Forests NSW  new director of planted forests,
Ian Brown, left, inspects pine seedlings at the Grafton Forest Technology  Centre with Forests NSW chief executive Nick Roberts. Photo by Howard Spencer

Forests NSW latest recruit to the senior management team brings with him  extensive experience in supply chain management of forest products.

He is Ian Brown, who took up the role of director of planted forests  operations in early January.

Educated in South Africa, Ian gained a bachelor of science degree  in forest engineering and forest science from Stellenbosch University in 1980.

He has since worked in forest industries in South Africa and most  recently New Zealand where he took up a harvesting role with Fletcher Challenge  Forests.

Ian’s appointment marks the rejuvenation of the Forests NSW senior  management team. In the past year there have been four other appointments.

Dean Anderson, director commercial services, is an experienced forester  whose years of service at Forests NSW include 10 as manager of Macquarie region  planted forests based at Bathurst, and most recently divisional operations  manager for planted forests where he was involved with the improvement of the  plantation establishment and silvicultural operations.

Dean was also the first of a series of exchange staff members with the  trading arm of the Forestry Commission of Scotland.

Erle Robinson who was last year appointed director of native forests  operations is also a forester with many years of experience in managing  forestry operations in New Zealand.  He  also has qualifications in public policy and with experience in both public  forest management and private industry, is well qualified to lead the  management of  NSW’s native State forests  in a sensitive and highly regulated environment.

Sean Hooper as the new director of financial and operational business  services is responsible for the financial management of Forests NSW as well as  support services such as IT, fleet and workshops. Sean is a highly-qualified  accountant with experience in private and public sectors.

While not a forester, Sean has a deep interest in forest management.   He is a private forest owner and a bushfire fighter who well understands  forest business and the value of forest assets.

Della Farthing was appointed last year to the new position of director  human resources.  She joined Forests NSW  with many years of experience in human resource management in State owned  businesses and the private sector. She is responsible for safety,  organisational development and training, industrial relations, workers  compensation, human resource operations and administration.

Forests NSW chief executive officer, Nick Roberts, said that he was  delighted that the new directors together with the director of land management  and forestry services, Ross Dickson, form a highly qualified and experienced  team that he can rely on to deliver results.

“Between them, the senior  management team has more than 100 years of experience in forest management,” Mr  Roberts said.

“All members of the senior management team share in the view that  safety, financial performance and sustainability are the key priorities for  this organisation.”

This article appears in the Autumn/Winter 2009 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.