Derek Martel, Communications Director, Fur Institute of Canada

Derek Martel joined Truth About Fur as Social Media Manager in 2018. while continuing in a similar role at the Fur Institute of Canada (FIC), where he has been since 2015. He holds degrees in Graphic Design and Communication Studies, plus a minor in political science. Outside of work, he enjoys playing and watching hockey, computers in general, and video games. “I like to think of myself as a jack of all trades,” he says. When Derek joined the Fur Institute, he came from outside the industry, so everything was new for him. The main focus of his work has been on introducing new communications platforms and modernising the Fur Institute’s communications systems. For Derek, developing and introducing new tools is paramount to the Fur Institute’s continued success. He has led the development and design of the new www.fur.ca website, the new weekly newsletter system and managing social media accounts. The hope is to continue to improve these systems and the objective is to tell the FIC’s great story to as many people as possible. ”The Fur Institute of Canada is taken for granted by many people within and outside our industry,” he says. ”It is an organisation with the mandate to improve and develop new traps and systems to improve the welfare of animals while allowing hunters and trappers to continue their way of life.”