WEBINAR | Understanding Australia’s EPBC Act Changes: Implications for Forest Managers

Hosted by Forestry Australia and the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry (AFWI CCSF), this webinar will provide an overview of the reforms and explore what they may mean for forestry operations, particularly in the private forest and plantation sectors. It will help participants understand the key changes on the horizon.

Presenters

• A/Prof Phillipa McCormack, Policy, Economics and Society Theme Lead at AFWI CCSF
• David Bennett, Risk and Compliance Manager at Stand Forestry
• Tom Schraenkler, Carbon and Forestry Manager at Sumitomo Forestry Australia

About the webinar

Australia’s national environmental law reforms are reshaping the regulatory landscape for forest management and forestry operations across the country.

Forestry operations across the board will need to navigate new national environmental standards, statutory prohibitions on unacceptable impacts, and new obligations around net gain.

Yet much remains uncertain. Key standards and legislative definitions are still being developed, and questions remain about the role of certification, how forestry pathway agreements between governments may operate, and how forestry stakeholders can meaningfully engage with reform processes.

The webinar will also invite contributions to a follow-up survey and workshop to help shape and inform the forestry sectors’ ongoing engagement with the reform process.

Date: Monday 22 June 2026 | Time: 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm AEST
RFP CPD Points: 1.00

Everyone who registers:

• Receives a link and joining instructions 24 hours before the webinar commences
• Receives a recording of the webinar – so if you can’t listen live, you can listen later

Registrations
Forestry Australia Members & Non-Members: $0
Registrations close: 10am, Sunday 21 June
Registration is essential to receive the webinar link, joining instructions and post-event recording.

A/Prof Phillipa McCormack,
Policy, Economics and Society Theme Lead at AFWI CCSF

Associate Professor Phillipa McCormack is an AFWI Research Fellow with the Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry and a Research Fellow at the Adelaide Law School and Environment Institute, Adelaide University.

She has actively engaged with national environmental law reform in recent years, both in her research and in governance roles including as Vice President of the National Environmental Law Association (2021-24).

David Bennett
Risk and Compliance Manager at Stand Forestry

David Bennett specialises in developing practical systems that reduce risk and improve compliance for forest managers, contractors and timber processors. An experienced forester with legal qualifications, David leads Stand Forestry’s risk and compliance systems and brings expertise in sustainable forest certification, auditing, compliance management, heavy vehicle law, and industry best-practice safety standards.

Tom Schraenkler
Carbon and Forestry Manager at Sumitomo Forestry Australia

Tom Schraenkler is the Carbon and Forestry Manager with Sumitomo Forestry Australia, bringing extensive corporate leadership and advisory experience across forestry, sawmilling, and wood manufacturing supply chains. Holding qualifications in forestry, business management and auditing systems, Tom combines strong commercial insight and technical expertise, with a clear focus on delivering innovative and sustainable outcomes within the Australian forestry and wood products sector.