REPOSITIONING AUSTRALIAN FORESTRY

AN UPCOMING FORESTRY AUSTRALIA TALK TAKES A POSITIVE VIEW

There’s a very positive discussion to be had about where the Australian forestry and timber sector is now and where we could be in the near future. Accordingly, the Victorian Branch of Forestry Australia is sponsoring a presentation by Professor Mark Brown from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) in Melbourne on 5 June.

Titled ‘Optimism & Expansion: Forest Research Repositioning Australian Forestry’, the talk will provide an overview of research domains at UniSC. These include:

  • Tropical Forests and People
  • Nature-based Solutions
  • Forest Industries
  • FWI Centre for Sustainable Forestry and Wood Products
  • Timber Durability

Professor Brown will provide context on where the UniSC team sees the future of forest research and will describe collaborations with the sector and international partners that are shaping the future of forestry in the Australasian and Pacific region.

Brown grew up in a sawmilling family before securing a degree in forest engineering at the University of New Brunswick and become a researcher with the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, then going on to further study before taking up a position at UniSC in 2012.

Since then, he has had a storied career both in practical forest research and in building international networks within the forestry supply chains, including playing integral roles in the establishment of Australian Forest Operations Research Alliance (AFORA) and the Forest Industries Research Centre (FIRC) at UniSC. He is also leading the global development of the bioenergy industry as the newly appointed Chair of the International Energy Agency Bioenergy program.

Both Forestry Australia members and friends from the forest plantations and processing sectors are welcome to attend this social and networking event. Victorian Forestry Australia invites attendees to come along and be part of the dialogue about the future of the sector, discussing issues such as:

  • What are your priorities for research and development?
  • How can you contribute to moving from research to impact in the sector?

Registrations (inc. GST): are free for Forestry Australia members and $20 for non-members. The event will be held on Thursday 5 June from 5.30 – 8.30pm at The Last Jar, 616 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. Meals and drinks are at attendees’ own expense.

Registrations close Tuesday 3 June at 10.00am.