Keynote Speakers
Brian Barber, Program Manager, Forest Genetics Council of BC, and CEO, SelectSeed Co. Ltd, Victoria, British Columbia. Brian Barber has worked for the BC Public Service for 25 years. Prior to starting his new role as CEO of SelectSeed, he served for almost a decade as Director of the BC Tree Improvement Branch. His keynote address will reveal the top 10 ingredients for BC's successful forest genetics program, including the industry-government-academic cooperation that dates back to the late 1950s. Full abstract and bio are available here: 
Fiona Hay, Senior Scientist in Seed Physiology and Genetic Resource Conservation, International Rice Research Institute, Laguna, Philippines. Dr. Hay has been working in seed ecology and physiology for more than 20 years, and is currently deputy head of the T.T. Chang Genetic Resources Center at the IRRI in the Philippines. Her keynote will review our current understanding of the genetic basis of variation in seed longevity with application for seed management and gene conservation. Full abstract and bio are available here:
Nathalie Isabel, Research Scientist in Forest and Environmental Genomics, Laurentian Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Québec. Dr Isabel is Adjunct Professor in Forest and Environmental Genomics at Université Laval. Her research focuses on molecular breeding and evolution. She currently works on (1) molecular marker development to track and identify adaptive traits, (2) new methods to assess genetic diversity, and (3) gene flow between exotic and native tree species. The keynote abstract and bio are available here:
Matias Kirst, Professor in Quantitative Genetics, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Gainesville, Florida. Dr Kirst's research portfolio includes: (1) fundamental genomic research in the regulation of gene expression, (2) the discovery of genes that control variation in wood quality, growth and other commercially important traits, and (3) development of applied genomic technology and tools for tree improvement. His keynote will address the application of genome-wide information in tree breeding. Abstract and full bio available here:
Jared LeBoldus, Assistant Professor in Forest Pathology, Oregon State University, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Corvallis, Oregon. Dr LeBoldus researches the genetics of host-pathogen interactions in forest trees. His current projects focus on using genomic tools to understand the relationship between genes in the host and pathogen, how they impact virulence and pathogenicity, and how this information may be scaled to elucidate landscape level patterns of pest and disease occurrence.
The keynote abstract and bio is available here:
Steve McKeand, Professor in Forestry & Environmental Resources and Director of the Cooperative Tree Improvement Program, College of Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr McKeand’s work and expertise has been integral to the success of the NCSU Tree Improvement Cooperative over the past decades. His research interests include: genetic effects on nutritional and ecophysiological processes in forest trees, genetic and environmental control of wood properties, seed orchard management, and genotype by environment interactions. The keynote abstract and bio are available here:
Ward Strong, Research Scientist, Tree Improvement Branch, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Vernon, British Columbia. Ward Strong is a forest entomologist with the BC government, where he has spent many years researching the biology, impact, and management of pests in BC’s seed orchards. Recently he has worked on efficient screening methods to breed genotypes with resistance to insects and diseases, which will be the focus of his keynote address
The keynote abstract and bio is available here:
Sam Yeaman, Assistant Professor and AIHS Chair Bioinformatics/Computational Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Calgary, Alberta. Dr. Yeaman’s lab is working on fundamental mechanisms of evolution, integrating computational biology, comparative genomics, and observational and experimental studies of all taxa of organisms in their natural environments. New directions include exploring how we can use genomic and bioinformatic techniques to study complex traits, opening up the fascinating field of personalized genomics. His keynote abstract and bio is available here:
Banquet Speaker
John Acorn "the Nature Nut", Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. John Acorn is an internationally known scientist, author, and broadcaster whose career has been marked with creativity and a passion for science. As the host and creative force behind the popular TV Series Acorn, the Nature Nut, he has educated and entertained audiences worldwide. His work has been recognized by the Royal Society of Canada's McNeil Medal for Science Promotion and Awareness among many other awards. Banquet details available here: