AGM Speakers & Special Guests

Bert Auger 

Elder, Whitefish Lake First Nation

Elder Bert Auger is an Edmonton-based Cree Elder, a member of the Whitefish Lake First Nation #459. Auger began learning from his Elders (his grandfathers) as a young boy and continues to study and work under the guidance of Elders today. He was a social worker, employed by the Alberta government for 25 years. More than 20 of those years were in senior administration positions where he co-led the development of a ground-breaking Aboriginal employee recruitment and retention program.

Auger is committed to bringing an understanding of Indigenous peoples’ story to mainstream Canadians to improve their relationships. Currently, he does this work through his business, Auger Cree Consulting. In 1986, he received a diploma in social work from MacEwan University.

Pat Bell

Former B.C. Forestry Minister

Pat Bell was born in British Columbia in 1957 and has lived in Canada his entire life. He attended UBC from 1975-1979 in the field of Education. From 1979 to 1988 he worked corporately for Wendy’s International and in 1988 became the Franchisee for the Prince George area. Pat and his family moved to Prince George and built 2 restaurants as well as having a number of other businesses including logging, trucking, car rentals and other food service facilities.
In 2001 he was elected as the MLA for “Prince George North” and during the period 2001-2013 held various Cabinet roles including Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Forests and Minister of Jobs and Economic Development.
In 2013 he left Politics and re-entered the business world. In that period he and his family built BC’s most Northern Winery (Northern Lights Estate Winery), purchased a small business (Hobby Brews) and built another Wendy’s in Williams Lake BC with a fourth Wendy’s currently under construction.
Since leaving politics Pat has sat on the Board of Directors of 3 publically traded companies (Conifex, Gold Reach and Pinnacle Renewable Energy. In addition he consults on a variety of issues for companies in BC. He is known for his ability to bring people together in difficult circumstances.
While Pat’s business interests are Hospitality his real passion is in Forestry and specifically the use of wood in commercial and institutional buildings. He championed the “WoodFirst” culture in the Provincial Government, led the construction of the Wood Innovation and Design Centre and has demonstrated his passion in the construction of Northern Lights Estate Winery.

Christine Beveridge

Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Edson

Christine Beveridge serves as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Town of Edson, Alberta, where she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, resilience, and strategic foresight. With a strong background in municipal governance and community development, Christine has been instrumental in guiding Edson through some of the most challenging times in its recent history. Since her appointment in 2021, she has brought a steady hand and a realistic approach to local governance, drawing on over 25 years of experience in municipal administration across Alberta.

In 2023, under Christine’s leadership, the Town of Edson faced and overcame a series of unprecedented natural disasters, including two major wildfires and a significant flood. Her calm coordinated response ensured the safety of residents, the protection of critical infrastructure, and the rapid mobilization of emergency services. Christine worked closely with provincial agencies, first responders, and community stakeholders to support evacuations, aid in recovery efforts, and maintain essential services during and after the crises.

Wendy Crosina

Director, Forest Sustainability, Weyerhaeuser

Jacob Handel

Director, Forest Carbon Origination

Jacob Handel draws on more than 20 years of experience building strong relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities across North America. He’s passionate about fostering meaningful engagement within resource industries and has played a key role in guiding conversations and strategies between Indigenous groups, regulators, and stakeholders. Jacob’s expertise extends to navigating complex regulatory environments, supporting negotiations, and shaping strategies for organizations in the industrial, energy, environmental, and forest products sectors—including work with governments, nonprofits, and major Canadian divisions of international companies. With a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Conservation Sciences from the University of Alberta, Jacob brings both deep knowledge and genuine commitment to every project he undertakes.

Andrew Horton

Assistant Deputy Minister, Lands Division, Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta

Andrew started with the Government of Alberta in communications with Alberta Agriculture as they dealt with a significant drought and the province’s first case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. He moved to the City of Edmonton for a short period before returning to the then-Ministry of Alberta Environment and Water, first as a public affairs officer, then as an executive advisor with Bev Yee, then finally as the director of the just-started Strategic Foresight Unit. Andrew then moved to Municipal Affairs, where he as worked in a number of leadership roles, all with a policy and engagement focus, and was responsible for the care and feeding of the Municipal Government Act and the Local Authorities Election Act.

He is currently the Assistant Deputy Minister, Lands Division with Environment and Protected Areas and the Alberta Land Stewardship Commissioner. His division is responsible for regional and sub-regional planning, reclamation and remediation policy, conservation policy, and the Land Use Secretariat.

Paul Jannke

Principal, Lumber

Paul Jannke is a founder and Principal of Forest Economic Advisors LLC, the premier source for North American wood products analysis and information.

