Zhang Jianping

Deputy director of the Academic Council in Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, MOFCOM, director of Regional Economic Cooperation Research Center, and also the head of Institute of West-Asian and African Studies

Topic: Prospect of China’s Macro-economic 

Dr. Zhang Jianping has a B.S. in environmental science and M.S. in ecology from Peking University, Ph.D. in investment economics from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and post-doctoral fellow at the National Information Center. He is currently serve as the deputy director of the Academic Council in Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, MOFCOM, director of Regional Economic Cooperation Research Center, and also the head of Institute of West-Asian and African Studies. He is also a member of PECC China, executive director of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the China Association for International Exchange and member of the expert committee of CCPIT. Dr. Zhang is commentator of CCTV, Phoenix Satellite TV, CNR and CRI. His main research is on international economy, especially on international regional cooperation and China's outward investment. He has presided over more than 60 topics, and has consulted and conducted more than 30 studies for the United Nations, the World Bank and other international institutions. He has lectured at the Information Office of the State Council on the Belt and Road and the BRICS Summit, and provided advice to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Suvarov. He has delivered numerous lectures at international think tanks such as ICTSD, CSIS, Adam Smith, ADBI, etc. Dr. Zhang published more than a hundred papers and four monographs, he had been awarded five third class prizes for research achievements at the ministerial level and also won the first prize of China Macro Academy for three consecutive years. 

Liu Nengwen，President of China Timber & Wood Products Distribution Association

Topic: The Changing Chinese Timber Industry Under COVID-19

Mr. Liu Nengwen , professor of engineering, is the director of China Wood Value Promotion and Development Center and President of China Timber and Wood Products Distribution Association, member of the Party Committee of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, and Member of the senior professional titles Evaluation Committee of SASAC.

Mr. Liu Nengwen has been engaged in wood industry technology, economic management and the development of wood conservation and substitution for more than 30 years.Till now he has published more than 50 professional papers.

Mr. Liu organized the research of Problems of China Timber Distribution , which was awarded the Second Prize of Technology Advancement of Ministry of Internal Trade,  Study on China Timber Saving and Substitution which was awarded the First Prize of Technology Advancement of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, Ten Frequently-used Precious Tree Species and Practical Hardwood Drying Technologies awarded the First Prize of Technology Advancement of China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, China Timber Saving and Substitution Strategies and Timber Saving Demonstration Projects, and

Study on China Wood Protection Standards System, Research on Wood Conservation and Substitution in China". Mr. Liu is also the Editor-in-chief of 14 national and industrial standards and 7 community standards, He has made Significant contribution to China wood related technologies, economical management and wood saving and substitution study.

RUSSELL E. TAYLOR

Former President

WOOD MARKETS Group & FEA Canada

Topic:Global Softwood Supply & Demand Changes after COVID-19

Russ Taylor worked in forestry and sawmills in his early career and then started International WOOD MARKETS Group in 1992. In August 2017, the business was sold to Forest Economic Advisors.

Mr. Taylor conducts wood products market analysis/ intelligence and business assessment/ investment analysis on timber/ lumber for global industry clients and for internal reports. Mr. Taylor travels extensively to key producing, exporting and importing countries in Asia, Russia, Europe, the Southern Hemisphere and within North America to obtain first -hand insights. He also created a number of monthly newsletters and various multi-client reports that involve strategic insights and outlooks for global markets.

Mr. Taylor has published hundreds of articles and has made about 300 presentations all over the world.

Mr. Taylor has a forestry degree (BScF) and an MBA, both from the University of B.C., and is also a B.C. registered professional forester (RPF-Ret).

Ma Haibin， General Manager of Suzhou Senyang International Trade Co.,Ltd.

Topic: : Dynamics of Current Supply & Demand of China's softwood Market

Mr. Ma Haibin, Senior Economist, is now the General Manager of Suzhou Senyang International Trade Co., Ltd. After graduated from the college of Economics and Management of Harbin Institute of Technology, he has worked in Harbin state-owned Songjiang Plywood Factory, Shenzhen Everbright Wood Industry Co.Ltd. Etc. Mr. Ma has been engaged in wood processing and trade for 40 years. Since 2012, He has also took the position of Executive President of Taicang Timber and Wood Products Circulation Association.

