Laird Van Damme joined the Board for a two-year appointment, effective October 23, 2025.
Van Damme was appointed by the Province of Ontario.
Laird is a Registered Professional Forester and consultant based in Thunder Bay.
A lifelong outdoors enthusiast, his passion for forests began during canoe trips with his family across Northern Canada and Northwestern Ontario.
Over his 40-year career, Van Damme has combined business leadership, teaching, and consulting in forestry and natural resource management. He has taught as an adjunct professor at Lakehead University since 1993, has contributed to the Nova Scotia Forest Practices Review, serves as Vice-Chair of the Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation, and is currently Director of Strategy at Silvacom, a natural resources management company.