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Demand for mass timber, a sustainable construction alternative, has grown steadily over the past several years. However, a new trend is driving risks for the construction sector: mass timber being used for taller buildings, not just residential structures. Source: Insurance Business According to one expert, this shift is observed in Europe, Asia, and North America. Michael Bruch, global head of Risk Advisory Services at Allianz Commercial, noted that the increasing adoption of mass timber for higher-rise construction indicates a broader acceptance of the material beyond traditional low-rise buildings. “The emergence of mass timber as a sustainable construction alternative represents a significant opportunity for the building sector to reduce its carbon footprint while also satisfying a demand for a more cost-efficient material but as durable as steel and concrete,” said Bruch. “However, in any industry, deployment of new materials or processes can result in new risk scenarios, potential defects, or unexpected safety consequences, as well as bringing benefits, and mass timber is no different.” Bruch pointed to Allianz Commercial’s recent report on the risks posed by mass timber. According to the report, the construction sector is responsible for almost 40% of global CO2 emissions caused by concrete, steel, and fossil fuel-driven energy consumption. Shifting to mass timber, a more cost-efficient material as durable as concrete and steel, allows the construction industry to lower its tremendous carbon footprint. Mass timber emits significantly less CO2: around 50% less than concrete and more than 25% less than steel, Allianz Commercial said in its report. However, the potential risks associated with mass timber construction are significant, particularly regarding fire hazards and natural calamities. “The good news from our research is that you can manage these risks,” Bruch said. Fire is potentially the top risk of mass timber construction. Fire stands as the most expensive cause of all construction and engineering insurance losses, accounting for more than a quarter (27%) of the value of 22,000 claims analyzed over a five-year period, according to Allianz. To mitigate this risk, Bruch emphasized proactive measures such as designing for fire resistance, using flame-retardant materials, and implementing proper construction practices. He also noted that while natural hazards vary by region, the resilience of mass timber structures shouldn’t be underestimated. “Natural catastrophe risks like hurricanes and gale-force winds can potentially affect beams, columns and panels. But mass timber is really strong,” said Bruch. “Mass timber buildings weigh approximately only one-third of comparable concrete structures, and they have the highest strength-to-weight ratio, which enables mass timber to perform very well during seismic activity. “Natural hazards can differ from region to region, but those risks can be managed well for mass timber buildings.” Additionally, construction businesses face supply chain and labour exposures as mass timber demand grows. Mass timber must be obtained in sustainable ways, necessitating specialized production facilities. “This means thorough logistical planning and management of building materials are essential to avoid costly project delays,” said Bruch. “On top of that, construction firms may face challenges finding experienced workers for mass timber construction projects. But overall, mass timber buildings can be constructed faster than traditional buildings, so that’s a big pro that we’re seeing.” The global mass timber market is still in its nascency, but it has tremendous growth potential, according to Allianz Commercial. Despite the risks involved, Bruch is optimistic about the potential of mass timber to meet sustainability goals and lower emissions. At the same, effective risk management practices and industry collaboration are needed to ensure the widespread adoption of sustainable construction materials and technologies. Brokers and insurers can help construction clients transition to sustainable materials and technologies by providing risk management solutions and investment incentives. Bruch stressed that each mass timber building is unique and presents specific risks that must be assessed and managed throughout its lifecycle. “Given this market’s expected future growth, companies should do all they can to develop a greater understanding of their exposures, including fire, water damage, repetitive loss scenarios and even termite infestation, and ensure they have robust loss prevention measures to combat these,” said Bruch.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Assurance Services International (ASI) announce the launch of a new transaction verification (TV) loop on wood panels made out of birch in the larger Eurasian region. The objective of this TV loop is to identify and take action against instances of false claims or other violations of FSC requirements. Source: Timberbiz The scope of this Eurasia birch wood panels TV loop is: Geographic areas: China and central and eastern European countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine). Product type: Plywood Species: Birch (Betula) FSC-certified companies within the scope of this TV loop are required to submit their transaction data for 2023 that carry an FSC claim by 15 June 2024 to their certification bodies. The supply chains investigated in this TV loop include over 700 certificate holders. Until February 2022, a significant amount of FSC-certified birch was sourced from Russian forest management companies. With FSC’s withdrawal from Russia, chain of custody certificate holders in birch supply chains have had to find other sources of certified timber. With this TV loop, FSC and ASI expect to identify high-risk sources of certified birch for downstream chain of custody certificate holders. If any potential volume mismatches and false claims are identified, then those will be further investigated. The Eurasia birch wood panels TV loop and the birch plywood TV loop that was launched by ASI in 2023 will complement each other, even though this one has a much wider geographic scope. For this TV loop, FSC and ASI are exploring the possibility of combining transaction verification with two technology-based investigative tools: FSC Blockchain: This tool will enable FSC to track transactions by certificate holders, thereby identifying instances of potential volume mismatches and false claims. Wood identification (ID) technologies: This tool will enable FSC to determine species, and compare the isotope profiles of samples collected from certificate holders included within the scope of this TV loop against a reference sample library that is managed by World Forest ID. In 2022, FSC conducted pilot tests of the previous version of FSC’s blockchain tool in China and Ukraine. The learnings from the pilot tests have enabled FSC to develop a more robust tool that can be used for various purposes, such as strengthening the integrity of certified supply chains, and ensuring compliance with the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) requirements. In February 2024, beta trials of FSC Blockchain were started with participants who registered for the trial phase. FSC plans to launch the FSC Blockchain for all its certificate holders – as a voluntary tool – by mid-2024.  

