Australasia's home for timber news and information

Both global forest certification schemes to speak side by side at industry conference

IN A major coup for the Australian Forest, Wood, Paper and Timber Products industry, the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have committed members of their global leadership teams to speak at the industry conference in Melbourne on 9 September.
“The global President of the PEFC, William V. Street, based in the US, has already confirmed he will attend. FSC is in the process of determining who will join Mr Street on stage,” said Michael Hartman, CEO of ForestWorks, which is presenting the Conference for the third year running, with the support of major industry stakeholders.
The Conference – ‘Australia’s Place in the Changing Global Forest Products Market’ – is being conducted immediately after the upcoming Federal election.
“This is a major conference, and with global speakers from the certification schemes and Australian
companies and stakeholders discussing the key issues of markets, investment and community issues, this will again be a significant event,” said Hartman.
The industry is facing a number of significant issues at the moment, one stakeholder referring to the industry being at a ‘tipping point’.
“This conference and the related events – the Investor Seminar presented by First Super on Wednesday, the Industry Liaison Dinner on Thursday and the ForestWorks Skills and Employment Council Meeting on Friday – will ensure the key leaders in our industry are able to engage with the whole forest, wood, paper and timber products industry.” Hartman said.