Mission

To foster increased collaboration between research providers, governments and industry to ensure that RD&E in the sector is undertaken in a strategic and coordinated manner, and is scientifically rigorous, cost effective and focussed on delivering the desired outcomes.

Vision

 A research, development and extension (RD&E) system that supports, and is supported by, an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable forest and wood products industry.

These guiding principles will allow the Forum to move forward with a clear plan of how best to advance the sector’s RD&E objectives.

To read the Forum’s draft Action Plan, which includes the mission and vision, in its entirety click here.

The role of Chairman involves presiding over the 12-member Forum, which consists of representatives from various industry organisations such as government departments, research bodies, and private sector parties. As Chair of the Forum, Mr Farmer will help guide the sector’s RD&E strategy closer to fruition.

Mr Farmer brings to the role a wealth of experience in the forest and wood products arena, having worked in the industry for over 30 years. He has held positions in various forest industry organisations, including 5 years as chief executive of Forestry SA. He took on the position of CEO of Forestry Plantations Queensland in 2010 – an organisation that manages around 204,000 ha of plantations, as well as large areas of adjoining native forests throughout Queensland.

We welcome Mr Farmer to the role of Forum Chair and look forward to a productive and rewarding period of collaboration and co-operation.

The strategy is the result of consultation between a variety of industry stakeholders including government departments, research organisations, and the private sector. Its goal is to move the sector’s research, development, and extension efforts forward with a common purpose.

Focusing on the sector’s forest-growing, wood-harvesting, and wood-processing roles, as well as the marketing of wood products in construction and other industries, the strategy calls for the formation of a Forum to lead the way on forest and wood products RD&E.

The Forum will operate at the national level and consist of 12 individuals drawn from the categories of: key funders, providers, and users of forest and wood products sector RD&E.

Click here to view or download the strategy document