About us
Brinkman was born in the backcountry of British Columbia, Canada, sprouting from a deep commitment to healing the planet and a practical, down-to-earth approach to getting the job done. We're here to cultivate a future where people and nature thrive together.
Our leadership


Alison Dempsey is a lawyer, advisor, and board director with over 30 years of experience across private practice, international advisory, nonprofit, regulatory, and consulting roles. She works closely with senior leaders and boards to strengthen governance and risk management while championing accountability, stewardship, and sustainable outcomes. Passionate about ethics in business, Alison authored Evolutions in Corporate Governance – Towards an Ethical Framework for Business Conduct (2013).


Betsy Barcus leads Brinkman’s Costa Rica team as General Director of BARCA, guiding foresters and field staff in advancing sustainable reforestation and agroforestry projects through the company’s Palmar Sur nursery and regional operations. She brings decades of leadership experience in human resources, quality management, and education, building on her early service with the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, where she supported agricultural cooperatives and public housing programs. A graduate of Clemson University in Business Management, Betsy has made Costa Rica her home since 1988, where she and her husband have raised their two daughters.


Brahm Candy leads Business Development and Marketing at Brinkman, helping to grow partnerships and expand the company’s impact in sustainable reforestation, restoration, and land management. He brings a background in strategy, entrepreneurship, and marketing, with experience spanning diverse sectors. Brahm is an MBA candidate at the University of Victoria and has built his career at the intersection of sustainability and innovation. Outside of work, he enjoys sailing and spending time in nature with his family.


Constance Fenyo has been a Brinkman board member since 2018, offering guidance on governance, strategy, and long-term sustainable growth. She is President & CEO of Weber-Fenyo Holdings Inc. and previously led Dye & Durham Corporation through its transformation into a national leader in legal technology. Constance is also committed to mentorship and community service, sharing her experience with aspiring leaders and supporting charitable initiatives, while enjoying running, trekking, and time with her family.


Dawn is the General Manager of Brinkman, where she leads collaborative growth across teams and guides governance and communications. She began her career as a tree planter in 2000 and has since focused her work on reforestation and community-based stewardship. Over the years, she has managed large-scale projects, Indigenous-led stewardship programs, and served internationally as a logistician with Médecins Sans Frontières. Dawn holds a BSc (Honours) in Global Resource Systems from the University of British Columbia. She finds balance through meditation and loves exploring the wilderness with her family and giant Irish Wolfhound mix.


With over 30 years of experience in reforestation, agroforestry, and agribusiness, Diego has led large-scale investment projects across Central America and Canada, managing operations with more than 300 collaborators. As President of Panama’s National Forestry Industry Association (ANARAP) and a Board Member of Fundación Natura, he champions sustainable land use, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Based in Panama City, he enjoys traveling with his family, hiking the country’s natural landscapes, and exploring local food, art, and history.


Dirk Brinkman founded the Brinkman Group in 1970 and continues to guide its work as Founder and Advisor. Driven by a vision of restoring lands and waters to their natural resilience and abundance, he led the company in planting more than 1.9 billion trees and advancing large-scale ecological restoration across Canada and beyond. His pioneering approach to sustainability and collaboration, including innovative partnerships with First Nations, has left a lasting legacy. Today, his life’s work continues to shape Brinkman’s mission and inspire future generations of environmental stewardship.


Erik Brinkman is CEO of Brinkman, where he leads sustainability-driven initiatives, continuing the company's legacy of environmental impact. A former treeplanter who has personally planted over 1.5 million trees, Erik has also co-founded and chairs a private refugee sponsorship group in Canada. He holds a BFA with Honours from Simon Fraser University and an Executive MBA from SFU Beedie, where he was Valedictorian. Erik enjoys woodworking, stained glass, and hunting… for beach glass, with his young daughters.


Since joining Brinkman Reforestation Ltd. in 1988, Judi has taken on both field and management roles across the company’s operations nationwide. Judi has a deep appreciation for the forests and landscapes in which she’s worked, but even more so for the people who make the industry exceptional. Inspired by the resilience and motivation that tree planting fosters, Judi considers herself fortunate to work alongside such dedicated people. For her, the people make the work rewarding, and Judi is grateful for the opportunity this meaningful work has brought to her life.


Matt Robertson began planting trees with Brinkman in 1993 and has since grown through roles as Crew Lead and Project Manager to his current position as Operations and Business Development Manager. Along the way, he’s drawn on early experiences in commercial fishing, timber cruising, and block layout on BC’s rugged west coast, as well as studies in geography at the University of Victoria. Now based on southern Vancouver Island, Matt and his partner have transformed their property into a thriving small farm, balancing work, family, and a love of the outdoors.


