FWPA Industry Advisory
Group Meeting
Friday 16th June 2017
RACV Club, Melbourne
Welcome and overview
P1 - Promoting the advantages of wood products
P2 - Aligning products to market needs
P3 - Assisting in value chain optimisation
P4 - Expanding resources and reducing risk
P5 - Impacting decision making and capacity
Wrap-up
2
Agenda
• To update on current FWPA activities
• Explain the new engagement structure of Industry Advisory Groups (IAG) and Interest Groups (IG)
• To identify future direction, gaps and opportunities in the company’s work program
3
Today’s purpose
Operating environment
• Independent performance review
• Renewal of statutory funding agreement
• Director selection process
• Voluntary matching
• New National research centres
• C’wealth R&D for Profit program
Financial position
Strategic framework
Desired Outcomes
Increased
Demand
Increased
Community
Acceptance
Increased
Productivity
Increased
Sustainability
Credentials
Increased
Capability
Industry vision
The forest and wood products industry
will grow as a result of increased
demand for its market-oriented,
sustainable and competitive products
and services.
Mission
We collaborate with industry stakeholders and
Government to determine strategy and deliver programs
designed to grow the market for forest and wood
products, increase productivity (and implied profitability)
across the value chain and ensure positive environmental
and social outcomes.
Linking programs to outcomes
Increased
Demand
Increased
Community
Acceptance
Increased
productivity
Increased
Sustainability
Credentials
Increased
capability
P1 - Promoting the advantages of
wood products
P2 - Aligning products to market
needs
P3 - Assisting value chain
optimisation
P4 - Increasing resource availability
and reducing risk
P5 - Impacting decision making and
industry capability
Linking competencies to programs
Marketing and
communications
Research, development
and extension
Building codes and
standards
Statistics and economics
Governance and
accountability
Internal competencies
Programs
P1 - Promoting the advantages of wood products
P2 - Aligning products to market needs
P3 - Assisting value chain optimisation
P4 - Increasing resource availability and reducing risk
P5 - Impacting decision making and industry capability
Programs are delivered through cross-disciplinary approach
Program delivery
Industry engagement mechanisms
• Industry advisory groups
• Interest groups
• Sector meetings
• Liaison with associations
• Individual company meetings
• Opinion surveys
• Participation in conferences, webinars, etc
Linkage between formal structures
Industry Advisory Group
Promoting the advantages of
wood products
Industry Advisory Group
Aligning products to market
needs
Industrial Advisory Group
Growing resources and
reducing risk
Industry Advisory Group
Assisting in value chain
optimisation
Industry Advisory Group
Impacting decision making
and industry capability
Interest group – ForestLearning
Interest group – Consumer advertising
Interest group – Timber framing
Interest group – WoodSolutions program
Interest group – Standards development
Interest group – National Construction Code
Interest group – Design tools
Interest group – Tertiary educationInterest group – Industry data dictionary
Interest group – Big data analysis
Interest group – Future processing options
Interest group – Biosecurity
Interest group – Growth modelling
Interest group – Resource assessment
Interest group – Forest operationsInterest group – Data aggregation
Interest group – International trends
Interest group 19 – Socio-economicInterest group – Socio-economic
Interest group – Industry skills
P1 - Promoting the advantages of wood productsActivities from 5-year strategic plan Status
Continue current promotional activities aimed at the consumer that leverage off the partnership with Planet Ark and focus on a broad range of beneficial wood attributes.
ONGOING
Leverage the current promotional activities to include the non-structural (and non-decorative) use of wood—such as for landscaping and packaging—to respond to competition from alternative materials.
EXPANSION
Increase the uptake and active use of teaching resources from the forestlearning.edu.au website.
ONGOING
Ensure that the sector’s investment in independent certification and other environmental credentials is not lost due to low market awareness.
EXPANSION
Develop a targeted campaign to improve the community’s understanding and acceptance of the environmental credentials of bio-energy from sustainably managed forests.
