The organisers of the two-yearly ForestWood Conference on 16 March have a cracker line-up of high powered speakers. Source: Timberbiz
Biotech developments will be addressed by NZBio’s Dr Will Barker, Scion’s Dr Espeth McRae and Doug McKalip, a senior advisor to the US secretary of agriculture.
Credibility will be examined from several angles.
Certification by the chief executives of FSC Australia – Adam Beaumont and PEFC International – Ben Gunneburg.
Sustainability reporting by John Manhire of the AgriBusiness Group, and to challenge everyone’s mindset, Carmen Cravatt of Greenpeace.
Attendees will be brought up to speed on government policy by associate minister for primary industries the Honourable Jo Goodhew and on an alternative vision by NZ First leader Rt Hon Winston Peters.
Then on the removal of trade barriers by MPI’s Scott Gallacher, on the latest safety initiatives by FISC’s Fiona Ewing, on overseas investment by Annelies McClure of the Overseas Investment Office, and on traceability developments by GS1’s Gary Hartley.
Long-term viability is of course where the rubber meets the road. On this theme, attendees will hear from Marty Verry of Red Stag about his company’s $200m mill upgrade program, from Russell Taylor of the International Wood Markets Group about supply and demand trends, from John Reelick of TTT Products on revolutionary new timber pole foundations and Brian Stanley, chair of the Wood Council of NZ, about the state of the NZ industry.
There are a limited number of places available for registration at the conferece which is being held in the SKYCITY Convention Centre, Auckland.
Member registration rates are available to members of the host and supporting organisations: FOA, WPMA, FICA, and NZFFA. A special rate is also available to members of NZIF.
Following the conference there is a dinner featuring Te Radar as the guest speaker.
For more details, or to register visit www.forestwood.org.au
