You have spoken at PRIMA many times, but this will be your final year speaking as Director General of Cepi. Please share some memories of your participation and tell us what you most value about attendance.
PRIMA has always been my go-to “temperature check” on the industry. It brings together the right people, the right topics, and the right level of strategic discussion in a remarkably efficient format. I have always valued the opportunity to understand emerging trends, exchange views with colleagues across the value chain, and leave with a clearer sense of where the industry is heading. The quality of networking and the concise, focused programme make it uniquely worthwhile.
You will be speaking about the EU Bioeconomy Strategy - what are you particularly keen to emphasise for this audience of strategic decision makers?
My key message is that the forest-based bioeconomy is not a niche sector - it is a strategic European asset and a cornerstone of Europe’s future growth model. Cepi has made significant progress in helping EU policymakers recognise this reality. Now, I seek to ensure that industry leaders fully grasp the scale of the opportunity before them.
What sessions are you looking forward to hearing at PRIMA this year?
One of the great strengths of PRIMA is that I always learn something new. Many of the topics discussed closely relate to the issues we work on at Cepi, but hearing different perspectives is both valuable and enriching. That said, the session I look forward to most every year is CEO Insights. It offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders about their priorities, challenges and vision for the future - and this year will be no exception. The European economy is on a threshold, facing many unknowns, therefore this session promises to be more exciting than ever before.
