Hub welcomes new GM

The Chair of the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network, Steve Whiteley today announced that Tracey Taylor has been appointed to the role of General Manager Tasmania Forestry Hub, replacing Simon Talbot who has held the position since September 2021.

“Since the Hub was established in 2019, it has had a very successful track record of providing information back to the Commonwealth and State Governments, to assist in policy development to ensure growth pathways for the forest industry in Tasmania,” Mr Whiteley said.

“During this time, extensive assessment reports have been completed on the four priority areas identified by industry – and a roadmap developed based on these reports, which outlines the Hub’s implementation activities,” he said.

Tracey Taylor is familiar with the work of the Tasmania Forestry Hub through her work as the TFFPN’s Manager Workforce and Diversity role.

Ms Taylor said one of the key strategic priorities of the Hub is workforce, skills and training.

Tracey Taylor, new Tasmania Forestry Hub General Manager

“This new role is complementary to the Workforce Development and Diversity initiatives that we have been developing and implementing over the past 18 months,” Tracey said.

“The project’s current key focus, the Career Mapping Project in partnership with the Hub, will continue to be delivered seamlessly, meeting the needs of both projects and the industry,” she said.

“I’d like to that industry for its support and commitment to the work we have done to date, and look forward to your continued support for the implementation of the workforce initiatives now and into the future.”

Tracey has a background in agriculture with extensive experience in project and program management, industry liaison, stakeholder management and skills development.

“Tasmania has an exciting opportunity to grow its forests and forest products sector, and to realise significant benefits for the state and its regional communities,” she said.

“These benefits can include increased value-added output from additional domestic processing within the state, increased employment through an increased skilled workforce, and an expanding forest resource base that plays a critical role in Tasmania achieving its carbon neutral policy position by 2030.

“I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to engaging with the entire industry across the supply chain to inform, consult, and involve as many industry views as I can into the future work of the Hub.”

A federal initiative, the Tasmania Forestry Hub’s vision is to grow a sustainable, innovative forest industry that supports Tasmania’s community and economy into the future and is supported by the community by focusing on four strategic priorities: climate and carbon policy, workforce skills and training, resource and land access, and supply chain and infrastructure.