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FPAC CEO Derek Nighbor elected ICFPA president

Derek Nighbor, president and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), has been elected president of the International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA).

The ICFPA represents 18 pulp, paper, wood and fibre-based associations across 28 countries.

“It is an honour to be chosen by colleagues from around the world to assume this role at such an exciting time for forestry and the forest products sector,” says Nighbor in a release. “Canada was built on forestry. In Canada, I work hard every day to advance the opportunities that our sector brings to communities like the one I grew up in. In this new role, I look forward to working with my international colleagues to do the same thing on the global stage.”

Jane Molony, executive director, Paper Manufactures Association of South Africa and past ICFPA president, says, “We are very fortunate to have Derek’s leadership at this important time for our industry. Low carbon, sustainable and renewable solutions are needed the world over and under Derek’s leadership the ICFPA is well positioned to contribute to public policy development for the benefit of global society.”

Nighbor takes up the role from the late Sylvain Lhôte, director general of the Confederation of European Paper Industries.

“Sylvain brought much energy and enthusiasm to his work on behalf of ICFPA,” says Donna Harman, president and CEO, American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) and former ICFPA president.“We will remember his legacy and know that he would be pleased that his vision for ICFPA will continue to be carried out under Derek’s leadership. Derek’s experience in government and associations and his knowledge of the forest and paper sector make him the ideal person to lead ICFPA during a time when our industry is needed more than ever.”

Nighbor has 20 years of government and association executive experience in Canada, holding senior roles with the Government of Ontario, the Retail Council of Canada (RCC), Food and Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC), and now as president and CEO at FPAC. He will serve as ICFPA President for the next two years in conjunction with his role at FPAC.