Unlocking opportunities – ForestWorks conference

ForestWorks is excited to announce that the annual industry conference will be held on 14 September 2011 at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra. The commercial opportunities presented by the transition to a low-carbon economy will be front and centre when industry skills council, ForestWorks hosts the annual Industry Development Conference in September.
The conference will feature a who’s who of forestry, as the industry confronts a period of unprecedented change.
ForestWorks CEO, Michael Hartman said the conference presented a great chance to exchange ideas and network. “There’s a lot of talk about the challenges posed by the carbon tax, the high Australian dollar and international competition, and they are serious, but there’s also sufficient scope to look at future opportunities and positioning,” Mr Hartman said.
“It’s no secret that the forestry industry is undergoing significant structural change, but through co-operation, effective communication and the cross-fertilisation of ideas, we can emerge from the current period on a prosperous and sustainable footing.”
It’s important for policy makers and politicians in Canberra to know that our industry can have a positive vision for the future and to take that message into Parliament House at the dinner function, where Members of Parliament will be in attendance.”
Other topics for discussion will include: investment in resources, scale, employment (skill and labour shortages, immigration), monetising non-wood forest and tree values, carbon sequestration and energy, global market trends, and the effect of a carbon price on domestic timber product manufacturing and the broader industry.
The conference will also provide opportunities to further explore carbon, investment and skills issues with ForestWorks’ support of three associated events: a briefing on carbon pricing and carbon initiatives, a First Super Investment Seminar and ForestWorks Skills and Employment Council meeting.
For more information about the 2011 ForestWorks conference contact Cathy Ashton, Communications Officer: [email protected]