Session 2.5Scaling up the Exchange Between Forest Science and Business
Time: Monday, June 24, 14:30 pm
Forest science can play a vital role in informing decisions in the private sector on key sustainability challenges. An exchange between science, business and other stakeholders in the forest-based sector is therefore an important element in reaching the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The session is hosted by TEAMING UP 4 FORESTS, a forest science and business platform to discuss and identify science-based future pathways on the most pressing challenges for forest, people and industry.
This session aims to build bridges between science, business, and stakeholders for the benefit of forests, the sector and society. It aspires to serve as a hub for the exchange between science and business, provide best practice examples, and point out the future potential for collaboration within the forest-based sector. In this session, a panel will discuss the importance of collaboration between science and business, as viewed by both business representatives and participating scientists. Additionally, the session aims to underscore the value of scientific knowledge and insights to address challenges that businesses encounter.
Cutting-edge research and new scientific insights will be discussed as well as emerging project and partnership opportunities for the forest-based industry. At the end of the session, participants will have the opportunity to address questions directly to the panellists and engage in the conversation.
Speakers
Viveka Beckeman
Viveka Beckeman is the Director General of the Swedish Forest Industries, a trade organisation, representing companies which produces fossil free renewable materials from wood.
Viveka holds a Master of law from Lund University and has worked in the Swedish judicial system, as a lawyer (advokat) at one of Sweden’s major lawfirms and as General Counsel both in the IT industry and in the forest industry. Her most recent post was as general counsel and head of Real estate at Sveaskog, Sweden’s largest forest owner. Viveka has served both as board member and chairman of the board in various companies.
Dirk Längin
Dirk Längin brings over two decades of expertise in forestry to his current role. Since 2021, he has served as the Group Head of Fibre Sourcing at Mondi in Vienna. Prior to this, he held various forest management positions within Mondi South Africa from 2008 to 2021.
From 2000 to 2008, Dirk was actively engaged as a Researcher and Lecturer in Forest Engineering and Forest Work Science at the Universities of Freiburg (Germany) and Stellenbosch (South Africa). He holds a Dr. rer. Nat. and Diplom Forstwirt from the University of Freiburg, Germany.
Bernard de Galembert
Bernard de Galembert (French, 57) holds a Master in Business Management (1994) and a Master in Human Resources Management (2017). In the early 2000’s, he also followed a 2-year training in forest management and sylviculture.
After more than 32 years in European public affairs for various sectors (sugar industry, farmers unions, landowners, pulp and paper industry and chemical industry), he joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in January 2024 as Director of the Forest Solutions Group (FSG).
Besides his professional activities, he is managing a farmland and a forestland family company.
Rob Kozak
Rob Kozak is a Professor and Dean at the UBC Faculty of Forestry and the former Associate Dean, Academic and Head of the Wood Science Department.
His current research and teaching interests, as part of the Forests and Communities in Transition Lab, revolve around sustainable business management practices and issues and providing business-based solutions to complex problems related to sustainable development, forestry, wood products, and the emerging conservation economy.
Currently, his work focuses on the wellbeing of forest-dependent communities, international development and poverty alleviation strategies, forest certification, corporate social responsibility, and forest sector sustainability and competitiveness. He has published and presented his work widely and is actively involved in service to the university and the broader academic community.
Sheam Satkuru
Sheam Satkuru, a citizen of Malaysia, was appointed as ITTO’s first female Executive Director at the 57th session of the International Tropical Timber Council in December 2021. She holds a Master in Corporate and Commercial Law degree from King’s College, the University of London and was called to the English Bar in 1993.
She has nearly 30 years of experience in tropical forest policy and the wood products industry. She is a specialist in international trade regulations, with strong skills and experience in international negotiations, legal and policy analysis, communications, and public affairs. Throughout her career, she has focused very much on sustainable tropical forestry, linking the private sector and communities, international policies, and legal and sustainable international trade in forest products/industries.
