Mauro Calabrese is the new president of the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP). He was acclaimed president during the association’s annual general meeting held in Prince George recently.
Calabrese told the Tribune in his new role he plans to focus on enhancing trust with the First Nations and the public. His second focus will be around adding value to being a member of the association.
“The duty of the profession is to uphold the public interest first and foremost,” he said. “Of course you do also have other interests you are required to uphold as well which are requirements of the association, of your employer and to the other members.”
However, he added, there is a perception that the demands of the employer can take priority, but it is important to balance and ensure the public interest is number one.
Although it is a requirement to be a member of the association if you are practicing professional forestry, Calabrese said some people, if they aren’t practicing professional forestry, question the value of paying the $500 a year membership.
“We are looking to make sure we are in tune with the members to provide the value of the membership, whether that’s through outreach or education.”
Born and raised in Williams Lake, Calabrese has been a registered professional forester for 19 years and has been a registered professional biologist for the past 12 years.
He is the planning superintendent in Williams Lake for West Fraser where he supervises a team of eight forest professionals and GIS technicians.
“Forestry is my main focus but I also do biology as well,” he said of his work at West Fraser.
Calabrese has been on the council for a few years, serving most recently as vice president.
“It will be a bigger time commitment and mean going to more meetings and having more frequent contact of what’s going on day to day.”
The council operates as a board of directors for the association so it’s more about strategy and direction than running the day to day affairs as there is a CEO and paid staff, he added.
“I’d like to add that I do have the support of my employer West Fraser and of my wife Kendra. We do have four kids and I can’t really do this without her support as well,” he said.
Calabrese said he is not the first person from Williams Lake to be president of the association as Jane Perry and Al Balogh both held the position.
