Every five years, the company awards the “Silver Birch Leaf” to employees, partners and advisors whose presence has helped “Latvijas Finieris” take decisive steps in this changing world. This year, at the 30th-anniversary concert of “Latvijas Finieris” on 30 September, 23 “Silver Birch Leaf” laureates were ceremoniously honoured. They are top-tier professionals and an example of how to make collective development decisions through respectful dialogue.
Among them are scientists who contribute immense work to the development of the forest sector’s Birch Programme. There are “Latvijas Finieris” employees who, through the years and various change processes, have been the beacons and motivators of our team. A special thank you goes this year to the leaders of many Latvian public organisations who work daily to strengthen social dialogue, good governance, and represent the forest industry in the global fight for the sustainable use of Earth’s resources.
Jānis Aļļis
Manager of the “Latvijas Finieris” farm “Zābaki”
A long-standing master of “Zābaki”. A master with a capital M! If the Commercial Law requires boards to care for a company as a diligent and careful master, then one can safely say that they should work as Jānis Aļļis does.
Egils Baldzēns
Chair of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia
A social democrat with a philosophy degree. An empathetic negotiator who truly wants everyone to fare well. With perfectly honed analytical skills, he knows how to frame any issue in reasoned, clear figures.
Andris Balodis
Director of the “LVM Roundwood Supplies” structural unit of AS “Latvijas valsts meži”
A standard of conviction, honesty and fairness for the state-owned forest management company. If there is an agreement with Andris, it will be fulfilled. His word is his bond!
Kristaps Ceplis
Board member of the “Zaļās mājas” association
An apologist for the use of wood. With naturally effortless storytelling gifts, he carries the news of the forest sector far and wide – from the seed all the way to the wooden satellite. In his heart and soul, he firmly believes that we can achieve a sustainable balance between nature and human well-being.
Jānis Donis
Researcher at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”
The counter of Latvia’s forests. If you want to ask the question, “How many trees are there in Latvia?”, you can safely ask Jānis, and the answer will follow. Across all possible cross-sections of this subject.
Arnis Gailis
Researcher at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”
An economically-minded master of forest breeding. He focuses on how to grow trees faster, in greater quantities and better suited for processing, while simultaneously preserving the genetic codes characteristic of Latvia in future forest stands.
Vitālijs Gavrilovs
Honorary President of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia
A strengthener of social dialogue based on tripartite negotiations. Leading the LDDK for many years, he has always held the honour of the state as a high value. In order not to discredit it, he has managed to maintain surprising empathy towards the changing circle of state leaders and officials.
Andris Grafs
Vice President of the Baltic Institute of Corporate Governance
A teacher, advisor, and messenger of good governance. The eternal engine of Andris’s inner energy provides the power to educate others, learn himself, and apply knowledge in practice simultaneously. Combining this into high-quality fulfilment for the benefit of society.
Tina Haugdahl
Director of “Riga Wood Sweden” AB
She is special! With deep worldly wisdom, her own vision of the order of things, and the ability to assign everyone their role. Opinions do not always coincide, but it is precisely from Tina that we have learned a great deal.
Jurģis Jansons
Director of the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”
A forest scientist and a messenger for Latvian forestry in the world. A man who respects and defends not only all species living on our Earth but also human work. He inspired the collection of these subtle interactions into a unique book, “Silavieši”. Be sure to read it!
Mindaugas Kasmauskis
Director of UAB “Likmere”
“Latvijas Finieris”’s messenger in Lithuania. A messenger? Or perhaps an ambassador who carries out the lobbying of the company’s interests and raises the profile of the “Latvijas Finieris” name in Lithuania, while at the same time acting as a true patriot of the Lithuanian state.
Kristaps Klauss
Executive Director of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation
A one-man band. A forest sector advisor, advocate, diplomat, analyst, lightning rod… Without Kristaps’s rationally logical proposals, permeated by honesty and love for his country, many processes would be different today.
Pēteris Krīgers
Pensioner, formerly long-time Chair of the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia
An acknowledger, user and strengthener of social dialogue as a value, even in the most complex crisis situations. If Pēteris had to be described in one word, we would say – a true national patriot.
Indulis Kovisārs
Board member of “Latvijas Finieris”, Head of Forest Sector
A man of conscience and honour. A man who is a bridge. A bridge between business and the forest sector; a bridge between different human views and opinions. He consistently expresses his own opinion so filigreed that not everyone is destined to understand it.
Ari Lakso
Pensioner, long-time Director of “Riga Wood S.r.l.”
A strategist and visionary. It is precisely a structural approach to strategy building that is Ari’s significant contribution to the development of “Latvijas Finieris”. Through his patient perseverance, he has shaped the approach to achieving the company’s goals that has become our daily routine today. By passing on his experience and knowledge, he clearly demonstrates that he is an eternal player on the “Latvijas Finieris” team.
Mārtiņš Lācis
Board member of “Latvijas Finieris”, Head of Trade and Logistics Sector
A translator of cooperation. A diplomat, juggler and fakir who is able to sell goods on the Eastern market according to Western customs and vice versa. He can put together the incompatible and take care of the hungry wolf every day, while leaving the goat alive.
Stephane Levoir
Director of “Riga Wood France”
A smart trader who knows the product, the market and his client. He ensures the predictability and stability that the strongest crisis may shake but not destroy. That is what can happen if you are a true professional.
Kaspars Liepiņš
Leading researcher at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”
A developer of birch growing practices. He knows birches perfectly, and all of Latvia’s birches know Kaspars well!
Līga Meņģelsone
Executive Director of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia
A patriot of her country based on arguments. She delves into the roots of every issue and, understanding the essence, defends truths that increase the public good. She is adept at structuring the complex, creating understandable stories.
Arnis Muižnieks
Chair of the Board of the Latvian Forest Owners Association
A unifier of the intellect of all Latvian forest owners. With deep empathy, he knows how to listen to different opinions, record what is heard and combine it into correctly balanced stories that are understandable to the general public.
Ainārs Ozols
Entrepreneur, Council member of the Riga municipal company SIA “Rīgas satiksme”, former long-time Chairman of the Board of AS “SEB banka”
An excellent manager of major changes in business. They say you truly get to know your partners in a difficult moment. Thanks to Ainārs and his team, who demonstrated the highest capacity for interaction between bank and client during the global financial crisis.
Andris Plezers
Pensioner, co-founder and long-time Executive Director of the public organisations “Latvijas Koks” and “Latvijas mēbeles”
One of the creators of the forest sector’s collective self-awareness. Always smiling, sociable and empathetic, Andris has always been able to seek the truth through mutual dialogue. In doing so, he made a significant contribution at many turning points significant for the Latvian national economy.
Andris Ziemelis
Retired engineer, tireless investigator of history
A historian of the forest sector and the Latvian national economy with a touch of social anthropology. A man who is an encyclopedia, whom they wait for like an old friend in every library. In what he reads, he looks not for data, but for patterns that build a bridge from the past to today.