TEAM
Nicolas DUBART, Bioengineer in Nature, Water and Forests, is a graduate of the Faculté Universitaire des Sciences agronomiques de Gembloux in Belgium. Nicolas has 15 years of experience in the wood sector, environment and Sustainable Forest Management in Africa and Europe.
In 2006, Nicolas DUBART started working in the field of Sustainable Forest Management for an FSC certified forestry company in Gabon (CEB-Precious Woods). For 6 years, he worked on a forestry site as a Management Manager and Deputy Operations Manager. During these years, he acquired certain technical and pedagogical skills as well as a great deal of experience in the field of the economic profitability of Sustainable Management practices in the wood-forest-environment sector.
From 2013 to 2018, he joined the Belgian association Nature+ as a Program Manager. During these years, he collaborated with forest administrations and the private sector in the process of compliance of activities related to management, EFIR, certification, legality, and traceability (FSC, OLB, APV-FLEGT). He managed and coordinated several projects supported by international donors. He therefore provided technical assistance to companies and institutions. During this period, Nicolas also worked for BFConsult in Belgium and France, with the aim of supporting actors in the wood and forestry sector on various environmental and health issues.
As of 2018, he started developing his activities in Africa. Nicolas is now fully in charge of the BFConsult consultancy. As a Director, Nicolas supervises all the services implemented in the implementation of BFConsult's projects, from their set-up to their closing, including the execution of activities, the presence in the field and the quality of the reporting. With his technical and operational experience on site, he brings the guarantee of a know-how to the companies with which BFConsult collaborates. In this context, Nicolas has led BFConsult to develop collaborations with Chinese and Asian companies firmly committed to the process of certification and sustainable management of their resources. Nicolas brings to BFConsult all his expertise in project management. Thanks to his partnerships and collaborations with numerous specialised and recognised experts, he leads BFConsult to multiple projects related to the elaboration and implementation of environmental and social policies and strategies linked to sustainable forest management.
As a forestry engineer with a degree from the University of Liège Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (Belgium), Bertrand has participated in the technical support of several forestry companies in Congo (CIB-Olam and Mokabi), Cameroon (Pallisco-CIFM) and Gabon (Bonus Harvest).
In Congo, at CIB-Olam, Bertrand had the opportunity to work on the development of a simulation tool for the economic and environmental impact of logging. Then, as a research officer at FRMi, Bertrand led the implementation of several projects related to sustainable management and reduced impact logging in Central Africa.
In Congo, he carried out EUTR-FLEGT diagnostics for forestry companies in the Mayombe forest massif, before working as a forest manager in Northern Congo. While following the evolution of these projects, he oversaw a larger technical assistance project for an emerging logging company in Gabon: implementation of Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) techniques, preparation for certification, support to management and traceability.
Since February 2020, Bertrand has worked as a project manager at BFConsult. He is involved in several coaching projects towards certification, conducted within several companies based in Congo (Mokabi) and Gabon (Bonus Harvest). Bertrand is also involved in setting up new BFConsult projects with the private and public sectors. With good analytical and evaluation skills, he supervises the work on applications or renewals of environmental permits in the Walloon Region for the agricultural sector.
Alexandre is a forestry engineer with a degree from ISTOM - Ecole supérieure d'agro-développement international (France), and specialized in land use planning. He has several years' experience in environmental and forestry expertise.
Alexandre was Technical Director of SEFCA, in the Central African Republic, responsible for the management of 720,000 hectares of natural forest under sustainable management. During these years, he put his skills in Reduced Impact Logging and management into practice, with particular emphasis on staff training and the planning and monitoring of logging sites. He was then tasked with setting up a control agency in the Nkok Special Economic Zone in Gabon, to guarantee the legality and traceability of log supplies for manufacturers. At the same time, Alexandre led several projects, including the development and maintenance of a traceability database and the prospecting of areas suitable for forest plantations in Gabon.
Alexandre holds the position of Project Manager at BFConsult. He is responsible for setting up, monitoring, and implementing projects with the private and public sectors. In particular, he is involved in assisting companies towards forest certification and the development of digital and GIS tools.
An environmental science and technology engineer specializing in forest and natural environment management, Jérémie is a graduate of the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech faculty at the University of Liège, with over 10 years' experience. He has worked in Belgium and France for public administrations, a research center, non-profit organizations and in the private sector. He has extensive knowledge of the players involved in the agriculture, forestry and environment sectors, as well as of the implementation of practices aimed at improving the quality of our forestry and agricultural environment, fostering local development and combating the effects of climate change.
After working on identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats surrounding the oak industry, Jérémie joined the Centre de Recherches Agronomiques de Wallonie (CRA-W). During this period, he contributed to the creation of DECiDE, a decision-making tool for carrying out energy and greenhouse gas diagnostics on farms. He then went on to work for the Office National des Forêts in the Ardennes department, managing a 20,000-hectare territorial unit. Jérémie has solid experience in forest management, implementing forest renewal projects and taking account of wildlife and hunting.
Jérémie was also hired by the Arlon and Mons Directorates of the Department of Nature and Forests of the Walloon Public Service to help revise the guidelines for drafting Forest Management Plans in order to adapt them to the objectives of sustainable development and the risks associated with global change, in the context of three major crises: PEFC non-compliance, the African swine fever epidemic and the bark beetle crisis.
