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Women in forestry must be prepared to flex their courage muscle if they want to help shape forestry’s future, three of Australia’s most prominent rural and industry women told more than 100 Forestry Australia webinar attendees. Source: Timberbiz Their message comes as the sector faces growing public scrutiny in a range of issues, including its role in a low-carbon economy. That is according to former NFF president Fiona Simson, former Indi MP Cathy McGowan AO, and carpenter Radmila Desic AM, who shared their expert insights in a dynamic conversation moderated by association president Dr Michelle Freeman. “This session was a beacon for those who want to make a difference, but who may not yet see themselves as leaders. We heard that every leadership journey is different, but that success in leadership requires humility, investment in continuous formal learning and remaining true to yourself,” Ms Simson said. Ms Simson described building the courage muscle as a key discipline for leaders, with the current World Farmers’ Organisation Vice President telling the panel. “If you don’t practise being courageous, you can’t be courageous when you need to be,” Ms Simson said. “The brave leaders are the ones who can do the work.” Ms Simson said forestry needs the communication skills, networks, and empathy women bring to take its message forward. The sector must find champions who can carry the case for forestry to the right people at the right time with the right information. Turning to how culture shifts inside organisations, Ms McGowan argued the change comes from collective momentum and traced her 2013 election win in Indi as the catalyst that opened the path for other independent women into federal politics. “All these other women on the cross bench have become the change,” Ms McGowan said. Ms McGowan urged women to focus on leadership over busywork and highlighted the value of doing one thing right rather than spreading effort across a hundred fronts. Ms McGowan was project leader for the Women in Timber Project in the early 2000s, with last Tuesday’s panel marking her return to a forestry audience two decades on. Speaking from a trade background, Ms Desic brought construction industry experience, having built an apprenticeship career from 1992, when female carpenters in Brisbane were a rarity. The Member of the Order of Australia now leads engagement and retention strategy for women in male-dominated trades, drawing on her record as the first female Chapter President of the Australian Institute of Building in Queensland.

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