Executive Biographies

71^st President

Robin Modesto, RPF, PEng, is the manager, supply chain and land use at Interfor Coastal Woodlands division where he manages the transportation and sorting of their coastal log production while balancing inventory levels and meeting mill requirements. Robin joined Interfor in Campbell River as an assistant engineer in 1995 and has held various planning and operational roles since then.

He is a Registered Professional Forester as well as a Professional Engineer. He holds a Master’s of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor of Science in Forest Engineering from the University of New Brunswick.

Throughout his career, Robin has served on many government and industry committees representing both Interfor and the Coast Forest Products Association. He served on the Association of BC Forest Professionals’ Board of Examiners between 2005 and 2009 and has been a member of ABCFP council since 2014.

Chief Executive Officer

Christine Gelowitz, RPF, is responsible for all aspects of the association’s business operations. As the primary support to Council, Christine works closely with the President and elected Council to set the strategic direction of the organization and ensure strong governance practices. In February 2016, she assumed the CEO role with the ABCFP after previously serving on the association’s council for five years, including a term as president in 2013.

A graduate of the University of Northern British Columbia, Christine has a degree in Natural Resources Management - Forestry. Christine has been a Registered Professional Forester since 2003.

Prior to joining the ABCFP, Christine spent nearly 20 years with the British Columbia Provincial Government, in a number of natural resource sector ministries and Crown Corporations. In her last role with government, Christine headed the Corporate Initiatives Division of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operation where she led the development of the ministry’s strategic agenda and was responsible for the ministry’s legislative plan and program.

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Director of Professional Practice & Forest Stewardship

Mike Larock, RPF
As director of professional practice and forest stewardship, Mike develops and communicates professional standards, provides ABCFP responses on professional practice matters and works toward the association's forest stewardship commitments. Mike has led the ABCFP efforts in advancing professional reliance in the forest resource sector.

Before joining the staff of the ABCFP, Mike served on the ABCFP council as both an elected member and then president in 2001.

Mike has practised professional forestry in coast forest ecosystems as a silvicuturalist. He lives in Coastal Western Hemlock extra dry maritime, where he is a woodlot licensee and private forest landowner. Mike has been a practising forester in BC for over 30 years.

Registrar & Director of Act Compliance

Casey Macaulay, RPF, joined the association in 2011 and is based in Kamloops. As the registrar and director of act compliance, he oversees the ABCFP's admissions, accreditation, registration, discipline and enforcement activities. In his previous role at the association, Casey worked on forest stewardship and advocacy issues. Prior to joining the association, Casey worked as a planning forester for 15 years in the Southern Interior. He has a diploma in forest technology from the BC Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in forest management from the University of BC.

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Director of Finance & Administration

Lance Nose joined the association in 1996. In his role as director of finance and administration, Lance ensures that the association's finances are reported, managed and budgeted in a responsible manner. He also oversees administrative and human resources issues in the office. Prior to joining the association, Lance worked as a controller for a software company in Vancouver. He has a business accounting diploma from Red River Community College and has supplemented his education with Certified General Accountant (CGA) classes.

Director of Communications

Dean Pelkey joined the association in 2016. His role as director of communications focuses on strategic communications planning, media relations, recruitment and advocacy work. Dean has more than 20 years of experience in corporate communications, focusing on communication project management, media relations, issues management, social media strategy, and writing and editing stemming from a career at crown corporations, publicly-traded companies, non-profits, and newspapers.

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