Domtar Employee Receives 2025 Women in Forestry Award According to an announcement on Fort Mill, South Caroli- na based Domtar’s website, Marie-Noëlle Watts, has been honored with the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC)’s 2025 Women in Forestry Award for her strong commitment to operations excellence and environmental stewardship. A proponent of intrapreneurship, she coach- es staff to take a sense of ownership and pride in their work.
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Marie-Noëlle Watts
Watts is a prime example of strong leadership through authenticity. As general manager of our Dolbeau paper mill since 2021, she oversaw an operation employing 150 peo- ple producing 140,000 metric tons of specialty paper per year. In December 2024, she brought that same hands-on leadership style to her new role as General Manager of our Saint-Félicien, Quebec, kraft pulp mill, which employs 250 people and produces 357,000 metric tons of North- ern Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp (NBSK) annually. After studying chemical engineering, Watts began her career at Resolute, a predecessor company of Domtar, in 2006. She worked as an environmental coordinator, spe- cializing in resolving issues with the Dolbeau Mill’s water treatment process. Curiosity led her to take on various other leadership roles in paper and later pulp production, notably helping to restart the Dolbeau Mill in 2012 after a three-year closure. The move from paper to pulp has been an interesting step in her career. Pulp and paper making are complex, continuous processes. “I compare them to a game of dom- inoes,” she explains. “If one element goes down, the ef- fects are felt throughout the rest of the mill. You have to put each piece back carefully in its place.” While new challenges drive Watts to expand her knowl- edge, her diverse practical experience still informs her decision-making. For example, her background in water treatment uniquely positions her to understand the nuanc- es of environmental regulations. As a mill manager, Watts transcends her specialist or- igins, taking a more general view of production as she oversees every aspect, from mechanics to financial and human resources management. She can often be seen
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