Annie Zhu
Conference Chair
RISI

Annie has more than10 years´ experience as an finance/commodity market´s news reporter and editor in international and local media based in the UK and China.

Since her joining RISI´s Shanghai office in 2007, Annie has played a key role in covering feature reports for PPI magazine and RISI website in the pulp and paper industry in Asia. She was the Editor of PPI China with more than 5,000 subscribers in the industry and was also in charge of RISI´s local events. She has extensive contacts in the industry and has built up good relationships with leaders of paper producers.

Prior to RISI, Annie worked as a commodities reporter and news editor at the Interfax news agency in Shanghai, the Financial Times in London and the Shanghai Media Group. She worked as a contributor for CNN World Report for two years in SMG. She holds an M.A. from Bristol University in the UK and a B.A. in International Journalism from Shanghai International Studies University.

Mike Coffey
CEO
RISI

Mike Coffey was appointed RISI´s Chief Executive Officer in May of 2009. Prior to this appointment, Mike was COO for RISI and had been with the company for two years. Mike comes to RISI from CMP Media, a B2B information company he joined in 2003 where he played numerous roles in product development, technology, and acquisition evaluation/integration. Constantly seeking customer feedback and input, Mike is passionate about RISI´s products and customers´ uses of those products. An analytical thinker, he holds a bachelor´s degree from Rensselaer in upstate New York.

Li Hongxin
Chairman
Sun Paper

Mr. Li is the founder, chairman of board and general manager of Shandong Sun Paper. He has garnered numerous accolades and awards, including: President of Honor for the Paper Industry Chamber of Commerce within the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, member of 11th CPPC of Shandong province, and vice chairman of Shandong Federation of Industry and Commerce. He was also named National Model Worker, one of the Top 10 Finance Stars of Shandong 2007, one of the 60 Most Respected Enterprisers at 60th Anniversary of Republic, 1st Batch of Chinese Confucian Businessmen, Enterpriser of Highest Social Responsibility for Circular Economy of Shandong, and one of the Top 10 Confucian Businessmen at Homeland of Confucius and Mencius.

In addition, he was presented with the Outstanding Contribution Award for Caring of Next Generation at Jining City, named Donator of Highest Compassion in the Shandong Charity Awards for 2009, presented with the Outstanding Chinese Characteristic Socialist Builders Award at Jining City 2009, and was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Shandong Businessmen in 2010. He has been the representative in 9th and 10th NPC and President for Paper Industry Chamber of Commerce within All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and member of 10th CPPC Shandong.

David Katsnelson
Director, Macroeconomics
RISI

David Katsnelson joined RISI in July 2010, and is responsible for the collecting, analyzing, forecasting, and communicating macroeconomic data and its relevance to clients throughout the forest product industry. He is the editor of RISI´s Monthly Economic Commentary and the Economic Outlook chapters that appear in all RISI forecasts. Prior to joining RISI, David had been working at IHS Global Insight as an economist in the Country Analysis and Forecasting Group, as well as consulting for the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, a think–tank in Cambridge, MA. David worked for more than a decade in the financial industry as a trader for boutique hedge funds and brokerages in New York and Boston. He also co–founded ProSeed Capital Holdings, an international venture capital company, serving as its CFO and VP of US Operations. David received his MBA in International Economic Policy from Brandeis International Business School, and his B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Li Yiping
Professor, Economics
Renmin University of China

Li Yiping, the first post-doctor of Economics in Peking University, is now the Economics professor and Doctoral Tutor in Renmin University of China. He is the adjunct professor in United Front Work Department and Yan´an Cadre College. He is the Political Participation Committee member of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, managing director of China Private Economy Institute, Chief Economist of West Region Reformation and Development Promotion Association, professor of Xi´an Jiaotong University and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics EMBA Education Center, professor of Division of Continuing Education of Peking University and Profession Managers Training Center of Tsinghua University. He is acknowledged as one of the "Jingjing Sanjie" of the economics circle, for being a famous and substantial Economist.

His field of research includes: China macro-economy, market-economy, private economy and enterprise competitiveness.

Gavin Hao
Forestry Specialist
RISI

Mr Xiaodong (Gavin) Hao holds a Masters Science (Ecology) and Bachelor of Arts (Forestry) from Beijing Forestry University in China. He was previously employed from 2005 to 2009 in forestry operational manager positions for Stora Enso in Guangxi Province. He has recently worked for Pöyry as a consultant in their Shanghai offices from 2009. Gavin joined RISI in August 2010 as forestry specialist.

