Sue and Ron Adams
The inaugural chairman of Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA), Ronald Adams, has been recognised with an Order of Australia on the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List for his career-long contributions to benefiting Australia’s forestry and wood sector as well as the community. Source: Timberbiz
Under Mr Adams’ leadership and commitment to the sector, FWPA is now one of the most respected contributors across all sectors of the industry.
From starting as a trainee cadet with Bunnings Forest Products to his retirement, Mr Adams’ legacy has centred on advancing the Australian forestry and wood industry and effectively engaging with the broader public, governments and education and research communities.
“Everyone at FWPA has benefitted from Ron’s leadership when the organisation was first established,’’ FWPA chairman John Simon said.
“All of us who have worked beside Ron can confirm he’s a man of the utmost integrity, is passionate about the success of our timber industry and he has an excellent strategic mind.
“Under Ron’s leadership, FWPA achieved amazing results in R&D investment, a successful partnership with Planet Ark and the Trans Tasman research that led to mill production improvements, not to mention a significant increase in community acceptance of the environmental benefits of wood products,” Mr Simon said.
The creation of the WoodSolutions website was also achieved during Mr Adams’ term as director, this site now receives more than two million visits per year.
Additionally, Mr Adams was a Trustee of the Gottstein Trust and contributed immensely to the forestry and wood industry as board member of other organisations including Australian Forest Products Association and the Forest Industry Advisory Council.
Managing Director of FWPA, Ric Sinclair, said that Mr Adams is widely respected in the Australian forestry and wood sector for his leadership and personal devotion.
“Having known Ron since the early ‘90s, I have seen first-hand how his thoughtfulness, inclusive style and wide experience has made him a valuable contributor to all industry forums,” Mr Sinclair said.
“Ron is a proud Western Australian, a proud Australian and a proud member of the Australian forest and wood products sector.”
