New Chief of the U.S. Forest Service to Speak at SFI Conference


WESTMINSTER, Colo., Oct. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newly appointed Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Vicki Christiansen will participate in the “Inspiring Women Leaders in Sustainability” panel at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative’s Annual Conference on October 18 at 10:45a.m. MT.

The panel will discuss responsible forest management, forest health and the leadership role women are playing on a range of sustainability issues. Speakers will also share their stories about encouraging women to take leadership roles.

Other panel speakers include Bettina Ring, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Dana Collins, Executive Director, Canadian Institute of Forestry, Lisa Allen, State Forester, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Laura Schweitzer, Executive Director, Council of Western State Foresters/Western Forestry Leadership Coalition.

The keynote address this year will be delivered by Dan Lambe, President, Arbor Day Foundation and it will focus on the importance of trees and forests in public and private partnerships. 

More than 300 attendees, including CEOs, conservationists, community representatives, Indigenous leaders, forest managers, university faculty and government officials will explore the conference theme “Forests Are the Answer” and discuss national and international initiatives across the forest sector.

For more details, see the program on SFI’s website.

What: SFI Annual Conference

When: October 16-18, 2018

Location: The Westin Westminster: 10600 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CO  80020

A media accreditation form can be found on the conference website. Accredited media will receive a complimentary registration to the conference.

Follow SFI on Twitter and Facebook, and use the conference hashtags #SFIconf #ForestsAreTheAnswer

About the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) is a sustainability leader that stands for future forests. SFI® is an independent, non-profit organization that provides supply chain assurances, delivers conservation leadership, and supports environmental education and community engagement. SFI works with the forest sector, brand owners, conservation groups, resource professionals, landowners, educators, local communities, Indigenous peoples, governments, and universities. SFI standards and on‑product labels help consumers make responsible purchasing decisions. Additionally, they oversee the SFI Forest Partners® Program, which aims to increase supply of certified forest products, the SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant Program, which funds research and community building, and Project Learning Tree®, which educates teachers and youth about forests and the environment. SFI Inc. is governed by an independent three-chamber board of directors representing environmental, social, and economic sectors equally. SFI believes caring for forests improves everyone’s quality of life. Learn more at sfiprogram.org.

Contact:

Daniel Pellegrom
Vice President, Communications
Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc.
2121 K St. NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20037
O: 202.596.3452
M: 212.321.0716
daniel.pellegrom@sfiprogram.org