Career Experience
- State Forests of NSW (1977-1999) – various positions and roles ranging from planning and management to research, operations and policy.
- Involved with the State Forests of NSW Hardwood Plantations Joint Venture Program from its inception in 1993 to 1999, culminating in holding the position of Planning Manager (1997-1999), having State-wide responsibility for: land assessment and acquisition by joint venture, lease and purchase; compliance with environmental legislation related to plantation development; procurement through tenders and contracted suppliers of seed, seedling and hybrids; tree improvement; community consultation; promotion. Involved in marketing and attraction of local and foreign investment. Provided expertise; built, led and coached work teams, set standards and created systems that enabled the achievement of the largest hardwood plantation development undertaken in NSW.
- Mentored and assisted companies that supplied the plantation program, to expand their businesses, develop systems, improve standards and quality control to meet high quality product specifications.
- Skilled in project management techniques and experienced in managing large-budget multi-faceted projects. Noted for ability to initiate programs while building and leading teams to successfully implement new processes.
- Leader and skilled people manager with extensive workplace experience in: team building; coaching; mentoring; recruiting; interviewing; staff development; performance evaluation; position evaluation; conflict resolution; organisational restructuring; managing staff through change.
- Conducted and reported on studies in: land acquisition strategy; effluent re-use in plantations; tree improvement; total quality management; dry-land salinity. Designed, established, monitored and analysed numerous research projects in timber plantation silviculture. Supervised a PhD student at Southern Cross University 1999-2000 researching genetic diversity in eucalypt plantations.
- Involved in developing state policy on issues of: carbon credits; greenhouse; plantation development; native vegetation management; dry-land salinity.
- Conducted community liaison and consultations in rural and regional NSW on issues related to natural resource management, plantation investment and development.
- Skilled facilitator and negotiator.
- Media experience – preparation of press releases, feature articles and advertising for newspapers and journals, participating in radio and television interviews and panel discussions.
- Experienced public speaker - presentations to conferences, forums and workshops.
- Several published papers and research reports in scientific journals.
