Kurt Niquidet

Hamir Patel

Jason Krips

Claire Huxtable

The Council of Forest Industries will host its 2026 Convention in Vancouver this April, bringing together industry leaders, policy makers and analysts to discuss the future of BC’s forest sector. Among the featured sessions is the “State of the Forest Economy” panel, which will examine the economic forces shaping the province’s forest industry. Moderated by COFI Vice President and Chief Economist Kurt Niquidet, the discussion will explore issues ranging from capital markets and global demand to competitiveness and investment outlooks. Panelists include Hamir Patel, Paper & Forest Products Analyst with CIBC Capital Markets; Jason Krips, President and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association; and Claire Huxtable, Senior Equity Analyst with ERA Forest Products Research. The panel will unpack the numbers behind today’s headlines and what they mean for the long-term resilience of BC’s forest economy.