Forests Canada Bolsters Board with Governance and Legal Experts Amid Rising Forest Challenges
Event summary
- Forests Canada added Alison Dempsey and Rick Scott to its Board of Directors on April 1, 2026.
- Dempsey brings 30+ years of governance and legal expertise, including a PhD in law and prior role on Forest Professionals BC's board.
- Scott, a retired senior partner in corporate law, has a longstanding interest in forest and prairie conservation.
- Outgoing directors Peter Johnson and Bonny Skene served for over a decade, contributing to milestones like planting 50 million trees.
The big picture
Forests Canada's board refresh comes as Canada's forests face unprecedented wildfire and biodiversity loss, requiring complex recovery and resilience strategies. The additions of Dempsey and Scott suggest a strategic emphasis on governance and legal expertise to navigate these challenges. The organization has planted 50 million trees, indicating significant scale in its conservation efforts.
What we're watching
- Governance Dynamics
- How Dempsey's governance expertise will shape Forests Canada's strategy amid increasing forest challenges.
- Execution Risk
- Whether Scott's legal and conservation background can effectively address wildfire and biodiversity loss.
- Strategic Focus
- The pace at which Forests Canada can leverage new board expertise to expand its conservation efforts.