Get ready to be captivated by our exceptional lineup of speakers at the conference! We are thrilled to present renowned experts from academia, industries, and government, all at the forefront of the bioproducts and bioeconomy field. Explore their remarkable bios below and join us for an enlightening experience!
Stephanie Willerth, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria
Dr. Willerth, a Full Professor in Biomedical Engineering, holds a Canada Research Chair in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Victoria where she has dual appointments in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Division of Medical Sciences. She also holds an appointment with the School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia. She recently founded the start-up company – Axolotl Biosciences that sells high quality bioinks for bioprinting human tissue models. She is an active member of the steering committee of the B.C. Regenerative Medicine Initiative and the Stem Cell Network. She also serves as a staff scientist at Creative Destruction Lab. She served as the Acting Director of the Centre for Biomedical Research and the Biomedical Engineering undergraduate program at the University of Victoria from 2018-2021 and as the President of Canadian Biomaterials Society from 2018-2019. She was elected to the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars and Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. awarded her their Teaching Award of Excellence in 2021.
Feng Jiang, Assistant Professor & Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Functional Biomaterials, University of British Columbia
Dr. Jiang received his PhD degree in Macromolecular Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech in 2011, and postdoc training from University of California Davis, and University of Maryland College Park. He serves as Editor of Carbohydrate Polymers and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Materials. He is the 2021 recipient of ACS CELL KINGFA Young Investigator Award and 2023 recipient of UBC Faculty of Forestry Outstanding Research Award, and he has been selected as the The Paper360° 2022 TOP 50 POWER LIST. His research areas focus on sustainable isolation and modification of lignocellulosic nanomaterials, as well as advanced manufacturing of bio-based products developments for emerging thermal, environmental, electrical, and energy applications. His research has generated 2 patents, and several provisional patents, and has been reported by over 300 different media, including CBC, CTV, BNN Bloomberg, etc.
Meaghan Seagrave, Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
Meaghan Seagrave is a nationally recognized thought leader in the bioeconomy and has been spearheading bio-based opportunities and industrial transformation across the country for over a decade. Meaghan provides leadership to Canada’s only green chemistry accelerator – Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC). As a high-impact NGO, BIC is focused on providing critical strategic investment, advice and services to business developers with clean, green and sustainable technology. Meaghan is also a Senior Advisor for New Brunswick’s bioscience agency and Health Research Foundation.
Meaghan’s educational background includes a graduate degree in chemistry and several certificates and diplomas in communications and management development, combined with two-decades of experience in early-stage technology development companies making her a knowledgeable support to Canada’s diverse green, clean and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her influence is national in scope and brings together industry and association collaborators across a multitude of science, and technology sectors in Canada, building strong partnerships and positioning Canada as a leader in the green chemistry space.
Davis Chiu, Director of Innovation at Paper Excellence Canada, Acting Head of Carbon Strategy for the Paper Excellence Group
Davis is a seasoned innovation professional with over 19 years of combined experience in advanced research, operations and innovation. He is a proud second generation Canadian forest products professional.
He was previously a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s Global Investment and Innovation Incentives practice based in Vancouver where he assisted companies ranging from start-ups to multi-national corporations innovate. Prior to consulting, Davis held operations and technical leadership roles in the pulp and paper industry. Davis is a graduate of the UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering program.
Davis believes in giving back to his community and volunteers as a board member of the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, BC Net Zero Innovation Network and UBC’s Clean Energy Research Centre.
Emily D. Cranston, Associate Professor, Wood Science / Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia
Dr. Emily D. Cranston is an Associate Professor in Wood Science and Chemical & Biological Engineering at the University of British Columbia and is the President’s Excellence Chair in Forest Bioproducts. She was previously at McMaster University as a Canada Research Chair in Bio-Based Nanomaterials. Emily received a B.Sc. in Chemistry (2001) and Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry (2008) from McGill, followed by a postdoc at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden). She was awarded the KINGFA Young Investigator’s Award (2016) and Kavli Emerging Leader in Chemistry (2018) from the American Chemical Society and the TAPPI Nanotechnology Technical Award (2021) and a Steacie Memorial Fellowship from NSERC Canada (2021).