New Zealand Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry formally launched Mouri Tupu – Planting for the Future, and he is calling on the community to pick up a spade and join in. Source: Timberbiz Mouri Tupu is a community campaign to plant 114,000 native trees and plants and inspire citizens to get out planting and help reach the target. It will deliver the mayor’s 2022 campaign pledge to plant one native tree or plant for every citizen of Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt. To date more than 40,000 natives have been planted across Lower Hutt since October 2022, by Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington and other partners, and community organisations. “Trees are our environment’s lungs, and by doing more planting we can mitigate our city emissions and enhance our places and spaces. This ambitious city goal can only be achieved by all of us working together. “By planting these trees and other plants, we will leave a greener legacy for our tamariki and mokopuna and will help teach the value of protecting and enhancing our environment,” he said at a community planting event at East Harbour Kindergarten. Mouri Tupu roughly translates to recognising that everything has the potential to grow and thrive, powered by the energy that flows through all things, and sustained by our interaction and care of it. “This is why we are committed to ensuring a community in which everyone thrives; and we can only thrive if we look after our environment,” said the mayor. Hutt City Council has provided more than 20,000 plants to community groups in this triennium and has committed to increasing its own planting on council land. A community planting event will be held in Korounui Stokes Valley at Delaney Park on Saturday 6 July. The council is encouraging the community to share their planting projects, which they can pin on an interactive map of the city. The campaign progress will be updated regularly on Council’s website and social media channels. “We have lots of great local groups who volunteer their time planting, and we are rolling up our sleeves to join them,” said Mayor Barry. “I would love to see the wider community join us in making Lower Hutt a greener city.” The campaign includes native trees, shrubs and grasses planted by Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Forest & Bird, and many community organisations.  

It sounds peaceful and calm, but the concept of “forest gardening” has sparked a new chapter in Victoria’s forest wars, pitting an Aboriginal corporation against a prominent ecologist and his publisher, Allen and Unwin. Source: The Sydney Morning Herald Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, which trades as DJAARA, in December concluded a 22-monthlicence with VicForests that permitted the removal of up to 600,000 cubic metres of timber damaged in the 2021storms from the Wombat State Forest near Daylesford. It was to be the first stage in a multi-generational “forest gardening” project, to restore First Nations sovereignty and oversight over Country. In his new book The Forest Wars, Australian National University forest ecology professor David Lindenmayer took aim at forest gardening, describing it as logging that “will damage, not heal, Country”, and “continue the forest destruction wrought by VicForests”. Lindenmayer argued that in “a highly cynical move”, VicForests – which will cease operations in June – had sought to develop partnerships with First Nations organisations to “continue industrial native forest logging” after Victoria ended commercial native logging in January. “[DJAARA’S] partnership with VicForests has resulted in what appears to simply be business-as-usual logging in the Wombat Forest,” he wrote. DJAARA maintains the timber removed under its licence with VicForests was storm damaged, and “nowhere near” 600,000 cubic metres of timber was removed under the arrangement. Acting chief executive Cassandra Lewis described Lindenmayer’s assessment as offensive. “I think it’s offensive to be told that the cultural application of land management, described as forest gardening, is a flawed argument, as if it were merely an idea to be discredited and not a deeply significant cultural understanding,” she