Professor Orlando Rojas is a Canada Excellence Research Chair at the University of British Columbia and the Director of the Bioproducts Institute. He is internationally renowned for his work in biobased colloids and surfaces, soft matter, renewable and sustainable materials. Among his many prestigious honors is the Anselme Payen Award, the highest recognition in cellulose and renewable materials research. He is also an elected Fellow of both the American Chemical Society (2013) and the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (2017).

Earlier in his career, Dr. Rojas held the title of Finland Distinguished Professor and was named an inaugural North Carolina State University Faculty Scholar. He is also a recipient of the European Research Council Advanced Grant, one of the most prestigious research grants in Europe.

Prof. Rojas serves on the Selection Committee of the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and holds scientific advisory roles for several organizations, including the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, the VALUED project with Imperial College, Bristol and Cambridge and the Materials Institute of the University of Santiago de Compostela (iMATUS). He is an Emeritus Editor of the Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology and an Associate Editor of ACS Biomacromolecules.

With approximately 600 peer-reviewed publications, Prof. Rojas' contributions to biobased colloids have garnered an h-index of 104 and over 48,000 citations. He ranks among the top 1% of researchers globally by citations (Clarivate, Web of Science).

Dr. Jordan MacKenzie is the co-founder and CTO of Bioform Technologies Inc,a sustainability focused technology company based in Vancouver.

Prior to Bioform, Jordan was a post-doctoral fellow at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, where he developed drag reduction technologies for energy efficient transportation of complex fluids.

He returned to Vancouver in 2016 as a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Chemical and Biological Engineering where he led the development of Bioform’s core technology and the company’s $3.1M pre-seed financing.

Jordan holds a PhD in Chemical and Biological engineering from the University of British Columbia with a specialization in complex fluid dynamics, multiphase flows and applied mathematics

Piergiuseppe Morone is Full Professor of Economic Policy at Unitelma Sapienza with a strong interest in green innovation and sustainable circular bioeconomy pushing his research at the interface between innovation economics and sustainability transitions, an area of enquiry that has attracted growing attention over the last decade. His work regularly appears in prestigious innovation and environmental economics journals. In 2023 published with Cambridge University Press a textbook on The Circular Bioeconomy - Theories and Tools for Economists and Sustainability Scientists.

He is the coordinator of the Bioeconomy in Transition Research Group (BiT-RG) and the director of the School of Sustainability Studies and Circular Economy (SUSTAIN). Moreover, he is/was involved in several European projects (including: H2020, BBI-JU, Life, Erasmus+, COST, Horizon Europe and CBE-JU) acting as scientific coordinator, vice-chair and WP Leader. He was Economic advisor to the Italian Minister of the Environment, Land and Sea Protection, till February 2021.

Piergiuseppe is Editor in Chief of Societal Impacts (ELSEVIER) and Associate Editor of Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy (ELSEVIER), member of the Editorial Boards of Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry (ELSEVIER) and Open Agriculture (De Gruyter Open) and acts as Guest Editor for various journals.
Since April 2022 Piergiuseppe is the vice-chair of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) Scientific Committee.

Mario Bonaccorso has been director of SPRING, the Italian Circular Bioeconomy Cluster, since 2021. Having graduated in Politics from the University of Milan, he went on to specialise in the History of European Integration at the University of Aachen (RWTH Aachen).

Journalist and blogger, in 2012 he founded Il Bioeconomista, The First Bioeconomy Blog, now considered the world’s most authoritative bioeconomy blog. With Edizioni Ambiente he has published in Italy: The Bioeconomy Revolution (2016), Che cosa è la bioeconomia (with Irene Banos Ruiz, 2019), L’uomo che inventò la bioeconomia. Raul Gardini e la nascita della chimica verde in Italia (2020, this book earned him the 2021 Sele d’Oro Mezzogiorno award) and Che cosa è la bioeconomia circolare (2024), translated in English by the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation as What is the circular bioeconomy (2024)

Sang-Young Lee is a Hwalchun distinguished professor of Department of Chemicaland Biomolecular Engineering at Yonsei University, Korea. He received BA in Chemical Engineering from Seoul National University in 1991, MS, and PhD in Chemical Engineering from KAIST in 1993 and 1997.

He served as a postdoctoral fellow at Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research from 2001 to 2002. Before joining UNIST, he worked at Batteries R&D, LG Chem as a principal research scientist who led the development of ceramic-coated separators (SRS®).