Gavin has undertaken a number of forest valuations, wood market reviews, due diligence exercises, site suitability, and technical reviews. He has undertaken a number of projects in both plantation and natural forests in China and also in Russia Far East, Cambodia, and Fiji. The focus of his work with Stora Enso was nursery operation, forest management & development and forest protection. Gavin has special skills in Forestry Management and Development, Forestry Growth Modelling, Forestry Valuation Processing, Cost and Price Benchmarking.

Rod Young
Chief Economic Advisor
RISI

Rod Young started modeling and forecasting in the pulp and paper industry in 1977. Since then, his work in international pulp and paper markets has received worldwide recognition.

In March 2005, he became President and CEO of Paperloop, which was later renamed RISI in 2006. Rod Young has remained an active contributor to RISI's forecasts since stepping down as RISI's CEO and being named Chairman in 2007. Rod, a founding member of RISI, has 32 years of experience tracking and reporting on the global pulp and paper markets. In 2009, Rod took on responsibility for ensuring that all RISI's economic analysis meets or exceeds the industry's expectation for excellence and accuracy when he took on the role of RISI's Chief Economic Advisor.

Rod received a Master of Science degree in Forestry Economics from Virginia Polytechnical Institute in 1977 and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan State University.

Mingming Liu
President and CEO
Voith Paper Asia

Madam Mingming Liu, President and CEO of Voith Paper Asia, is the only female executive and native Chinese among more than 50 executives in Voith Global Group. Since she became the Chief Representative for Voith Paper Germany in China back in 1998, Madam Liu together with her team, has enabled tremendous growth for Voith Paper in China as well as Asia. Started from less than Euro 0.5 million sales revenue in 1998, the number leap to Euro 420 million in 2004. Now Voith Paper China reached Euro 1.1 billion for Voith Paper Asia which contributes more than 50% orders of Voith Paper Global.

Liu Hanwen
Vice General Manager
Zhuhai Hongta Renheng Paper

Liu Hanwen, Vice General Manager for the operation of Zhuhai Hongta Renheng Paper Co., Ltd. and papermaking Engineer, is in charge of the operational and strategic management of the company, etc.

I got involved in papermaking industry in 1989 just after the graduation from a polytechnic schoolunder the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Light Industry, in which I majored in papermaking. During this time, I used to be the general manager of a printing enterprise for two years. The twenty-year experience of hardworking in papermaking, packaging and printing industry is, for anyone, worth being proud and confident.

Adam Bushong
Global Commodity Manager for Packaging
Dell

Adam Bushong is the Global Commodity Manager for Packaging at Dell, Inc. In his role he is responsible for identifying and developing suppliers around the world to support Dell´s sustainable packaging initiatives. Prior to Dell Adam was a Supplies and Logistics Officer in the U.S. Navy.

Cecile Lachaux
Member Manager Asia Pacific
TFT Forests

Cécile has a Masters Degree in biology and ecology from Poitiers University, France. Cécile´s early practical experience was gained in Madagascar and Benin where she worked within various NGOs managing environmental issues with local communities.

In 2009 she joined TFT France where she worked in a team managing a large portfolio of TFT´s French retail members. She was also responsible for developing work streams with French retailers concerning sustainable pulp and paper which involved engaging with buyers, pulp factories and NGOs. As a result she has a strong knowledge of the economic, social and environmental issues surrounding pulp and paper use and its trade. Cécile is now based out of Jakarta Indonesia as Client Manager Asia Pacific managing TFT client portfolios for Asia.

Dewi Bramono
Deputy Director of Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement
APP Indonesia

Ms. Bramono is currently the Deputy Director of APP´s Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement Division. APP is a pulp and paper manufacturing group with facilities in Indonesia and China. APP sold its product in 120 countries around the world.

Ms. Bramono´s responsibilities include identification and monitoring of the implementation of standards and global best practices that help improve the sustainability of APP´s operations in Indonesia. Ms. Bramono also provides direction, coordinates, and monitors on-going environmental and social initiatives of APP in Indonesia. To ensure that APP´s environment and social initiatives are moving in the right direction, Ms. Bramono also engages with external stakeholders to get their input and to update them on APP´s progress.

Projects that Ms. Bramono has been involved in are the development of APP´s Vision 2020 Sustainability Roadmap, carbon footprint assessments for APP´s Indonesia mills, the development of the sustainability report for APP Indonesia operations based on the GRI sustainability reporting standards, and a recent study with Bogor Agriculture Institute in Indonesia to assess carbon balance in different land uses such as agriculture land, production and natural forest areas. Ms. Bramono also manages environmental and social audits and certification projects for APP´s facilities.

