Keynote & Invited Speakers

Forestry Australia  are delighted to announce the below Keynote and Invited Speakers who will be joining us at our 2025 Conference ‘Restoring forests and landscapes and securing Australia’s future‘.

Keynote Speakers

Peter Cochrane
Councillor and Vice President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

Peter lives on Wodi-Wodi country and is a Councillor and Vice President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). He is a member of the Australian Heritage Council and chairs the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, the Australian Tropical Herbarium and the National Benefit Assessment Committee of the Marine National Facility. He is a director of TierraMar Ltd.

Peter is a member of the External Reference Group on Nature for the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science University of NSW.

Radha Kuppalli
Board Director, Greening Australia and Accounting for Nature

Radha’s purpose is to create economic value for nature—in service of a resilient and prosperous future for people and planet. She has spent over 20 years executing investment solutions to address climate change, nature restoration, and sustainable land management.

Radha was most recently the CEO of Re-Vi, an Australian climate tech and biochar company developing institutional scale biochar projects that revitalise landscapes, delivering improved environmental, social and economic benefits. She is also a Board Director and Advisor globally to growth businesses, fund managers, and NGOs focused on accelerating the transition to net zero and nature positive. She serves as a member of the Australian Government’s Nature Finance Council.

Radha previously helped grow New Forests into one of the world’s leading sustainable forestry and natural capital investment firms. Her achievements include delivering a multi-billion dollar capital base from blue-chip institutional clients, embedding a deep sustainability culture, and driving innovative investments in carbon, biodiversity, and blended finance across Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Southeast Asia.

While the transformation ahead is tough and the stakes for people and planet are high, Radha draws inspiration every day from the beauty and magic of nature to keep working on solutions.

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Plenary Panel

Closing Session: Path to 2035: How might we enable transformation in the Australian forest sector?

Dr John Warner
CEO & Chief Technology Officer, Technology Greenhouse

John is a co-founder of the field of green chemistry and co-author of its foundational text. With over 360 patents and 120 publications, his work spans industrial innovation and academic leadership. He founded the first Ph.D. program in green chemistry and co-founded Beyond Benign to advance sustainability education. Warner’s inventions have led to 10 companies, earning him the Perkin Medal, a U.S. Presidential Award, and global recognition. Named one of Utne Reader’s “25 Visionaries Changing the World,” he continues to champion environmentally responsible science and technology worldwide.

Nicola Pero
Executive Director, Iberdrola Australia

Nicola has worked across sectors including food and fibre, visitor economy, skills and training, and now leads social license and engagement nationally for renewable energy developer and operator Iberdrola Australia. Nicola’s global career spans private, public, and not for profit environments. Economic development, diversification and disruption, and innovation have been core themes, as has building co-operative ecosystems with cross-sector collaboration opportunities. Her work has included deep dives into implementing methodologies such as cluster networks and the successful European model of Smart Specialisation which brings together government, academia, industry, and community.

Tim Woods
Managing Director, IndustryEdge

Tim has deep experience in the fibre, forestry and wood products supply chain in Australia and southeast Asia, with a focus on end-to-end industry analysis to drive value through business partnerships. As head of IndustryEdge, Tim drives a data-centric approach to solving complex problems and explaining markets, trade and industry opportunities. He is a leading industry consultant and sought after speaker and presenter, seeking to deliver insights that support and assist decisions that make a difference.

Andrew Morgan
Managing Director, SFM

Andrew is a recognised leader in Australia’s forestry and natural resource sectors, with over 20 years of executive experience in sustainable development and nature-based solutions. As Co-Founder and Managing Director of SFM, he has overseen large-scale plantation management and driven innovative carbon and environmental market projects. Andrew also co-founded Hydrowood, a globally acclaimed venture reclaiming rare timbers from Tasmania’s hydro lakes. Renowned for his strategic vision and commitment to circular economy principles, he champions scalable solutions that balance environmental responsibility with economic opportunity—positioning natural capital at the heart of regional growth and climate resilience.

Dr Joseph Lawrence
Executive Director, Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI)

Joseph leads AFWI’s strategic direction, working with industry, government, and research partners to transform Australia’s forest and wood products sector through innovation, investment, and collaboration. With nearly 25 years of experience across industry, government, and academia, he is a globally recognised leader in innovation strategy, skills development, and industry transformation. Joseph has worked across advanced manufacturing, energy, ICT, construction, and agriculture, with a focus on regional development and sustainability. He has held senior roles in universities and government, holds a PhD and Master of Engineering in Management, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.