Official notice of TFFPN Annual General Meeting – 15 September 2023

In accordance with section 13.4 of the TFFPN Constitution, the Board wishes to notify members that the Annual General Meeting for the TFFPN will be held on Friday 15th September at the Tailrace Centre (1 Waterfront Dve, Riverside) Launceston, commencing at 6:00pm – immediately prior to the Tasmanian Timber Awards Gala Dinner.

View the 2023 Annual General Meeting Agenda HERE.

View the 2022/23 Annual Report HERE.

View the 2022 Annual General Meeting Minutes HERE.

TFFPN Board Election

In accordance with section 13.4 of the Constitution, we have called for nominations to serve as a Director on the TFFPN Board. Four Director vacancies currently exist on the Board.

With reference to section 13.3(ii) the term of Directors Tim Bates, Bryan Hayes, Andrew Morgan and Steve Whiteley will expire at this AGM.

Joel Allison

As Finance Manager at Forico and a born and bred Tasmanian, I am keen to further my contribution to the forestry sector by nominating for the role of Director on the TFFPN Board. I do so in the strong belief of forestry’s place as a pivotal industry both in the state’s economy and its identity.

I bring a background in finance and accounting at a management level, with my qualifications including:

• Bachelor of Business (BBus) (majoring in Accounting & Human Resource Management); and
• Chartered Accountant (CA ANZ) qualification

Throughout my career I have had the benefit of working in a small range of key industries, including aged care and artisanal food consumer products, not to mention exposure to many others through public practice. This range of experience, as well as my time in forestry, will be beneficial in considering the individual structures and needs represented by the TFFPN’s membership.

I also have previous experience engaging stakeholders within membership associations from my committee roles with the Northern Young Professionals Network, as Treasurer for two years and President for one. During my term as President, membership nearly doubled and event attendance rose 52% over the previous year. I attribute this growth to embracing the needs and aspirations of our membership and those of like-minded organisations we worked alongside, such as UTAS and CA ANZ.

Since joining Forico, I’ve been most impressed with the level of innovation, technological development and collaboration across the forestry industry. Additionally, it’s clear to me the contribution forestry brings to the sustainable nature of Tasmania’s economy and environment is second to none. I’m looking forward to bringing my perspective to the TFFPN’s Board and helping to promote and develop one of the most important industries of the future.

Chris Brookwell

I am the GM Corporate Services at Sustainable Timber Tasmania and have been in that role for over 8 years now.  I am a trained firefighter and enjoy being part of the STT fire crew.  Prior to STT, I was the CFO at Tasracing for 3.5 years.

My experience includes strategy formulation and implementation, in particular financial sustainability, people & culture and technology/cyber.  I enjoy developing and supporting teams to implement such strategies through times of change.

I started my career as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young, now EY, and spent 16 years with them in England and Australia.  I focused on the private equity sector, providing transaction support and audit services.

I am a director of Blueline Laundry, Football Federation Tasmania and Volunteering Tasmania and have roles on various committees including finance and governance.

I am a lifelong learner and enjoy professional development.  I have recently completed the Oxford Executive Strategy Programme.  I have a Graduate Diploma in Applied Corporate Governance from the Governance Institute of Australia which means I am a qualified company secretary.  I am also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

I am a qualified football (soccer) coach and coach the Kingborough Lions’ under 14 team.

I enjoy travelling with my wife and three children in our caravan around Tas.

Brodie Frost

I have worked in the Tasmanian forest industry since joining Forestry Tasmania as a 17-year-old trainee Forester 22 years ago. In that time, I have connected with many people across industry, building strong and lasting relationships through various working groups and forest management roles in planning, establishment, and production with time across several organisations.

In my current role, I am the Fire Management Coordinator – North at Sustainable Timber Tasmania and chair of the TFFPN Workforce Development and Diversity Project Reference Group. I have also previously served as a director of the TFFPN.

The TFFPN’s mission is to provide a platform for greater connection, cohesion, and collaboration. I believe at the core of this is the people in the industry at all levels and all roles and the relationships between those people. I would welcome the opportunity to represent our industry to continue working to achieve this mission.

Bonnie Galbraith

Born and educated in Tasmania, I’ve been fortunate to have a range of life experience over my career. Formally educated at the University of Tasmania, I hold science qualifications in plant science and marine and Antarctic science. I have been fortunate to leverage my education in a range of private sector roles spanning the forest industry, environmental consulting, renewable energy and served in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) as a Maritime Warfare Officer.