Chen Xiangfeng, President of Suifenhe Friendship Wood Group

Topic: The changing timber supply chain under "Belt & Road Initiative"

Mr. Chen Xiangfeng has worked in wood processing and trade industry for over 25 years. Chairman of Suifenhe Friendship Wood Industry Group, President of China Wood Importers Committee . Mr. Chen has been an integral part of building a large base of processing facilities throughout China and Russia, a well established sales network throughout China. Whilst ensuring that the products, operation and corporate culture take responsibilities for the environment and embrace the principles of sustainable development. With hands on experience from importing timber from Russia, North America, Europe and New Zealand, Mr. Chen Xiangfeng witnessed the development of China’s timber trade, gained unique insights into the development of global timber trade and formed friendships which are all precious assets in extending the success of Friendship Wood Industry into the future.

Will Zhang, President of Silbertanne Holztechnik und Handels GmbH, and Willwood China Supply Chain Service Co., Ltd (www.willwood.cn)

Topic： European Spruce Logs: Opportunities & Challenges

Mr. Will Zhang is the president of Silbertanne Holztechnik und Handels GmbH, and Willwood China Supply Chain Service Co., Ltd (www.willwood.cn). The company provides strategic supply chain services to help overseas suppliers further develop customers in the Chinese market and also assists Chinese companies to source products from key offshore countries. Currently the company established the stable supply sources & quality control systems in Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, the Czech Republic, etc. Meanwhile, the company also developed the shipment solutions of logs and timber products from Europe to inland China under BRI trains. The main products focused include logs, customized-cut construction lumber, packaging & pallet lumber, furniture components, etc.

Marina Zotova, Senior Consultant, Whatwood
Topic: Russian Log & Lumber Supply in China: how a ban on exports of logs from Russia will change trade flows from 2022

Ms Marina Zotova has over 15 years' experience in the pulp & paper and sawmilling industries in Russia. This experience includes management in sales and marketing in position as deputy general director of the biggest Russian sawmilling company with capacity of 1.5 million m3 of sawn timber.
Senior Consultant, as her position of WhatWood agency since 2018, includes conduction monthly and annual studies and report or fibre raw material sourcing, sawn timber, wood-based panels markets research.
Marina had a key role in participation in the preparation of current and strategy sale plans, corporate strategy, feasibility and DD studies, mill improvement studies, new product development projects.  
She is fluent in Russian and English.

Francisco Bonino

Partner and CEO of AF Group

Topic：Uruguay Updates

Francisco Bonino is partner and CEO of AF Group. Francisco has 20 years of timber experience gather in Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. In the past he was responsible of product development for Monsanto in northern Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. He graduated as Agronomic Engineering from UDELAR (Uruguay’s National University). He is an Agronomist and holds an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT).

EDUCATION

2002-2005: MBA from New York Institute of Technology

1991-1997: Agronomic Engineering from UDELAR (Uruguay’s National University).

WORKING EXPERIENCE

2000: Agroempresa Forestal (AF Group), Partner and CEO

1997-1998: R&D Manager, Monstanto Company

Sarah Friel，AgriHQ Analyst

Topic: New Zealand

Sarah is graduate from Massey University and has a strong background in farming, having grown up on an Angus Stud and lived in farming communities in the King Country, Southern Hawkes Bay and Tararua. After completing an Honours degree in psychology, Sarah wanted to find a way to use her analytical and communication skills in the agricultural sector. Her motivation is to help farmers achieve the best results in their business.

Rodolfo Ziegele, General Manager of Arauco wood industry China company

Topic：Chilean Updates

He joined Arauco since 2006 and has been engaged in wood industry production and sales for 15 years.

He is currently the general manager of Arauco wood industry China company and taking duties of China office Operations and sales and marketing in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia,etc.

Amir Rashad

Topic: Middle East & North Africa Lumber Markets: Analysis & Outlook in a COVID19 World & Digital Supply Chains: Automating Import, Logistics, Documentation, Analytics and Compliance

Amir Rashad started his career in Marosef, a Swedish trading company since 1975, that has represented many leading Scandinavian brands in North Africa.

Amir was responsible for the supply-chain diversification on the export and import sides including Eastern Europe and Far East.

During his time at Marosef he started the popular monthly market report named Timber Executive, which summarized actionable industry news throughout the timber supply-chain including production, logistics and consumption of timber.

Today Amir leads Centersource Technologies, a software company building supply-chain technology that is automating how business is done in the forestry industry among others.

The multilingual platform automates process between producers, forwarders and buyers, and offers modules for Export/Import, Logistics, Documentation, Compliance, Tracking and Analytics, including 80 smart and integrated tools. The company is supported by leading figures in the forestry, technology and analytics industries.