He is a fellow of both the Korean Academy of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Engineering of Korea. He is the director of Yonsei Battery Research Centre and serves as the editor of Journal of Power Sources (Elsevier). His research interests include the high-mass-loading electrodes, organic material-based solid-state batteries, cellulose-based paper batteries, and flexible/wearable power sources.

Lars Sandberg is the founder and CEO of Blue Ocean Closures. He has a long background in the forest and packaging industry, having worked with companies such as Stora Enso, Billerud, and Tetra Pak.

Lars is a big fan of Canada and British Columbia, and has spent one year here in Vancouver as an Entrepreneur in Residence with FPInnovations.

Hassan Pardawalla, the COO of ReAct Materials, is a seasoned business leader with a 20-year international career spanning business operations, marketing & sales, organizational culture, project management, and strategy development.

He has held roles in a Fortune 500 and several startups helping them achieve success by driving sustainable growth, optimization of supply chains and securing multi-million dollar B2B contracts. Alongside his professional achievements, he teaches small business management at Universtiy Canada West, is a mentor at Innovation UBC, a board member of the Vancouver Fringe Festival and volunteers with several organizations in metro Vancouver.

He holds a MBA from the University of Alberta and a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering from University of Minnesota.

Dave McCormick, MBA, has enjoyed being the Uchucklesaht Tribe Government’s (UTG) Economic Development Manager since November, 2021. With over 25 years working in in the fields of community, economic and business development his vast and diverse experience focuses on relationship building and “connecting the dots” to take opportunity to results.

By applying the time-proven leadership approach of listening and learning first and foremost, Dave has achieved success in his many professional, volunteer and personal endeavours by using a Start at Yes philosophy.

Prior to joining UTG, Dave applied and grew his expertise in negotiations, marketing and relationship building over his career in such roles as Director of Business Development with the Port Alberni Port Authority; economic development with Community Futures, business banking, and various freelance consulting and college business courses instructing.

Since 2013 Dave has had the honour of being the General Manager of Forestry with Ntityix Resources LP, a Westbank First Nation-held natural resource company located in the heart of Syilx territory in the central Okanagan valley. He and his team coordinate the planning, operations, silviculture, and community and local stakeholder engagement on Westbank First Nation’s (WFN) forest tenures.

Since graduating from forestry at UBC, Dave has worked for industry, his own consultancy, government, and First Nations in locations such as Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Island and various locations in the interior of British Columbia. Kelowna has been home for Dave and his family since 1999.

Today Dave’s primary interest is in advancing ways to incorporate Indigenous and community values into all aspects of forest stewardship on WFN-held tenures and to continue earning the support of and developing opportunities for the WFN Community.

Joshua A. Henry, Co-Founder and Chief Technical Information Officer

Dr. Joshua Henry is a materials chemist. He received his BA in chemistry from Carleton College in 2000 and his PhD in physical chemistry from Cornell University in 2005. He is the recipient of the National Science Foundation’s International Research Fellowship and, prior to cofounding TimberHP, was a faculty member in the chemistry departments of Bates College, in Lewiston, Maine, and the University of Maine, in Orono, Maine.

Owen Miller is the CEO and Co-Founder of Deadwood Innovations. He has led Deadwood’s technological and business growth from a concept to first-of-a-kind-commercial readiness. Before this, he spent 15 years between the upstream and downstream oil sectors, in technical and operations management roles for integrated Canadian majors.

Dr. Gert Preegel is the MCC Innovation and Development Manager at Fibenol, where he leads research and industrial-scale development of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for advanced material applications. With a strong background in chemistry and sustainable biomaterials, he focuses on optimizing MCC production, exploring its role as a performance additive, and fostering industrial partnerships for innovative applications.

Dr. Preegel holds a PhD in Chemistry from Tallinn University of Technology, where his research delved into asymmetric organocatalytic reactions. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in academic and industrial research, working on biomass valorization, polymer additives, and cellulose-based materials. His postdoctoral work at KU Leuven further expanded his expertise in bio-based chemical processes and renewable materials.

At Fibenol, Dr. Preegel is at the forefront of MCC’s integration into fiber thermoforming, sustainable packaging, and cellulose-based composites. He actively contributes to European collaborative projects such as WOODCELL and REDYSIGN, driving innovation in bio-based materials for a circular economy.

