New Executive Director to Lead Canadian Bioenergy Association

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 3, 2013) - The Board of Directors of the Canadian Bioenergy Association (CanBio) is pleased to announce the appointment of Fernando Preto to the position of Executive Director, effective April 8, 2013.

Dr. Preto, a chemical engineer by training, is an established leader in the Canadian bioenergy and bioeconomy sectors. Most recently, he was Lead Scientist, Biomass and Renewables, CanmetENERGY, Natural Resources Canada, where he was instrumental in advancing bioenergy developments in Canada and bringing together industry, government, and academic stakeholders from the agriculture, forestry, and energy sectors.

"Fernando brings a depth of knowledge and network of contacts across the bioenergy and bioeconomy sectors that few can match," said Ken Shields, Chair of the Board and CEO of Conifex Timber Inc. "He has a unique combination of technical expertise, project experience, and collaborative leadership skills needed to promote the sector and help our members grow and prosper."

In addition to his research and project work, Dr. Preto has extensive knowledge and experience of the factors and regulations impacting bioenergy development domestically and internationally. He has carried out numerous techno-economic assessments, developed a market-based economic approach suitable for evaluating biorefinery technologies and served as a task force member for the FPAC-led Biopathways initiative.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Preto said, "I look forward to working with the CanBio membership, the Board of Directors, and all bioenergy and bioeconomy stakeholders to advance a sustainable future for Canada. Effectively utilizing renewable biomass resources will add value to our existing industries, generate new revenue streams in the forestry and agriculture sectors and provide environmental benefits to all Canadians."

About CANBIO

CanBio (Canadian Bioenergy Association) is the voice of the Canadian bioenergy industry. Established in 2002, CanBio is an industry-driven, non-profit organization that seeks to create a better business and regulatory environment for the emerging bio-economy, including biomass heat and power generation, advanced biofuels and bio-chemicals.