EXPANSION
Develop structured methodologies, in conjunction with other primary industries, to measure and enhance the community acceptance (i.e. social licence) of wood products and associated industries.
DEFERREDP1
Consumer program
Background:
• Key driver to create FWPA as an industry service company
• Campaign was launched in Oct 2008 with ongoing adaption
• Key message: wood stores carbon for life
• Campaign ‘turbo charged’ with partnership with Planet Ark and
recruitment of Peter Maddison as ‘ambassador.’
P1
Consumer program (cont.)Results to date:
• Association with “environmentally friendly” raised from 51% to 78%
• “Wood in the home stores carbon” raised from 38% to 68%
• Environment credentials of industry raised from 50% to 68%
• Planet Ark has been instrumental in 15 jurisdictions developing wood encouragement
policies
Current and/or planned activity:
• Planet Ark partnership provides great leverage
• TV advertising based on six ‘product’ executions is currently on air
• Introduction of approved influencers through social media and blogging
P1
More than ‘stored carbon’Background:
• Carbon message has been highly successful in lifting environmental credentials and community acceptance
• Need to expand messaging to keep campaign ‘fresh’ and relevant
• Need to create stronger linkage to purchaser/specifier intent
• Challenge to find messages that apply to all categories - domestic and import- hardwood and softwood- plantation and native forest- structural and decorative
• Shift to micro-targeting rather than mass media approachP1
More than ‘stored carbon’ (cont.)Results to date:
• Market research completed into flooring, detached framing and decorative markets
• Planet Ark and “nature inspired design” white paper
• World leading architects speaking tours
• Greenstar compliant environmental product declarations
• Inclusion of better measures for biodiversity in LCAs
Current and/or planned activity:
• Market research into decking and cladding markets
• International conference on wood and wellbeing
• Safety of wood construction
P1
ForestLearning
Background:
• Established in 2011 in response to industry feedback
• Target was teachers rather than students to embed within curriculum
• Initial focus was to consolidate existing resources but much of the material
was out-of-date or not aligned with national curricula
• Investment in new teaching resources
• Alignment with other rural industries through the Primary Industries Education
Foundation Australia (PIEFA).
P1
ForestLearning (cont.)
Results to date:
• 56 resources developed covering a wide range of teaching subjects
• 2,000 visitors per month
• 6,500 teachers on database
Current and/or planned activity:
• Recruitment of new program manager
• Increase awareness and uptake of teaching resources
• Develop new resources in response to demand and/or gap analysisP1
Certification
Background:
• Consumer and building specifier awareness (and understanding) of
certification is very low even with prompted awareness:
FSC - 16% AFS/PEFC – 20%
• More than 78% of consumers claim that they would be influenced by
certification
• Planet Ark role in FSC and AFSL standards development process
• Stakeholder meeting to encourage promotion of certification
• TV ad developed but never used due to resistance from FSC/AFSL
• Current advertising references certification but no logos shown. P1
Certification (cont.)Results to date:
• Planet Ark was able to provide a considered “environmental voice” into the standards
development process
• Balanced approach to certification provided through WoodSolutions presentations and
resources
• Requirement for certification for all imports and domestic production is a key
recommendation of FIAC
Current and/or planned activity:
• Continue to work with FSC and AFSL to identify joint promotional
opportunities
• Continue low level balanced support of all credible certification systems
P1
Bio-energy
Background:
• Bio-energy from forest and mill residues in Australia is significantly lower than
some other jurisdictions
• Information gaps and decision support tools have been explored but level of
industry interest has been low
• Primary industries cross-sector R&D strategy discontinued
• Social licence problem with opinion leaders, regulators and community.