Gary Li, Executive Manager of Innovability, Suzano
Dr. Gary Li is an executive manager of Suzano, responsible for providing improved technical support for customers in Asia and fostering open innovation within the forest industry. Prior to his position at Suzano, Dr. Li specialized in R&D and Innovation to develop applications with fibers and novel bio-based materials in North America, bringing technologies from laboratories to pilot-scale trials and defining the value proposition for stakeholders along the value chains. Dr. Li has published more than 11 peer-reviewed articles and obtained 3 granted U.S./International patents with one being sold. Gary currently focuses on setting up and running Suzano’s Shanghai innovability hub, which will not only be a center catering to local customers’ evolving needs on existing products and applications, but also a development base for new bio-based materials and their high-end / high-volume applications.
Paula Sarsama, Program Manager, Infinited Fiber
Paula Sarsama is Infinited Fiber Company’s Program Manager, a sustainability enthusiast with passion for finding solutions to decrease the environmental impact of the fashion industry. She is the coordinator of the EU Horizon funded New Cotton project (Grant agreement ID: 101000559) where twelve pioneering European organizations have come together to break new ground by demonstrating an entirely circular model for commercial garment production. This circular value chain and ecosystem has proven that making circularity in textiles can be an everyday reality.
Prior to joining Infinited Fiber Company, Paula was a Senior Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, in the areas of bio-based materials and sustainable solutions. Paula has over 20 years’ experience in leading commercial and technology projects in industry, business, and academia.
Learn more about Infinited Fiber Company at https://infinitedfiber.com and the New cotton project at https://newcottonproject.eu/
Rodney Mulholland, Sales & Marketing Manager, Great Bear Rainforest Essential Oils
Rodney Mulholland is the Sales and Marketing Manager with Great Bear Rainforest Essential Oils. He helps to carve the company’s path and expand it’s reach into the marketplace. He has helped the company introduce 3 new essential oil blends and 6 new products. Along with developing re-claimed cedar packaging and working with local manufacturers, Rodney finds great pleasure in such a unique brand that shares its story and practice of traditional therapeutic uses of the Indigenous People of the Great Bear Rainforest.
Katariina Kemppainen, Senior Vice President, Group R&D, Metsa Spring
Katariina Kemppainen is working as a SVP, Group R&D, in Metsä Spring, the innovation company of Metsä Group. She has a research background and PhD in biomass refining, focusing on piloting and scale-up of novel biorefinery and bioproduct concepts. Since 2020 she has worked for Metsä Spring, doing corporate venturing, coordinating Metsä Group’s innovation ecosystems and leading the Group R&D function that is coordinating and facilitating internal and external R&D cooperation in Metsä Group.
Orlando Rojas, Professor, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Forest Bioproducts, & Scientific Director of UBC Bioproducts Institute
Orlando Rojas joined UBC as the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Forest Bioproducts and the Scientific Director of the UBC BioProducts Institute in 2020. Since then, Dr. Rojas has played a key role in synergizing a distinguished group of professors and researchers conducting multi- and cross-disciplinary research to create fundamental knowledge and applications, from seed genetics to cutting-edge bio-refining technologies, from thermochemical and bio-conversion pathways to novel bio-based products. He continues to be a principal investigator of the FinnCERES Flagship to advance the Finnish materials bioeconomy and co-leads the Boreal Alliance, a joint global initiative to catalyze innovation beyond borders, internationalizing our science and creating research exchange, funding and business opportunities with leading institutions along the Boreal forest belt. A recipient of the Anselme Payen Award—one of the highest international recognitions in the area of cellulose and renewable materials—and an elected member of the American Chemical Society and the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters, Dr. Rojas is recognized as a worldwide leader in the area of nanocelluloses. His most recent research grants include the European Research Commission Advanced Grant and Horizon 2020. He has authored over 430 peer-reviewed papers related to his core research, mainly dealing with nanostructures from renewable materials and their utilization in multiphase systems.
