Monday August 18, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 12:07 pm PT]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The BC Ministry of Forests has today announced that a new chair has been appointed to the Forestry Innovation Investment (FII) board
Rick Doman as the new FII chair brings more than 40 years of experience in Canada’s forestry industry to the role.
The Forestry Minister is Ravi Parmar.
Specialized experience:
Doman’s specialized experience with growing global forestry markets and founding and overseeing multiple forestry companies has positioned him to bring a valuable perspective to Forestry Innovation Investment’s board, says the BC Forestry Ministry in a statement today.
He got his start in forestry by working in his family’s lumber operation business, including managing the sawmill, logging and pulp operations. Doman then oversaw the North American lumber sales and later the global lumber and pulp operations and sales, getting experience in global lumber and pulp marketing.
From 2001 until 2018, Doman held different positions as chief executive director, chairman and director in several forestry companies, including Western Forest Products and EACOM Timber Corporation, which he founded. In 2021, Doman also co-founded GreenFirst Forest Products (from which he retired at the end of 2022), West Kitikmeot Resources and Boreal Carbon Corporation.
In December 2023 he published an article entitled “Turning to Forests: Solutions for Current Catastrophes“.
The appointment of Doman to the FII is an elevation by the current BC NDP government around an issue that has raised for decades by a range of political activists and the BC Green Party and more broadly by the national Greens as an issue of environmental protection.
About FII:
FII is a Crown agency focused on expanding opportunities for B.C. forestry products and ensuring the sector continues to be a key contributor to the provincial economy. FII leads several initiatives and activities to:
- expand the use of wood domestically and B.C.’s leadership in wood innovation;
- diversify international markets for B.C. forestry products;
- promote wood’s environmental merits and B.C. as a preferred supplier of forestry products from sustainably managed forests; and
- collaborate with B.C. provincial government partners to support mass timber and value-added manufacturing.
Naturally:wood:
Headquartered in Vancouver, and with offices in China, India and Vietnam, FII also developed naturally:wood — a comprehensive tool that provides information and resources to promote B.C. as a global supplier of quality, environmentally responsible forestry products from sustainably managed forests.
Naturally:wood states that it works collaboratively with the Government of British Columbia, Government of Canada, independent academic and research institutes, trade associations and wood products companies to support an environmentally sustainable and globally competitive forest sector in British Columbia.
Naturally:wood will participate in the Woodrise event in Vancouver September 22 to 25, 2025.
===== RELATED:
NEWS SECTIONS: FORESTRY | BC NDP | 43rd PARLIAMENT of BC