New chair to continue the great work by Dr Hans Drielsma AM
On February 22nd, 2023 Responsible Wood welcomed our new chair, Dr Tony Barlett who is a champion of forest innovation and research, having worked in Australian and international forestry for 45 years.
Dr Tony Bartlett has been a board member of Responsible Wood since September 2020, and will continue the great work achieved in sustainable forestry by outgoing chair Dr Hans Drielsma AM.
Introducing the new Responsible Wood Chair – Dr Tony Bartlett.
As Forestry Research Program Manager for the Australian Centre for International Research Centre (ACIAR), Dr Bartlett has managed 25 projects in 14 developing countries between 2010 and 2018.
He has worked in various forestry and fire management roles for the federal, ACT and Victorian governments and on forestry development projects in Nepal and Vanuatu.
Dr Bartlett has a Doctorate (PhD) from the Australian National University, a Masters in Science (MSc) from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Forest Science (B. ForSci) from the University of Melbourne.
CEO Simon Dorries said,
“We are very fortunate, Tony has been a champion of forestry innovation and has overseen many impactful forestry research projects around the world. He has an impressive accomplishments and a similarly distinguished career to our outgoing chair.”
Outgoing chair of Responsible Wood Dr Hans Drielsma AM (second from left) is presented with a timber gift by Simon Dorries, CEO, Dr Tony Bartlett, incoming chair, Jonathan Tibbits, Marketing & Communications, and Matt de Jongh, Sustainability Manager.
Dr Drielsma was presented at the board meeting with a hand-crafted chest made from rose mahogany (Dysoxylum fraserianum) sourced from a certified forest in southern Queensland in recognition of his distinguished career in the forest industry, as a strong advocate for sustainability, and the promotion of the highest standards of forestry across Australia and abroad.
For more than 20 years Dr Drielsma has been actively involved in the establishment, shaping and growth of Responsible Wood, formerly the Australian Forestry Standard.
A professional forester with post-graduate qualifications from Yale University in forest policy and natural resources sociology, Dr Drielsma has held key positions in the forestry sector including managing director of Forests NSW and executive general manager of Forestry Tasmania and was a member of the CRC for Forestry board for seven years.
He was awarded the Norman W. Jolly Medal in 2015 at the 8th Joint Conference of the Institute of Foresters of Australia and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.
The medal is the IFA’s (now Forestry Australia) highest and most prestigious honour awarded for outstanding service to the profession of forestry. CEO Simon Dorries said,
“Hans will be missed and he is thanked by the Responsible Wood staff, his fellow board members, Australian and New Zealand certificate holders, as well as industry partners and stakeholders.”
Like to know more?
We are fortunate to have a committed and diverse board all of who are passionate champions for sustainable forest management and experts in their field.
The Responsible Wood Board of Directors includes independent and elected individuals. Directors are appointed by our members in accordance with our Constitution.
More information about our board members can be found here.