Stéphane Renou, President & CEO, FPInnovations
Stéphane Renou is the President & Chief Executive Officer for FPInnovations, which specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness. A native of Montréal, Stéphane Renou has a number of degrees from Université de Sherbrooke as well as Polytechnique Montréal where he went on to complete a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. In 2015, he earned an MBA (Innovation Management) from the University of Colorado.
In 2000, Stephane moved to the United States to join General Electric’s research centre, where he took on increasingly senior positions, heading a number of divisions at various locations in the United States as well as in Florence, Italy. Within his various responsibilities, he led teams in both the GE Aviation, and Oil & Gas divisions. Since joining FPInnovations, he has refocused the organisation’s priorities toward its fundamental mission in order to increase the forest industry’s competitivity and the creation of new markets in the bioeconomy. These varied experiences enabled him to acquire a vast background of R&D combined with commercial knowledge and a strong sense of entrepreneurship. He holds eight patents, in addition to having published numerous scientific articles.
Tiina Nakari-Setälä, Head of Business Development, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.
Tiina Nakari-Setälä is Head of Business Development at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., the leading comprehensive research and technology organization in the Northern Europe. She has worked 20+ years in the company in various positions in research, business development, customer operations, leadership and strategy. She has acquired a broad knowledge on research and innovation cycles, innovation management, speeding up commercialization and technology transfer as well as strategic frameworks to facilitate company’s impact delivery. Tiina Nakari-Setälä holds a PhD in biochemistry and has carried out research in sustainable and smart solutions in bio and circular economy.
Victor Padilla, Research Manager, FPInnovations
Victor Padilla has seventeen years of experience in engineering combined with R&D management in North America. Currently he is a Research Manager at FPInnovations where he has worked the last 8 years in the Pulp and Paper Innovation Center of Excellence. Victor holds a PhD Degree in Materials Science and was an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, where he taught in the material science department for 4 years. He was recognized by TAPPI as an outstanding young professional in the pulp and paper industry.
In recent years, Victor has focused on developing decarbonization roadmaps and improving the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) of the Canadian pulp and paper industry, with a focus on selecting and implementing new processes, performing techno-economic analysis, process integration and energy optimization studies. Victor works with current solutions and in advancing new pathways to reduce scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions. The FPInnovations’ relationship with its members, has given Victor’s team the ability to offer practical solutions, translating their needs into clear and achievable objectives through innovation.
Jacob Atherton, Manager, BC Ecosystems, Foresight Canada
Jacob is a Registered Professional Forester in BC and has been passionate about sustainability and innovation throughout his life.
Prior to Foresight, he gained experience in the forest sector on Vancouver Island and along the Sunshine Coast. He worked alongside First Nations, industry representatives, government, and other stakeholders, in a wide array of forest management, including harvest operations, reforestation planning, forest policy, and meeting wildlife/biodiversity targets.
Sandy Ferguson, Director, BioNEXT, Foresight Canada
Sandy is Currently working as an independent forest and bioeconomy advisor, Sandy has worked in senior corporate affairs, business development, and strategic roles with private, not-for-profit, and government organizations, including Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Conifex Timber Inc and Director of Marketing and Business Development at the BC Bioenergy Network. She served on the 2018 Federal Resources of the Future Economic Strategy Table and is a board member of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) and the Canadian Bioeconomy Conference and Exhibition Society.
Ron Hoffmann, Vice President, Business Development, SixRing Inc
Ron Hoffmann brings more than 35 years of diverse experience to SixRing Inc, having served in leadership positions in Canada’s diplomatic service, federal and provincial governments, private sector and civil society. As a Canadian diplomat Ron has served in six countries spanning four continents, with extensive experience in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. His roles including Senior Trade Commissioner, Director General of Strategic Policy, Director of Defence and Security Policy, and Senior Advisor to two Canadian foreign ministers.