Vijay Gupta
Managing Director
DaiEi Paper (SA)

Vijay Gupta is a keen student of the Pulp and Paper Industry and highly passionate about the role of paper in our present and in our future.

He also studied Finance and Transportation during his MBA at The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.

He is the Managing Director of Daiei Papers SA part of the Kokusai Pulp & Paper Group of Japan that trades Pulp & Paper Globally and lives in Singapore being responsible for business in the fastest growing regions of South Asia, Middle East and Africa.

He has built successful partnerships with several mills in the region working with them for their needs of fiber, fuel, fillers and finishing house equipment and consumables and also on exporting their finished products and has been driving KPP´s expansion in this region.

He describes his function as "having lunch with friends" which he has been doing across 40 countries over more than 25 years.

Liu Yuwu
General Manager and Director
Zhongshun Paper

From 1993 to 1997 worked as a technician and Training Official at Yueyang Tiger Forest & Paper Group.
From 1998 to 2002 served as the QC Department Manager and GM of the Group Department at Hengan.
From 2002 to 2003 as the GM of the Shandong Provincial Dongping Zhongshun Ming Hing Paper Co., Ltd.
From 2003 to 2006, served as Deputy GM for North China Region of Vinda Paper Co., Ltd.
From 2006 to 2008, Deputy GM of Zhongshan Zhongshun Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd. And Deputy GM and Director of the company from 2008 to Dec. of 2012.
From 2011 till now, acted as GM and director of the company and the Vice President of the China Hotel Supplies Association.

Hannah Zhao
Senior Economist, Recovered Paper
RISI

Hannah Zhao joined RISI in 2009 as an economist. Her responsibilities at RISI are focused on the area of world recovered paper and Chinese pulp market. She contributes to monthly commentary, quarterly forecast and long–term forecast on the world recovered paper market.

Hannah holds a Master of Science degree in Resource Economics from University of Rhode Island, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from Beijing Normal University, China.

Minnie Kong
Associate Economist, Fiber
RISI

Minnie´s primary responsibility is market analysis of pulp and recovered paper in Asia and producing China pulp market updates. Minnie also helps with the preparation of World Pulp Monthly the quarterly forecasts, and special market analysis studies. She gives consultations and presentations to pulp producers and financial institutions. Prior to RISI, Minnie worked in market intelligence for APRIL for four years. Minnie has a Masters degree of Economics from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing.

Kurt Schaefer
Vice President, Fiber
RISI

With over 17 years of experience with the company, Kurt leads RISI´s analysis of the pulp and recovered paper segments of the industry, specializing in papergrade pulp. He publishes a monthly commentary and forecast on the world pulp market, World Pulp Monthly. He also produces RISI´s long–term pulp forecasts, focusing on variables such as pulp consumption, capacity, production, production costs, and pricing. In 2012, Kurt was the project leader and principal author of RISI´s multiclient study, The China Pulp Market: A Comprehensive Analysis and Outlook, which is the most comprehensive and in-depth study to date of the Chinese pulp market. Kurt was stationed in Beijing in 2011 and in Brussels in 2012 and is currently working out of RISI´s Boston-area office. Prior to specializing in papergrade pulp, Kurt was Director of Pulp & Paper Forecaster and was responsible for forecasting prices and market conditions across all of the major grades of paper and paperboard in North America, including containerboard, newsprint, and printing and writing papers. In 1995, he received the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), and holds degrees in Economics from the University of Virginia and Miami University.

Li Meng
Economist, Asian Graphic Paper
RISI

Li joined RISI in 2011 as the Asian graphic paper economist, and her responsibilities are focused on collecting Asian graphic paper market information, and analyzing, modeling and forecasting market data with scientific methods such as statistics, macroeconomics, mathematical economics and microeconometrics.

She is the co-author of RISI´s Asian Pulp & Paper Monitor as well as quarterly and long-term forecast on Asian graphic paper market, and is working with the project team on various multi and single client study on global and Asian graphic paper market. Li holds a Ph.D. of applied economics from Auburn University, USA.

John Maine
Vice President, Graphic Paper
RISI

Mr. Maine is a co-founder of Resource Information Systems Inc., the company that became the analytic component of RISI, the leading information provider for the world forest products industry. John has 30 years of experience in the paper industry and developed the graphic paper segment of RISI. He is a recognized industry expert for Printing & Writing paper markets, prices, analysis, and forecasts. John is a regular speaker and consultant for most major producers worldwide as well as various end–user groups including insert & catalog publishers, magazine publishers, book publishers, paper merchants & brokers, and major commercial printers. He collects industry prices monthly, which are used by buyers and sellers in settling contract prices. John manages all of the world newsprint and printing & writing analysis and forecasts with regional economists located in Helsinki, Brussels, Shanghai, and São Paulo. His published reports include the monthly Paper Trader, World Coated Paper Supply: A risk assessment of capacity closures; World Graphic Paper Forecast; World Graphic Paper Capacity; North American Graphic Paper Forecast; and numerous single and multi–client studies.

