Speakers

Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UBC Okanagan Post-Doctoral Fellow, Forest Ecology, University of British ColumbiaGIS Land Use Planning & Watershed Assessment, CSIRO, Canberra, AustraliaPhD, Forest Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, ChinaMSc, Forest Ecology, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China I have a broad interest in various aspects of sustainable management of forested watersheds, but particularly interactions…

Aeron Westeinde is a MSc of Forestry student at UBC Vancouver working with Dr. Lori Daniels in the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence. Aeron’s research involves studying the 2024 Slocan Lake Fire Complex to understand fuel treatment effectiveness in the ICH zone. She has worked as a wildfire fighter with BC Wildfire for five seasons and…

Founding Partner, Spearhead Timber Works

Councillor, Neskonlith Indian Band I am currently working for the Neskonlith Indian Band. I have also worked in the Natural resources for several years for other agencies: Canada, the province of British Colombia, as well as the local Bands. My current function: I am in my 4th year at council in many capacities natural resources…

Carson Lopatka is a Master of Science student studying at The University of British Columbia under the supervision of Dr. Lori Daniels with the Centre for Wildfire Coexistence and Tree Ring Lab. His research plans to assess the efficacy of Indigenous-led, innovative silviculture treatments in substantially reducing high-severity wildfire risk while also enhancing mule deer…

Casey is the general manager of the Wells Gray Community Forest in Clearwater. He was the registrar of the Forestry Profession (FPBC / ABCFP) from 2014-2025 where he helped guide the implementation of the Professional Governance Act and evolve FPBC’s programs in registration, discipline and unlawful practice. As an outspoken advocate of forest stewardship and…

Team Lead, Inventory Analysis and Reporting, MOF    Dan Turner is a forester based in Kamloops with over 25 years of experience working in BC. He began his career conducting growth and yield ground sampling across the province during the summers and performing GIS analysis and reporting in the winters. For the past decade, Dan has…

MSFM, FIT, Nk’Mip Forestry LLP  Osoyoos Indian Band Eden works as a forester-in-training and technician in the south Okanagan, focusing on sustainable land management, wildfire risk reduction, and responsible development that adheres to syilx standards. Working for a First Nation as a non-Indigenous person has fostered place-based learning and a deep appreciation of traditional ecological…

Analyst, Forest Biometrics, J&E McWilliams and Associates  Eleanor graduated from UBC in 1984 and obtained a Master’s degree in Forest Biometrics in 1991 from the University of Minnesota.  She has extensive experience in quantitative silviculture, stand modelling, monitoring, regeneration standards, inventory, and financial analysis of silviculture treatments.  Presentation Abstract: “All models are wrong, but some…

Silviculture Reporting Specialist, Forest Science, Planning & Practices Branch, MOF

Forest Manager, Harrop-Procter Community Co-operative Erik is a forestry consultant and manager of the Harrop-Procter Community Forest near Nelson, BC.  He has 25 years of experience working with the forest industry, Indigenous peoples, community organizations, and regional and provincial governments on projects from Haida Gwaii to Labrador.  Erik has extensive experience in forestry planning and…

Garry Merkel , Co-Chair, Provincial Forestry Advisory Council 

President, Gilbert Smith Forest Products, Barriere

Inventory Data Scientist, MOF Hyeyoung Woo joined the Inventory Analysis and Reporting team in 2024. As an inventory data scientist, her responsibilities include the management and analysis of provincial forest inventory data. Prior to joining the MoF, Hyeyoung worked as a research fellow at the University of Victoria from 2021 to 2023, after earning her…

Forestry Superintendent, Planning, Tolko Industries Jamie has worked in the forest industry for 28 years since graduating from UBC in 1992 (B.Sc. Resource Management). He spent 4 years as a consultant in Terrace, BC, doing silviculture and timber development work and then in 1996 he and his wife moved to Kamloops where he started working…

 Executive Director, BC Community Forests Association

Regional Executive Director, Thompson Okanagan Region, MOF

I’m a  fulltime faculty member in the Department of Natural Resource Science at Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, BC).  I’m one of the founding members of the Bachelor of Natural Resource Sciences (BNRS) degree program and have been teaching in the program since 1992.  I’m a forest ecosystem ecologist (PhD in Forest Ecology from UBC –…

KDay Forestry Ltd. Ken Day RPF is a consulting forester in Williams Lake, B.C. where his practice is largely focused on silviculture in dry Douglas-fir forests.  In 2018, he retired from his position of Manager of the UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest after 31 years.  Prior to his time at UBC, Ken worked for various…

