MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 20 March 2023
Expanding Science Policy Activities at Forestry Australia
Forestry Australia has announced it has established a Forest Science Policy Program and is investing in a new approach to resourcing these activities in order to improve its advocacy and communication of evidence-based forest management.
Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin said that committing resources to a Forest Science Policy Program will assist Forestry Australia to promote and advocate in a timely-manner for evidence-based forest management; raise Forestry Australia’s profile and improve outcomes for, and understanding of, science-based forestry.
Ms Martin said the strategic investment in the program is a response to members’ desire to improve advocacy and communication to the public and policy makers on science-based forest management and complement the work being undertaken by the Advocacy Committee, the Board and National Office.
Under this program, the Board is engaging the services of Dr Tony Bartlett and Dr Michelle Freeman for one day a week each until December 2023 to undertake a range of forest science policy activities.
“We are delighted to have more resources to assist Forestry Australia improve its advocacy activities and it comes thanks to membership growth as well as a successful 2021 conference and 2022 symposium,” Ms Martin said.
In December 2023 the Board will review the investment in these roles against the needs of membership as the organisation grows.
Dr Tony Bartlett has worked in Australian and international forestry for 47 years and is currently the Managing Director of Bartlett Forestry Consulting Pty Ltd.
He has worked in various forestry roles for the Victorian, ACT and Commonwealth governments and on forestry development projects in Nepal and Vanuatu and has experience in native forest management, plantations, fire management, forest research, Landcare and forest policy.
Tony was involved in the development of Victoria’s RFAs in the 1990s and was a panel member on the Major Event Review of bushfire impacts on the Victorian RFAs in 2021.
From 2010 until 2018, he was the Forestry Research Program Manager at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Centre (ACIAR) managing 25 projects located in 14 developing countries.
He has a PhD from the Australian National University, an MSc from Oxford University and a B. ForSci from University of Melbourne. He was awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal in 2002 and an Australian Fire Service Medal in 2006.
He became a Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia in 2007 and was awarded the N.W. Jolly medal in 2019.
Dr Michelle Freeman is the current Forestry Australia President and is a passionate forester with a double degree in Forestry and Science (Ecology), and a PhD from the University of Melbourne.
Her PhD was in partnership with CSIRO Darwin looking at savanna fire and tree dynamics of northern Australia, as part of the Tiwi Carbon Study.
Michelle is a Registered Forestry Professional and has worked in forestry operations, planning and regulation. She is currently Principal Consultant and Director of Hollow-wood Enterprises.
Michelle was previously on the Board of the IFA from 2012 – 2014 and chaired the Future Foresters Initiative from 2015 – 2017.
From 2014 – 2017 Michelle was an Independent Council Member on the Federal Governments’ Forest Industry Advisory Council, a past Board member of FSC Australia/NZ, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
ENDS
Media contact:
Becher Townshend
Font PR
0418 370 661