P1
Bio-energy (cont.)Results to date:
• Planet Ark are undertaking a literature review to consider their approach to bio-energy
• Bio-energy Australia is reviewing its strategy and may take a more prominent role in
advocacy and community engagement
Current and/or planned activity:
• Investigate feasibility/support for cross sector promotion of bio-energy
• Work with partners to improve the social licence of bio-energy
P1
Social licence capacity (deferred activity)Background:
• Social licence to operate now applied to a range of industries (e.g., banks, coal, gas)
• In 2012, FWPA convened a meeting of primary industries for collaboration
• FWPA commissioned a proposal for cross-sector research centre
Results to date:
• Regional socio-economic studies being undertaken by Dr Jacki Schirmer
Current and/or planned activity:
• Develop cross-sector business case for research capacity
related to social licence to operateP1
Industry discussion on Program 1
Discussion to be chaired by
Jim Henneberry, Industry Advisory Group (IAG) Chair
1. What do you like?
2. What do you dislike?
3. What would you add if resources were not limited?
4. What Interest Groups should be set up?
5. How often would you like IAG1 to meet per year?
P1
P2 - Aligning products to market needsActivities from 5-year strategic plan Status
Continue to develop the WoodSolutions platform including website, lectures, conferences
and in-house/on-site delivery of training and reference materials that cover a wide range of
key influencers and market segments.
ONGOING
Develop a timber design life and durability system that is evidence-based, stakeholder-
inclusive and improves the market opportunity and competitiveness of wood products
compared to other materials.
EXPANSION
Increase the uptake of the new building code change by providing in-the-field information
(WoodSolutions Midrise Advisory Program) about key wood-building technologies to building
specifiers and developers and explore expanding the current pilot nationally.
EXPANSION
Continue activities to remove unnecessary impediments to wood products in the National
Construction Code and key building standards.
ONGOING
Continue activities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of key timber material and
design standards, including ancillary products like connectors, to increase the uptake of
timber systems.
ONGOING
Support skills development and product compliance mechanisms to ensure that timber
systems are not undermined by poor practice.
DEFERRED
Assist in the removal of unnecessary impediments to the export of forest and wood products. EXPANSION
P2
WoodSolutions
P2
Background:
• Specifiers claimed that lack of single, authoritative information source was an
impediment to using wood
• Specifier marketing plan identified the need for online knowledge database,
education resources, alliances with specifier associations, lunch-and-learn
seminars, decision support tools
• WoodSolutions brand was launched in 2010 with national conference series
• Existing resources (timber.org.au) and state activities (where possible) brought
under the WoodSolutions banner
• New resources and technical guides added over time.
WoodSolutions (cont.)
P2
Results to date:
• Strong relationships with design and build professional associations
• WoodSolutions technical design guides are now seen as ‘best practice’ guides
• A productive national technical team in place delivering information and education
• Introduction of new timber resource materials through universities and TAFE colleges
• WoodSolutions website ranking as number 1
• Awareness of WoodSolutions program has increased from 61% to 87%
Current and/or planned activity:
• Upgrade of the WoodSolutions website
• Continue to develop the WoodSolutions channels, content and partnerships
• Training materials through WoodSolutions CAMPUS platform
Durability and design life
P2
Background:
• Incorrect use or modification of timber undermines market confidence
• FWPRDC and CSIRO developed the timber design life methodology, which
was world leading at the time
• Closure of CSIRO and State agency research has reduced publicly available
information and technical capacity
• Consensus in standards development has been challenged by lack of public
data and ‘honest brokers.’
• Changes in wood modification, building typology and biological risks require
an update and possibly new approach to design life prediction.
Durability and design life (cont.)
P2
Results to date:
• 3800 downloads of the WoodSolutions Timber Service Life Design Guide
• Widespread industry consultation and stakeholder workshops
• Funding of the new Timber Durability and Design Life national research centre
• Recruitment of Professor Phil Evans as Foundation Fellow
Current and/or planned activity:
• Recruitment of postgrad and post-doctoral researchers
• Identification and prioritisation of key knowledge gaps
• Financial and/or data support by chemical companies
• Development of a process-based model for design life prediction
Mid-rise advisory team
P2
Background:
• Canada and USA have developed advisory teams under the Woodworks
brand
• National construction code changes for mid-rise create opportunity to evaluate
the effectiveness of advisory teams
• A pilot based in VIC (with extension to QLD) voluntary funded
• Experienced team of 4 technical advisors formed with backgrounds in
engineering, architecture and construction
Mid-rise advisory team (cont.)
