Features Operations & Management Workforce
Top 10 Under 40: Meet Chris Stoicheff from Paper Excellence

The next generation of leaders in Canada’s pulp and paper industry are striving hard to build a resilient future. The winners of the 2023 Top 10 Under 40 program are constantly raising the bar for their peers with their forward-thinking initiatives and their zeal to make a lasting difference. The future of the industry is in the secure hands of these young professionals who not only take ownership of their responsibilities but contribute beyond what is expected of them.

The winners this year work in different roles and capacities within the industry, but share some key characteristics – strong work ethic, commitment to their roles and a desire to innovate and improve.

This week we introduce Chris Stoicheff, senior director of government relations, at Paper Excellence Canada, Vancouver, B.C.

Chris Stoicheff is a young leader with a strong reputation in the public affairs field in Canada. He is well respected by his colleagues and the leadership at Paper Excellence where he has excelled in relationship building in the past several years.

Stoicheff took the initiative to create “Forest Saskatchewan,” a new lobby group to represent the Saskatchewan Forestry sector (no association existed previously). It is now a registered legal entity with a paid staff and CEO.

Stoicheff has played a key role at Paper Excellence in Saskatchewan, liaising with the Minister of Energy and Resources, the Minister of SaskPower, and the Minister of Environment. His lobbying efforts led to the creation of the Saskatchewan Technology Fund ($40 million in the fund this year and it will grow immensely over the next few years).

Stoicheff was instrumental to the company’s successful Level of Service (LOS) action for the lack of rail car service at Meadow Lake mill.

He also successfully led the company’s Environmental Assessment (EA) permit approval process for Prince Albert mill. This involved significant leadership to manage numerous players through the process. Stoicheff used his negotiation skills to secure approval with conditions favourable to Paper Excellence. The government responded positively to his efforts – without this permit, construction would have been impeded.

Stoicheff has successfully navigated and managed key stakeholder relationships, creating an appreciation of stakeholder needs by the business and vice versa. He has cultivated great stakeholder relationships and been incredibly responsive to external interests, whilst advancing the business needs of Paper Excellence.