AFPA NEWS RELEASE
FORMER NRCB CHAIR NEW AFPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Edmonton, January 21, 2008 – Mr. Réal Arseneault, President of the Alberta Forest Products Association, along with the AFPA Board of Directors, is pleased to announce that Mr. Brady D. Whittaker has accepted the position of Executive Director of the association effective immediately.
Mr. Whittaker was formerly the Chair and Chief Operating Officer, and Board member, with the Natural Resources Conservation Board. He also served as the Mayor of the Town of Whitecourt.
"Mr. Whittaker brings significant senior management, political and leadership experience to this position, in a time when Alberta’s forest industry needs a strong voice to articulate the issues and concerns facing our sector," said Réal Arseneault.
The appointment of a new Executive Director follows an executive search that started after the former executive director announced his resignation from the AFPA on November 16, 2007. The Executive Director is responsible to the member-elected Board of Directors.
In accepting the position, Mr. Whittaker said, "I am looking forward to leading this association and to represent the interests of Alberta’s third-largest industry sector to governments, key stakeholders and the people of Alberta."
He continued by saying, "while current conditions have created a crisis within the forest products sector in our country, this industry has a history of building our country, enhancing our forests and adapting to whatever is thrown our way. We will come out of this current downturn and continue our efforts to provide economic, social and environmental benefits to the province of Alberta."
In the near term, Mr. Whittaker will focus on some key areas of need for Alberta’s forest product sector, including:
-
working with the Government of Alberta to identify and action initiatives that can re-establish the Alberta competitive advantage for forest products manufacturing;
-
continuing aggressive cooperative action in controlling the Mountain Pine Beetle outbreak;
-
meeting with forestry and community leaders throughout Alberta to build on existing relationships and goodwill; and
-
working to make forestry issues part of the discussion in the upcoming provincial election campaign.
The Alberta Forest Products Association is a private, non-profit industry organization, representing lumber, panelboard, pulp and paper, and secondary manufacturing wood products companies operating in Alberta. The forest products industry is Alberta’s third largest manufacturing industry and the second largest manufacturing export industry. AFPA member companies are active participants in sustainability advancements that benefit the industry, our environment and society.
-30-
A high resolution image of Mr. Brady D. Whittaker is available from the AFPA for media use. Please contact Parker Hogan.
Media contact:
Parker Hogan
Director, Public Affairs
p) 780.452.2841 ext 240
c) 780.914.2869
phogan@albertaforestproducts.ca
|