P2
Results to date:
• 35 buildings significantly influenced toward a timber design
• 230 potential buildings currently under case management
• 200 presentations delivered
• More than 400 building specifiers contacted
Current and/or planned activity:
• Explore sponsor appetite to expand the team to other States
Changes to National Construction Code (NCC)
P2
Background:
• The NCC technically does not restrict the use of timber but requires expensive
performance solutions for fire and life safety
• A strategic review of the NCC and fire requirements identified the deemed-to-
satisfy (DTS) as the best pathway for adoption
• Previously, only timber DTS was for 3-storey residential in 1994
• Program of staged DTS proposals based on strong evidence
and widespread stakeholder consultation
Changes to National Construction Code (cont.)
P2
Results to date:
• Secured a 3-storey DTS for hotels/motels (2014)
• DTS for 8-storeys for residential, hotels and offices (2016)
• Changes to allow vertical or diagonal timber cladding (2016)
• Updated to reference the AS 1720.4-2006 Timber structure – Fire resistance
Current and/or planned activity:
• DTS for all classes of buildings
• Development of a draft Fire Protective Coatings – Code of Practice and a
submission on use of fire retardant coatings on timber linings
• Development of high fire-rated timber construction systems for use in
high fire-load buildings (e.g. retail) and facades
Timber standards and building codes
P2
Background:
• There are approximately 150 timber and 30 building Australian Standards that
require on-going maintenance, development and revision
• Standards reinforce the suitability of timber products to building specifiers and
consumers
• Industry technical capacity to maintain standards is becoming limited
• In 2010 FWPA took on the role of industry coordinator of standards following
wide stakeholder consultation.
Timber standards and building codes (cont.)
P2
Results to date:
• Amendments were issued to AS 1604 Specification for Preservative Treatment
Parts 1-5 as an interim measure
• Finalised a consolidation (32 standards) and revision of test methods for EWPs
• Commenced a major revision of AS1604.
• Review of aged standards as required (5-10 years)
Current and/or planned activity:
• Revision of AS1684 Residential timber-framed construction
• Scoping of work for revision of AS1720 timber structures
Export impediments
P2
Background:
• Australia’s export of logs and woodchips are at historic records
• Eesearch investment plan related to productivity and phytosanitary issues
• University of Sunshine Coast (USC) submitted a proposal to deliver all the
research outcomes, except Methyl bromide which is a watching brief.
• Board approved USC proposal in 2017
Results to date:
• NIL
Current and/or planned activity:
• Delivery of R&D investment plan
Product compliance (deferred activity)
P2
Background:
• Non-compliance for building materials is a significant issue across all materials
• No agreed cross-sector approach
• Non-compliance is only enforced through the misleading claims powers of the ACCC
• Some timber products (e.g., sawntimber, EWPs) are adequately
• Level of compliance across timber categories is unknown.
Results to date:
• NIL
Current and/or planned activity:
• NIL
Industry discussion on Program 2
Discussion to be chaired by
Tony Arnel, Industry Advisory Group (IAG) Chair
1. What do you like?
2. What do you dislike?
3. What would you add if resources were not limited?
4. What Interest Groups should be set up?
5. How often would you like IAG2 to meet per year?
P2
P3 - Assisting value chain optimisation
Activities from 5-year strategic plan Status
Develop and adopt improved techniques for the allocation of standing
trees, logs, timber and fibre to the most appropriate use using new
technologies and data analysis techniques (i.e. ‘Big Data’).
EXPANSION
Optimise product and building standards to increase the volume and value
recovery along the value chain and to help ensure products are fit for
purpose.
DEFERRED
Explore mechanisms for improved information capture and dissemination
along the value chain that can contribute to more timely and relevant
decision-making.
