Canada’s Forest Sector: Innovation, Transformation and Growth
Ottawa Roundtable Luncheon with Pascale Lagacé, Beth MacNeil, Eric Miller and Martin Pudlas
Sponsored by:
Pascale Lagacé, Vice President, Environment, Energy and Innovation, Resolute Forest Products
Pascale Lagacé holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, a masters in chemical engineering and a MBA from McGill University. She has more than 25 years of experience in environment and climate change, for major forest industry players, in environmental consulting, and in environmental research management.
She joined Resolute Forest Products in 2008 as environment manager, and for a while was heading the environment department as Vice-President, Environment and Climate Change. She added two years ago, to her portfolio energy procurement and issues, and innovation, and is now Vice-President, Environment, Energy and Innovation.
Beth MacNeil, Assistant Deputy Minister, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada
Beth has spent 25 years working in science-based economic and regulatory departments across the federal government. Beth began her career as a biologist working for Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service. She has held positions of Director General, Policy, at both Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. In January 2018, Beth was appointed Assistant Deputy Minister of Natural Resources Canada’s Canadian Forest Service.
Beth holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology) from STFX University, Nova Scotia, a Master degree in Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto, and a Certificate in Public Sector Leadership and Governance from the University of Ottawa.
Eric Miller, President and Founder, Rideau Potomac Strategy Group
Eric Miller is President of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group, a consultancy that advises private and public sector clients on North American, Asian and Latin American trade and business matters. Mr. Miller works with clients on trade policy challenges, market development, resolving supply chain and regulatory issues, improving their government relations, understanding technology trends and navigating geopolitical developments.
Mr. Miller presently serves on the external advisory committee on international trade policy to the Deputy Minister of International Trade.
He previously served as Vice President for North America and Cybersecurity at the Business Council of Canada, which represents the CEOs of the 150 largest companies in the country. Before joining the Council in 2013, Mr. Miller represented Canada’s Department of Industry at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC.
Mr. Miller has extensive international experience, having advised more than 40 governments in Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean on trade, transportation and economic policies. Over the course of his career, he has worked on the development of six free trade agreements.
He is a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington and a Fellow with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute in Ottawa/Calgary. He has been published in and/or interviewed by an array of leading news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, BBC News, The Guardian, Bloomberg and The Globe and Mail. Mr. Miller has testified before both the Canadian House of Commons and the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mr. Miller holds a Master’s Degree in International Affairs from Carleton University, a Graduate Diploma from the Bologna Center of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and a Bachelor’s Degree (with Honours) from Saint Mary’s University.
Martin Pudlas, Vice-President, Operations and Innovation, Canfor Pulp Ltd.
As Vice President of Operations and Innovation for Canfor Pulp Products Inc. (TSE: CFX), Martin Pudlas is responsible for the production of NBSK and BCTMP Pulp, High Performance Paper and Renewable Energy. Martin has more than three decades of forest products industry experience, with knowledge ranging across Silviculture, Engineering, Operations and Management. He has served on the boards of Premium One Paper, the College of New Caledonia and is a member of the Advisory Board for the UBC Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.
Martin holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of British Columbia and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia.
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