Trevor Nichols

Bob's Bio

Bob Jackle has worked for West Fraser for almost 29 years and started testing effluent in the lab at a pulp mill as an Environmental Technologist. Through the years, Bob has done many jobs including process expert, relief supervisor, shift supervisor, technical manager, and general manager.

West Fraser

Colin's Bio

Colin Angus is a leading adventurer, filmmaker and bestselling author of Amazon Extreme, Lost in Mongolia, Beyond the Horizon and Rowed Trip.

He was awarded National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year award for being the first to circle the world exclusively by human power, was listed by Outside Magazine as one of the world’s top 25 bold visionaries and is a Canadian Geographic Fellow.

Colin’s human-powered circumnavigation of the world included travelling 43,000 km in 720 days, rowing across the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, trekking and cycling through 16 countries, enduring winter in Siberia and searing heat in the tropics. He is also the first to raft the world’s fifth longest river, the Yenisey, and is one of a handful of teams to successfully raft the Amazon river from source to sea.  Colin’s spent years offshore sailing and has rowed thousands of kilometers in waterways around the world.

Colin is also an award-winning filmmaker whose films have aired around the world on National Geographic television and in film festivals. Some of his awards include Best Adventure Film at Taos Mountain Film Festival for Beyond the Horizon and Best Adventure Film at the Telluride Mountain Film festival for The Yenisey River Expedition.

Angus Adventures

Sithara's Bio

Sithara Fernando is a pioneering force in STEM, challenging conventional norms and advocating for diversity within environmental careers. As a woman of colour and a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community, she brings a unique perspective to our panel.

Sithara has worked in a variety of Environmental roles in both the Public and Private sectors. She is currently the Academic Program Manager of STEM Programs at NorQuest College assisting students to find careers in Environmental Technology, Energy Management and Machine Learning. Sithara is also a supporter of the 1000 Women for STEM scholarship, which assists females to enter non-traditional STEM fields.

NorQuest College

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