Domtar’s Marie-Noëlle 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 people 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 Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp (NBSK) annually.
Most recently, Marie-Noëlle received 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 coaches staff to take a sense of ownership and pride in their work.
We recently caught up with Marie-Noëlle to discuss her career, her current role and her continuously evolving philosophy of leadership.
Embracing challenges and opportunities
After studying chemical engineering, Marie-Noëlle began her career at Resolute, a predecessor company of Domtar, in 2006. She worked as an environmental coordinator, specializing 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 dominoes,” she explains. “If one element goes down, the effects are felt throughout the rest of the mill. You have to put each piece back carefully in its place.”
While new challenges drive Marie-Noëlle to expand her knowledge, the diverse practical experience acquired throughout her career still informs her decision-making. For example, her background in water treatment uniquely positions her to understand the nuances of environmental regulations.
As a mill manager, Marie-Noëlle transcends her specialist origins, 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 around the mill, listening to employees and making sure everyone is ‘singing from the same songbook.’ This high level of coordination is necessary in a mill running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“Community means a lot to me.”
A native of the Gaspésie region, Marie-Noëlle Watts values strong, vibrant regions. It’s a commitment she brings to her tight-knit adoptive community of Lac-Saint-Jean.
She believes companies should play a visible role in their communities, whether through civic action, politics or philanthropy. Marie-Noëlle plays an active role on a local economic council, and previously she served in the Dolbeau-Mistassini Chamber of Commerce.
While the Saint-Félicien mill is among the region’s largest employers, those on the outside rarely get a glimpse of life within its walls. In-person touchpoints like open houses and student internship opportunities help the team feel connected to their community while allowing local people (including potential employees) to get a feel for the mill’s culture. “We have a lot of fun here,” says Marie-Noëlle. “But people don’t usually get to see us. So, we like to open our doors and show what it’s like.”
Community involvement also demystifies the forestry industry, particularly for girls and women who may not have otherwise considered careers in the traditionally male-dominated sector. “We offer well-paying jobs and a great quality of life,” explains Marie-Noëlle, who notes that when potential employees see women like Marie-Noëlle in leadership roles, it sends a strong message. “With representation, people can imagine what’s possible.”
Earlier this year, in an act of charity with distinctly local flavor, the mill provided pies made with blueberries from the mill’s fields to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society food bank. And in the fall, the team participated in Movember, a campaign to raise funds for men’s cancer research. The team chose the cause in light of the mill’s sizeable male population, and the initiative was received enthusiastically among mustache-growers and supporters alike. The well-being of her employees is very important to Marie-Noëlle, who says, “A happy team is a great asset.”
“I’m proud to contribute to a forestry sector that is more inclusive, equitable, and bold.”
Marie-Noëlle sees the forest products industry as ripe with potential, operating sustainably and transforming a renewable natural resource while offering a truly diverse variety of exciting career paths. Through her own hard work, willingness to embrace challenge and focus on human-centered leadership, she has earned the recognition of her industry peers and helped carve out new spheres of possibility for those starting their careers.
Congratulations, Marie-Noëlle Watts, on your most recent award.
