Visy’s Michael Darveniza.
Visy’s Michael Darveniza and UTAS PhD researcher Michelle Balasso have been nominated for global Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award. Source: Timberbiz
They are two of 21 candidates from nine countries who are contestants for the awards.
Launched in 2016, the awards are a biennial effort to recognize, celebrate and promote some of the game-changing innovations being developed in the global forest sector.
Entries are judged by an international panel of researchers, with the three best entrants given the opportunity to present their research to industry leaders at the International Council of Forests and Paper Association’s (ICFPA) CEO Global Roundtable scheduled to be held virtually later this year.
Michelle is a PhD researcher in the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value at the University of Tasmania and her Blue Sky Award nomination is for research into how plantation wood can be utilised to develop new or higher value product streams.
“Michelle’s work is a clear example of the value of research and development to Australia’s forest products industry and the many jobs it supports,” AFPA Chief Executive Ross Hampton said,
“Her research shows us the growing role that Australia’s renewable wood-fibre resources will play in almost all aspects of our lives. It’s important work and I congratulate her on her Blue Sky Award nomination.”
UTAS PhD researcher Michelle Balasso
Michelle said she was grateful for the nomination, and thanked the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value for supporting her research.
“We can be far more productive with Australia’s forests, and my research brings us one step closer to unlock this vast potential,” she said.
The Director of the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value, Assoc. Prof. Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra said Michelle’s research explored options for diversifying the products from plantations and was an excellent example of high-quality, industry-focused research.
Michael, a process engineer a at Visy in Tumut, joined Visy in 2018 as Graduate Chemical Engineer. His Blue Sky Award nomination is for his research into effective utilisation of bushfire affected wood for kraft pulping and papermaking.
“The 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire season impacted the forest industry in many regions across Australia, leaving destruction and burnt plantation forests across the landscape,” Mr Hampton said.
“Michael’s important research finds a way to put more of this bushfire affected timber to use and helps ensure our industry maintains its enviable record for sustainability and renewability.”
The Executive General Manager of Visy Pulp and Paper Jean-Yves Nouaze said the forest industry came together in the aftermath of the fires in a concerted effort to maximise fibre recovery efforts.
“Visy has been at the forefront of the effort, identifying early the need to utilise as much fire affected wood as possible,” Mr Nouaze said.
“Congratulations to Michael, and the team at Visy Tumut, for this recognition of the research and work. It is fabulous to see talent like Michael, who started with us at Visy as a graduate, empowered to take on real life industry challenge, and to succeed.”
Michael said he was proud to be nominated for the award, and thanked Visy for supporting his research efforts.
“I am glad that my research can assist in my region’s recovery after the devastating 2019/20 bushfire season,” Michael said.
