Dr Jerry Leech died recently in Mount Gambier he was widely known for his forestry knowledge and studied at the University of Adelaide gaining a Bachelor of Science before attending the Australian Forestry School in Canberra. Sources: Timberbiz, Border Watch
He later studied computer programming, and systems analysis and design, and developed an early forest management planning system. The models he developed then are still in use some 40 years later.
Dr Leech was initially posted to the South East of South Australia before being transferred to the branch managing forest resources.
From 1970, he was responsible for the systems analysis, design and implementation of the system for making long-term predictions of forest growth from the radiata pine estate then owned by the South Australian State Government.
Dr Leech was also responsible for much of the biometrics.
During his career, Dr Leech mentored many young scientists and foresters where he was respected by his peers for his technical skills and knowledge.
From 1986, he carried out 30 international consultancies which was mostly for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Italy.
Over a 13-year period he also spent five of these on consultancy missions and professionally, he considered the consultancies his greatest challenges and greatest successes.
Dr Leech resigned as Principal Scientist, Forestry Systems in 1994 to become a consultant which was a role he continued until about 2014.
He was also a joint Technical Editor of the Australian Forest Valuation Standard in 2001 which he also kept until 2014.
He was also a long-standing member of the Institute of Foresters of Australia and the Association of Consulting Foresters of Australia.
Dr Leech was also a member of the Australian Computer Society and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute as well as being elevated to Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia.
In 2009 he was awarded the Regional Medal for South East Asia-Pacific by the Commonwealth Forestry Association and in 2021 he was also awarded the NW Jolly Medal by Forestry Australia.
It was in 2022 that Dr Leech was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the forest industry, to tertiary education and to the community.
Dr Leech was also an Adjunct Professor at Southern Cross University and a Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne with the title of associate professor.
During his career, Dr Leech was responsible for about 200 books, refereed papers, reports for the United Nations and other consultancy clients, conferences and other published miscellanea.