Recognized for his contributions to the field, Dr. Preegel has published in peer-reviewed journals and has been invited to speak at various international conferences. He is also a member of the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences.

Meaghan Seagrave
Executive Director, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada
CEO, Sustainable Chemistry Alliance

Meaghan Seagrave is a nationally recognized leader in the bioeconomy and has been spearheading bio-based opportunities and industrial transformation across the country for over a decade.

Meaghan’s educational and professional backgrounds include a graduate degree in chemistry, extensive experience leading a number of NGOs, and over two decades of experience in early-stage technology development and scale-up, making her a knowledgeable support to Canada’s diverse green, clean, and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Meaghan currently provides leadership to Canada’s only green chemistry accelerator – Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC). As a high-impact not for profit, BIC is focused on providing critical strategic investment, advice and services to business developers with clean, green and sustainable technology. She is also CEO to Canada’s Sustainable Chemistry Alliance, a green-chemistry focused venture capital fund focused on early-stage green investments.

Danilo Porro
University of Milano Bicocca
Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences
-National Delegate for the configuration "Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment". Horizon Europe 2021-2027, Pillar II, Cluster 6.

Full Professor of Industrial Microbiology and Chemistry of Fermentation. The main scientific activity aims to the understanding of the basic knowledge required to project industrial processes involving microorganisms. These studies include the genetic improvement of microbial strains of industrial interest, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, control and validation of fermentation processes in use in the pharmaceutical, food and environmental industry.

The research group has developed, patented and licensed the technology for production and secretion of heterologous proteins, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, PLA and for the selection of mutant strains over producing organic acids.

Dr. Lukas Bichler is a Professor at the School of Engineering, the University of British Columbia, Okanagan campus. His research is in the area of materials and manufacturing. His group focuses on developing alloys for the transportation industry, non-metallic materials for the energy sector, and carbon-based materials.

Of late, his research focused on the recovery of carbon-based feedstocks from bio-mass and pyrolyzed off-the-road tires, and subsequent upgrading these carbons towards industrial applications.

National Forest Sector Leader
Partner, Global Investment and Innovation Incentives

Davis Chiu is the National Forest Sector Leader and Partner at Deloitte Canada, where he helps the energy and resources sector innovate and transition to a low carbon economy. Prior to joining Deloitte, he held senior executive roles in carbon strategy and innovation for one of the world’s largest forest products companies.

He was also previously the Industrial Co-Chair of the BC Pulp and Paper Bioproducts Alliance. Davis is currently an advisory board member of the Foresight’s BC Net Zero Innovation Network (BCNZIN) and the University of British Columbia’s Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC).

Bill Adams, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mercer International

Bill Adams, Chief Sustainability Officer, joined Mercer International in 2019. Bill is responsible for leading Mercer's integrated sustainability strategy for their global operations. Bill has worked in a wide range of leadership roles in Canada, United States and Germany over the past 35 years, with his roles focused on engineering, manufacturing excellence, sustainability strategy and corporate development. These roles took place with Weyerhaeuser and Domtar before joining Canfor in 2014 where Bill served as the Sr. Director, Sustainability, Strategy & Innovation based in Vancouver.

Bill Adams is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA in International Management from APIU. In 2020, Bill was the recipient of the UBC Dean’s Medal of Distinction in the Faculty of Applied Science. Bill has been a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia since 1987. He currently serves on the boards of Performance Biofilaments, FPInnovations and UBC’s Clean Energy Research Centre.

Dr Elicia Maine is Simon Fraser University’s Associate Vice President, Knowledge Mobilization & Innovation, W.J. VanDusen Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Director of the i2I Research & Innovation Institute. Her research interests are in science innovation, science entrepreneurship, and the translation of inventions from university research labs. She founded the award-winning Invention to Innovation (i2I) program to develop entrepreneurial mindset and innovation skills in PhD scientists and engineers across Canada, while simultaneously shaping science innovation. A decade later, this network spans across Canada, in partnership with NSERC, Mitacs, and over 70 academic and industry partners. She cares deeply about enabling the impact that university inventions can make towards solving large societal challenges, such as addressing climate change and treating or preventing disease.

