Forest scientists, managers, growers and communicators from across Australia will gather at Canberra from tomorrow for the 2026 Forestry Australia Symposium. So far, more than 280 delegates have registered to attend the three-day symposium focused on having conversations about building trust in the Australian community.

Running from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 October, the theme, the forestry story: Strategies for improved awareness, social licence and effective engagement, will examine how forestry engages with Traditional Owners, policymakers, the media and the community.

In Forestry Australia’s view, forest science sits at the very heart of some of the biggest challenges facing the nation, from housing and agriculture to sovereignty, wildfire, climate adaptation, carbon and nature repair. Without a successful forestry sector, Australia cannot meet its global commitments.

“Australians care deeply about their forests, and so do the people who look after them,” Forestry Australia President Dr Michelle Freeman said. “Our members are the scientists, managers, fire specialists and growers who work in those forests, across every forest type and every tenure.”

Forestry Australia CEO Jacquie Martin said the program reflects a commitment to open and constructive engagement. “Social licence is not something our sector can take for granted,” Ms Martin said. “It depends on a genuine connection, trust, accountability and a shared commitment to the long-term stewardship of Australia’s forests.”

Convenor Matt de Jongh said the symposium promises to be a watershed moment for the profession. “The Symposium brings a diverse range of speakers and perspectives to explore how modern forest science shares its story.”

Program highlights

• Prof Stan Grant opens the Symposium at 9am tomorrow with a keynote titled When words divide, bridging the divide. A Wiradjuri, Kamilaroi and Dharrawal man, Prof Grant is a three-time Walkley Award winner and Professor of Journalism at Monash University.
• Dr Simon Longstaff AO, Executive Director of The Ethics Centre, gives Thursday’s keynote. He then joins Dr Freeman, Michael O’Connor of the TFTU and Steve Whiteley of Tasmania’s State Fire Commission on a panel drawing lessons from the past to inform the future.
• Learning from Rural Industries brings Luke Martin on the Tasmanian salmon story, Alexandra Gartmann of the Australian Farm Institute, Janina Gawler formerly of Rio Tinto, and Sarah Norris of Snowy Hydro.
• Building Influence puts politics and advocacy before a panel of the Hon Nicholle Overall MLC, Alison Rudman of the TFTU and Natasa Sikman of Chevron, a former Labor adviser.
• Public perceptions and the media feature Dr Amanda Cahill who will speak on the principals of building social licence, Giselle Stollznow on how Australians see forestry and Colin Bettles, who is President of the National Rural Press Club.
• A Shared Forestry Story brings First Nations knowledge, leadership and enterprise to the program, with Phil Thompson of Native Secrets, Tommy Hicks of Indigenous Energy Australia and Tolita Davis-Angeles, Chair of the FSC First Nations Committee.

Thursday’s formal program closes with a panel on what comes next for the forestry story, featuring Dr Freeman, AFWI Chair Bob Gordon, Jenna Hammond of Private Forests Tasmania, Leon Holt of Forestry Australia and Dr Robert Waterworth of FLINTpro. Delegates then head to the National Arboretum for the Symposium Dinner.

Field trips

Friday 9 October is devoted to five field trips, each departing from and returning to the Rex Hotel.

• Alpine ash and snow gums under a new climate is the longest of the five, a full day in the high country on climate change, pest pressure, fire regimes, dieback and forest resilience, and what that change means for forest science, management and policy.
• Balancing community access and plantation forestry, led by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, opens at an operational paintball site in the ACT’s pine plantations, then moves to a guided walk at Majura Pines and an afternoon on the Cotter Pines mountain bike trails. Delegates will see how a plantation still managed for timber is shared with mountain bike riders, horse riders and high-ropes users.
• Urban forestry in Canberra runs from the Mount Ainslie lookout through the pin oaks of Braddon and Kingston, the plane trees of Manuka and the American elms of Grant Crescent in Griffith, to new canopy in Denman Prospect and Whitlam, remnant vegetation at Ginninderry and a water-sensitive carpark at Jamison.
• Tallaganda State Forest, hosted by Forestry Corporation of NSW, covers native forest silviculture, pine plantation management and thinning, and fire management, with lunch at the Captains Flat pub.
• Research and legacy at ANU is a morning on the role of research, innovation and long-term knowledge in Australia’s forests.

Dr Michelle Freeman is available for interview. Media are welcome to attend the Symposium and should contact Jason Ross to arrange access.

ENDS

Contact: Jason Ross, Marketing and Communications Manager, M: 0448 190 055

MORE INFORMATION

Symposium program: https://www.forestryconference.com.au/program/
Field trips: https://www.forestryconference.com.au/field-trips/
Forestry Australia: https://www.forestry.org.au/

ENDS

For further information: Jason Ross, Marketing & Communications Manager, M: 0448 190 055