Ron has served as Ambassador in Afghanistan at the height of Canada’s engagement and as Ambassador in Thailand with cross accreditation to Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. His other postings were in China, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and South Africa. Since 2014 Ron has served Alberta as Senior Representative to Asia based in Hong Kong, and then as Interim CEO and then COO of Invest Alberta tasked with standing up the corporation in its initial year and supporting several major new investments into the province.
While based in Hong Kong, Ron was elected Vice Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce from 2015-2019. Ron is currently Chairman of the Board of the National Access Arts Centre (NaAC), Canada’s oldest and largest arts organization supporting artists with disabilities. He is a frequent commentator and lecturer on foreign policy, international affairs and government.
Alejandra Enriquez, M.Sc. Ph.D., Senior Laboratory Manager, SixRing Inc.
Alejandra has over 10 years of experience in chemical development and analytical techniques. She holds an M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from the Universidad Autonoma of Madrid (Spain) and a Ph.D. in Bioinorganic Chemistry from the University of Calgary. During her academic endeavours, Alejandra gained extensive knowledge on biochemical methods, specializing in a wide range of characterization techniques to elucidate the reactivity and structure of different chemicals, from reaction catalysts to pharmaceuticals leads. Alejandra has had a very fruitful career that has resulted in the publication of 10+ peer-reviewed manuscripts, the presentation of her work to numerous national and international conferences as well as her collaboration in a number of patents. Within SixRing, Alejandra leads the projects related to the use of SixRing’s high purity cellulose into a number of different applications from biofuels to pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Mike Barten, Nextfor Coordinator, CRIBE
Mike’s experience as an environmental science and natural resources professional in the sustainability, permitting, environmental and forestry consulting field gives him a firsthand understanding of both the value and challenges faced by the sector.
He loves bringing together people who would not normally spend time with one another and facilitating conversations that lead to cross-sectoral collaborations. Mike oversees the ongoing industry collaboration activities at CRIBE through Nextfor, Industry Challenge Funds, and forest innovation initiatives with a passion for the strategic thinking that drives next generation products
Tim Caldecott, Senior Director of Sustainable Construction, Carbon and Market Economics, FPInnovations
Tim Caldecott is currently the Senior Director of Sustainable Construction, Carbon and Market Economics at FPInnovations, where he has managed forest sector innovation for the past 14 years. Prior to FPI he was a management consultant in London and a project manager in Malawi for the United Nations.
Josefin Larsson, Chief Product Officer, Reselo
Josefin Larsson co-founded Reselo late 2020 and currently holds the position of Chief Product Officer. It is her passion for resource efficiency that drives the commitment and resonates with the Reselo mission, to valorize and avoid wasting valuable biomass. The common denominator, from previous roles within forest, chemical and packaging industries, is to bridge the technical and commercial interests for sustainable businesses.
Matyas Kosa, Bioproducts Lead, West Fraser Mills Ltd.
Matyas’ mandate at West Fraser is to lead the ongoing initiative of Amallin (Kraft-lignin) production and valorization in resin replacement and other applications. He’s also leading efforts in R&D and commercialization of pulp-based biocomposites, including biodegradable single-use plastic alternatives in collaboration with industry leading supply chain partners. These projects, including evaluation of others technologies that cross over from the pulp and paper space to other sectors, aim to maximize fiber utilization at North America’s largest lumber producer, and to help achieve the company’s net-zero commitments. Matyas also serves as the industry chair for FPI’s Bioproducts Strategic and Tactical Advisory Committee.
Gustavo Oliveira, Director, Ministry of Forests, British Columbia, Canada
Gustavo has been involved in the natural resource sector across Canada as a public servant for over a decade. Most of his work has focused on the socio-economic and business opportunities that resource development projects bring, particularly in rural and remote communities. His work spans mining, oil and gas, and now forestry, with a focus on partnerships with Indigenous communities. Gustavo currently leads the development of British Columbia’s forest bioeconomy, aiming to transition the sector from high volume to high value, increase domestic manufacturing, and create new high paying jobs through research, innovation, and commercialization of novel, forest-based bioproducts.