As SFU’s Inaugural AVP of Knowledge Mobilization & Innovation, Dr Maine oversees and champions initiatives and units at SFU such as SFU Innovates, the Technology Licensing Office, SFU VentureLabs, the Knowledge Mobilization Hub, and the Community Engaged Research Initiative. She serves on several Boards and Advisory Councils, including Innovate BC, Foresight Canada Cleantech Accelerator, Mitacs Research Council, the German-Canadian Materials Acceleration Program and the CCA Expert Panel on Science Technology and Innovation. An interdisciplinary scholar and engaged educator, she holds a PhD in Technology Management & Materials Engineering from the University of Cambridge, and Master’s degrees in Technology & Policy and in Materials Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Professor Maine has published her innovation management research in Research Policy, R&D Management, Journal of Cleaner Production, Technovation, Nature Nanotechnology and Nature Materials. She has been honoured with the 2022 Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) Innovation Policy Trailblazer award and as BC’s 2021 Top Cleantech Educator, and contributed to SFU being ranked as Canada's number one university for innovation, number one in the world for entrepreneurial spirit and number one in Canada for industrial applications in the World University Rankings for Innovation.

Alina Ruonala-Lindgren is a Co-Creation Manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. With 18 years of experience in various roles within the forest industry, she joined VTT six years ago.

In her current role, Alina excels at building partnerships with companies and other research organizations. She is focusing on the renewal of the pulping industry and plays a pivotal role as the coordinator of the Emission Free Pulping program, a five-year research initiative with a target budget of 15 million euros and 17 international partners. In addition to her work in the pulping industry, Alina Ruonala-Lindgren is also involved in other areas of bio-based materials, such as packaging materials, films, and chemicals. She is responsible for the industrial collaboration in the FinnCERES program, a joint competence center of Aalto University and VTT, which aims to harness the natural properties of lignocellulose to create new sustainable materials and collaborate with stakeholders to create societal impact.

Alina holds a Master of Science (Technology) degree, which has provided her with a strong foundation in research and innovation policy, as well as environmental issues such as recycling, emissions, producer’s responsibility, and product safety. At VTT, her primary focus is on business development, aiming to commercialize promising research findings through collaboration with partners or the development of start-up companies.Her extensive background and expertise inspire her daily, particularly the potential of biomaterials to be used sustainably and create new business opportunities.

Juha is a CO-founder and CTO of Spinnova. Previously he worked at VTT as a team leader of Rheology and process flows team. Experimental research of fibre suspension flows, and flocculation related to papermaking processes has been the main focus of his research. He was selected as European CTO of the year 2018 in SME category and he has lead several large industrial process development projects.

He has been developing several non-invasive research methods for opaque fluids and he is among the first researchers to utilize Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to study rheological properties of complex fluids (including cellulose nano-fibrils, CNF). During his time at VTT he also was a visiting researcher at UBC (University of British Columbia) Pulp and paper research centre.

I joined Unilever R&D in 1998 as a Laundry Processing Project Leader. From that role over the following 16 years I moved around various Processing and Project Leader roles working on Detergent powders, tablets, liquids and fabric conditioners.

In February 2015, I was appointed as the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF) Program Director with additional responsibility for leading the Global Automation & Digital R&D Capability. This role encompassed both the leadership of Unilever’s R&D activities within the MIF as well as the automation and digitisation of the associated capabilities in line with the vision for the Materials Innovation Factory.

Since 2021, I have been Head of Packaging Advanced Materials, Unilever R&D, responsible for developing the next generation of sustainable packaging materials beyond the incumbent solutions with a particular focus on our flexible packaging portfolio. The focus of the program is to deliver affordable solutions to the marketplace that align with Unilever’s plastics commitments.

Professor Feng Jiang is an Associate Professor at The University of British Columbia and holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Functional Biomaterials.

His research focuses on the sustainable isolation and modification of lignocellulosic nanomaterials, along with the advanced manufacturing of bio-based products for emerging thermal, environmental, electrical, and energy applications. With over 100 journal articles published in esteemed journals such as Nature Materials, Chemical Reviews, Advanced Materials, Materials Today, ACS Nano, among others, Professor Jiang has made significant contributions to the field. He has also delivered over 100 invited presentations at international conferences and universities and serves as Editor of Carbohydrate Polymers.

