Graham Richard Wilkinson

 Academic qualifications/awards          

• • Bachelor of Science (Forestry) First Class Honours (Australian National University 1976)

  • Sir William Schlich Medal for Forestry, Australian National University (1976)

  • Master of Science (University of Tasmania 1996)

  • Diploma, Australian Institute of Company Directors (2000)

  • Registered Forestry Professional (General Practicing Forester with recognised skills in forest policy and   regulation) (RPF 025, 2004).

  • Accredited Environmental Lead Auditor (RABQSA 2007).

  • Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia (2007)

  • Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2000)

  • Forest Practices Award of Excellence (Tasmania) 2015, for innovation in forest practices, research, advice and services to forest managers.

Professional Associations/ Positions Held

• • Institute of Foresters of Australia - member from 1976 to present; Chair of the Tasmanian division and director of the national board (2000-04).

  • Chair of the Foresters Without Borders Committee of the Institute of Foresters of Australia - (2021, member from 2018).

  • Chair of the Registered Professional Foresters (RPF) Accreditation Scheme  (2001- 2017)

  • Accreditation Review Board of the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) for the Australian Forestry Standard - member (2003- 2015).

  • Australian Montreal Implementation Group for Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management - member (2006-14).

Skills and experience

• • Regulation of forest practices, including governance, development and implementation of codes of practice, monitoring and enforcement.

  • Assessment of sustainable forest management and reporting against international criteria and indicators

  • Training and education

  • Policy development and implementation

  • Development of partnerships between government, industry, community and other stakeholders

  • Over 50 years’ experience in forestry, including management and operations, research, silviculture, policy and regulation within Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Publications and presentations

• • Over 100 publications, major reports and conference presentations (see publications list).

Employment history

2015 to current: Forestry Consultant 

My work as a consultant has involved projects in Australia (Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, Queensland and Western Australia) and in 11 countries within the Asia-Pacific region see client list).  Recent clients include: ·

• • Australian Government, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources  

  • Pacific Community

  • United Nations FAO

  • Forestry Corporation NSW

  • VicForests

  • World Bank

  • Asia Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation.

Current projects are based in Fiji, Tonga and Australia.

1996 to Jan 2015:  Chief Forest Practices Officer, Forest Practices Authority, Tasmania

During this period I held the statutory position of head of the Forest Practices Authority, the independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of forestry in Tasmania under the Forest Practices Act 1985.  My role included--       

• • • Improving the governance of forest regulation by developing partnerships and formal agreements between government agencies and with key stakeholders

    • Promoting improved forest practices through the development of policies and strategies to support the Forest Practices Code

    • Training and education

    • Monitoring and reporting on the achievement of sustainable forest management under international, national and state protocols 

    • Managing a team of scientists and specialist staff to provide research and advisory programs to support the implementation of the Forest Practices Code

    • Conducting monitoring of forest operations, carrying out enforcement activity and reporting on compliance with the requirements of the Forest Practices Act and the Forest Practices Code.

During my tenure as Chief Forest Practices Officer I also undertook consultancies in Tonga, Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Laos PDR and Malaysia (see client list).

 1987 to 1996:  Principal Research Officer (Native Forests), Forestry Tasmania

• • • Manager of native forest research, including the management of research staff, externally funded projects and consultancies into the silviculture of temperate eucalypt forests, rainforest and Blackwood forests.

    • Responsible for the translation of research findings into operational guidelines for field managers, through the production of technical bulletins and training programs.

    • Chairman of Technical Forester Training Program.

1985 – 1987:  Research Officer (Plantations), Forestry Commission, Tasmania

• • • Involved with the evaluation of land for plantation suitability; plantation research; management of seed orchards; development of operational prescriptions and provision of advice to field managers.

1978 – 1985:  Forester, Tumut District, Forestry Commission of New South Wales

• • • Planning and supervision of logging operations in native  forests and P. radiata plantations; industry training and development; road survey, construction and maintenance; management of seed facilities and a major forest nursery; supervision of silvicultural operations; fire control; safety and training officer.

1977 – 1978:  Forester, Casino District, Forestry Commission of New South Wales

• • • Planning and supervision of logging, roading and regeneration programmes in native eucalypt forests, sub-tropical rainforest and tropical pine plantations; fire control; public relations and community reforestation programs.

1972 – 1976:  NSW Forestry Scholarship

• • • University studies (Sydney University and the Australian National University) and 16 months of practical field training in several forestry districts within NSW.

Contact details:          

email: wilkoforest@gmail.com