Anne Chuter
Anne Chuter has been appointed as the incoming Chief Forest Practices Officer for the Forest Practices Authority in Tasmania. Source: Timberbiz
Ms Chuter is a forest practices officer with extensive practical experience in environment management within a wood production landscape, technical biodiversity knowledge, and a sound understanding of forest operations.
She has been working with the FPA for more than 15 years and brings a wealth of experience within the Authority.
Ms Chuter will also be Tasmania’s first female CFPO.
She replaces Dr Peter Volker who has spent 40 years in various roles within the State’s forestry sector.
Peter Volker
During his time in the sector, Dr Volker has been a strong advocate for sustainable native forest management to supply timber products, support rural communities and provide a healthy ecosystem.
Peter Volker began school holiday work in the forest industry in Scottsdale as a teenager in the mid ‘70s.
“In 1975 I commenced working as a teenager in forest industry in Scottsdale with school holiday jobs at French’s sawmill. After being invited to do some work experience with the Forestry Commission at Scottsdale, I decided that I would do a forestry degree,” Dr Volker told the Tasmanian Forests & Forest Products Network in a recent interview.
He progressed to the University of Tasmania to complete the first year of an agricultural science degree before successfully applying for a scholarship to Australian National University.
After graduating in 1981 Peter was employed as a graduate forester for the Forestry Commission, based at Retreat under the guidance of Peter Watson.
“I then went to Hobart to take on the tree breeding and eucalypt plantation development program in the Silviculture Branch,” Dr Volker said.
“That posting shaped the next few years of my career as a researcher in forest genetics and plantation silviculture. It was the early days of eucalypt plantation development and there was a lot to learn and plenty of people around Australia and overseas sharing ideas.”
It was this work that inspired Dr Volker to complete a thesis exploring the genetics of hybridising eucalyptus globulus and nitens.
“At the time we didn’t know too much about the genetics of hybridising these species and were keen to look at how we could establish a more frost resistant species that would grow well in certain areas of Tasmania.”
Following the completion of his PhD, he moved into operational forestry at ANM Forest Management (now Norske Skog).
“We had a thriving farm forestry joint venture program in place, which really focused on meaningful engagement between the landowners and the company,” Dr Volker said.
Seeking change, he moved into forestry consultancy—first with Serve-Ag and then as a sole operator.
“There was an opportunity to do more work in the farming sector, particularly with industrial forest companies at that time.”
However, with his children starting school and a need to secure steady work and income, Dr Volker decided to return to Forestry Tasmania in 2002 as Plant Research Manager; a role once held by his boss, who had decided to retire.
Dr Volker has been active in industry associations throughout his professional career, and it was while president of IFA – now Forestry Australia – from 2005 – 2011 that he connected with Senator Richard Colbeck, who at the time was opposition spokesperson for forestry.
“I joked with him that if he got into government and was given the forestry portfolio, I would work for him,” Dr Volker said.
As fate would have it, that’s precisely what happened.
In 2016 he secured the role as Chief Forest Practices Officer, heading up the Forest Practices Authority in Tasmania.
What’s next for Peter Volker?
“While I look forward to playing more golf, riding my bike and continuing to coach rowing, I hope to carry on in the industry in some capacity and pass on some of my knowledge, just as I benefited from so many mentors and advisers throughout my career,” he said.
“My job has taken me around the world, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting exceptional foresters and going off the beaten track in many countries. It’s a career that I highly recommend.”
