Pierre Lapointe, FPInnovations’ president and CEO, will be presented the John S Bates Memorial Gold Medal by the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada (PAPTAC) on 5 February, 2015 at Paperweek. Source: Timberbiz
Paperweek is PAPTAC’s global pulp and paper industry event held in Montreal, Canada.
The Bates Medal is PAPTAC’s most prestigious award given to a member of the association in recognition of their great contribution to the science and technology of the pulp and paper industry.
It was instituted in 1989 to recognize the organization’s founder and first chairman, John S Bates.
Trained as a geologist and geophysicist, Lapointe has been the president and CEO of FPInnovations since December 2008.
Under his leadership, FPInnovations has positioned itself as a world-leading R&D institute that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector’s global competitiveness.
FPInnovations’ scientific research has supported the forest industry with landmark projects and game-changing technologies, such as building the world’s first nanocrystalline cellulose demonstration plant in partnership with Domtar, and the world’s first cellulose filament demonstration plant in collaboration with Kruger.
Before joining FPInnovations, Lapointe headed l’Institut national dela recherche scientifique and managed its integration with l’Institut Armand-Frappier. He began his career at Natural Resources Canada, where he worked in research and management with various research teams.
He was subsequently appointed director general of the Geological Survey of Canada Information and Services Branch, where he created the Québec Geoscience Center as part of a unique partnership between a university institute and a government agency.
“We are delighted that Pierre has been recognized for his exceptional leadership in science and technology in the pulp and paper field. On behalf of the Board, I offer my warmest congratulations for this well-deserved honour,” said Mark Feldinger, chairman of the Board of FPInnovations, and Canfor’s senior vice president.
