration, and a concentration in Accounting and Finance.

He has worked for Waska, a family-owned business in Clair, NB for the last 39 years
where he has held the role of General Manager since October 2017. He is proud to
have been a part of building the world's first fully-automated shingles manufacturing
facility using modern 4.0 technologies.

Established in Clair since 1987, Pierre and his wife, Renelle, have raised a family of two children and was well-engaged in the village of Clair as Counsellor and Mayor for more than 25 years.

His projects in Clair include the Multi Complex and the Community Health Centre. He has also served as Chair with many organizations including the Regional Service Commission, Solid Waste Commission, and Business Community Services.

Guilherme Simon, Principal - AFRY Management Consulting

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.

Darren Sleep, PhD, Lead Scientist - Sustainable Forestry Initiative

Darren Sleep

Raised in the forests and fields of New Brunswick, Darren gained a great appreciation for the natural world wandering through the Acadian forests of his youth, and interacting sometimes dramatically with the creatures that call it home. He has since gained experience working with the forest sector across North America covering a variety of topics including rare and threatened species, forest hydrology, protected area design, climate change, forest management, and science/policy integration. Darren earned a PhD from the University of Guelph in Ontario, a MSc from the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, and a BSc from the University of New Brunswick here in Fredericton. After completing his graduate studies, he spent 12 years with NCASI based in Montreal before taking his current position as Lead Scientist with SFI in 2018.

Lisa Walker, Director, Resiliency and Partnerships - Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre

Lisa Walker is a Registered Professional Forester with the Forest Professionals of British Columbia. She received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Northern British Columbia in 2001 and has a master’s in business administration from the Cape Breton University. As the Director of Resiliency and Partnerships at the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, Lisa is responsible for delivering Prevention and Mitigation services across Canada, including the FireSmart Canada program. At CIFFC, Lisa brings together her breadth of experience in forestry and wildland fire management, fostering a whole of society approach to creating wildfire resilient communities. Lisa lives in Carcross, Yukon in 2012, a small town of 400 people within the traditional territory of the Carcross Tagish First Nation.

Lisa Walker est forestiè professionnelle agréée par les professionnels de la forêt de la Colombie-Britannique. Elle a obtenu une licence en foresterie à l'Université du nord de la Colombie-Britannique en 2001 et une maîtrise en administration des affaires à l'université du Cap-Breton. En tant que directrice de la Résilience et des Partenariats au Centre Interservices des feux de forêt du Canada, Lisa est responsable de la prestation de services de prévention et d'atténuation partout au Canada, y compris le programme Intelli-feu Canada. Au CIFFC, Lisa met à profit sa vaste expérience en matière de foresterie et de gestion des feux de forêt, en favorisant une approche globale de la société pour créer des communautés résilientes aux incendies de forêt. Lisa vit depuis 2012 à Carcross, au Yukon, une petite ville de 400 habitants située sur le territoire traditionnel de la Première nation de Carcross Tagish.

Dr. Jack Lonsdale, Senior Principal - AFRY Management Consulting

Dr Jack Lonsdale is a Senior Principal in AFRY Management Consulting’s Forestry, Biomass and Carbon team. A senior forestry expert with a background and strong interest in the quantified forest: such as carbon accounting and growth and yield modelling. He joined AFRY in 2015 and has been providing support to clients globally regarding sustainable forest investments, operations, and strategy since then. Most recently he has been particularly focused on the role of digitalisation in forestry and how it can benefit multiple forest management goals, as well as the likely impact of climate change on forest productivity and the associated risks.

Troy Adams, Director of New Brunswick Wildfire Management

Troy Adams initial introduction to Wildland Fire was as a student crew member with Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources 30 + years ago. He was re-introduced and developed a passion for wildland fire while working with forest industry after graduation from Maritime Forest Ranger School, and he started working as a Forest Ranger/Wildland Firefighter with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources in 2008 where I progressed into various leadership roles in wildland fire. He worked as an Air Attack officer and was Nationally certified in 2015, and his career progressed into supervision of the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre in 2018. He is now Director of Wildland Fire Management for the Province of New Brunswick. He became a volunteer structural firefighter with his local community in 2020. He is extremely passionate about getting wildland firefighters recognized for the important work they do, and passionate about getting society and governments across Canada to recognize Wildland Firefighters on equal footing as Structural Firefighters when it comes to health and wellness.

Photo by: Stephen MacGillivray Photography & Video
www.stevemacphoto.com

Guest Speaker

Hon. John Herron

Minister of Natural Resources

A longtime resident of Bloomfield, Kings County, New Brunswick, John Herron was elected in the 2024 general election as the MLA for Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins. He was appointed Minister of Natural Resources. Mr. Herron is a former Member of Parliament, serving two terms for Fundy Royal (1997-2004). He is a dedicated community leader with a distinguished career in public service, regulatory affairs, and policy development.

Mr. Herron has extensive experience in lawmaking, public policy, and leadership within the energy and business sectors. He was the former President and CEO of the New Brunswick Business Council and has been a prominent advocate for inclusive governance and community development. During his time in Parliament (1997-2004), Mr. Herron was a leading member of the Standing Committee for the Environment, serving as Vice-Chair and contributing to key legislative advancements. He was also Co-Chair of the Premier’s Roundtable on Self-Sufficiency (2011-2013) and a Board Member of the NB Energy and Utilities Board (2013-2023).

A strong believer in community involvement, Mr. Herron has been a Race Director for the Hampton 5-Miler Community Charitable event, a two-term President of the Rotary Club of Hampton, and a past Chair of Hampton’s VA Snow Centre Foundation. He has also coached cross-country and track & field at Hampton High School for over 15 years, helping to inspire and guide young athletes.

The Industry Forum returns to the

Crowne Plaza - Lord Beaverbrook Hotel

659 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C4.

Book your room by calling (506) 455-3371 or by using the link below.

Click Here to book your room

Champion 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 owns and manages approximately 775,000 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 also generates income through other operations, including real estate and environmental solutions.

Learn More

Supporter -Tier Sponsors

Marwood

Marwood knows wood, and we know how to maximize the value of wood. Each of our products are designed to be leaders in their field. The best quality available at competitive prices. Tracing its roots back to the 1920s, Marwood, a locally owned and managed company, continues to grow and evolve, meeting the needs and wants of the market with innovative and cost competitive products. With our experienced staff, modern and highly efficient manufacturing plants, Marwood has the human, technical and manufacturing resources to meet the needs of the marketplace.

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.

Project Learning Tree Canada

Project Learning Tree Canada (PLT Canada) is committed to advancing environmental education, forest literacy, and career pathways, using trees and forests as windows on the world. Our award-winning, ready-to-use resources offer a lifetime of learning from early childhood through adulthood. Our wide and diverse network provides professional development for educators and opportunities for young people to explore nature and the diversity of green careers in the forest and conservation sector. Together, we are growing future forest and conservation leaders.

PLT Canada, an initiative of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative^®, is a non-profit charitable organization.

H. J. Crabbe & Sons Ltd.

Hub International

Interfor

Exhibitor-Tier Sponsors