Ashley Callister, Venture Associate, B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE)
Ashley Callister leads the low-carbon bio and synthetic fuels focus area at the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE). Passionate about the environment, she empowers B.C. innovators to fast-track the commercialization and scaling of low-carbon solutions through CICE’s Open and Directed Innovation pathways. Ashley has an extensive background in biofuels, and previously held the role of Operations Manager at BC Bioenergy Network. She also has an educational background in Environmental Science from the University of British Columbia. In her spare time, Ashley teaches scuba diving and is an avid horticulturalist.
Connie Ekelund, Co Founder & CEO, NanoTerraTech
Connie is a Management Consultant with 25+ yrs experience leading organizations to improved performance, specializing in Organizational Development, Innovation, Sustainability and Culture. She has mentored teams that have had successful raised capital and are in production.
Scott Farnham, Co Founder & CTO, NanoTerraTech
Scott has developed the NanoTerraTech technology over the last 3 years. He is an innovator and industrial process expert with 25+ yrs of wide ranging experience. He has designed and led 11 brownfield or greenfield industrial plant builds. Scott received his first IRAP grant in 1995 developing pyrolysis technology and equipment. He has successfully started and exited a manufacturing business @ 17X ROI
Nick Milestone BSc. BSc (Hons) MSc., Director of Projects, Mercer Mass Timber
Nick is the Chairman of the Timber Research and Development Association UK (TRADA) and Vice Chair of Timber Development UK.
Nick previously held the position of Senior Vice President of the US Softwood Lumber board, Director for Mass Timber and Hybrid Solutions for Katerra Inc, North America and the Director for Off-Site and Innovation for the Wm Hare Group (UK, UAE and Singapore) developing building systems in Mass Timber, Structural Steel and load bearing Light Gauge Steel structures.
The learnings and innovations gathered from 37 years’ experience in the UK ‘off-site’ construction industry have helped develop a successful hybrid construction business utilizing the key components of structural steel, glulam, cross laminated timber, structural timber cassettes and light gauge steel framing technology for the residential, education, leisure, commercial and retail markets delivering over 350 landmark projects for Blue Chip Clients.
Through TRADA and in consultation with Industry heads such as Arup, Nick lead the UK’s first ‘National Structural Timber Specification’ covering the design, manufacture and erection tolerances for solid wood construction, other key publications include; The design and performance of Cross Laminated Timber.
Nick also lead and chaired the working committee for the Mass Engineered Timber Handbook for Singapore, developed in conjunction with the BCA, building construction authority of Singapore. Nick has been in the construction industry since 1986, starting off as a trainee quantity surveyor progressing through to senior quantity surveyor / construction manager / Managing Director.
Shane Berg, Chief Forester, Assistant Deputy Minister, B.C. Ministry of Forests
Shane Berg is an Assistant Deputy Minister, and the Chief Forester, for the Province of BC with the Ministry of Forests.
Shane obtained his BSc. in Forestry from the University of Alberta and has more than 35 years of experience working within BC’s Public Service.
Shane is a registered professional forester (RPF) and has worked throughout the province, beginning as a silviculture technician in Invermere, a silviculture forester in Grand Forks, a forest planning manager in Squamish, and eventually took on district manager roles over a span of 14 years with the BC Forest Service in northern BC (Hazelton) and the southern interior (Kamloops).
He spent six years working as a regional executive director with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation until he returned to FLNR as an executive director and the deputy chief forester in 2017, a role that he held until has appointment as BC’s 18th Chief Forester in June of 2022.
The mantra for the Office of the Chief Forester is “Caring for BC’s Forests”…and Shane’s goal as Chief Forester is to promote BC as a world leader in sustainable forest management.
Jacob Atherton, Manager, BC Ecosystems, Foresight Canada
Jacob is a Registered Professional Forester in BC and has been passionate about sustainability and innovation throughout his life.
