James Harrison  -  Member since February 2016

James holds a Forestry Degree (1975) from Lakehead University. His 39-year career with industry included positions with Kimberly-Clark of Canada and Greenmantle Forest Inc.  James sits as the FFTC representative on the Provincial Forest Inventory Advisory Committee.

Past Members:

• George Gretes, completed his 3 year term
• Mike Barker, completed his 26 year term
• Dr Sandy Smith, completed her 9 year term 
• Herb Bax R.P.F., completed his 11 year term March 31, 2023
• Bob Elliott R.P.F., completed his 10 year term March 31, 2016
• Erik Wang R.P.F., completed his 5 year term March 31, 2016
• Dr. Maureen Kershaw, R.P.F., founding member and Chair 2006-2015
• Ric Monzon, R.P.F., completed his term in the fall of 2011.
• Dr. David Balsillie, R.P.F. (Hon), completed his term December 2009.
• Dr. John Naysmith, R.P.F., Thunder Bay, was the founding Chair.  Dr. Naysmith completed his term on June 30, 2006. He passed away in 2017.
• Rod Carrow, R.P.F., one of the founding members completed his term on June 30, 2006. He passed away in 2016.
• Margaret Wanlin, one of the founding members completed her term on June 30, 2005.
• Jack Stokes of Schreiber, Ontario, was a former Speaker of the House and one of the founding members of the FFT Committee. He passed away in 1999.

Forestry Futures Trust Committee
    

Mission Statement:

Working at arms-length on behalf of the Minister, the FFTC leads the effective disbursement of FFT and other funds and administers programs that advance forest sustainability.

Guiding Principles:

• Recognize the sustainability of the managed forests as paramount.
• Support adaptive forest management approaches.
• Maintain the independence of the FFTC.
• Provide an open, transparent and accountable operational environment.
• Value, respect and use the professional expertise of the forest community.
• Respect, value and consider the use of Indigenous knowledge and approaches.
• Work consistently within the purpose of the Trust and approved operating procedures.
• Provide a fiduciary role regarding the disbursement of FFT funds, based on direction from the Minister.
• Provide fair and equitable access to Trust applicants.
• Apply consistent due diligence on all decisions and transactions.

 
Vision:

The FFTC is a recognized independent organization that uses science-based, fiscally prudent oversight to direct the funds of the Forestry Futures Trust (FFT) to ensure they are beneficially applied to advance the sustainability of Ontario’s Crown Forests.

Corrinne Nelson  -  Member since October 2025

In her nearly 30 year career with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Corrinne was most recently the Regional Director of Northeast Region managing MNR's programs across a vast geography of northern Ontario. Corrinne also had been the manager in several districts. Prior to that, Corrinne was the Provincial Silviculture Specialist providing leadership to Ontario's silviculture program and Ontario's State of the Forest program. Corrinne spent her early career working as a forester and technician in Saskatchewan. 

Corrinne currently volunteers with Civil Air Search and Rescue. 

Peter Nitschke  RPF-  Member since October 2025

Peter Nitschke began his forestry career in 1983 following the completion of his university studies. His professional experience spans New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Ontario, across both public and private sectors. From 1998 to 2020, he served as the General Manager of a Sustainable Forest Licence partnership based in Bancroft, Ontario. His areas of expertise include applied forest genetics, growth and yield, forest management, planning, and governance, including managing a Board of Directors. Peter has also served on the Council and Executive of the Ontario Professional Foresters' Association, an organization which licences professional foresters in Ontario.

Jennifer Tallman RPF  -  Member since October 2025

Jennifer worked 33 years in the Ontario forest sector with majority of her career spent at Interfor and Resolute Forest Products in Northeastern Ontario in forest operations and forest management. She most recently served as the Chief Forester for Ontario with Interfor working with her team to manage two Sustainable Forest Licences, as director on Abitibi River Forest Management Inc. and Timiskaming Forest Alliance Inc. boards and contribute to natural resource policy development. Jennifer is currently the Chair for the Cochrane Public Library Board.

W.D. (Bill)  Baker  -  Member since February 2016

Bill has had a 30 plus career in natural resource management primarily as a senior manager with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Bill has worked throughout Ontario in a variety of capacities but has spent much of his career in northwestern Ontario and Thunder Bay

Chair:  Ray A Riley, R. P. F. (Hon) – Member since February 2016

Ray holds degrees in geology from Acadia and Queens and is a retired member of the Professional Engineers Ontario. He comes to the FFTC after 30 years with the Ontario government culminating as Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations for Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources. Subsequent to his career in government, he was active as a consultant for some 21 years focusing on natural resource management for the Forest Industry, First Nations, Ontario, and Canada.