said. “And it’s distressing to be told that these cultural land management practices are damaging Country when we know that not to be true.” DJAARA wrote to publisher Allen and Unwin asking for a recall of Lindenmayer’s latest book, which has sold out of its first print run and accused him of disrespecting and “speaking down” to traditional owners. In a statement, Lindenmayer’s publisher said: “Allen & Unwin can confirm DJAARA have contacted us regarding The Forest Wars, and while we respect their feedback the book will not be withdrawn from sale.” Lindenmayer, who in 2017 co-authored a paper with more than two dozen other scientists on the impacts of salvage logging on biodiversity, said: “So-called storm recovery never recovers anything – it degrades the forest.” According to a forest licence issued in March 2022 and seen by this masthead, material removed from Wombat State Forest under the partnership between DJAARA and VicForests was to be primarily “windthrown timber” that fell during wild storms in 2021. The licence also allowed for the removal of “incidentally generated timber resulting from hazard treatment or removal”. “The forest was left [after the 2021 storm] with as many, in some places, as 50% of trees on their sides, and it presented an extreme fire risk,” says DJAARA’s acting general manager, Jim Brooks. “One of the really crucial things about this is, it wasn’t just a green light to VicForests to go ahead and take out valuable timber … we actually had an agreement with VicForests about what timber would be taken, and it was timber that presented a risk.” DJAARA’s business case for forest gardening, released in October 2022, was written by forestry consultant Damien O’Reilly, who has worked extensively with the forestry industry and, more recently, consulted to government on forestry. According to the business case, DJAARA would undertake a range of land management practices including thinning (“restoring culturally recognisable structures to our forests”), revegetation, rehabilitation, regeneration and cultural burns, in partnerships with organisations and private landholders. Brooks said the comprehensive multi-generational forest gardening strategy – which entails rejuvenation, regeneration and restoring Country – had barely had a chance to begin. Almost exactly a year ago, the then-Andrews government announced it would end native forest logging in Victoria by January 1 this year. However, Lindenmayer and other forest conservationists maintain Victorian forestry is the industry that refuses to die. After DJAARA’s agreement with VicForests concluded on December 31, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action began its own timber removal operation. A government gazette in November, a month before the VicForests agreement with DJAARA expired, issued a public safety notice for tracts of the Wombat State Forest north of Trentham-Daylesford Road to allow for “timber debris extraction operations”. A Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action spokesman said the agency was conducting works “to remove storm debris in the Wombat Forest to mitigate bushfire risk”, and was ensuring “all operations comply with relevant legislation”. “There is no timber harvesting or salvage logging taking place for a commercial purpose in the Wombat State Forest,” he said. “The works underway are removing storm debris and rehabilitating the forest to reduce the risk of fire.” Photos taken in Wombat State Forest near Osborne Road within the past fortnight show log landing sites with freshly cut trees piled two metres high. Dead timber from the 2021 storms is dry and silver. By contrast, the logs pictured within the past fortnight are freshly cut, some with sap still visible on the saw marks. “In some cases,” the spokesman said, “timber not left for environmental and habitat purposes is used for highest and best uses, this includes as domestic firewood.” Brooks said the works currently underway were not a DJAARA operation. “We have no legal capacity to authorise, prevent or influence those works,” he said. “These works are unrelated to our Galk Galk Dhelkunya (Forest Gardening) strategy, principles and practice which are about recreating a healthy, bio-diverse forest ecosystem.”

