Dr. Nadir Erbilgin

Jason's Bio

Jason Krips has been the President and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) since April 2020. In his role, Jason works with the Alberta forest industry and policy makers to grow this vitally important renewable and sustainable sector, which currently creates jobs for over 30,000 Albertans.

Prior to joining AFPA, Jason spent nearly 20 years with the Government of Alberta in numerous roles, with his last 6.5 years as Deputy Minister of two different ministries – Economic Development, Trade and Tourism and Agriculture and Forestry. A lawyer by training, Jason has a strong and diverse background in the areas of industry policy, issues management, team building and stakeholder engagement.

Alberta Forest Products Association

Tim's Bio

Tim Patterson was born Morris Coutlee who is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band that belongs to the Scw̓éxmx (“People of the Creeks”) a branch of the Nlaka’pamux (Thompson) Nation of the Interior Salish speaking peoples of British Columbia Canada. Tim grew up in Revelstoke where he began his passion for mountains. Tim developed Zuc’min Guiding by combining his Academic, Indigenous and Guiding knowledge together to advance Indigenous Knowledge of the mountains.

Zuc’min Guiding

Keyara's Bio

Keyara Carifelle is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation located in Northern Alberta. Keyara is a recent alumnae from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of arts in Native Studies and a minor in Political Science. Currently, Keyara is an Assistant Implementation Officer for the Federal Government in Northern Forestry.

Keyara’s roles are to assist with grants and contributions for The Indigenous Forestry Initiative Program, as well as deliver Indigenous Knowledge to federal employees through our Knowledge Exchange Program and our Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Program. Keyara is grateful to work alongside the Elder-in-Residence, and many other Elders throughout Turtle Island in helping to braid Indigenous Knowledge with Western Sciences, while providing Cultural competency training.

Northern Forestry Centre

Craig's Bio

Craig Johnson is the Regional Director for Alberta Fish and Wildlife Stewardship in southern Alberta. After graduating with a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Lethbridge, he worked in every corner of Alberta as a fisheries biologist, with a focus on trout and forestry and other types of land use.

Craig eventually returned home to Southern Alberta and spent several years working on recovery of westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout. Recently, his work has expanded to lead a team of biologists on recovery and management of native trout, sage grouse, grizzly bears, deer, elk, moose, ferruginous hawks, bats, and other species.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas