FSC Australia members welcome new CEO, Directors and Chair

Members of Australia’s leading forest certification organisation, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC Australia), have come together to welcome their new leadership and discuss strategies to continue driving change in responsible forest management through a critical 12-month period for the forestry sector.

At its AGM in Melbourne last week FSC Australia’s economic, social and environmental chambers were represented by a diverse membership from forest managers, sawmill operators, wood and paper manufacturers and retailers through to forest researchers, environmentalists, recreational users and indigenous stakeholders.

Members elected new Board Directors Andrew Morgan from SFM Forest Products into the vacant Economic Chamber position and Helen Murray from Timber Communities Australia into the Social Chamber seat. University of Canberra Senior Research Fellow, Jacki Schirmer, was also elected as Chair of the FSC Australia Board at its first meeting on Friday 29th May, while Tetra Pak Oceania Environment Manager, Cheryl Speechley was elected Vice Chair.

Five months into his role as CEO of FSC Australia, former EPA Victoria strategist Adam Beaumont said it was inspiring to see the FSC’s unique democratic process in action with people from all backgrounds working together on the common goal of protecting the current and future values of Australia’s natural and plantation forests.

“The diverse and often conflicting views, robust discussion and collective output is what enables the FSC to continually improve and ultimately create a better national forestry standard that can achieve tangible improvements in forest management,” said Beaumont at the AGM on 28th May.

“We all agree our forests are a valuable resource. Whether it’s for the wood, paper or tissue products we use daily or for our water sources, biodiversity, climate, recreation or cultural heritage. It’s the FSC’s role to make sure our forests are used sustainably and responsibly so future generations can also enjoy these benefits.”

Looking ahead:

Beaumont said one of the organisation’s key objectives was to build on the strong support from the business and retail community to increase recognition and understanding of the FSC green tree tick logo among Australian consumers.

“Our latest consumer research show’s only one-in-five Australian’s recognise the FSC logo on the back of their wood and paper products and actually know what it means,” Beaumont said. “However, of that 20 per cent who understand what we do, there is strong purchasing preference, which highlights the opportunity to drive more pressure through the supply chain and reward responsible forest managers by boosting logo recognition and demand for FSC certified products.”