Dr. Peter Klein is a Professor emeritus of Finance at SFU’s Beedie School of Business and serves as an external director with Brinkman, offering independent advice and ensuring corporate governance. Before joining SFU, he spent a decade in capital markets roles with CIBC/Wood Gundy across Toronto, Tokyo, and London, and he was Managing Partner and CIO of BullWealth from 2014-2022. Peter holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Toronto, along with multiple professional designations including CPA, CBV, and CFA. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, hiking, canoeing, and surfing with family and friends.


Ricardo began working with Brinkman Costa Rica in 1995, helping identify farms for reforestation projects in the country’s Central Pacific region, and has since played a key role in establishing and managing BARCA’s reforestation and agroforestry initiatives across Central America. He previously worked in the private forestry sector and with both the Forestry School of the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR) and the research center CATIE. Holding a degree in Forestry from ITCR and a master’s in Agroforestry from CATIE, he brings deep technical expertise to sustainable land-use projects. Based in Costa Rica, Ricardo enjoys hiking in the country’s forests and mountains and contributes actively to the advancement of national forestry policies.


Rick Colbourne serves on the Board of Directors of Brinkman Reforestation Ltd. and its subsidiary, Brinkman Living Infrastructure, where he contributes expertise in governance, ESG and Indigenous partnerships. He is an Associate Professor and former Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusive Communities at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, with more than 20 years’ experience in academia, consulting and executive education. Rick holds a PhD (Management) from the University of Cambridge, an MBA (Management of Technology) from Simon Fraser University and is a Fulbright Fellow. A cross-cultural explorer, he thrives on crossing boundaries - between community and university - boardroom and classroom - land and water.


Robert has spent 45 years in forestry — 35 of them with Brinkman, where he now serves as Chief Science Officer specializing in ecosystem, forest, and carbon modeling as well as Indigenous land management. A recognized innovator, he has helped develop pioneering forest carbon accounting methods and led offset projects that fund new approaches to ecosystem-based management across Canada and internationally. Based on Gabriola Island, Robert also draws on earlier careers in art and dance, reflecting a lifelong commitment to both science and creativity.


After 18 years of field work with Brinkman, Robin C. McCullough transitioned from Project Manager to Occupational Health and Safety Manager. She has served as Chair of the BC Safe Forestry Program’s Strategic Advisory Committee since 2017, administered through the Western Forestry Contractors’ Association. Robin holds a BA in Indigenous Studies and Comparative Development (Trent), a BFA in Media Arts (NSCAD), and an MA in Communication and Cultural Studies (York + Toronto Metropolitan University). Her MA research examined the translation work silvicultural Crew Leads perform between forestry prescriptions and the planters who carry them out. Professionally and personally, Robin focuses on justice and community safety through education, engagement, and transparent accountability. She is also the companion of three cats and parent to a delightful daughter.


Samantha Mussells is the Human Resource Manager at Brinkman Reforestation Ltd., where she is committed to making sure planters feel heard and taken care of. Sam first picked up a shovel while studying Art History at Queen’s University, eventually finishing her MA before realizing the bush was far more appealing than a museum. After years of managing planting camps in Northern Ontario, Sam moved into Regional Management and then into HR. Now based in Kingston, Ontario with her family, Sam spends less time in a tent and more time enjoying an urban life.


Timo Scheiber is CEO of Brinkman Reforestation, Brinkman Living Infrastructure, and current President of the Western Forestry Contractors Association. On a friend’s advice, he rode his motorcycle to plant trees near Revelstoke in 1991, expecting “a season or two.” Instead, Timo’s unconventional upbringing at a remote outdoor school turned out to be perfect preparation for the logistical challenges and people focus of reforestation, where he’s since enjoyed many different roles. Timo has happily engaged much of his family in the industry, and when not working, still rides motorcycles, travels, gardens, takes photos, and runs a mobile sawmill.

Our purpose & our mission
Our mission is to restore balance and add resilience to natural living systems in ways that empower communities and enhance economies. This is how we fulfill our purpose.
Our purpose and our mission permeate everything we do. Guided by our vision and our values, they provide the roadmap for both our long-term objectives and our daily operations.
Our vision
Our planet provides everything necessary for humans to lead rich, full lives. Our responsibility is to nurture and steward our environment so it continues to provide for ourselves, for nature, and for future generations.

Our values