The contract to deliver an aspirational vision to “recloak” Coronet Forest New Zealand with native planting has been awarded to Te Tapu o Tāne and e3Scientific Limited. Source: Timberbiz Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) General Manager Community Services Ken Bailey said the announcement followed the successful harvest of Coronet Forest. “The early harvest was carried out between January 2020 and May 2023, removing over 90,000 tonnes of timber from the site and with it, a major wilding source,” said Mr Bailey. “Getting rid of this wilding source is a huge win as we work to eliminate the spread of the pest species Douglas fir. And importantly it leaves a blank canvas for regeneration.” “The return of native species such as tawhai rauriki (mountain beech), kōwhai, kōhūhū (pittosporum) and kapuka (broadleaf) to their rightful place will help to restore the biodiversity values of the area, which is a key goal of our Climate and Biodiversity Plan,” he said. QLDC Mayor Glyn Lewers acknowledged the importance of partnering with Te Tapu o Tāne to regenerate this special area. “This partnership is bigger than a regeneration project. Ultimately this is about creating relationships and connections as we work together to restore and protect our local natural environment for generations to come,” said Mayor Lewers. “It provides a unique opportunity to be a leading example of how ecological restoration can be successfully achieved within the Otago region and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand,” he said. Te Tapu o Tāne Chief Executive Officer Jana Davis said this is a very special announcement for the organisation on behalf of Ngāi Tahu kī Murihiku and acknowledged Kāi Tahu ki Otago for all their support. “The Coronet Forest kaupapa is all about building on the partnership between QLDC, Mana Whenua, Te Tapu o Tāne and Citycare Property, as well as the kaimahi at e3Scientific. On behalf of all our partners it is a privilege to be delivering this kaupapa for our hometown and building the Whakatipu Basin towards a deafening dawn chorus of taonga manu (native birds) and providing access to the largest indigenous reforestation project in the history of the basin. He waka eke noa, we are all in this waka together,” he said. “The kaupapa will provide opportunities supporting regional development including local jobs and training.” “We plan to hold a few wānanga (workshops) over the next 12 months as we get the site ready to come alive with eco-sourced trees and plants and scale up the intensive pest control operation. The Queenstown community have spent the last few years watching the pine forest come down, it’s going to be great seeing the new direction for the maunga (mountain),” he said. e3Scientific Managing Director Glenn Davis is looking forward to working alongside Te Tapu o Tāne and QLDC to reinstate a beech forest to the slopes of the Coronet Range. “Coronet Forest stands on the shoulders of a significant network of ecological restoration work that has developed in the district over the last 20 years,” he said. “These projects have provided the ecological community with the skills, expertise and confidence to reinstate local biodiversity at a landscape scale.” “The role of e3Scientific is to bring together and impart the knowledge we have gained to maximise the performance of the plantings and ensure that the project leads the delivery of large-scale ecological restoration in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he said. The first year of work involves site preparation and planning. Native planting is expected to begin in March 2025 and take between five to seven years. There will be many opportunities for the community to be involved as the face of Coronet Forest is restored. QLDC and Te Tapu o Tāne look forward to sharing plans and celebrating milestones as they progress. To follow this project head to www.qldc.govt.nz/coronet-forest

Case IH has announced the winners of its 2024 Dealer of the Year Awards, with Larwoods Ag and Intersales claiming the top honours. Source: Timberbiz The Dealer of the Year results are based on a range of criteria, including finance and business management, performance in sales and marketing, and parts and servicing, precision technology and total market share. Intersales in NSW has claimed the award for Case IH Dealer of the Year (three branches or more). The company has branches in Temora, Griffith, Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga. Other finalists were O’Connors (NSW and Victoria) and Ramsey Brothers (South Australia). Intersales CEO Amanda Blachut said the award was a testament to the hard work of their whole team. “The dedication the team put towards training, team collaboration and knocking down barriers between departments is to be admired,” she said. “We were up against some fierce competition, so this win was unbelievably unexpected.” Larwoods Ag Services, based in Kadina, SA, has been awarded Case IH Dealer of the Year (one to two branches). They came out ahead of finalists Ronco Motors with branches in South Australia and Victoria, and Farmers Centre in Western Australia. Larwoods Ag director Mathew East said it was a fantastic effort by the whole team, but particularly dealer principal Scott Mercer. Mr East said the business had faced some challenges but with the help of CNH, they have been able to turn things around. Receiving the award was a prime example of the team’s willingness to take on board feedback and evolve their business to better serve their customers. The Parts and Service Dealer of the Year honour has gone to Kenway & Clark, with nine branches in NSW and Queensland. Larwoods Ag Services and Agricentre South in New Zealand were the other finalists. Cochranes of Canterbury in New Zealand has taken out the CNH Capital Dealer of the Year, from Farmers Centre and Larwoods Ag. Aaron Bett, CNH Business Director – Agriculture ANZ, congratulated all the award winners, acknowledging the level of excellence achieved by the dealerships and the dedication to their customers. “Intersales, Larwoods Ag Services, Kenway & Clark and Cochranes of Canterbury should all be very proud of what they have achieved in the past 12 months. Their teams consistently go that extra mile, placing a high priority on delivering the service, support and advice their customers rely on,” Mr Bett said. “The standard across our network is very high, so to be successful in our Dealer of the Year Awards is an outstanding achievement, and recognition of the work that’s gone in across all aspects of the winners’ operations.”