Senior Wildfire Analyst, POLIS Wildfire Resilience Project Kevin is trained as a forester (BSF, UBC) and planner (MRM, SFU), and has a certificate in conflict resolution (JIBC).  He worked for over 30 years for the provincial government, designing and delivering land use plans, developing government-to-government agreements with Indigenous Nations, and leading organizational change.  Kevin was…

Kirk is a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia working with Dr. Nicholas Coops. His research is exploring climate risk and adaptive silviculture using forest estate planning tools, climate-informed growth models (Physiological Principles in Predicting Growth; 3-PG), and remote sensing data. Prior to studying at UBC, Kirk worked on the Mixedwood Growth Model…

Mackenzie is a MSc student in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies – Biology at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, BC. She is supervised by Dr. Dezene Huber in the UNBC Insect Ecology Lab, and her research focuses on pollinator diversity following stand-replacing wildfires in the Cariboo Chilcotin. Additionally, she is studying…

Woodlands Manager, Beaumont Timber Company Beaumont Timber Company Ltd. Manuela (Mani) has been living and working as a forester in the Revelstoke area for the last 15 years. She has a degree in geography (Bachelor of Science) from University of Victoria (2011) as well as a Masters in Sustainable Forest Management (2015) from UBC. For…

Chair, Resilient Ecosystems Committee, Woodlots BC       A graduate of UNBC, Melissa has spent much of her career working north of Quesnel for a small number of consulting companies.  Forever the consultant, she currently consults to Woodlots BC as the Northern Woodlot Representative.  In that role she chairs a committee of woodlot licensees to role…

Founder and Principal Forester, Frontera Forest Solutions, Inc ‘Frontera’ is a forestry consulting company based in North Vancouver with thirteen full-time staff focused on finding dynamic solutions to contemporary forestry issues. Nick has 20 years of experience working in land management and 15 years working within the fuels and wildfire management arena. Presentation Abstract For…

Paul Binotto – Director Modular BC Adviser to MHABC Board of Directors & Lead of the Provincial Modular Advocacy Program Paul has a history in modular construction and is a strong advocate for the development of the BC Factory modular industry. Paul has worked with various cities and planning professionals across the province to help…

Operations Manager, Nk’Mip  Osoyoos Indian Band and West Boundary Community Forest Peter grew up in Westbank in the Central Okanagan and has worked primarily in the southern interior of BC in silviculture, forest operations, and planning, with experience engaging and collaborating with First Nation communities, public stakeholders, and government. He enjoys implementing innovative projects on…

Principal, Veridian Ecological Consulting Originating from the UK, Rachel’s graduate studies and research in British Columbia created her passion for the BC landscape and its incredible biodiversity. Rachel is trained in the science of conservation biology and land management, and accomplished in the art of applying science in the land and resource management context. Areas…

President, Whitbark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada Randy is a leading provincial expert in whitebark and limber pine and has worked on related conservation and restoration projects throughout British Columbia. He has developed whitebark pine recovery plans, implemented planting programs, established permanent monitoring plots, designed prescribed burns and treatments for whitebark pine restoration, and conducted…

Rosalia (Rosie) Jaffray is a Master of Applied Science student in the FRESH Lab with Dr. Gregory Paradis. Her research focuses on using operations research methods to improve forest operational planning. Rosie completed her undergrad in Forest Operations at UBC and worked a few summers in forestry in Alberta and construction back home in Ontario.…

Sadie is a PhD student in the Integrated Remote Sensing Studio (IRSS) in Faculty of Forestry at UBC. Her graduate studies center applying emerging remote sensing technologies to active forest operations and fire-risk assessments in British Columbia. She is the co-founder of the Vancouver Chapter of the Society for Conservation GIS and an active proponent…

Vice President, International Market Development/Strategic Marketing & Communications, Forestry Innovation Investment Vice President, Market Development, Forestry Innovation Investment Sonya leads domestic and international marketing and communications strategies to strengthen and expand North American and overseas market recognition of BC’s and Canada’s forest practices and products. Working closely with forest sector companies, trade associations, research institutes,…

Silviculture Performance Assessment Specialist, Harvesting & Silviculture Practices, MOF Taisa is the Silviculture Performance Assessment Specialist with the Forest Science, Planning and Practices Branch in the Office of the Chief Forester. She leads the provincial silviculture surveyor accreditation program and contributes to policy innovation through the Free Growing Working Group and the Interior Broadleaf Working…

Tay is a MSc student in Environmental Science at Thompson Rivers University working with Dr. Thomas Pypker. His graduate research is focused on analyzing the influence of glacier recession on the hydrology of a fifth order watershed in interior British Columbia through a cumulative effects lens. Tay’s undergraduate thesis analyzed the hydrologic response of forest…