Pulp and paper’s future leaders: Meet Vanessa Terwoort

The deadline for the 2021 competition of Pulp & Paper Canada’s Top 10 Under 40 contest is coming up on Apr. 9, so we’re revisiting the stories of our 2020 winners.

Whether they work in operations, maintenance, sales or technical support, these future pulp and paper leaders all share a strong work ethic, exhibit initiative and curiosity, and demonstrate a commitment to training and safety.

Today we’re sharing Vanessa Terwoort’s story. Terwoort is the director, environment for Mercer Celgar’s kraft pulp mill in Castlegar, B.C.

She “is an outdoor enthusiast and accomplished mountaineer and environmental sustainability means a lot to [her],” says her colleague Andrew East.

Terwoort found a niche in the pulp and paper industry that allowed her to focus on her passion – after earning her diploma in chemical technology from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, she was an effluent treatment specialist at Catalyst Paper. She then spent five years working in the mining industry before returning to the pulp and paper industry at Mercer Celgar in 2013 (then Zellstoff Celgar).

Right from when she joined Celgar as environment manager, she started making an impact, helping to improve the way greenhouse gas credits are calculated by Environment Canada and the Forest Products Association (FPAC).

“[Vanessa] is a dedicated and tireless young leader with a passion for the environment, ensuring Celgar leaves as small of a footprint on the world as possible.”

“Since then, Vanessa has partnered with Celgar’s operations team and has pushed for excellence and increased awareness around proper environmental practices in alignment with operations’ productivity, efficiency and cost targets,” says her team members in their nomination.

The 39-year-old Terwoort has taken on increasing responsibility at the mill, becoming environment director in early 2019. Her next steps include mentoring Celgar’s new laboratory supervisor to lead the environmental department.

Her team is looking forward to seeing Terwoort grow and contribute to Mercer Celgar’s corporate goals.

“She is a dedicated and tireless young leader with a passion for the environment, ensuring Celgar leaves as small of a footprint on the world as possible.”

Nominate a colleague in the 2021 Top 10 Under 40 competition by Apr. 9! For criteria and nomination forms, click here.