John holds a Master of Science degree in Forest Economics with distinction from Virginia Tech. He resides in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife and three children.

Ken Waghorne
Vice President, Packaging
RISI

Ken has specialized in the paper packaging markets for RISI since 1983. He provides detailed monthly and quarterly analysis and forecasts of the North American paper packaging markets as well as single– and multi–client studies. He developed RISI´s international containerboard model as well as the paper packaging models for the Latin American markets. He also produces the RISI end-use market analysis for the Paperboard Packaging Council´s Trends Report on the US folding carton industry. Ken also manages RISI´s global packaging economic team, and directs the incorporation of the forecasts from North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America into RISI´s global reports.

Ken holds a Master of Science degree in Forest Economics from Virginia Tech and his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from LSU.

Portia Zhao
Senior Product Manager
RISI

Portia Zhao joined the RISI Shanghai office in September 2006 and is a Product Manager specializing in cost benchmarking for the pulp and paper industry. Portia holds a Master degree of Engineering in Pulp and Paper Technology from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand; a Bachelor degree of Economics in International Economics and Trade, and a Bachelor degree of Engineering in Pulp and Paper Technology from the South China University of Technology. Prior to joining RISI, Portia was working with UPM–Kymmene (Changshu) Paper Industry Co., Ltd. in Shanghai, where she was Business Intelligence Analyst for China and the Asia–Pacific region. Portia has also two years of engineering experiences in Advance Agro Pulp & Paper Integrated Co., Ltd. in Prachinburi, Thailand.

Esko Uutela
Principal Economist, Tissue
RISI

Esko Uutela was born in Finland and has worked as a pulp and paper industry consultant for his whole professional career of more than 30 years. He graduated from the Helsinki School of Economics (Marketing) in 1976 and from the University of Helsinki (Faculty of Forestry) in 1979. Since 1991 he is residing in Germany.

After working for close to 18 years for a large forest industry consulting company in Helsinki and Munich, Esko decided to establish his own forest industry consulting company EU Consulting in Starnberg, close to Munich in Germany in August 1994. EU Consulting increasingly specialized in offering consulting services for two sectors: the tissue and recycled fiber businesses. In March 2007, RISI acquired EU Consulting.

Esko has carried out numerous private client projects, as well as published regularly worldwide, comprehensive multi-client studies on tissue business developments and global recycled fiber markets. He is now fully integrated with RISI´s team of economists and responsible for all forecasts and market analyses related to the tissue sector. He is also the chief editor of RISI´s tissue multi-client reports, including Outlook for World Tissue Business (published annually), World Tissue Business Monitor (quarterly) and US Tissue Monthly Data. In addition, Esko´s long consulting experience with deep business and industry understanding has substantially extended RISI´s capabilities to carry out comprehensive private client studies in the tissue and recovered paper sectors.

JJ Meng
Mill Intelligence Analyst
RISI

JJ joined RISI´s Beijing Office in 2011. She is responsible for researching and collecting mill data and industry information, conducting cash cost studies for for Asian pulp and paper mills and updating the mill intelligence database used to store the machine, mill and market data used in Analytical Cornerstone 4.0. She holds a Master degree of Engineering in Pulp and Paper Technology from the South China University of Technology, as well as a Bachelor degree from the Beijing Forestry University.

Han Yao
Economist, Asian Paper Packaging
RISI

Han is responsible for managing all Asian paper packaging market analysis and forecasts, with a focus on the China paperboard market as well as end-use econometric modeling. He writes RISI´s Asian paper packaging reports, including monthly commentary as well as medium- and long-term forecast reports. Han is the lead author of the 2012 China Boxboard Study, and also contributes to various multi/single client studies such as World Boxboard Study, China Packaging Paper Market Study, Oji Machine Glazed Paper Study, etc. Prior to joining RISI, Han worked as an Analyst at Copal Partners, a UK-based financial consulting firm, conducting economic analysis and business due diligence for a wide variety of industrial projects. He also worked as an assistant researcher for the Washington State Dept of Commerce between 2007 and 2008. Han has a Master´s degree in Economics from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, New York. He also holds a bachelor´s degree in Mathematical Economics from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington.