Conference Welcome
Bruce McIntyre, Leader of PwC’s Canadian Forest, Paper and Packaging Practice and conference co-chair welcomed over 400 delegates to the 21st Annual PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Forest & Paper Industry Conference. The theme, “Challenging Times, Winning Strategies” was appropriately created for the day to recognize the significant financial challenges currently facing the industry combined with new strategic directions and opportunities in the future.
Opening Panel
Bruce introduced the opening panel, which included leaders of two prominent industry associations. The panel was an interview format which provided for frank discussion. Teresa Presas, President of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations and Director General of the Confederation of European Paper Industries from Brussels discussed the current and future state of the industry with Avrim Lazar, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada. Teresa discussed the European perspective of the forest and paper industry, highlighting the importance and prevalence of climate change issues. Avrim provided an optimistic outlook for the forest and paper industry, noting that the ‘horizon is golden’, especially in Canada where the Boreal forest is not as impacted by the inter-dependency of fibre, fuel and food. Their discussion set the tone for the remainder of the conference, anticipating discussions on climate change, bioenergy, the future scarcity of fibre producing land, and the importance of changing attitudes for the realization of the greater good.
Panelists
Avrim Lazar
President and CEO,
Forest Products Association of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
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Teresa Presas
President, International Council of Forest & Paper Associations
Director General, Confederation of European Paper Industries
Brussels, Belgium
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