Paul’s main area of expertise is North American lumber markets. Having spent more than 30 years’ analyzing lumber markets and providing reliable, insightful forecasts, Paul is the industry’s top economic analyst.

Paul is the author of FEA’s Lumber Advisor,  Lumber Quarterly Forecasting Service, and Global Log and Lumber Service publications. These publications are the industry’s leading sources for ongoing forecasts and analysis of the North American and Global lumber markets. In addition, Paul has co-authored numerous studies on the international lumber, engineered lumber, timber, bioenergy, and panel industries.

Paul has presented at many international conferences on the markets for lumber, engineered wood products and structural panels and he is recognized as a leading expert in these areas.

Prior to forming FEA, Paul was Senior Vice President of Wood Products and Timber at RISI and a research economist at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden. Paul is an avid hockey player, cyclist and sailor and surfer. He lives in Acton, Massachusetts with his wife Julie; his two children, Helen and Sam, having fled the nest.

Paul holds a master’s degree in economics from Boston University and bachelor’s degrees in economics and German from the University of Connecticut.

Paul can be reached at 978-496-6336 or by email at pjannke@getfea.com.

Shenandoah Johns

Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer, West Fraser

Shenandoah Johns is the Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer for West Fraser. She works with a very special team that highlights the work West Fraser does to care for the earth and its inhabitants across its North American and European operations.  The team is increasingly looking for opportunities across our value chain and create benefit for people and communities.  Insatiable curiosity, a love of change, and solving tricky problems have inspired Shenandoah to take on a range of career challenges. Prior to joining West Fraser, she worked in the Oil and Gas sector in a variety of roles, including corporate strategy, capital portfolio, economics, and legal.  Most importantly, Shenandoah is married with 6 children, all of whom are in various stages and navigating the trickiest issue of pursuing independence.

Andre Lema

Business Development, Western Archrib

Andre Lema is a seasoned professional in the mass timber industry, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as Business Development Manager at Western Archrib. His journey in this field began as a carpenter, where he developed a deep understanding of wood construction. Eager for more knowledge, he pursued further education in Construction Engineering.

Andre spent a decade in the wood truss business. In 1995 he joined Western Archrib. Currently as Business Development Manager, Andre plays a crucial role in the early stages of projects, collaborating closely with builders, architects and engineers. His dedication to fostering partnerships and identifying growth opportunities has been instrumental in the success of Western Archrib, a 74 year old company.

Beyond his professional life, Andre is an outdoor enthusiast with a love for mountain activities. He also enjoys woodworking and usually has a few projects on the go.

Martin Long

Minister of Infrastructure, Government of Alberta

Martin Long was sworn in as Minister of Infrastructure on February 27, 2025.

Mr. Long previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism, the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health.

Prior to being elected, Mr. Long worked for nine years as an operator at the Alberta Newsprint Pulp and Paper Mill in Whitecourt, Alberta. He has also worked extensively at drill sites for oil and gas companies and is a Class III power engineer.

Originally from the Nova Scotian community of Liverpool, Mr. Long believes wholeheartedly in community service. Martin and his wife Vanessa are the proud parents of twins. His hobbies include golf, hockey and downhill skiing.

Martin Long was first elected the Member of the Legislative Assembly for West Yellowhead on April 16, 2019 and was re-elected on May 29, 2023.

Todd Loewen

Minister of Forestry and Parks

Todd Loewen was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Grande Prairie-Smoky, on May 5, 2015. He was re-elected as the Member for Central Peace-Notley on April 16, 2019 and on May 29, 2023.

Prior to serving with the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Loewen owned a small outfitting business and an operational farm. Born and raised in rural Alberta, Mr. Loewen grew up in a farming family. He has lived in the community of Valleyview for the past 50 years. Mr. Loewen and his wife, Teena, have 5 children: Travis, Ty, Taylor, Tianna and Tenea.

Mr. Loewen has been an active volunteer for the Rotary Club of Grande Prairie, the Chamber of Commerce, their local church, several business organizations and many other community activities.

Mr. Loewen was sworn in as Ministry of Forestry and Parks on June 9, 2023. He previously served as the Minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism.

Krista Phillips

Director, Environment (Oil Sands), Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)

Krista Phillips is the Manager of Land and Biodiversity at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). Krista joined CAPP in 2007, originally focused air quality and climate change policy. Her current role as the lead for the industry association on land use policy and planning and biodiversity conservation offers her a unique perspective on the ABMI’s value to Alberta and Canada at large.
Krista came to CAPP – and Calgary – from Vancouver, where she was studying environment-energy policy and land use planning at Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. Her career started at Imperial in Toronto after having completed a degree in Industrial Engineering at University of Toronto.
Living in Calgary, Krista fills her free time exploring the wilderness with her husband and two young children. She has also participated on local Calgary boards, focusing on building communities, increasing active transportation opportunities and infrastructure, and childcare programming.