Recognized for his research excellence, he has received prestigious awards including the 2021 ACS CELL KINGFA Young Investigator Award, the 2023 UBC Faculty of Forestry Outstanding Research Award, the 2023 TAPPI Nano Mid-Career Award, and the Paper360° 2022 TOP 50 POWER LIST, and 2024 UBC Killam Faculty Research Prize Senior Category. Professor Jiang holds leadership roles in the ACS CELL Division and TAPPI Nano Division. His research has led to the generation of 6 patents, numerous provisional patents, and has been covered by over 300 different media outlets, including CBC, CTV, and BNN Bloomberg.

Gurminder Minhas is a business and technical development specialist, with extensive experience in bio based materials, chemicals and fuels, as well as pulp and paper industries. He is well versed in new technology development in the chemical sciences space, as well as growing technologies from lab, into pilot scale then on toward commercialization. In 2014, Gurminder helped successfully create and launch Performance BioFilaments, an exciting new biomaterials company with strategic investments from forestry giants Mercer International and Resolute Forest Products. As Managing Director of Performance BioFilaments, Gurminder is responsible for developing commercial opportunities for fibrillated cellulose products in applications where improved performance and sustainability are sought.
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 began his career as a Research Technician within the pulp group at Canfor’s Research and Development Centre. For the second half of his 11-year tenure at Canfor, Gurminder was the Head of Pulp and Paper Research responsible for supporting pulp and paper mills in BC, as well as technical marketing. Gurminder holds a BSc in Chemistry from UBC, followed with an MBA from Simon Fraser. Gurminder also serves on the Board of Bio Industrial Innovation Canada / Sustainable Chemistry Alliance (BIC/SCA) and the Bioproducts Strategic Advisory Committee of FPInnovations.

Mr. Jean-Philippe Jacques holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in energy and materials science. Through working for several years in the family business in the recycling sector, Mr. Jacques acquired solid expertise in business development and strategic partnerships. His expertise and leadership then led Mr. Jacques to take on the management position at Innofibre in January 2018. Since, he works with his team, research ecosystem and private partners to accelerate technology development in bioeconomy and scientific innovation.

Dr. Mason is an entrepreneur and Executive Chair of the Verschuren Center (VC Inc) in Nova Scotia.

Dr. Mason has a long career in the agri-food industry and logistics, having built several businesses in the food by-products business. While CEO of The Verschuren center Inc she transformed that business from research to CMO by adding the largest scale up capacity for precision fermentation and clean tech solutions in Canada.

With current supply chain uncertainty and the urgency of climate change the need for value added innovation is greater than ever. The VC business helps scale companies to commercial deployment by providing large scale assets, efficient & rapid growth and a supportive business environment.

Stéphane Renou, President & CEO

A native of Montréal, Stéphane Renou holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. He also holds an MBA (Innovation Management) from the University of Colorado. In 2000, Stephane joined General Electric’s research centre to lead engineering divisions in the Aviation and Oil & Gas sectors worldwide. Stéphane Renou is currently President and CEO of FPInnovations, which specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness.

Luis Alberto Otero Vázquez. Head of Innovation.

Luis Alberto Otero Vázquez possesses a robust background in research, development, and innovation, primarily within the field of industrial chemistry, as demonstrated by his extensive work with FORESA and FORESA TECHNOLOGIES.

His career ranges from hands-on research and development of polymers, biopolymers, emulsions, and additives, including the development of instrumental methodologies, to leadership roles in innovation, R&D coordination, and team management.

His comprehensive skill set encompasses intellectual property management, regulatory affairs, competitive intelligence, open innovation, and public speaking, along with experience in business development activities. Moreover, he has actively contributed to numerous granted projects and has represented FORESA in various consortiums and committees, showcasing his ability to contribute to broader industry initiatives. Academically, he holds an MSc in Chemistry, has authored publications, and holds patents, underscoring his contributions to the scientific and industrial community.

Olatz Unamunzaga, General Director at NEIKER, Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development

Olatz Unamunzaga holds a degree in Biology from the University of the Basque Country and a PhD in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Zaragoza. Throughout her career, she has done outstanding work in research and management, all the while consolidating her experience in the agri-food sector. She has worked at NEIKER for more than a decade, holding key positions as Head of Innovation and Technology. In that position, she led strategic projects aimed at the modernisation and sustainability of the agriculture sector.

Unamunzaga also has additional training in business management (MBAe3) and has solid capacity as a leader, project manager, and effective communicator. Her recent appointment by the Basque Government will help to boost knowledge transfer and connections with the agriculture sector in the Basque Country.

