Derek Nighbor

Derek was born and raised in Pembroke, Ontario and is the son and grandson of Ottawa Valley pulp & paper workers. He is proud to bring the voice of Canada’s forest products manufacturing and wood building sectors-–including those of the sector’s employees, families, and communities—to national and international policy and decision-making tables.

Derek has served as the President and CEO at Forest Products Association of Canada since March 2016. In addition to his leadership role at FPAC, he also serves as the interim President and CEO of the Canadian Wood Council (effective July 1, 2026), strengthening connections between the forest floor and the built environment.  

Derek holds international responsibilities as a global forest industry representative to the United Nations Forum on Forests and serves as Canada’s forest sector representative at the UN Food & Agriculture Organization’s Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industries (ACSFI).

Prior to joining FPAC, Derek held a variety of leadership roles in business associations and government, including with Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC), the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), and as Chief of Staff to Ontario’s Consumer and Business Services Minister.  

Derek has a keen interest in community-based health care and sport.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, an organization that raises money to purchase equipment for neo-natal intensive care units in hospitals across Canada. He is also a former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.