WEBINAR |Opportunities, Innovation & Forest Products
To celebrate International Day of Forests on Tuesday 21 March, Professor Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra and Professor Mark Brown will discuss opportunities and challenges for wood products, the emerging trends and the role that forests will play in the future. This webinar is free to members.
Date: Tuesday 21 March
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (AEDT)
RFP CPD points: 1.0
On the verge of a once in a generation opportunity? Building capacity and capability in Australian forestry and wood products R,D&E
Professor Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra
Australia ranks the lowest of all OECD countries for collaboration between production/processing firms and higher education research institutions. While we can all point to excellent examples of research, development and extension (R,D&E) collaborations between research institutions and the forestry and wood products industry, research capacity in this sector has significantly declined over the past 20 years through decreased investment from government, research institutions and industry.
Innovation is not at the level required to resolve the national and global issues of our time, including mitigating climate change and providing the wood products to support a growing population and economy. However, the time is ripe to turn this around and see forestry and wood products R,D&E take a front seat in finding solutions to the challenges we face. Through once in a generation federal investment and supporting policy frameworks, the research and forestry and wood products sector can take strides forward in building national capacity and capability for innovation, achieved through increased collaborations (including industry/industry and university/university collaborations) and training the next generation of excellent forestry and wood products researchers. Professor Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra will provide her perspective on the challenges, opportunities and collective responsibilities this once in a generation opportunity holds.
Forestry & forest products in a socially & environmentally conscience carbon constrained world
Professor Mark Brown
Opportunities for wood and wood products to make a real contribution to sustainable growth and development in our society have never been greater. Its traditional use as a building material is increasing demand with the added benefits it offers in our increasing carbon constrained world and there is a myriad emerging technology that offer wood and wood fibre to be a sustainable a renewable option to products, we traditionally source from minerals and fossil fuels.
At the same time social expectations around sustainable and ecofriendly land management have never been higher. Professor Brown will provide his perspective in an overview of how forestry and forest management are contributing to innovative new uses of wood, wood fibre and timber products and emerging trends in the role forests will potentially play into the future.
Registration (Inc. GST):
Forestry Australia Member: $0 | Non-members: $50
Registrations close: Monday 20 March at 10:00am (AEDT)
Professor Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra
Julianne is a Professor of Forest Sciences at the University of Tasmania and is currently Interim Director of the National Institute for Forest Products Innovation, to drive the establishment of the new national institute. Julianne is also a Director on the Board of the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network and when not on work time enjoys rolling around on the floor with her one-year-old golden retriever, Airlie, and partaking in a g&t while cooking weekend dinners for family and friends at home.
Professor Mark Brown
Mark has 25 years’ experience in forestry and biomass supply applied research and innovation. His work focusses on research implementation across forest product, bioproduct and bioenergy supply chains, integrating and adapting traditional product supply with emerging bioenergy, bioproducts and circular economy opportunities. Mark is an internationally recognised RD&I leader in partnership establishment and development with diverse industry, government, and academic partners.
With thanks to our 2023 Webinar Program Sponsors:
