Rob Keen, CEO of Forests Ontario, will be giving an introduction to forest regions and sustainable forest management in Ontario at this in-person event. He will be discussing forestry in the province and how it helps the long-term health of our forests while also providing social, economic, and environmental benefits to the region. Additionally, he will also discuss building with wood (e.g. mass timber) and the benefits of using local wood.

This talk may be of particular interest for future architects interested in using wood as a building material as it will cover the sustainability of wood and mass timber. Topics such as sustainable principles of forest management, forest regulation, certification, and carbon sequestration will be discussed. Understanding forest management principles and how forests are harvested sustainably is a key starting point for wood and mass timber to be viewed as a safe, renewable and aesthetic material.

This is a great opportunity to learn more about forestry, the wood supply, and to connect with an RPF (registered professional forester). All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Rob Keen is a registered professional forester (RPF) with 40 years of experience in forestry. He founded a forestry consultant business upon graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Toronto in 1982. He has been involved in many facets of the forestry industry, primarily in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence forest region. Keen has provided forestry services to landowners, developed forest management plans on Crown and private lands, conducted wood supply and feasibility studies, and led forest audits for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (and Forestry).

Keen has been an active member of the Ontario Professional Foresters Association since 1985, where he served as vice-president for two terms. He was director and chair of the Algonquin Forestry Authority, director of Invasive Species Centre, and currently serves as a director for Maple Leaves Forever and chair of the Westwind Forest Stewardship sustainable forest licensee.

In 2014, Keen assumed the role of chief executive officer of Forests Ontario (the merged organization of Trees Ontario and Ontario Forestry Association) after serving as CEO of Trees Ontario since 2011. He continues to lead the Forests Ontario team in sustaining and generating new partnerships to support and achieve its re-greening mandate.