A report recently prepared by Synergies Economic Consulting on behalf of Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) has been released and provides a snapshot of the socio-economic contribution of Millicent mill to the Australian economy. Source: The Border Watch The report states the company contributes $520m to Australia’s GDP annually and is one of the state’s largest non-mining base manufacturers. A highlight of the report is its investment into the local community with an emphasis on jobs being kept local with 12% of full-time manufacturing roles in the Limestone Coast provided by the mill. The independent report, commissioned by KCA, highlights the annual contribution of the company’s Millicent mill to the regional Lime-stone Coast and South Australian state economies, generating $172 million and $216 million of value, respectively. Inclusivity was mentioned in the report and has seen applications from women in production roles at the mill rise from zero in 2019 to approximately 40 per cent of new hires year-on-year. Female representation at the Millicent mill has increased five-fold since 2019, from 12 to 60 employees, and the mill directly employs 462 people in full, part-time and casual roles. Retention rates are strong and over half of the mill’s employees have worked there for 15 years or more with second and third generation family members now employed. Machine operator Cameron Haggett has worked at Millicent Mill for more than 21 years following in the footsteps of his father, Peter, who worked at KCA for 33 years before retiring in 2011. “I can only ever remember my dad as a shift worker at Kimberly-Clark when growing up, so it’s fair to say the company and Millicent mill have been a big part of my life,” Mr Haggett said. “With new technology on-site and more diversity across the workforce, the mill has changed a great deal since I first started in 2002. “It’s continued to upskill its employees and be an attractive option for local people, including my daughter Madi, who’s recently started out as a casual worker. “Working at Kimberly-Clark has given me financial stability to support my family for over two decades, and I really enjoy the team atmosphere that the mill provides too.” The report stated over $750 million has been invested into the Millicent mill since it was first established in 1966.Sustainable practices has resulted in the reduction of 457 tonnes of plastic across the entire packaging portfolio in 2022, and 98 per cent of mill waste diverted away from landfill. A goal to reduce direct emissions by 50% by 2030, against a baseline of 2015, continues and the company is exploring green energy alternatives such as green hydrogen and renewable electricity. Managing director at Kimberly-Clark ANZ Belinda Driscoll said: “I’m incredibly proud to present this report, which showcases the solid and lasting impact Kimberly-Clark Australia, and its Millicent mill has at a regional, state and national level. “It demonstrates the business’ commitment to keeping manufacturing jobs and growing the sector. “As we look ahead, we’ll continue to do all we can to make further improvements that have a positive impact on the economy and local community we serve.”

Innovation is at the heart of any successful business. Radial Timber in Yarram, Victoria with a strategy already in place for its mainstream timber operation, has embarked on a new approach to using its wood waste that takes the company deeper into the heart of the sustainable, circular economy. Source: Philip Hopkins for Timberbiz Radial has installed a pilot plant that uses pyrolysis technology; organic material, in this case wood residues, is burnt at high temperatures without oxygen to produce biochar, a stable solid that is rich in carbon and can fertilise and endure in soil for thousands of years. “The plant can also produce heat and energy, and wood vinegar – a liquid, potentially usable in agriculture, also in cooking,” said Radial’s managing director, Chris McEvoy. The heat will play a crucial role in running the timber mill, with a potential heating source for the local community. The $1 million pilot continuous biochar maker is the result of three years’ research and development and is a joint venture between Radial; Earth Systems, which provides the technology; and Spiegel Bioenergy, a South Gippsland battery supplier owned by John and Linda Ballis. “We have a pure resource, most of the biochar plant around the world are working with waste, plastic waste, arboreous waste – green leaves, different species and densities; the product that comes out is not that uniform,” said Mr McEvoy. “Our timber is all dense class, one or two timbers, all exactly the same shape. First, it should go through well, and secondly, should be a really high-value, consistent product. We’ve got plenty of resource, plenty of forestry residue. The beauty of the continuous char maker is you can put through much larger volumes. Take the biochar and put it into degraded soil’s to improve it – I love this circular economy story.” Earth Systems, the technology provider based in Port Melbourne, was originally an environmental consulting firm founded in 1993. “For about a decade, we have been doing pyrolysis systems. We’re small but have offices all over the world for our consulting