Prior to Foresight, he gained experience in the forest sector on Vancouver Island and along the Sunshine Coast. He worked alongside First Nations, industry representatives, government, and other stakeholders, in a wide array of forest management, including harvest operations, reforestation planning, forest policy, and meeting wildlife/biodiversity targets.
In his current role, he is working on building the bioeconomy cluster within Foresight’s BC Net Zero Innovation Network (BCNZIN). The goal of this initiative is to break down silos across the forest sector and drive clean technology solutions to industry challenges. Current work is underway in several areas including biomass fibre flows, repurposing mill assets, increasing investor confidence, and commercializing new value-added products. These projects require collaboration across the sector and maintain a key focus on economic-feasibility, long-term sustainability, and widespread impact. For more information or to get involved feel free to reach out to him throughout the conference.
Tom Nyberg, Honorary Consul of Finland
Tom Nyberg is the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Finland to BC and Yukon.
As an Honorary Consul, Mr. Nyberg promotes economic and cultural relations between Finland and Canada working directly with Government entities and companies of both countries.
Recognized for his strategic leadership and product making experience in technology industry, Mr. Nyberg works at Silo AI as Regional Vice President, Business Development, building up the North American customer base and business operations for one or Europe’s leading AI companies.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Nyberg was leading SW Development at Finning Digital creating new Performance and Productivity enhancing customer solutions for Finning’s global customer base in the Construction, Mining, Energy and Transportation sectors.
Between 2012-2017, Mr. Nyberg was Senior Director and General Manager at Samsung Research Canada and its Vancouver Enterprise Lab leading its multiple teams with main focus in mobile security and payment software development.
Prior to joining Samsung Canada, Tom held a series of senior product, software and business development leadership roles at Nokia in Germany, the U.S. and Canada.
Tom holds a Master of Science (Engineering) degree from Helsinki University of Technology (now Aalto University). He has contributed to the Vancouver technology sector through various roles and now serves as board member at Innovate BC as well as member of the External Advisory Council of SFU’s Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Since 2004, Tom and his wife Selja have lived in Vancouver with their three children.
Marc Gaugler, Portfolio Leader – Distributed and Circular Manufacturing, Scion
Marc Gaugler leads Scion’s Distributed and Circular Manufacturing research portfolio Scion is a New Zealand-based Crown Research Institute that specializes in conducting research and innovation initiatives for the forestry, wood-processing and bioeconomy sectors. This research portfolio focuses on several key areas, including developing new technology to convert wood into biochemicals, fostering the creation of eco-industrial symbiosis regions, and pioneering agile, circular manufacturing technologies.
Marc’s professional journey began with research on bio-based polymer additives in New Zealand, followed by developing raw materials for fast-moving consumer goods in Europe. He then returned to the biomaterials and process development world in 2013, especially in sustainable manufacturing technologies.
In 2018, Marc and his colleagues started exploring systems and innovative technologies that could add value to biomass and be implemented in containerised mini-factories. Today, as the head of Scion’s Distributed and Circular Manufacturing research portfolio, his wants to accelerate the development of a sustainable bioeconomy in New Zealand that brings economic, environmental, and social benefits to the regions.
Greg Smith, Director, Economic Analysis Division, Canadian Forest Service, NRCan
Greg Smith is the Director of the Economic Analysis Division in the Canadian Forest Service (CFS). Greg joined the federal government in 2008 and, throughout his time in government, has held roles of increasing responsibility related to environmental, energy, economic files.
He recently joined Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) from Finance Canada’s Financial Sector Policy Branch, where he led the development and implementation of Canada’s Green Bond program. In CFS, Greg and his team lead departmental efforts on the forest bioeconomy, Canada’s softwood lumber issues, and various Species at Risk-related files with implications for resource sectors.
