After nearly seven years at the helm, Susan Yurkovich has advised the Board that she will be stepping down as President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries and BC Lumber Trade Council later this Spring.

Susan has provided outstanding leadership to our industry during a time when the BC forest sector has faced massive policy change, recovery from major wildfires, a fifth round of the softwood trade dispute, shifting global trade, volatile markets, and a renewed focus on the importance of forests and low carbon forest products as a sustainable resource to help in the fight against climate change. In our complex business, she has represented our industry and our interests with exceptional skill on both the provincial and national stage.

Susan brought a renewed energy and focus to our organization when she took on the role in 2015 – growing our membership, uniting the coast and interior and working collaboratively with industry leaders from across the province and the country. Importantly, she has built a fantastic team of professionals. Together, they are delivering robust research and analysis to support policy development, broad communications with expanded reach, strong market access programs and rigorous financial management and member services. Susan is leaving the team and the business of COFI in great shape and well-positioned to support our industry in the years ahead.

Like many of you, I have had the pleasure of working with Susan over many years and have always been impressed by her loyalty to the team, dedication to her work and tireless commitment to the forest products business we all love. She will be missed.

The Board will be initiating an executive search process immediately. Susan will continue to lead the important work at COFI and the BC Lumber Trade Council through the search process and will help the Board and the team to ensure a smooth transition to a new leader.

I know I join our Directors, members, and industry colleagues in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Susan for her leadership, her commitment, and her passionate representation of our industry over the last seven years. We wish her nothing but the best as she begins her next chapter.

Don Kayne
President and CEO, Canfor
Chair, BC Council of Forest Industries