work, yet this side of the business in the last couple of years has started to take off. There is a lot more interest in biochar,” said Ricky Dent, Earth systems’ environment technology specialist who is from South Gippsland and is loving being ‘back home’ installing a plant in the region. The company already runs a plant at Lysterfield in the Dandenong Ranges. Mr Dent, running his hand through the feed stock – the mill’s sawdust residue – explained how the plant works. “The residue will feed out to the first stage conveyor and go up into our shuttle drawer system. The purpose of this system is to create an air-tight seal between the outside world and the pyrolysis happening inside,” he said. “Because pyrolysis is heat in the absence of air – it’s thermal degradation, so we must keep as much air out of the process as possible. The job of our furnace is to spread the feedstock as widely as possible to maximise surface area so we get the maximum reaction in the shortest amount of time. “The feedstock will be then conveyed along the length of the furnace, where it will convert from wood biomass to pure carbon, which is the biochar that comes out at the end. The gas travels in the opposite direction to the feedstock; in that way it is able to deposit its heat onto the incoming feedstock, making the whole system closed loop with very little emissions. Ricky said in the chamber, the aim was to get the biochar to about 500 deg Celsius, with the gases jumping right up to the potentially as high as 1300 deg C. Normally we try and keep the temperature lower, but we’re talking about generating electricity from that process, so if you want to generate electricity, the higher the temperature we get, that generally means the higher efficiency. Mr Dent said the mill itself needs heat and electricity. “That will be the next stage to this project, deeming what’s most economic, what works out best for everyone. We will either capture additional heat from here to assist in their process or offset their energy use at that end, or we will aim for as much electricity generation as we can, which will go into the battery storage on site and that can go out to feed the rest of the mill,” he said. At this stage, the operation is looking at about 75 kilowatts of electrical output mainly for internal use. For external use, a bigger scale of plant, or a multiple of these plants, would be required. “The big thing about thermal technology, it doesn’t scale in a linear fashion – it’s more exponential. Should anything go mildly wrong, the machine will shut itself down. We’ve now run long enough in Australia and we have a good relationship with the CFA; they even grant us permits to run on days of extreme fire danger. We’ve even got a permit to run on total fire ban, but we choose not to.” Mr McEvoy will assess how the biochar plant fits in with Radial’s current operation. Having lost access to VicForests’ native hardwood timber, Radial’s plan is to use its own hardwood plantations to make the business self-sufficient in the long term. In the interim, in the absence of larger logs, Radial will concentrate on its new peeling plant. A small log line is part of the peeler plant, which can peel a small log down into veneer sheets, which are dried, glued and pressed. This engineered timber can theoretically be used to make mass panels “We could not run the peeling plant we want to run because of the requirements to heat the logs before they are peeled. Once peeled, you must dry the veneers through this big dryer; doing that on gas and electricity, you would never afford it. “We can’t put a peeling plant in without a bio-plant. If […]

A former minister in the Hodgman and Gutwein governments, Sarah Courtney, has been named the independent chair of the Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA). Source: Timberbiz After a successful three-year tenure from Inaugural Chair Bryan Hayes, Ms Courtney says she is eager to guide the TFPA in coming years. Speaking following the announcement, outgoing acting-Chair Shawn Britton acknowledged the wealth of experience Ms Courtney brings to the role. “Sarah has considerable experience, including in the areas of governance, management, agriculture, aquaculture, finance, stakeholder management, public policy, and small business. She’s ideally placed to continue the great work of the TFPA,” Mr Britton said. “In an industry traditionally dominated by men, it’s pleasing we can now have a strong female voice representing our businesses. Having her lead the association shows the modern forestry industry is shedding off the reputation of its past.” Ms Courtney said she’s ready to represent the forest industry across all aspects of the Tasmanian business and political arenas. “The TPFA and the Tasmanian forestry industry are well respected on both sides of the chamber in Tasmanian politics,” Ms Courtney said. “I’m excited to be able to assist these great Tasmanian businesses continue to grow our economy and our communities. Tasmanian forestry employs over 5,500 people across the state, is a key driver in the Tasmanian economy, and integral in Tasmania meeting its bold climate change goals,” she said. Ms Courtney will begin her tenure as the TFPA chair immediately, representing and promoting all aspects of the forestry value chain.