25 August 2022
Riverina plantation forestry stalwart appointed to top forestry post
Riverina-based ago economist Diana Gibbs has been appointed to the prestigious role of chair of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA).
Chair of the Softwoods Working Group (SWG) and Murray Region Forestry Hub (MRFH), Peter Crowe OAM, congratulated Ms Gibbs on her appointment.
“Diana has been a stalwart of the SWG and MRFG for many years and her competence as an agro economist has been recognised at the highest levels of government,” he said.
“Diana has made major contributions to a portfolio of important reports and studies on the softwood plantation industry, and her detailed analysis of the economic effects of the 2019-20 bushfires were of enormous benefit to policies and decisions by the NSW and Federal Governments on bushfire recovery programs,” he said.
“Diana will continue in her role as an economic adviser to SWG and MRFH, as she follows in the footsteps of distinguished forestry leader Greg McCormack, who is stepping down after 11 years as chair of AFPA.”
The handover will occur at the 2022 Forest Industries Gala Dinner, in the Great Hall of Parliament House, in Canberra on 14 September.
Ms Gibbs is based on a farm near Wagga Wagga and has served on the AFPA Board since 2019. AFPA is the peak national industry body representing the resources, processing, and pulp, paper and bioproduct industries covering the forest products value chain.
Ms Gibbs has a master’s degree in Environmental Studies and has more than 40 years of experience as a consultant working across the forestry, agriculture, and mining sectors, with specific experience in economic assessment and strategic planning issues associated with forestry.
She is currently a director of Agrifutures Australia, Riverina Local Land Services, MRFH and SWG, and has previously been a director with organisations including Murray Darling Basin Authority, Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation, NSW Rural Assistance Authority and NSW Climate Change Council.
Ms Gibbs said it was extremely humbling to step into the shoes of an industry statesman like Greg McCormack, who has played such an enormous role in forest industries in this nation.
“I will continue, as Greg has done, to vigorously prosecute the role of forest industries as a crucial part of a carbon-constrained future and a sustainable driver of regional economies.
“I look forward to working with the Albanese Government to deliver regional growth and a real contribution to the path to net zero, via a strong forest sector,” she said.
Media contact: Sarah Chester on 0417 207 669. Photo: Diana Gibbs and Greg McCormack.
Pictured: Diana Gibbs & Greg McCormack
– AFPA NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT –
After 11 years as Chair of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) and decades involved at the top levels of Australia’s forest industries, stalwart Greg McCormack has announced that he will step down from the role.
The AFPA Chairs are elected by the AFPA Directors. After a process conducted by the Nominations Subcommittee, AFPA Director Diana Gibbs was unanimously endorsed to take over from Greg McCormack.
An agro-economist, Diana Gibbs, has served on the AFPA Board since 2019.
The handover will occur following AFPA’s 2022 Forest Industries Gala Dinner, in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra on 14 September.
Greg McCormack said, “It has been an enormous honour to fill this leadership role and advance, with the AFPA staff, the mission of ensuring our sustainable, renewable forest industries take their rightful place in the mainstream of Australia’s thinking.
“It is now time for others to take forward the vision. I look forward to seeing even more success as our industries really carry so many answers to some of the world’s biggest problems.”
Diana Gibbs said, “It’s extremely humbling to step into the shoes of an industry statesman like Greg McCormack. For my part, I will continue, as Greg has done, to vigorously prosecute the role of forest industries as a crucial part of a carbon constrained future and a sustainable driver of economies.”