Prior to joining NRCan, Greg held management positions at Environment and Climate Change and in other sectors of NRCan. Greg holds a CFA designation and a Masters of Public Administration from Dalhousie University
Daphne Ho, Sr. Bioeconomy Program Officer, Industry Relations and Innovation Programs Division, Canadian Forest Service, NRCan
Daphne is the Senior Bioeconomy Program Officer with the Investments in Forestry Industry Transformation Program in the Industry Relations and Innovations Programs Division (IRIP) in the Canadian Forest Service (CFS). Daphne has more than 15 years of experience in managing projects related to indigenous partnership, environmental, energy and forest related files.
Prior to joining IRIP, Daphne led the Indigenous Partnerships Office-West Program Team to facilitate a coordinated federal response to Indigenous concerns related to major energy projects on the West Coast and ensure that federal engagement with Indigenous communities was translated into concrete actions and investments to address Indigenous priorities. As part of the CFS, Daphne is the regional lead for BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. She facilitates the adoption of transformative technologies and products that have a strong economic development and transformative potential, by bridging the gap between development and commercialization.
Alina Ruonala-Lindgren, Co-creation Manager, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Alina Ruonala-Lindgren works as Co-Creation Manager at VTT, building partnerships with companies and other organizations via research and innovation ecosystems in the field of bio-based materials. She has a 20+ year history in the forest industry, where she has been in charge of managing strategic projects, including building a new vision for the whole sector.
John-Paul Wenger, MBA, RPF CEO Nak’azdli Development Corporation;
John-Paul (JP) Wenger, MBA, RPF, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Nak’azdli Development Corporation (NDC). NDC is the economic arm of Nak’azdli Whut’en with businesses that include Carrier Food and Fuel, Sana’aih Market, various forestry partnerships, and an equity share in BioNorth Energy as well as Deadwood Innovations. JP has over 20 years of professional forestry experience in natural resources spanning the consultant, government, private, and Indigenous forestry sectors. JP holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from UBC and achieved his registered professional designation in 1999. He graduated with a Master of Business Administration from UNBC in 2021, which has spurred his interest in developing his business skills and giving back to his community. In his spare time, JP enjoys running, hiking and biking on local trails, and spending time with his family in Fort St. James.
Gurminder Minhas, Managing Director, Performance Biofilaments
Gurminder Minhas is a business and technical development specialist, with extensive experience in biomaterials, biofuels, biochemicals, chemical recycling, pulp and paper industries. He is well versed in new technology development in the chemical sciences space, as well as growing technologies from lab to pilot scale to commercialization. As Managing Director of Performance BioFilaments, Gurminder is responsible for developing commercial opportunities for fibrillated cellulose products in composites and chemical applications. Gurminder is also the former Director of Technology Deployment at Lignol Innovations, a Canadian company commercializing a proprietary biomass to fuels and chemicals technology. Gurminder holds a BSc in Chemistry from UBC, followed by a MBA from Simon Fraser.
Doug Routley, Parliamentary Secretary for Forests
Doug Routley was re-elected as the MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan in 2017. He is Parliamentary Secretary for Forests. He served as MLA for Cowichan-Ladysmith from 2005 until the riding boundaries were re-drawn, and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, 2017, 2020. With a diverse background in industry, business, labor, and politics, Doug brings a wealth of experience and understanding to his role. As the Parliamentary Secretary for Forests, he is dedicated to the cooperative approach for success. Beyond politics, Doug is an avid cyclist, a lover of nature, and enjoys spending quality time with his partner, Leanne, and their family.
Paul Nemes, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Paper Province, Sweden
Paul Nemes is the Deputy CEO and Process Leader of Paper Province. He previously worked at the North Sea Region Programme as a Member of the Steering Committee. Paul Nemes attended Queen Mary University of London.
Anders Olsson, Manager of Smart Specialisation, Region Värmland, Sweden
Anders Olsson is described as one of Värmland’s strongest advocates for regional development through collaboration between the business sector, the private sector and Karlstad University. He has demonstrated this by being a driving force behind the regional development strategy Värmlandsstrategin, in particular regarding smart specialisation, which has been highly successful and attracted a lot of attention internationally, even outside of Europe. For these achievements, Anders Olsson is awarded the title Honorary Doctor of the Faculty of Health, Science and Technology.