I’ve seen the positive benefits that come from people of all different backgrounds collaborating towards a common goal through my service in the RAN and in private industry. At this challenging time of climate crisis, working together to champion the sustainable solutions timber can provide is vital. Tasmania has a real opportunity to continue to innovate and pivot to be at the forefront of shifting markets in the transition to a sustainable economy. If appointed I intend to highlight the Network’s role in promoting collaboration and strengthen ties between all aspects of the supply chain, including research, growing and processing forest products through to the use of timber products in construction projects and other novel future industries such as biofuels and carbon capture. By collaborating and innovating across the entire supply chain we can create a more secure future for all of us.

Michael Lee

I would like to put forward my nomination for one of the advertised board positions with the TFFPN, I fully support and applaud the direction that the Network has forged and would like to be involved and support these efforts into the future, I have full support from my company in this endeavour.

My current role as General Manager of CUSP encompasses working with our team to drive solutions focusing on mass timber and other bespoke products in the built environment which puts me in a unique position between the plantation resource and the market, as well as working with builders, designers and architects to utilise timber correctly.

I have various certificates in business, training, sawmill processing and management and have accumulated over 30 years of experience in the timber industry, predominantly in senior testing, technical and management positions including systems, project and production positions.

As a Senior Technical Officer for the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW) I played a technical and research role in the daily activities for the Tasmanian Timber Promotion Board and provide a link to the timber industry, general public, designers and architects to utilise wood correctly in the built environment.

Before the above I held management positions in the timber sector as well as senior testing, technical and project management positions. I have also coordinated training both in industry and academia, project management, industry processing and production to address industry problems. In addition to my technical role, I was actively involved in scholarly research.

David Milne

Dave brings extensive experience in the primary industries sector as well as expertise in management/leadership and stakeholder relationship. He has 25 years of management experience, dating back to French’s Sawmill at Scottsdale, before creating his own business Cutting Wear Solutions (CWS) 19 years ago.

In addition to managing CWS, Dave is also a Senior Management Consultant for T & F Industrial Saw Services where he provides expertise in staff management, technical processes and overall culture and performance.

Dave is known among many in the industry for the important work he does as Primary Industry Outreach Manager with Rural Alive and Well, including work in the forest industry’s Cutting Through program.

Dave has also held senior leadership roles for over 5 years at South Launceston Junior Football Club, including managing over 20 coaches and support staff each year.

Andrew Morgan

Andrew is an innovative and experienced entrepreneurial business leader, networker and strategic thinker with 20 years of experience in managing and growing forestry and natural resource businesses in Australia. He is an active and respected member of the local business community with excellent communication and networking skills operating across business, government and NGO platforms.

Andrew is currently Managing Director of SFM Agibusiness Pty Ltd, one of the leading independent forest managers operating in Australia and was also a founding Director of the TFFPN and has been on the Board since its inception.

Louise Wallis

Hello, I am nominating for the TFFPN Board as I have found that the Network has allowed me to meet and learn from many in the forest and timber industry and I would like more people in Tasmania to have these experiences through different events. I have recently become involved in timber product development and research (4 years) at the University of Tasmania through the Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood (CSAW). I work with a team of experienced and enthusiastic researchers with backgrounds in engineering, architecture and design and wood science in Launceston. Our work sees us collaborating with wood processors and forest managers as we contribute to the development and use of planation E.nitens by characterising their properties and developing products and engineered prototypes. It is also an important role to build capacity within the local industry as we provide opportunities for both local, national and international persons to develop their research and development careers in Tasmania.

I have lived and worked in Launceston for the past 23 years at the University of Tasmania in the School of Architecture and Design as an educator and researcher. I came to Tasmania, as it was one of two schools that offered students the ability to learn through making projects in the workshop and for the community. It took the abstract into the real, and it often involved designing and making with timber.

I am currently the Deputy Director of CSAW, an active member of the Australian Timber Educator Network and looking forward to working with the new Australian Forest and Wood Innovation Centre in Launceston. I think for the industry to be sustainable requires many opportunities to meet and talk to better understand the large community involved in the process and supply chains.

Andrew Wye

Andrew (he/him) is passionate, persistent and sometimes ‘annoying’ but it’s always about people and forests.

He would like the Network to have a wider range of representatives but if you are not able to participate by representation, he will always be open to listen and learn.

Good luck to all candidates who are making a choice to contribute.

CAST YOUR VOTE HERE