Murray Region
Forestry Hub

I have been fortunate to work across many roles within HVP Plantations during the past 17 years. Starting my career in the Shelley Plantation in North East Victoria as a harvesting and roading forester, I have since moved into many other roles including roading forester, commercial operations, customer and haulage manager & woodflow/sales and distribution.

All of these roles have placed me well to undertake my duty now as General Manager Northern Region for HVP Plantations. This roles covers an exciting and diverse portfolio, but most importantly focuses on the establishment and commercial management of an extensive sustainable plantation timber resource – all the while working in one of the most stunning regions Victoria has to offer, North East Victoria.

Based in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Dean Hawkins is the General Manager – Fibre Resources at Visy Pulp and Paper, where he has built a career spanning over 24 years.

Dean brings deep expertise in forestry, contract negotiation, biomass, and financial management, having held senior roles including Fibre and Forestry Manager and Finance Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy, Economics, Law) from Charles Sturt University and also serves as Treasurer for Regional Development Australia Riverina.

Dean is known for his strong analytical skills and people management capabilities, contributing to the sustainable and strategic growth of fibre operations across the region.

With over 18 years of experience at Snowy Valleys Council, I have a strong foundation in infrastructure and emergency management. I began my career through a cadetship focused on GIS and asset data collation, which led to progressively senior roles in asset management and emergency response. This diverse background has equipped me well for my current position as Manager Technical Services, where I lead the maintenance and renewal of Council’s transport networks, open spaces, and facility assets.

Working in local government offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible difference in the community every day, delivering real outcomes that directly improve people’s lives and local environments.

Rab has over 30 years timber industry experience in operations, maintenance, and engineering.

Over the last 20 years Rab has progressed his way into Site Manager overseeing Greenmill, Kiln drying, Dry mill and treatment facilities.

Rab plays an active role in supporting the wider business of AKD which has over 1100 employees, six sawmills and over 12,000 hectares of radiata pine plantations.

Rab is safety driven and has a strong ethical approach to business and life and thrives in an environment with management that supports and rewards passionate and talented people who value success.

Commenced work at CSR Tumut Sawmill in March 1997, now owned by AKD Softwoods since 2019, and has been a proud CFMEU Manufacturing member from the beginning. Serving as a Committee of Management representative since 2013 and elected as President of CFMEU Manufacturing in 2018, he has consistently demonstrated strong leadership and advocacy within the timber industry.

He holds a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (Tumut TAFE, 2010), along with a First Aid Certificate, Safe Operational Procedure Assessment, and has played an active role on both the Site OH&S and ECC Committees.

Beyond the workplace, he is committed to his community as a member of the Wondalga Rural Fire Service Brigade, OH&S Officer for All Saints Anglican Church Tumut, and an active member of the Australian Labor Party.

Jake Lazarus is the General Manager at Southern Cross Forests, bringing over two decades of hands-on forestry experience and strategic leadership to the role. With a Bachelor of Science from the University of Canterbury, Jake has built a career across various key positions, including Forester roles at Southwood Export and Kaingaroa Timberlands, and Regional Manager at Hume Forests from 2007 to 2010.

His expertise spans forest establishment, harvesting, and operational management. Today, he leads Southern Cross Forests’ operations with a focus on sustainable forestry, innovation, and long-term growth.

Alison is the NSW Secretary of the union for timber workers. She brings to the role 20 years’ experience in all elements of union strategy, organising and policy campaigning both in Australia and overseas. Her professional experience is complemented by degrees in industrial relations.

In her current role, Alison leads the work of the union in developing and executing strategies to ensure that timber workers have secure jobs, fair pay and safe workplaces.

Alison is passionate about the critical role that good timber jobs play in supporting families and ensuring thriving communities.

Billie-Jo (BJ) is a qualified Forester with a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) from the Australian National University (2005) and a Graduate Diploma in Natural Resource Management from Charles Sturt University (2017). She is a member of Forestry Australia, a founding member of the Women in Forests and Timber Network NSW South West Slopes Chapter, a former Deputy Chair of the Forest Industry Council, and a former Director of the Baramadagal Dharug Tribal Governing Council Aboriginal Corporation.

A fifth-generation member of the Goldspink family in forestry, BJ has over 25 years of experience with Forestry Corporation across native and plantation sectors and Corporate Services. She has worked across multiple regions including Tumbarumba, Tumut, Batemans Bay, Bombala, Eden, Moss Vale and Bathurst. Her expertise spans forest management, safety, planning, sales, harvesting, cultural heritage and community engagement.

BJ is currently the Southern Planning Manager, leading the softwood planning team in Tumut and Bombala. The team oversees modelling, scheduling, valuation, inventory and spatial data management.

Dean Anderson gained a Bachelor of Science (Forestry) form the Australian National University, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a qualified Incident Manager.

Dean has been involved in Forestry for 40 years and has held numerous and various roles within the Forest Growing Industry in numerous locations; South Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Scotland and predominantly within New South Wales. His career has included senior roles in Commercial (including Carbon Trading), Natural Forest Management, Environmental Assessment and Plantation Management. Dean has been called upon a number times to be either the Incident Controller or Deputy Incident Controller for Bushfire emergencies of State significance and was part of Australia’s first deployment of Forest-Firefighters to North America in 2000. Along with numerous others that contributed to fighting the 2019/20 Black-Summer fires he was awarded the National Emergency Medal.

For 15 years Dean was on the board of the Timber Development Association, an organisation that promotes the use of timber and addresses technical aspects of timber use in construction, and was the Chair of this association for 5 years.

Professional forester with 30 years’ experience in forest and land management.

He has helped grow and protect the industry and communities of the Southwest Slopes by  working  in harvesting, forest road construction and silviculture management roles.

Passionate about utilizing forests to achieve sustainable communities , meet the needs of future generations and mentoring young foresters.