Andrew White
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) has welcomed Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) CEO, Andrew White to the role ahead of his commencement in late August 2024, AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Diana Hallam said. Source: Timberbiz
“On behalf of AFPA and the broader industry I welcome Andrew’s appointment as VFPA CEO and look forward to his advocacy for Victoria’s forest products sector as it seeks to meet numerous challenges and opportunities,” Diana Hallam said.
“I also thank outgoing VFPA CEO Deb Kerr for her commitment to bettering the Victorian sector through some very challenging times for industry over the past few years. Deb has worked tirelessly on behalf of industry.”
VFPA chair Rob Hescock said that Mr White brings considerable expertise in government and media relations, corporate strategy, crisis management and business development.
“We are delighted to have Andrew on board,” he said.
Mr White is an experienced senior executive who has spent his career in peak industry bodies and the NFP sector and has led teams to deliver numerous successful advocacy and communications campaigns of national significance, including influencing reforms to country-of-origin food labelling.
As the former Deputy CEO for the national peak vegetable farming body, AUSVEG, he represented the interests of 9,000 Australian farmers for seven years, working alongside farmers all around Australia to deliver industry development programs and advocate on topics including access to labour, biosecurity, rising costs and market access.
“I’m very much looking forward to joining VFPA and working with what is one of Victoria’s most important primary industry sectors. From growers through to processors and right across the supply chain, VFPA has an important role representing forestry industries that will only become more critical in the future,” Mr White said.
Most recently, Mr White held the position of General Manager of Corporate Affairs at ANDHealth, Australia’s only dedicated commercialisation engine room for digital health businesses, supporting Australian-based small and medium sized enterprises, as they create and scale-up new health technologies.
Mr White will commence as VFPA CEO on 26 August 2024.
