The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) has announced that President and CEO Kathy Abusow will retire in 2026, having led SFI through a period of significant expansion across North America, increasing reach, impact, relevance, and global recognition.

Throughout her tenure, she inspired the SFI team and community to advance practical sustainability solutions demonstrated by measurable results. Under Abusow’s leadership, SFI achieved a formidable scale to make a meaningful difference and contribution to positive change in our forests and for our communities. This includes increasing the SFI Canadian and U.S. footprint to more than 370 million acres (150 million hectares) certified to the SFI Forest Management Standard, including public, private, Indigenous, conservation, university, urban, and community forests, with millions more acres positively influenced by the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard.

“Kathy’s leadership has invaluably shaped who SFI is today. She has been a strategic growth leader who translated mission into impact and results,” says Dan Lambe, CEO of the Arbor Day Foundation and Chair of the SFI Board of Directors. “Her commitment to excellence, integrity, and people has left an indelible mark on our organization. We are deeply grateful for her many contributions and the strong foundation she leaves behind. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating Kathy’s exemplary career.”

Under Abusow’s leadership, SFI has expanded its scope beyond standards to include conservation collaboration, community engagement, Indigenous relations, environmental education, and career pathways in the forest sector. She led the integration of Project Learning Tree (PLT) into SFI in 2017, growing the award-winning environmental education program and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In 2018, she founded PLT Canada, which has placed more than 8,700 Green Jobs since inception, achieving 50% participation by women and 15% by Indigenous youth, and reached hundreds more young adults through Green Mentor and Youth Delegate programs. She is a prominent voice for sustainability and a strong advocate for diversity in the sector, known for her commitment to ensuring the sector is representative of society.

A comprehensive search for the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer will be undertaken over the coming months. The Board will engage in a rigorous recruitment process to identify a leader who will build on the organization’s strengths, advance its mission, and guide the implementation of SFI’s 2025-2030 Strategic Direction.

Abusow’s role as President & CEO of SFI, and President & CEO of PLT Canada will be divided into a new SFI CEO, a President of SFI, and a President of PLT Canada. Abusow is thrilled that members of her Senior Leadership Team will immediately be elevated during this transition. Jason Metnick has been named President of SFI. Christine Leduc, RPF, has been named President of PLT Canada.

Abusow will continue to serve and work closely with the Board and senior leadership team in her current capacity as CEO to support continuity during the transition.