EXPANSION
Evaluate new market opportunities for forest and manufacturing residues,
including advanced bio-materials.
NEW
P3
Big data analytics
P3
Background:
• The forest and wood products industry is capturing data on a massive scale:
• Resource information through LiDAR and other remote sensing
• Genetic attributes
• Harvesting and transport performance
• In-mill volume and quality
• Customer feedback
• External economic and social data-sets
• Mining ‘big data’ to produce useable information is a challenge facing most
modern industries.
Big data analytics (cont.)
P3
Results to date:
• Joint funding with other RDCs on “precision to decision” on enabling tools for
big data analysis
• Pilot for softwood sawmilling identified need for cross-industry data dictionary
Current and/or planned activity:
• Postgrad student to look at data linkages between sawmills and prefabrication
• Develop map of key datasets from seed to product and externally relevant
datasets
• Sponsor a workshop to help identify key knowledge gaps
Information capture and sharing
P3
Background:
• The cost of data capture is dropping exponentially through remote sensing and
smart, connected devices
• Innovation is being driven by traditional industry vendors and the adoption
from other sectors
• Reliable and fast internet connection remains a limitation
• Data gaps lie in harvest and haulage (except for high value products), in
distribution and in use.
Information capture and sharing (cont.)
P3
Results to date:
• Early FWPA investment in harvest head technology and RFID for log haulage
was inconclusive (and probably premature in relation to cost and technology)
Current and/or planned activity:
• Evaluate current harvest head data capture systems
• Explore the relevance of block chain technology
• Evaluate sensors within product use (e.g., buildings, packaging)
New wood-based products
P3
Background:
• Forest and wood products will be a key sector in a bio-economy
• Globally, there is renewed interest in bio-materials and chemical production
from forest and mill residues
• With some notable exceptions, Australia is likely to be an adopter rather than
inventor of new materials and wood applications
• Forest resource for next 15-20 years is well-known
• There is scope to pre-screen and “right-size” new technologies to suit
resource characteristics
New wood-based products (cont.)
P3
Results to date:
• Cross-RDC investment in the potential for bio-refineries
Current and/or planned activity:
• International scanning of current and imminent technologies
• Workshop to identify key research questions
• Business case for new national research centre
Optimise standards to maximise recovery (deferred)
P3
Background:
• Australia’s plantation and native forest resources has changed since many product
standards were developed.
• Product standards (e.g., grading) will influence profitability and productivity
• Prefabrication may require product standard changes
• No national assessment of resource characterisation
• New technology could improve visual and structural grading
Results to date:
• Market research indicates potential for new framing grades
Current and/or planned activity:
• NIL
Industry discussion on Program 3
Discussion to be chaired by
Christine Briggs, Industry Advisory Group (IAG) Chair
1. What do you like?
2. What do you dislike?
3. What would you add if resources were not limited?
4. What Interest Groups should be set up?
5. How often would you like IAG3 to meet per year?
P3
P4 - Increasing resources and reducing risks
Activities from 5-year strategic plan Status
Develop and deploy improved genetic stock, including possible genetically modified
varieties, which can increase value recovery and reduce risk to plantation owners and
their customers.
EXPANSION
Develop forest health and biosecurity systems that can minimise risk to forest owners
and their customers.
DEFERRED
Ensure that forest management and forest operation tools deliver in-field practices that
are scientifically sound, safe and compatible with international best practice.
ONGOING
Investigate mechanisms to understand and monetise the environmental benefits (e.g.
carbon, biodiversity, catchment values) from tree crops to assist in an expansion of the
commercial estate.
NEW
Establish a new voluntary funded coordination structure to help develop better
mechanisms for national forest research collaboration (Growers Research Advisory
Committee)
NEW
P4
Genetic improvement
P4
Background:
• Tree improvement has been a major focus for FWPA covering exotic and
eucalypt plantations
• Research capacity is good (esp. compared to other disciplines)
• Convergence between pheno- and genotype technologies, which has been
aided by genomic sequencing
• Expansion in number and complexity of attributes being tracked
• Opportunity to increase deployment through clonal propagation and better
genetics x silviculture x site
Genetic improvement (cont.)
