The third day of Forestry Australia’s 2025 Conference, held on Wednesday, 22 October, in Adelaide, is spotlighting the critical role of young professionals in shaping the future of Australia’s forestry sector.

Running from 20 to 23 October, the conference unites 400 attendees under the theme Restoring forests and landscapes and securing Australia’s future, aligning with the 150th anniversary of plantation forestry in Australia and the 90-year anniversary of The Institute of Foresters of Australia, trading as Forestry Australia.

As part of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, Day 3’s Conference sessions look to address the important need to attract and retain young talent to support the sector’s long-term sustainability, alongside discussions on innovative forest management and global conservation challenges.

Day 3 Highlights

Peter Cochrane, Councillor and Vice President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): On Wednesday 22 October, 9:30 am–10.30 am, Peter will present on Global reflections on the complexity of the outlook for production and conservation in forested landscapes – navigating increasing risk, competing values and irrationality. Along with his involvement with the IUCN, Peter chairs the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, the Australian Tropical Herbarium and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science University of NSW.

• Future Foresters Initiative Panel and Solution Room: On Wednesday, 22 October, 11:00 am–12:20 pm, the Future Foresters Initiative (FFI) Committee of Forestry Australia will present a panel and solution room (Breakout #22) titled Opportunities and Challenges for Young Professionals in Australia’s Forestry Sector. Chaired by Jenna Hammond, Chair of the FFI Committee, the session will feature panellists Alex Dudkowski, Caitlyn Ellis, Jack Davis, and Dr Yasika Subasinghe, who will explore strategies to address the shortage of young professionals in forestry. Despite the sector’s diverse opportunities in natural resource management, technology, fire management, GIS and stakeholder engagement, challenges including limited tertiary and undergraduate education, public misconceptions about forestry, and difficulties attracting talent to regional areas continue to impact outcomes. Key discussion themes include:
  • Opportunities: Highlighting career pathways in forestry, emphasising the sector’s passion for balancing conservation and production.
  • Challenges: Addressing barriers like lack of forestry qualifications, inadequate remuneration for trainees, and public perceptions conflating deforestation with sustainable forestry.
  • Solutions: Proposing actions such as raising the industry’s profile, advocating for tertiary and post graduate education, and promoting career pathways to diverse young professionals.

The session will conclude with a solution room, where attendees will collaborate on actionable strategies. The FFI will share a one-page document summarizing resources and solutions, such as promoting graduate roles directly in universities or encouraging professionals to share their stories on platforms like LinkedIn.

Panellists include:

• • • Jenna Hammond, Engagement and Innovation Specialist at Private Forests Tasmania, 2023 Forestry Australia Prince of Wales Award recipient, and Chair of the FFI Committee since 2024.
    • Alex Dudkowski, Harvesting District Forester at HVP Plantations, with experience in silviculture, GIS, and harvesting operations.
    • Caitlyn Ellis, Graduate Forester at HVP Plantations, focusing on silviculture and forest health with a passion for balancing production and ecological values.
    • Jack Davis, Reforestation and Silviculture Program Officer at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, specializing in fire ecology and First Nations land management.
    • Dr Yasika Subasinghe, Research Forester at HVP Plantations, bridging academic research and operational forestry with expertise in forest ecosystems and fire management.

Media Contact:
Jenna Hammond – 0448 424 899
For more information, visit: https://www.forestryconference.com.au/speakers/

ABOUT FORESTRY AUSTRALIA
Forestry Australia is an independent, not-for-profit professional association of more than 1,100 forest scientists, managers and growers who work in native forests, plantations and provision of environmental services. Its members are committed to the principles of sustainable forest management and applying these principles to generate environmental, social and economic outcomes in all types of forests and land tenures.