Wood Work is Inspiring

I’m the Chief Operating Officer for SFM, an independent plantation forest manager with operations in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Growing up on a farm, and living close to plantations, it was a natural step for me to work in the forest products industry. I have worked in the industry for the entirety of my career in a mix of operational and managerial roles. No two days are the same for me, one day I’m wearing a suit and attending meetings in Melbourne, the next I’m in my Hi-Viz work gear on a mountain side in Tasmania.

Working in Forestry has enabled me to work and live in Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and now Mt Gambier, South Australia, a community that truly embraces the industry. Do I like my job? No, I love my job! I get to travel regularly, work and interact with some amazing people, and, importantly, contribute to the success of an industry that is 100% sustainable and helping in the fight against climate change.

I’m a Human Resources Advisor at OneFortyOne. I provide support to managers and employees in recruitment process as well as areas like employee relations, training, and wellbeing initiatives.

I didn’t target the timber industry when looking for a role, but it makes sense that I’m here. I grew up in Mount Gambier where the industry is engrained in our community, and I have a family connection as my father has been a Saw Doctor his whole career.

I’ve loved learning about the industry and all it has to offer for the community, and especially enjoy working with the diverse range of people within it.

I work full-time as a Machine Operator. This involves working with various machines in the mill on a rotating shift of day and afternoon 4 days a week. My husband works here too in a different department, which is a large part of why I wanted to work in the industry. Hearing him talk about his job gave me the confidence in knowing I’d love it too. I have a background in hairdressing and hospitality, so a big change in career, but one that I don’t regret!

The idea of working outside always appealed to me. My initial pathway into forestry was through a traineeship where I received both on the job experience and undertook academic study at TAFE. That was it, I was hooked.

From there I remained within forestry as a casual working at the Glencoe Nursery and on the Reserves during the fire season, gaining valuable experience. Working in a softwood mill I saw a different side to forestry, it was then I decided I wanted to learn more and started studying a Forestry Degree. I received a permanent role with ForestrySA which saw me working on the Reserves before moving into Research and getting the opportunity to learn about Forest Health.

Moving to Timberlands Pacific in 2017 has given me even more experience within Silviculture and managing contractors to now gaining experience in Woodflow within a harvesting role.

I have been in the forestry industry for 25 years now and the diversity of roles is endless. Forestry has seen me work many different roles and even taken me overseas for a Gottstein Fellowship where I was able to visit different countries to learn about forestry, you just never know where forestry will take you!