P4
Results to date:
• Treeplan (v3) used by majority of growers
• Modification of Dataplan to include genomic markers
• Genomic markers for Euc species now in 100’s
• Screening for disease resistance now standard practice
• Significant gains in growth and properties
Current and/or planned activity:
• Addition of resistograph data into softwood breeding program
• Application of genomic technologies for softwoods
• Aust/NZ screening of current estate for resistance
Forest health and biosecurity
P4
Background:
• Australian forest estate is at risk from endemic and exotic pests and diseases
• Risk profile changing with climate change and increased international
exposure
• Previous incursions include Essigella, sirex, myrtle rust, giant pine scale,
European house borer
• National coordinated research and response capacity is highly diminished
• Growers are exploring mechanisms for improved coordination
Forest health and biosecurity (cont.)
P4
Results to date:
• Biological controls developed for Essigella
• Risk assessment for WA housing stocks from EHB
• Screening/identification for myrtle rust
• Benefit-cost analyses of previous industry responses
• Industry response audit for forest health and biosecurity
Current and/or planned activity:
• National industry response framework
• Chemical control of giant pine scale
Decision support tools
P4
Background:
• Need to capture and disseminate prior research findings
• Decline in research and technical capacity for traditional R&D extension
• Changing workforce requires easy access to complex data to support decision
making
Decision support tools (cont.)
P4
Results to date:
• Development of Forest Productivity Optimisation System based on CABALA
• e-Cambium, Water usage, nutrient support tools
• Incorporation of LiDAR into estate management tools
• 2nd rotation decline in bluegum
Current and/or planned activity:
• Heavy haulage code of conduct
• Climate change impact assessment tool
• Linking multiple forest management datasets into the “digital forest”
• Farm forestry investment models
Non-wood production values
P4
Background:
• Forests and plantations produce a wide range of non-wood values and
impacts (e.g., catchment, biodiversity, landscape, fire risk)
• These values are often viewed as a constraint on wood production but are
rarely or inconsistently quantified
• Increased focus on landscape management requires a more flexible approach
to optimise economic and social value.
Non-wood production values (cont.)
P4
Results to date:
• Water usage modelling
• LCA metrics for biodiversity and water
• Remote sensing for koala detection in plantations
• CFI carbon accounting methodologies
Current and/or planned activity:
• Cross-RDC natural capital accounting research project
Grower Research Advisory Committee
P4
Background:
• Major forest growers have funded a consultation to determine the level of
interest in expanding collaborative R&D
• Review of research priorities, funding mechanisms and management
structures
• Decision to embed a new grower voluntary funded program within FWPA with
a dedicated program manager
• Opportunity to secure voluntary match funding or project
funding through the new national research centres
Grower Research Advisory Committee (cont.)
P4
Results to date:
• Preliminary research priorities and projects identified
Current and/or planned activity:
• FWPA will provide funds for a dedicated program manager and program
support
• Program manager will work with growers to identify projects for voluntary
funding through FWPA matching or the new national research centres
P4
Industry discussion on Program 4
Discussion to be chaired by
Brian Farmer, Industry Advisory Group (IAG) Chair
1. What do you like?
2. What do you dislike?
3. What would you add if resources were not limited?
4. What Interest Groups should be set up?
5. How often would you like IAG4 to meet per year?
P5 - Impacting decision making and industry capability
Activities from 5-year strategic plan Status
In conjunction with willing industry participants, develop systems to aggregate data
for a range of key management indicators—while protecting confidentiality—and
make these available in an easily accessible form.
ONGOING
Improve understanding of key market drivers, including competition from alternative
materials, to improve forecasting of key market segments.