Scott Treadwell leads all commercial and strategic activities as President of SixRing Inc. where the Company’s current areas of focus are building a First-of-Kind plant in Southern Alberta to fully commercialize its patented delignification process, moving several overseas projects to FID and execution with partners, and advancing commercial markets for key products from the process.

Scott joined SixRing in 2022, after 12 years in Capital Markets focusing on the Energy Services and Equipment space in North America and 10 years in operational and business development roles in the industry. Prior to this Scott served 9 years in the Royal Canadian Navy on both coasts and was decorated for service in support of Canada’s NATO commitments in the European theater.

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering from the Royal Military College of Canada and an MBA with Finance Specialization from the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. Scott has served on multiple non-profit boards supporting Military and Veterans’ services causes and he and his family make their home in Calgary.

Foresight Bioeconomy Advisor and Principal SF Consulting

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.

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 37 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.

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.

Dr. Ferran Martí-Ferrer, R&D Manager.

AIMPLAS - Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos y Conexas

Dr. Ferran Martí (M), PhD in Chemistry (Polymer Science) by the University Polytechnic of Valencia, working in AIMPLAS as Head of Research, Development, and Innovation department since 2005, where he coordinates R&D activities within AIMPLAS.

He has +33 years of expertise in plastic materials and their processing technologies, including biobased materials and forest-based products.

Since 2000, he has prepared and/or support in the preparation more than +150 European funded projects (FP5, FP6, FP7, H2020, HEU LIFE +, eco-innovation, Eureka, etc) and other international projects (PRIMA, bilateral, IBEROEKA, etc) focused, among others, on biotechnologies, plastics materials from renewable resources, advanced and high-performance composites, nanomaterials, plastic recycling, etc ...

He has participated as speaker in many congresses, seminars, at international level (Europe, South America, Africa, China and the Middle East). He has also participated in round tables to discuss European Research Policies. He has several publications in international magazines and international patents within the plastic sector.

Dr. Marie-Claude Béland, Business Development Director, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden

Marie-Claude Béland is a strategic leader in bio-based innovation, dedicated to accelerating the transition from lab-scale breakthroughs to market-ready solutions. With a strong focus on bio-based material development, active materials, and waste stream valorization, Béland thrives at the intersection of sustainability, material science, and commercialization.

She has led initiatives that drive the adoption of sustainable materials in high-impact sectors such as energy storage and advanced manufacturing. By implementing strategies that accelerate the shift toward a bio-based economy, Béland helps create market pull for bio-based innovations, fostering new value cycles within industry and ensuring that technology development aligns with real-world applications.

Klay Tindall assumed the role of General Manager at Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures (LFV) in August 2012. Líl̓wat Forestry Ventures (LFV) supports the Líl̓wat Nation by generating profits, creating employment opportunities, and providing training. Before taking on this leadership position, Klay gained diverse experience in the forestry sector, including silviculture and engineering fieldwork. He has spent time working for a major licensee and as an entrepreneur.

As GM of LFV, Klay oversees the harvesting of an annual allowable cut of 110,000m³ of timber and manages LFV staff, engineers, and silviculture contractors across five of the Líl̓wat Nation’s forestry tenures. He is also involved in strategic planning and collaborates closely with the Líl̓wat Nation’s Lands and Resources Department to ensure that Rights and Titles are strengthened through LFV’s activities. LFV proudly helps manage the Spel’kúmtn Community Forest and works with the Cheakamus Community Forest.

Klay is responsible for building relationships with LFV clients served by the contracting department. LFV employs between 25 and 50 people and undertakes contract work in areas such as forest firefighting, fuels management, BC Hydro slashing, arborist work, silviculture, and road maintenance for other licensees and clients. A key part of Klay’s role is creating job opportunities within the community and fostering the development of employee skills.

Klay represents Líl̓wat Forestry in several provincial associations. He serves as a board member of both the Truck Loggers Association (TLA) and the BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) and advises the First Nations Forestry Council. He also collaborates closely with Stillwater Consulting to help connect people with knowledge and those in need of skills.

Klay holds a Bachelor of Forestry from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and an Advanced Leadership Certificate from UBC’s Sauder School of Business. When he's not focused on ensuring sustainable forestry practices, he enjoys spending time in the forests and mountains of Líl̓wat with family and friends.