fRI Research has found its first ever Executive Director. Dr. Barry White brings invaluable experience at the intersection of science and policy, and an exciting vision for broadening our partnerships.
“fRI Research has played a big role in sustaining ecological and economic values by building useful tools and finding practical solutions,” says Dr. White. “I am honored to be chosen to lead a phenomenal organization widely recognized for scientific excellence.”
Dr. White adds to that scientific depth. He earned his PhD in forestry from UBC where he also got a certificate from the Sauder School of Business. Dr. White joined the team at fRI Research in 2021 to lead the Water and Fish Program through its transition from a focus on hydrology to aquatic ecology and fish biology.
Prior to that, Dr. White served in leadership positions within the Government of Alberta, where he championed the concepts of precision forestry and enhanced forest inventories, helped develop lidar-derived planning tools, and provided key advice regarding forest management policy. The leadership he demonstrated at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, academic research, government policy, and industry operations gave the Board confidence in his ability to bring different groups together to improve land management—our core mission.
“I look forward to broadening our network of partners so that we can collectively tackle the complex challenges that lie ahead. By working with industry, governments, non-governmental organizations, and First Nation communities we can collectively discover better ways of managing the land.”
Previously, fRI Research has been led by a General Manager. The Board’s vision for this leadership position has grown, and in 2022, they expanded it to an Executive Directorship, in line with other not-for-profits. In this role, Dr. White’s top priorities are finding ways to provide more value for partners, developing our next 5-year Strategic Plan, and fostering a culture of scientific creativity.
“The way fRI Research has brought together great minds from the research community has been key to our success. If we can continue to attract passionate scientists who want to solve some of the toughest problems, then our future looks bright.”
Statement on Behalf of the Board of Directors
The fRI Research Board of Directors is proud to announce that Barry White, PhD, RPF, has accepted the position and will be starting this April. Barry was previously the Lead of our Water and Fish program but has decided to take the next step in his career and lead our organization and its people into a new chapter. With Barry’s experience developing the Wet Area Mapping models, his connections with academia, and clear passion for collaborating with partners, he brings a deep understanding of how all the research completed by our programs can benefit fRI Research’s partners. Barry will be leading a world class organization, full of incredibly talented people and we are excited to see where he will take the organization.