Gordon Nicholls

Gordon A. Nicholls was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1926, to Leonard and Wilhelmina Nicholls. While at a country primary school in Pukekawa, he received a boarding school scholarship to King’s College, Auckland, beginning in 1939. He entered Auckland University College at age 16 in 1943 and completed his BSc in 1945, MSc (Honours) in 1946, PhD in Organic Chemistry in 1948. He was subsequently awarded a DSc degree in 1985 on the basis of published research.

Dr. Nicholls held a US Public Health Service, National Cancer Institute post-doctoral fellowship at The University of Rochester in 1950-52. There he met his future wife Mary, and they married in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1952 before moving to London, UK where Gordon held a chemistry research position at the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill. He returned to New Zealand in 1955 to work at NZ Forest Products Ltd (NZFP), as Chief Research Chemist. Along the way, he was seconded to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Division of Forest Products in Melbourne, Australia for nine months. In 1960 Dr Nicholls was a visiting research worker at the University of California, Forest Products Laboratory in Richmond, and developed significant contacts with the US pulp and paper industry.

In 1966, Dr Nicholls joined the Institute of Paper Chemistry in Appleton, soon becoming Professor of Pulp and Paper Technology and Senior Research Associate. During 1966-76 he led significant research in oxidative pulping and bleaching, taking in account earlier research into dry process hardboard manufacture at NZFP. His course on Pulping and Bleaching Processes developed from a minor elective to the “must do” course at the Institute. 

During 1976, Dr Nicholls returned to Auckland, NZ and worked as a consultant for the next decade. He has been an enthusiastic hiker and fisherman as well as an inspiration to his grandchildren, encouraging them through travel to understand their international heritage. Gordon and Mary live in Auckland, New Zealand, and have three daughters, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Roberto Berardi

Roberto Berardi was born on June 23, 1947, in Brescia, Italy.

After earning a Master’s Degree Cum Laude in Electrotechnical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Roberto started his career in the Marketing Department of Scott Paper Company. His first position was Assistant Product Manager, during which he developed the launch of ‘Scottex Casa’, the first advertised paper towel in Italy.

 In 1977, he became the youngest Executive of Scott Paper Italy as Marketing Manager, head of all the tissue categories. He literally rebuilt the marketing department mostly with talented women. Successfully performing relevant roles among which include Logistic Director, Commercial Director, Consumer Division Director; lastly, Managing Director for critical markets like Iberia and Italy. 

Since Kimberly Clark-Scott merged, his continuous strive and focus led him to be appointed President for the European Family Care Sector. In four years, Kimberly Clark European business expanded with unprecedented growth market share, profits, reaching outstanding results, including the U.K. marketplace. 

In 2005, after 32 successful years in the industry, Roberto decided to retire becoming Vice-Chairman of the European Tissue Symposium and by teaching Marketing Principles as Affiliate Professor at the prestigious ESCP Europe Business School and at the SAA Management School. 

In 2007, he was then nominated Chairman of the European Tissue Symposium.

Hitherto the activities of the ETS were mostly dedicated to technical and regulatory issues; however, under his leadership, ETS expanded its focus on brand new initiatives aimed at promoting tissue categories for the overall benefit of the industry thus improving health and hygiene for European and Worldwide users. 

He significantly enhanced awareness of all hygiene benefits along with the sustainability of Tissue Products by founding the AFH Task Force, a Scientific Panel providing in-depth Studies and by his participation in International Scientific Conferences and Trade Fairs.  

From concept to completion, Roberto has shaped ETS website comprehensive content in six languages thus increasing access from 4000 to 400,000 visitors per year promoting within the Industry the definition of ‘Position Papers’ on environmental aspects.

Roberto and his lovely wife, Ersilia, have two daughters, Lucy and Nicoletta and five grandchildren. 

Donald Dick

Donald Dick was born in Edmonton, Alberta, CA on December 18, 1923. He received his B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Alberta, which led him to a career mostly in the pulp and paper industry for 65 years. 

His early career consisted of positions with H.A. Simons, where he supervised the structural department, followed by the engineering office at MacMillan Bloedel’s Harmac Pulp Mill in Nanaimo, BC and on to Northwestern Pulp & Power in Alberta where he was the Plant Engineer. 

After a few other positions with the Power Corporation of Canada and Stone & Webster Canada, he formed his own consulting firm in Toronto in 1969, along with son Bill, which subsequently became known as Dick Engineering Inc. While the business began to diversify, Don focused on the pulp and paper industry. During this period other engineering firms were consolidating, but Dick Engineering continued to stand on its own by “selecting projects with great care, interest and efficiency”. The company provided state-of-the-art designs to stay ahead of the industry trends.

While at Power Corporation, Don was responsible for the development of Kruger’s Turcot mill located in Montreal, one of the first containerboard mills based entirely on post-consumer recycled paper. Don went on to further this concept with similar mills for Reed Paper (now Cascades), Sonoco and Solvay Paperboard (now Westrock). 

After resisting offers from several larger firms, Don and Bill sold Dick Engineering in 2013. Don retired in 2015.

In March 1951, Don married Jennie, and they raised four children; son, Bill and three daughters, Muriel, Kristina and Rundi. 

Don’s professional affiliations include; Professional Engineers of British Columbia, CPPA and TAPPI. His work took him to various parts of the world, often accompanied by his wife. Don’s travels include: Mexico, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, the UK, Italy, Spain, India and China. In addition, Don worked on many projects in Canada and the US.