COFI appoints new president and CEO

Yurkovich brings more than 20 years of experience working in B.C.’s resource sectors. She comes to COFI from BC Hydro where she was executive vice-president responsible for leading the development of the Site C Clean Energy Project. 

Prior to joining BC Hydro, she spent 10 years at Canfor Corporation, one of Canada’s largest forest products companies, where she was vice-president of corporate affairs. While at Canfor she served as chair of the public affairs section of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and COFI’s Aboriginal Affairs Committee. She was also a member of the joint industry/federal government committee that developed and executed the “U.S. Canada Partnership for Growth” initiative to help support resolution of the softwood lumber dispute.

“We are exceptionally pleased to have Susan joining us,” stated Ted Seraphim, COFI board chair and CEO of West Fraser. “Her experience at the highest levels of corporate management in both the forest sector and public sector will be of critical importance in shaping an exciting future for our industry and the employees and communities that depend upon it.”

Born and raised in British Columbia, Yurkovich holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and a diploma in international business from Erasmus University, Netherlands. 

She currently serves as a director of the Business Council of BC and member of the Faculty Advisory Board for the Sauder School of Business and Dean’s Advisory Committee for the Faculty of Applied Science at UBC. In the past, she has served on the board of governors at UBC, Pharmasave Drugs National, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, General Insurance Ombudservice, UBV/VGH Hospital Foundation and the Vancouver Board of Trade. 

In 2015, Business in Vancouver named her one of BC’s Most Influential Women in Business.

The Council of Forest Industries is the voice of the B.C. interior forest industry. COFI members vary in size and produce lumber, pulp and paper, panels and engineered wood products at more than 60 facilities across the interior. All share a commitment to a future based on employee safety, sustainable forestry and manufacturing practices, and innovative product development.