Speakers

Kim Haakstad is President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI), the leading voice for British Columbia’s forest sector. COFI represents companies vital to BC’s economy, producing lumber, pulp and paper, and bioenergy while championing sustainable forest management and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Kim brings over two decades of experience navigating complex challenges at the intersection of business and government. Before COFI, she served as VP of External Relations at Terramera, collaborating with all levels of government, industry associations, and stakeholders. Her deep understanding of government operations stems from extensive experience as a senior political advisor, including roles as Deputy Chief of Staff to the BC Premier and Chief of Staff to Cabinet Ministers. She has provided strategic counsel to businesses across diverse sectors of the Canadian economy.