The Council of Forest Industries will be holding its annual convention in Prince George April 8-9.
This year’s convention will attract senior industry, service provider, customer, community leader and senior government decision makers.
“This year’s convention comes at a critical juncture in our history,” said James Gorman, COFI President and CEO, in a press release. “By bringing together key decision makers from industry and governments, we’ll be able to have the frank discussions we need to have about how to improve the competitiveness of the industry, how to increase certainty on the land base, and how we can continue to build partnerships with local communities to ensure a healthy, stable industry for decades to come.”
The 2015 convention will examine most of the key issues facing the industry right now: the shifting profile of international markets, transportation challenges, First Nations involvement, fibre supply, innovation and the new bioeconomy. The convention will conclude with a panel discussion among industry CEOs and local community leaders.
The developing program of presenters includes:
- Opening address from Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations;
- Global Economics and Market Outlook, with Russ Taylor, President, International Wood Markets Group, and others;
- Products to Markets – Transportation Essentials, with Peter Xotta, Vice-President Planning and Operations with Port Metro Vancouver, and others;
- First Nations – The Changing Landscape, with Chief Roger William, of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation, Chief Derek Orr of the McLeod Lake Indian Band, and others
- Showcasing Wood Promotion and Use, with Michael Giroux, President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council, Guido Wimmers, Chair and Associate Profession of UNBC’s Integrated Wood Program, and Oliver Lang, Partner with Lang Wilson Practice of Architecture;
- Fibre Supply Constraints and Opportunities, with B.C.’s Chief Forester Dave Peterson, Canfor Vice-President Mark Feldinger, and Murray Hall, Principal of Murray Hall Consulting;
- BioEconomy – Existing and Emerging Markets and Products, with Trevor Stuthridge, Executive Vice-President with FP Innovations, West Fraser’s Rod Albers, and others.
The convention will run from Wednesday morning, April 8 through Thursday afternoon, April 9 and includes a Wednesday evening networking reception that will provide excellent networking opportunities for delegates to exchange views and ideas.