Australian Forest Products Association announces inaugural CEO

The Chair of Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), Linda Sewell, today announced the appointment of David Pollard as the organisation’s inaugural CEO.
AFPA was formed in April 2011 through the merger of the Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) and the National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI). As a result of the merger, AFPA has become the national body representing the range of businesses which make up the forest products industry, including tree growers, wood processors and pulp and paper manufacturers.
“With the appointment of David, AFPA has a CEO who can build the organisation and enable it to lead the newly integrated forest products industry as it responds to its changing challenges and opportunities,” Sewell said.
“These challenges include encouraging downstream processing of our natural forests, investment in plantation forestry, ensuring the industry plays its full role in the emerging carbon economy and strengthening access for wood-based products in the Australian marketplace.
“Dr Pollard brings with him a wide range of capabilities and has considerable experience in both industry and Government. This unique combination of skills and experience will assist us in the development of an industry association capable of meeting the challenges ahead.” she said.
“For the last seven years he headed VicForests, the commercial timber corporation of the Victorian Government. Prior to working with VicForests, Dr Pollard held a number of senior management positions with the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments in the areas of industry development, economic policy and finance. These roles included Victorian Commissioner of State Revenue and Assistant Commissioner of the Productivity Commission.
“Apart from holding qualifications in economics and public policy, Dr Pollard is the author of a number of books on public policy and is a Senior Fellow of Melbourne Business School. In 2002, he was awarded the Commonwealth Centennial Medal for services to public sector management.
“We look forward to working with David on the wide variety of complex industry issues with which we are grappling, building the new organisation and strengthening the membership,” she said.
Sewell also paid tribute to the services of Allan Hansard, Transitional CEO of AFPA (and previous CEO of NAFI), who has led the organisation during its transition phase, and to Richard Stanton (CEO of A3P).
“Allan and Richard have both campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the industry, working alongside the collective Boards of Directors as the amalgamation took shape over the past 12 months,” Sewell said.