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.

Lacey Rose

County Forester, County of Renfrew

Lacey Rose grew up Labrador City, NL and graduated from UNB in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. Lacey has been a Registered Professional Forester in Ontario since 2008 and is currently the Vice-President of the Ontario Professional Foresters Association.

After starting out in the Boreal forest in Ontario, Lacey moved to the Great-Lakes-St. Lawrence forest and worked in various capacities on Crown land before joining the community forest world. She now manages the Renfrew County Forest.

Outside these roles, Lacey is the Co-Founder of Women in Wood, a network for women who work with, in and for the woods, and the host of the web-series “Mighty Jobs”.

Rebecca Schulz

Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Government of Alberta

Rebecca Schulz was first elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Calgary-Shaw on April 16, 2019 and was re-elected on May 29, 2023. She was sworn in as Minister of Environment and Protected Areas on June 9, 2023, previously serving as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Children’s Services.

A communications professional with a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University, Minister Schulz previously worked for the Government of Saskatchewan, as well as the University of Calgary. Minister Schulz is eager to advocate for the types of common-sense policies that will grow Alberta’s economy, protect our beautiful landscapes, and encourage investment and innovation in Alberta.

As a wife and proud mother of 2 young children, Minister Schulz has seen first-hand the challenges that Alberta’s families have faced during the last few years and uses her experiences to connect with and advocate for Albertans on the issues that matter to them.

Tiffany Shaw

Architect, Reimagine Architects

Tiffany is a Métis Architect and Reimagine’s Indigenous Practice Leader. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) and her Masters in Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC). While born in Calgary and raised in Edmonton, Tiffany’s Métis lineage derives from Fort McMurray via Fort McKay and the Red River.

Tiffany’s passion for collaboration and community informs every aspect of her practice. She is renowned for her insightful aesthetic and sensitivity to diverse cultural landscapes. Her work forms a cohesive narrative between past, present, and future concepts, bringing essential relational and cultural aspects into contemporary practice to create the most sustainable designs uniquely specific to each client and community. 

Tiffany is also an active interdisciplinary artist, curator, and founding core member of the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective. Her art and public art works can be found throughout Canada, such as ᐄᓃᐤ ( ÎNÎW) River Lot 11 ∞, Indigenous Art Park in Edmonton.

Danielle Smith

Premier of Alberta

Danielle Smith is a proud Albertan.

As Leader of the governing United Conservative Party, she was sworn in as the nineteenth Premier of Alberta in October 2022 and represents the riding of Brooks-Medicine Hat in the Legislative Assembly.

Ms. Smith has had a lifelong interest in Alberta public policy and finding the right balance between free enterprise and individual freedom, and the role of government. She was previously MLA for Highwood and leader of the Official Opposition. Before re-entering politics, Ms. Smith worked extensively in the media and in business, most recently as President of the Alberta Enterprise Group. Before that she was a radio host with Corus Entertainment for 6 years. Ms. Smith holds degrees in both Economics and English from the University of Calgary.

She is married to David and proud stepmom to his son. She and her husband own and operate a restaurant. They live in High River with their two dogs.

Heather Stephens

Chief Operating Officer, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)

Heather Stephens is ERA’s Chief Operating Officer. Heather has worked with ERA since inception and has played a key role in operating and growing the organization over the past 12 years. In her current role, Heather leads teams responsible for finance, project portfolio management, information technology, contract management, governance, and Human Resources. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Heather brings her extensive background in audit and financial accounting with not-for-profit organizations, Government of Alberta agencies, as well as various private and public Canadian and International companies. Prior to joining ERA directly, Heather spent 20 years with the multi-national accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in both the Edmonton and London, UK offices, the last nine of which were primarily dedicated to helping establish and operate ERA (formerly Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation). Heather graduated from the University of Alberta with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce degrees. She was recently recognized as a 2025 Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA) in Alberta.

Steve Wilson

PhD, Registered Professional Biologist

Steve Wilson is a consulting biologist who has been working on caribou and other wildlife-related issues in forestry and other resource sectors for more than 25 years. In addition to helping his clients navigate complex strategic and operational challenges, he has also worked with provincial and federal governments on recovery strategies and wildlife policy, and he continues to publish original research. Steve earned a Ph.D. in wildlife biology from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and is a Registered Professional Biologist.