Program

The final program for the 2026 Symposium is now available

Wednesday 7 October

7.30 Registration, arrival tea & coffee
9.00 Plenary 1: Welcome to Country, Opening and Keynote Speaker

Welcome to Country

When words fail us, bridging the divide
Prof Stan Grant, Journalist and Commentator
10.30 Morning Tea & Exhibition
11:00 Plenary 2: Understanding the Context and Opportunities for Social Licence

Keynote Speaker
Dr Amanda Cahill, The Next Economy

Public perceptions of forestry and the social licence to operate
Giselle Stollznow, Stollznow Research

Building trust through risk management: Strengthening forestry’s social licence in an era of increasing expectations
Belinda Olejniczak, OneFortyOne

Why a strong forestry sector matters for Australia: Market realities, global responsibility, sovereign resilience and intergenerational equity
Dr Tyron Venn, The University of Queensland
12:45 Lunch & Exhibition
13.45 Plenary 3: Learning from Rural Industries: Community engagement, social licence and advocacy

The Tasmanian salmon story
Luke Martin, Former CEO Tasmania Salmon

Lessons from agriculture: Community engagement, social licence and advocacy
Alexandra Gartmann, Australian Farm Institute

Beyond consultation: Building social performance and shared benefits in forestry
Janina Gawler, RST Solutions and former executive with Rio Tinto

You can’t harvest trust you haven’t grown: Why long-term community relationships matter in rural industries
Sarah Norris, Snowy Hydro Limited
15.15 Afternoon Tea & Exhibition
15:45 Plenary 4: Building Influence: Politics and Advocacy

Panel discussion and Q&A
17.00 Plenary 5: Case Study: Collaboration and Native Forests

Proudly supported by MONA’s Forest Congress, this engaging panel discussion on Wednesday afternoon will bring together individuals who have approached native forest management and harvesting from different perspectives, but who have been engaging through the Forest Congress to better understand each other’s views, explore areas of common ground and consider where collaboration may be possible.
17.50 Forestry Australia Annual General Meeting
18.30 Welcome Reception & Exhibition

Thursday 8 October

8.00 Registration, arrival tea & coffee
9.00 Plenary 6: Keynote Speaker

Keynote
Dr Simon Longstaff AO, The Ethics Centre

Plenary 7: Lessons from the Past to Inform the Future

Panel discussion and Q&A
10.30 Morning Tea & Exhibition
11.00 Plenary 8 | Cutting Through: Effective Communication, Media and Social Media Engagement 

Reflections on the current media landscape
Colin Bettles, Journalist & President of National Rural Press Club

Reflections for successful cut-through with media
Joe Prevedello, Master Plumbers Association

Forestry is a people story: Finding the stories hiding inside your business
Romany Brodribb, SFM
12.15 Lunch & Exhibition
13.00

Breakout 1 | A Shared Forestry Story: First Nations Knowledge, Leadership, Enterprise and Engagement

Phil Thompson, Native Secrets & AFWI Director

Tommy Hicks, Indigenous Energy Australia

Tolita Davis-Angeles, AFWI, Gandan Yarnings & Chair FSC First Nations Committee

Breakout 2 | Planting the Seed: Engaging Students and the Next Generation

Mia Cassidy, Hurford Hardwoods

Kate Battishall, Forest Education Foundation

Paul McCartan, Ryde Secondary College (NSW)
14.25

Breakout 3 | Telling Your Forestry Story: Everyday Influence for Forestry Professionals

The role of storytelling to support effective communication
Dr Rod Lamberts, Australian National University

So what do you actually do? Turning complex work into a story people understand
Bryden Campbell, Brand Rebellion

Breakout 4 (Facilitated Workshop) | A Stronger Forestry Narrative: Shared Concepts and Adapted Messages

A facilitated workshop designed for communication, marketing and engagement professionals
15.40 Afternoon Tea & Exhibition
16.10 Plenary 9 | Taking the Forestry Story Forward: What’s Next?

Panel discussion and Q&A
18.30 Symposium Dinner
National Arboretum