PLENARY SESSION 1
Speaker Bios

8:30 am – 11:00 am
Ballroom AB

Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Welcome Remarks

Dr. Amélie Roberge, Director General, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, of the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada

Bios

Biographical Information: Amélie Roberge is the Director General, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, of the Canadian Forest Service (CFS) at Natural Resources Canada. In this role she is responsible for research on innovative solutions to ensure a sustainable fibre supply from sustainable forests. Formerly, she was the Director of the CFS Strategic Science Policy and Engagement Division. In that capacity, she held responsibility for federal, provincial and territorial relations, foresighting, and strategic science and policy integration. Prior to this position, she was a senior policy analyst with the Canadian Forest Service, and worked on a variety of issues, such as climate change and cumulative effects. She has been involved in the delivery of multiple national policy documents, such as the 2 Billion Trees Initiative, the Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shared Vision for Forests in Canada: Toward 2030 and the Forest Bioeconomy Framework for Canada.Prior to joining the Canadian Forest Service in 2011, Amélie worked as a forester for the Quebec Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks from 2008 through 2011, responsible for the forest certification file. She holds a B.Sc. (Biology) from the University of Ottawa and a B.Sc. (forest management) from Université Laval. She also holds a Ph.D. in Forest Science, with a specialization in forest policy, from the same institution.

Shaping the Future of Forestry Operations - A Ddelicate Balance Between Human and Machine

Stéphane Renou, President and CEO of FPInnovations

Presenting: Technology is evolving rapidly. Its integration into operations requires a constant balance between multiple factors. For instance, technology developers and users alike must constantly manage the complexity and overconfidence that technology brings to their choices. Ultimately, the human factor and human reaction to technology are the critical success factor.

 

Bios

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. Email: stephane.renou@fpinnovations.ca

Enablers of a Digital Transformation of the Forest Sector in Canada

Adam Dick, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, of the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada Director, Strategic Operations

Presenting: Lessons learned and insights from collaborations currently underway in New Brunswick and Quebec.

Bios

Adam Dick is a forester, having earned an undergraduate (2002) and masters (2012) degree from the University of New Brunswick. Since 2018, he has been employed by the Canadian Wood Fibre Centre of the Canadian Forest, currently in the role of Director, Strategic Operations. Prior to joining CFS, Adam served various roles with the New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development, focused on growth and yield, timber supply analysis and forest inventory. Notably, Adam led the adoption of a LiDAR based Enhanced Forest Inventory in New Brunswick, the first province in Canada to do so. Recent work with the Fibre Centre has been focused on the adoption of Digital Forest Value Chain technologies in the Canadian forest sector. Adam resides in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Email: adam.dick@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Digital Transition in Swedish Forest Operations – Examples from Practice and Applied Research

Magnus Thor, Skogsforsk

Presenting: An overview of Swedish forest operations in terms of silviculture, logging and transport. Examples of digital tools for decision support will be presented. Furthermore, some ongoing applied research projects will be highlighted, as well as identified needs for further research and innovation.

Bios

Magnus Thor has worked at Skogforsk since 1992 as a researcher and research manager. His fields of research and interest cover forest operations, wood supply, and control of Heterobasidion root rot. He holds a MSc in Forestry and a PhD in Forestry from The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Skogforsk is the central research body for the Swedish forestry sector. Email: magnus.thor@skogforsk.se

Continue to Plenary Session 2
Speaker Bios

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