Friday February 13, 2026 / Detailed program

PaperWeek Detailed Program

12:30 – 14:00

JOINT Workshop PaperWeek/BIOFOR

Session Chair : Paul Stuart, EnVertis / Ecole Polytechnique

Workshop:  From Concept to Decision: Using I-BIOREF (Decision Support Tool to Assess Biorefinery Pathways) 

Presented by:

Marzouk Benali, Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY & Georgiana Bele, Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE BROCHURE

Decision Support Systems (DSS) and scenario analysis are powerful approaches for guiding investment and policy choices in emerging biorefinery value chains. I-BIOREF is a DSS developed by Natural Resources Canada to evaluate biorefinery projects under diverse feedstock, technology, and market conditions. The tool integrates techno-economic, environmental, policy, circularity, sustainability, and risk indicators, while explicitly addressing uncertainty through ex-ante scenario analysis. This workshop will introduce the I-BIOREF structured framework and demonstrate its practical application for comparing biorefinery pathways, supporting decarbonization strategies, and informing decision-making by industry, policymakers, and researchers

15:30 – 17:00

Mills for Mills – Safety Leadership: Courage to Intervene — Human Error or Violation?

Session Chair : Eric Ashby, Kruger

This talk explores the essential role of courage in workplace safety, focusing on how individuals and organizations can confidently intervene when they see something unsafe. It highlights the importance of distinguishing between human error—unintentional, often system driven mistakes—and violations, which involve conscious departures from expected procedures. By understanding this difference, leaders can respond more fairly and effectively. The session also emphasizes the principles of a just culture, where accountability, learning, and psychological safety coexist, enabling employees to speak up, report concerns, and contribute to continuous improvement without fear of blame.

Cette présentation met en lumière le rôle essentiel du courage dans la sécurité au travail, en soulignant comment les individus et les organisations peuvent intervenir avec assurance lorsqu’ils observent une situation à risque. Elle explique l’importance de distinguer l’erreur humaine — involontaire et souvent liée au système — de la violation, qui représente un écart intentionnel aux procédures établies. Cette distinction permet aux dirigeants de réagir de manière plus juste et efficace. La séance met également l’accent sur les principes d’une culture juste, où responsabilité, apprentissage et sécurité psychologique coexistent, afin d’encourager les employés à s’exprimer, à signaler les préoccupations et à contribuer à l’amélioration continue sans crainte d’être blâmés.

*Please note all schedule is set on Eastern Time
Download PaperWeek Program

BIOFOR Detailed Program

08:00 – 10:30

BIOFOR – Refining the Lignin Value Proposal

Session Chair: Victor Padilla, FPInnovations

8:00 Keynote Presentation
“LignoCity, connected companies & activities”, Per Tomani, RISE Research institutes of Sweden

9:00 Lignin Session Fireside Chat

“Tailoring Kraft Lignin Molar Mass to Enhance Adhesive Performance”, Sophie Langis-Barsetti, FPInnovations
“Still navigating the complexity of Lignin analysis”, Antje Potthast, BOKU
“The LignoForceTM Process Energy Impacts”, Shadan Mostafavi, NORAM
“Title to be confirmed”, Xiao Zhang, Washington State University

11:00 – 12:30

The Value Proposal of Sustainability and Bioproducts

Session Chair: Ivan Kantor, Concordia University

Panelists:

Gurminder Minhas, Navachar Renewables
Pavel Hejsek, BC BioCarbon
Stefan Muller, Arbios Biotech
Royden Trainor, Greenspring Bioinnovation Hub

12:30 – 14:00

JOINT Workshop PaperWeek/BIOFOR

Session Chair : Paul Stuart, EnVertis / Ecole Polytechnique

Workshop:  From Concept to Decision: Using I-BIOREF (Decision Support Tool to Assess Biorefinery Pathways) 

Presented by:

Marzouk Benali, Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY & Georgiana Bele, Natural Resources Canada, CanmetENERGY

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE SOFTWARE BROCHURE

Decision Support Systems (DSS) and scenario analysis are powerful approaches for guiding investment and policy choices in emerging biorefinery value chains. I-BIOREF is a DSS developed by Natural Resources Canada to evaluate biorefinery projects under diverse feedstock, technology, and market conditions. The tool integrates techno-economic, environmental, policy, circularity, sustainability, and risk indicators, while explicitly addressing uncertainty through ex-ante scenario analysis. This workshop will introduce the I-BIOREF structured framework and demonstrate its practical application for comparing biorefinery pathways, supporting decarbonization strategies, and informing decision-making by industry, policymakers, and researchers

14:00 – 15:30

Alternative Fibre Panel

Session Chair: Davis Chiu, Deloitte

The global pulp and paper industry is undergoing a structural transformation driven by sustainability imperatives, fibre‑supply constraints and competition, and the need to decarbonize material production. Non‑wood fibres—particularly flax, cereal straws and fibres recovered from waste are emerging as high‑potential feedstocks capable of supplementing and enhancing products made traditionally with wood‑based pulps. This talk explores the latest developments in technology and market trends relating to alternative fibres.

Panelists:

Will Walls, EVP Strategy & Development, Red Leaf
Dane McSpedon, CEO, Hughes Energy Group
Mark Cooper, President and CEO, Prairie Clean Enterprises

15:30 – 17:45

Student Session – Ideas from the Next Generation of Forestry Leaders

Session Chairs: Ivan Kantor & Yaser Khojasteh, Concordia University

Zahra Kazemi, Polytechnique Montréal
Eupidio Scopel, University of British Columbia (UBC)   
Zirui Tang, University of British Columbia (UBC)   
Kosar Parnoon, Concordia University
Wanyue Tan, University of British Columbia (UBC)   
Parsa Shirzad, Concordia University
Clara I. Kramer, University of British Columbia (UBC)

*Please note all schedule is set on Eastern Time
Download BIOFOR Program