The Board of Forestry Australia has announced that Dr Michelle Freeman has been elected President and Jim Wilson has been elected Vice President of the professional association for forest scientists, professionals, managers and growers. 

Retiring President, Bob Gordon applauded the move stating he was delighted to see Michelle and Jim join with the organisation’s CEO Jacquie Martin, to form a diverse leadership team, as part of the Board transition and renewal process.

“It is heartening to see Michelle accept the nomination to take the leadership of the team, particularly on the eve of International Woman’s Day,” Mr Gordon said. 

“Michelle has been on the Board for a number of years and has already made a very significant contribution to Forestry Australia and I look forward to her leadership,” Mr Gordon said. 

Michelle is a forester with a passion for native forest management and has a double degree in Forestry and Science (Ecology), and a PhD from the University of Melbourne.

Her PhD was in partnership with CSIRO Darwin looking at savanna fire and tree dynamics of northern Australia, as part of the Tiwi Carbon Study.

Michelle is a Registered Forestry Professional and  has worked in timber harvesting operations, planning and regulation and is currently Principal Consultant and Director of Hollow-wood Enterprises.

Michelle was on the Board of the IFA from 2012 – 2014, and chaired the Future Foresters Initiative from 2015 – 2017. From 2014 – 2017 she was an Independent Council Member on the Federal Governments’ Forest Industry Advisory Council, a past Board member of FSC Australia/NZ, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Michelle is joined by Vice President, Jim Wilson who has a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) Australian National University 2003 and is the Plantation Operations and Services Manager at Forico, Tasmania.

He is a Registered Forestry Professional and graduated from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Jim’s career has been focused in the private sector and he has invested his recent years working with Forico, as well as providing significant service at sector level in advocacy and leadership.

Jim is also an active farm forester with both plantation and native forest in Tasmania.

Bob Gordon will remain on the Board during this transition period.

Taken from Forestry Australia Media Release on 7 March 2023.