Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) is pleased to welcome Dr. Darren Sleep as our Chief Scientist, Forest Ecology and Conservation.
Dr. Sleep has extensive experience working with the forest sector across North America, covering a variety of topics including rare and threatened species, protected area design, climate change, forest management, forest hydrology, and science/policy integration. Prior to joining FPAC, he served as the Lead Scientist with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) based in Ottawa and as the Principal Scientist with National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) in Montreal.
Raised in the forests and fields of New Brunswick, Dr. Sleep developed a profound appreciation for the natural world at a young age, exploring the Acadian forests and interacting with its diverse wildlife. He holds a PhD from the University of Guelph, a MSc from the University of Regina, and a BSc from the University of New Brunswick.
At FPAC, Dr. Sleep will emphasize the ecological, environmental, and socioeconomic advantages of sustainable forest management, guided by robust ecological science and knowledge. He is committed to the role of sound science to inform decision-making and passionately advocates for sustainable forest management as a solution to global challenges.
"The health of Canada’s forests is crucial for our environmental and economic well-being," said Derek Nighbor, FPAC President and CEO. "Dr. Sleep’s expertise in sustainable forest management is vital as we address policy challenges like housing affordability, rural development, employment, emissions reductions, and wildfire resilience."
Canada’s forest sector has the potential to drive economic growth, protect our environment, and help communities prosper. The forest sector directly employs more than 200,000 people from coast-to-coast and generates over $87 billion in value annually. To unlock its full potential, the forest sector must be prioritized as a strategic pillar of the national economy.
Sustainable forest management decisions and activities are based on scientific research, rigorous planning processes and standards, comprehensive data and public consultation. Dr. Sleep joins FPAC’s respected team of scientific policy leads engaged in this work, including Kate Lindsay, Étienne Bélanger, Mahima Sharma and Kathryn Smith.
As Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Kate Lindsay promotes environmental leadership on files including climate action, sustainability, adaptation and resiliency, species at risk and biodiversity conservation. Kate holds a BSc from the University of Victoria and is a Registered Professional Biologist (R.P.Bio).
Étienne Bélanger, Vice President, Indigenous Relations and Forestry, is leader in advocating for sustainable forest management, emphasizing fostering strong Indigenous partnerships. Étienne holds a master’s degree in Forest Sciences from Université Laval and is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs forestiers du Québec.
Mahima Sharma, Vice President, Innovation, Environment, and Climate Policy, advances the role forest-sector innovation plays in a low-carbon economy to support decarbonization objectives and sector competitiveness. Mahima holds a Master of Chemical Engineering, Master of Health Administration, undergraduate degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa, and a Certificate of Climate Change Policy and Practice from the University of Toronto.
As Senior Manager, Sustainability, Bioeconomy, and Mill Regulations, Kathryn Smith works on mill-related legislative and regulatory files to enable innovation and secure strong environmental performance across the sector. Kathryn holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. As an industry with annual revenues exceeding $87.2B, Canada’s forest products sector is one of the country’s largest employers—providing 200,000 direct jobs and operating in hundreds of communities across the country. Our members are committed to collaborating with Indigenous leaders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders to develop a cross-Canada forest sector action plan aimed at advancing forest health, while supporting workers, communities and our environment for the long term.