Jérémie joined BFConsult at the end of 2022 as Project Manager. He is responsible for the management of private forest estates, for which he contributes his technical skills and operational know-how. He is also involved in setting up integrated QSE management systems or, for companies wishing to go further than their legal obligations, integrating sustainable development objectives by developing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) in close collaboration with their stakeholders.
A bioengineer specialising in the management of forests and natural areas, Claire Masson is a graduate of Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech de l'Université de Liège faculty. Her academic background and passion for tropical forests have given her a solid grounding in forest ecology and environmental mapping.
Since joining the BFConsult team, Claire has been fully committed to promoting sustainable management of forest resources.
Arnaud Dekens holds a bachelor's degree in economics with a minor in economics and management from Solvay and a master's degree in environmental science and management from the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
This dual approach allows him to benefit from a seasoned understanding of economic and environmental issues, allowing him to discern financial issues while taking into account an ecological and sustainable perspective.
Arnaud puts his management skills to the benefit of an optimal organization of teams and resources and for the sustainable management of natural resources.
François Scaillet is a Bio-engineer in Environmental Sciences and Technology from Gembloux Agro-Biotech University.
After completing his studies, François worked as a project engineer in a soil design office. This work enabled him to become a versatile, hands-on engineer. It also gave him solid project management skills.
François joined BFconsult to promote sustainable management of forest resources.
Marie Philippe holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a specialisation in sustainable development from UCLouvain and a Master's degree in Environmental Management & Conservation from the University of Stirling (Scotland). She has benefited from an interdisciplinary approach to the environment, integrating its scientific, political, legal, economic and social dimensions.
Her experience as a Research Assistant (Gabon) and Forest Programme Officer (French Guiana), as well as her involvement in a programme to combat wildlife trafficking, have led her to manage and coordinate a range of environmental projects.
By joining BFConsult, Marie is contributing to the development of sustainable strategies for managing forest resources, drawing on her knowledge of conservation and her management skills.
Yves is a graduate of the ESA Saint-Luc Liège (Belgium). Yves has many skills in visual communication, both technical and scientific.
Within BFConsult, Yves is involved in all aspects of vulgarisation of BFConsult's fields of activity, whether it be the production of illustrations or films through "Motion Design". Yves is also in charge of the "Community Management" of the consulting firm and the production of e-learning training modules.
Denis Herman, Bioengineer in Nature, Water and Forests, is a graduate of the the Faculté Universitaire des Sciences agronomiques de Gembloux in Belgium. He has more than 10 years of experience in forestry, environmental and agricultural management.
Coming from the agricultural sector, Denis is above all a field man. For four years he worked as an agronomist in two agricultural and forestry farms of the SPF justice (Saint-Hubert in the province of Luxembourg and Marneffe in the province of Liège). During this period, he was involved in numerous projects aimed at improving the environmental management of activities. Member of the National Federation of Forest Experts of Belgium (FNEF) and holding the certificate in legal expertise (Université Catholique de Louvain) since 2015, Denis has a solid experience in forest management, including management advice, management plan, certification, tree appraisal, financial and damage assessment, marking and sale of wood, mapping, judicial expertise, expertise in game damage, implementation of management and logging operations, as well as in silvicultural works (plantations, maintenance, formation pruning, high pruning, tree felling and dismantling). Since 2016, he has been teaching forestry at the Institut Saint-Joseph de Carlsbourg. Finally, Denis is also a Christmas tree producer and a member of the Union Ardennaise des Pépiniéristes (UAP).
Since July 2020, Denis Herman brings his knowledge and expertise to BFConsult in the execution of its activities, mainly in Belgium and Europe. He is particularly involved in environmental permits for the agricultural sector in Wallonia and in forestry management for private individuals or public markets. With good teaching skills, he also supports the BFConsult team in training projects. Finally, Denis collaborates with BFConsult in the production and sale of Christmas trees.
Félix KODJIA KOUADIO
West Africa Representative
Dr Félix Kodjia holds a PhD in Agronomy for Well-Being (Glory International University, USA) and a degree in Agroeconomics from the École Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie de Côte d'Ivoire.
From 2010 to 2019, Félix worked on the local creation of the Dutch NGOs Solidaridad and UTZ Certified. As Senior Programme Manager and then National Director, Félix contributed to the roll-out of their sustainability programmes in Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa. He also helped build the skills of producers and exporters in UTZ (Rainforest Alliance) certification.
Félix then held the position of Country Manager for Côte d'Ivoire at Hershey Company, and helped design and implement its sustainability programme (Cacao For Good) in partnership with companies such as Cargill, Barry Callebaut, OLAM, ECOM, etc., targeting more than 60,000 cocoa producers.
From 2021 to 2023, he was Regional Director for West Africa for the Cocoa Coffee Programme and then Regional Director of Sustainability for West Africa for the NGO Rikolto.
He was responsible for the successful implementation of the Rikolto Cocoa Programme in West Africa, and then for mobilising funding. He also worked on providing reports on climate change news in Africa and exploiting African and global climate change financing platforms to mobilise funds under the green finance framework.
With 20 years' experience in sustainable agriculture, producers' livelihoods, ecosystem protection and supporting the implementation of certification standards, Félix has joined BFConsult as West Africa Representative.