Member with practical knowledge of and experience in industry, commerce or economic development.

Andrew graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in the fields of Forest Ecology and Management. Andrew is the Managing Director at SFM Environmental Solutions Pty Ltd and Hydrowood. SFM provides a range of land and forest management solutions across Australia.  Andrew is also a Director of the Forest Industry Association of Tasmania, Oak Tasmania, Forest Stewardship Council of Australia member of the Forest Practices Advisory Council.  Andrew maintains a range of professional management and scientific skills having assessed, produced and managed a variety of projects and programs. Andrew has overseen the diversification and growth of SFM into a national forestry company and was heavily involved in the development of the company’s Forest Stewardship Council® certification and Hydrowood.

Chair and Member representing industrial private growers

Evan is an experienced private tree grower and farmer in the Huon Valley who has more than 40 years’ experience in the broader forestry sector.  He helped in shaping the establishment of Private Forests Tasmania and was Commissioner for Private Forests in the formative years.

Evan is the former Chief Forest Practices Officer, Chief Commissioner for Forests and Managing Director of Forestry Tasmania.  In more recent years, Evan has been active in the private sector with a strong focus on research, innovation and markets for products.

Meeting the demands of emerging wood markets, innovation and research to lift productivity are areas that Evan sees as key to the future growth of Tasmania’s private forest growers.

Member representing non-industrial private forest growers

Michael is a 3^rd generation forester in Tasmania and has over 30 years’ experience in the forestry industry.  Michael is a passionate industry supporter who has extensive experience in harvesting, cartage, plantation establishment, private land owner negotiations, planning and industry compliance.

Michael is the Managing Director of a sawmill in the north of Tasmania, where his son is the lead bench man, becoming the 4^th generation of Kelly’s in the industry.

Michael is a long serving member of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association Forestry Committee, and is currently the Deputy Mayor of the Meander Valley Council.

Member representing non-industrial private forest growers

Alice is a commercial lawyer with the Hobart International Airport and has a strong interest in agribusiness as well as maintaining an active role in the management of a private forestry company with plantations in the north east of the State.  

Alice has assisted landowners on legal and strategic issues involving the collapse of forestry MIS schemes, negotiations in the forestry sector with property access arrangements and the drafting of documents for the sale and purchase of agricultural operations, produce, harvest, supply and management agreements.

With a long family history in agriculture and a natural understanding of the sector, Alice has been able to develop and maintain longstanding relationships with a number of stakeholders by assisting growers with a broad range of legal issues.

Member with expertise in forest or related sciences.

Tony graduated from the Australian National University in 1976 and has worked in the forestry industry for over 35 years, including the establishment of Forest Enterprises Tasmania. Forestry roles have included harvest supervision, plantation establishment and reforestation, asset procurement, forest practices officer and consulting services. Tony is a life member of the Australian Forest Growers and has had a number of roles at a local and national level including National President and Treasurer. Member of MAICD from 2006-2013 and current member of Institute of Foresters of Australia and registered Practicing Forester.  Tony currently manages a range of family investments and provides a forestry consultancy service.

Chief Executive Officer

Penny has over thirty years’ experience in the forestry sector in Tasmania, having been involved in forest planning, policy and management with both the Tasmanian Government and forest industry since the late 1980’s.

During this time she has been joint owner of a small family sawmill (processing special species timbers), has worked with land management and development agencies within the Tasmanian Government, and worked with Forestry Tasmania as a forest planner.

Penny was part of the team who negotiated the original Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) for Tasmania in 1997, led the negotiations to extend the RFA in 2017 and worked with the forest industry to develop the 2017 forest industry growth strategy.

She has experience on the Board of the Forest Practices Authority, is currently chair of the National Forestry and Forest Products Committee, and for the four years prior to her appointment as PFT CEO in 2018, was the Director of Forest Policy in the Department of State Growth.