American Forest & Paper Association President And CEO Heidi Brock Elected ICFPA President
July 25, 2024 (ROME, ITA) – The International Council of Forest and Paper Associations (ICFPA) has announced Ms. Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), as its new President. Joining her in leadership is Mr. José Carlos da Fonseca Junior, Director of International Relations of The Brazilian Tree (Ibá), who has been appointed as ICFPA Vice President. Ms. Brock and Mr. Fonseca will serve for a two-year mandate.
The ICFPA leadership election was held during ICFPA’s Annual Meeting, which saw participation from delegates across 12 national forest and paper associations representing 26 countries worldwide.
ICFPA’s Annual Meeting also coincided with the 27th Session of the Committee on Forestry (COFO 27) and 9th World Forestry Week– bringing together high-level representatives, heads of forest services, government officials and partner organizations to identify emerging policy and technical guidance, seek solutions, and advise on future strategy and action.
Ms. Heidi Brock previously served as ICFPA Vice President from 2022 to 2024. She succeeds Mr. Jori Ringman, Director General of the Confederation of European Paper Industries (Cepi), who previously held the ICFPA Presidency.
Since joining AF&PA in 2019, Ms. Brock has spearheaded a strategic vision to strengthen advocacy efforts and boost membership. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she prioritized workplace safety and ensured manufacturers could maintain essential product delivery. Under her leadership, AF&PA launched an award-winning website and received 3 ASAE Silver Awards for promoting the forest products industry. Recognized as one of Washington’s 500 Most Influential People in 2022 and 2023, Brock also received the 2023 John H. Graham IV Association Executive Award from the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council.
“The ICFPA is a leading voice for the global forest sector with a long-standing commitment to advancing sustainability.
Our industry and the sustainable products we manufacture are essential to the world and critical to the circular economy. Through innovation and collaboration, we make meaningful impact that adds up to a better planet,” said Ms. Brock. “I look forward to working alongside José Carlos da Fonseca Junior and ICFPA’s members as we continue to advance our collective sustainability leadership into the future. I also want to recognize the steadfast leadership of Jori Ringman who reinforced the value of ICFPA membership as a collaborative organization in our efforts to address important global policy conversations and deepen partnerships,” added Brock.
Ambassador José Carlos da Fonseca Junior had been a career diplomat in the Brazilian Foreign Service for nearly four decades before joining IBÁ, the Brazilian Tree Industry, in early 2019. Since December 2021, Ambassador Fonseca has also become the CEO of Empapel, the Brazilian Association of Paper Packaging, while remaining responsible for overseeing international and advocacy activities for IBÁ, both in Brazil and abroad. Moreover, he has recently been elected to chair the ACSFI/FAO (Advisory Committee on Sustainable Forest-based Industry, a Statutory body within FAO). His leadership focuses on advocating for sustainable practices within Brazil and globally.
"It is an honor to examine and discuss best practices, challenges and opportunity for the global forest-based sector.
“This is an important platform to highlight forestry and forest-based industry on the global stage. I look forward to supporting Heidi Brock and the ICFPA in its commitment to advancing the work in this sector, which represents the large-scale bioeconomy, recognized as a business model that harmonizes development with environmental preservation, generating and sharing wealth, and having a significant positive social impact,” said Fonseca.
"That a European association held the helm of the ICFPA for the past two years was timely. It allowed our group to be responsive to regulatory challenges, notably originating from the EU, which increasingly have impacts beyond national borders,” highlighted outgoing ICFPA President Mr. Jori Ringman. “The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) proudly represents our sector as 'manufacturers of sustainable and circular materials'. This is who we are in essence, and Heidi will be a fantastic ambassador for all the people behind the paper and wood products we use every day,” added Mr. Ringman.
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The ICFPA serves as a forum of global dialogue, coordination and co-operation. Currently, the ICFPA represents 16 pulp, paper, wood and fibre-based associations that encompass 27 countries, including many of the top pulp, paper and wood producers around the world.