Trout

Watts

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) announces Laura Trout and Marie-Noëlle Watts as the recipients of the 2025 Women in Forestry Award, which honours women making exceptional contributions to Canada’s forest sector. This award celebrates individuals who are helping to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for forestry through leadership in operations, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and workplace culture. Trout is a strong advocate for good, objective science to inform decisions. She leads many research initiatives related to ecosystem-based management, caribou recovery, fisheries conservation and biodiversity all within the context of sustainable forest management. Watts has consistently distinguished herself by reliably and effectively maximizing the output of mill production: it is said that wherever she goes, the efficiency of the mills improve. A proponent of intrapreneurship, Watts coaches her team to be assertive and creative and to propose projects and other initiatives, instilling a sense of ownership and pride in their work.