EXPANSION
Provide ongoing support for the development and distribution of publicly available
information, including that available through partnership with ABARES, that
supports the economic, social and environmental contribution of the industry.
ONGOING
Ensure that key historical data series are conserved and leveraged to improve
current and future decision making.
NEW
Provide professional development programs to ensure that current and future
decision makers are using information that is evidence-based and compatible with
international best practice.
EXPANSION
P5
Industry data aggregation
P5
Background:
• Historically, key industry statistics were collected and published by State forest
services and other government agencies
• Most of the key statistics now lie within commercial entities
• Confidential data aggregation can help improve understanding of market
trends, benchmarks and relative performance
• Systems need to be carefully designed to ensure confidentiality, data security
and ACCC compliance.
Industry data aggregation (cont.)
P5
Results to date:
• Around 85% softwood sawmillers are aggregating volume and price (a smaller
subset aggregating mill productivity)
• Around 50% hardwood sawmillers are aggregating volume and price data
• Major forest growers are aggregating volume, price, and OH&S data
Current and/or planned activity:
• OH&S statistics for softwood processors
• Work with EWPAA to include EWPs within the current aggregation system
• Identify opportunities for aggregation of finished stock levels.
Economic and market information
P5
Background:
• Forest and wood product markets are impacted by a wide range of domestic
and international forces
• Understanding, reacting and forecasting these forces can improve productivity
and profitability along the value chain
• Current datasets are dispersed and not readily accessible
Economic and market information (cont.)
P5
Results to date:
• Development of data dashboard to improve accessibility of key industry and
economic data (local and international)
• Monthly publication of StatisticsCount
• International partnerships to improve access to proprietary data
Current and/or planned activity:
• Upgrade of data dashboard
• Analysis of key market segments (e.g., flat pack kitchens,
capital investment, low grade sawn softwood)
Public data series
P5
Background:
• Publicly accessible data improves industry and government understanding of
the sector’s contribution to the economy
• C’weath and state governments have reduced their funding of industry specific
data
• FWPA has a funded partnership with ABARES to ensure that key industry
statistics are accurate, timely and relevant
Public data series (cont.)
P5
Results to date:
• ABARES statistics are now published with provisional data
• Public datasets are reconciled with aggregated industry data
• Regional socio-economic studies are improving understanding of industry’s
contribution
• Upgraded forecasting capacity with improved sensitivity to cross-elasticities of
demand
Current and/or planned activity:
• Timber usage in residential construction market shares
Data conservation
P5
Background:
• Loss of institutional research capacity and changes in ownership are putting
key historical research and field plots at risk
Results to date:
• Issues paper commissioned and circulated
• Pilot study of permanent sample plots in Green Triangle undertaken
• Some catchment study data digitised
Current and/or planned activity:
• Open sourced publication of research and datasets
Professional development
P5
Background:
• Historically, the industry has relied on internal staff recruitment and
development and forestry graduates.
• Changing demographics and technology is driving shifting to external
recruitment
• Industry collaboration is often dependent of social/professional cohorts
• Gottstein forest and wood sciences courses provide introduction to the sector
• Uptake of research and FWPA programs requires deeper networks within
companies
Professional development (cont.)
P5
Results to date:
• Contributor to Gottstein Education Trust
• Previous support for candidates to the World Forestry Centre
Current and/or planned activity:
• Development of regionally-based mid-career leadership program planned for
2017/18 targeted at mid-level industry participants (Upper Murray, Green
Triangle, South West WA, Southern Qld)
Industry discussion on Program 5
Discussion to be chaired by
Steve Dadd, Industry Advisory Group (IAG) Chair
1. What do you like?
2. What do you dislike?
3. What would you add if resources were not limited?
4. What Interest Groups should be set up?
5. How often would you like IAG5 to meet per year?
P5
Overall wrap-up
Discussion to be led by John Simon, FWPA Chair
1. Issues or items not addressed?
2. Did the day and format meet your needs?
3. Other feedback for FWPA directors and staff?