Join us from 27–29 October, 2025 at the Innovation Centre, UniSC Sunshine Coast campus, for three inspiring days of networking opportunities, workshops, awards and presentations from leading national and international experts in Forestry, Forest Products and Forest Science, including a dedicated Student Day.
Program
(Subject to change)
| Time | Event details | |
|---|---|---|
| 8–8.30am | Coffee and tea on arrival and registration | |
| 8.30–9am | Welcome and opening remarks Professor Mark Brown, Director, Forest Research Institute |
|
| 9–10am | Keynote address Dr Lyndall Bull presents 'The forest-based bioeconomy – An overview of global trends and local considerations.' Click here for details. |
|
| 10–10.30am | Morning tea |
Session one: Forest landscape restoration – innovations insights
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 10.30–10.50am | HSSE in community reforestation projects Dr Alexandra Catling |
| 10.50–11.10am | Assisted natural regeneration in tropics Tomiwa Oluwajuwon |
| 11.10–11.30am | Livelihoods and long term reforestation engagement Milad Dehghani Pour |
| 11.30–11.50am | Machine learning forest restoration trajectories Jenny Vivian |
| 11.50am–12.10pm | Key insights from three years of implementing Project Tarsier Professor John Herbohn (TBC) |
| 12.10–1.10pm | Lunch |
Session two: Timber circularity in action: Mapping, testing and implementing solutions
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 1.10–1.15pm | Timber circularity in action Introduction by Professor Tripti Singh |
| 1.15–1.25pm | Why circularity matters: Timber resource pathways in a bioeconomy Dr Penelope Mitchell |
| 1.25–1.35pm | Tracking timber resources: World first geospatial timber resource map Dr Melanie Harris |
| 1.35–1.45pm | Timber characterisation & Testing: Understanding the resource Dr Zidi Yan |
| 1.45–1.55pm | From trials to transformation: Timber circularity pilot and policies Dr Martin Strandgard |
| 1.55–2.00pm | Project wrap-up & questions Professor Tripti Singh |
| 2.00–2.30pm | Panel discussion Tripti Singh, Penelope Mitchell, Melanie Harris, Zidi Yan, Martin Strandgard |
| 2.30–3pm | Afternoon tea |
Session three: FRI centre spotlight
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 3–3.30pm | Tropical Forests People Research Centre: Overview Professor John Herbohn |
| 3.30–4pm | Forest Industries Research Centre: Overview Professor Mark Brown |
| 4–4.30pm | National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life: Overview Professor Tripti Singh |
| 4.30–5pm | Discussion and close |
| 5–6.30pm | Networking and refreshments |
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 8.30–9am | Coffee on arrival and registration |
| 9–9.10am | Welcome and housekeeping |
Session four: Forest health and biosecurity
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 9.10–9.30am | Sirex Woodwasp in the post-lineage D era Dr Helen Nahrung |
| 9.30–9.50am | Invasive pest management in Ethiopia Dr Simon Lawson |
| 9.50–10.10am | Virus detection via third-gen sequencing Thomas Farrall |
| 10.10–10.30am | Technology for vegetation biocondition Dr Prashant Srivastava |
| 10.30–10.50am | Remote sensing and ML for weed detection Harikesh Singh |
| 10.50–11.10am | EO data fusion for weed mapping Dr Sanjeev Srivastava |
| 11.10–11.40am | Morning tea |
Session five: Realising new value
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 11.40am–12pm | Biodiversity in silvopastoral systems Tien Nguyen |
| 12–12.20pm | Harvest residue for bioenergy Dr Mohammad Ghaffariyan |
| 12.20–12.40pm | Biomass utilisation in sandalwood plantations Duc Bui |
| 12.40–1pm |
Logging legacies in N QLD: Skid trail recovery after 56 years |
| 1–2pm | Lunch |
Session six: Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (TBC)
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 2–2.10pm | Introduction to Australian Forest and Wood Innovations headquarters Dr Patrick Mitchell |
| 2.10–2.20pm | Centre for Sustainable Futures Professor Mark Brown |
| 2.20–2.30pm | Centre for Climate Smart Forestry Professor Patrick Baker |
| 2.30–2.40pm | Centre for Sustainable Resource and Product Solutions Dr Dean Williams |
| 2.40–3.10pm | Engagement with AFWI Research Centres Discussion |
| 3.10–3.30pm | Closing reflections |
| Time | Event details |
|---|---|
| 8–8.30am | Coffee on arrival and registration |
| 8.30–8.40am | Welcome and introduction of MC Professor Mark Brown, Director Forest Research Institute |
| 8.40–10am | Student research presentations 10 minutes each including questions |
| 10–10.30am | Morning tea |
| 10.30–11.40am | Student research presentations (continued) |
| 11.40am–12pm | Student poster session |
| 12–1pm | Networking lunch |
| 1–3pm | Professional development Workshop (p1) |
| 3–3.30pm | Afternoon Tea |
| 3.30–5pm | Professional development Workshop (p2) |
About the Forest Research Institute
UniSC’s Forest Research Institute undertakes work in the broad spectrum of forestry research areas that make direct and meaningful contributions to the sustainability of our wooded landscapes. This includes important areas of studies such as smallholder and forest conservation-based research, along with work to ensure industries are meeting regulatory requirements and public expectations.
The Institute is comprised of three Centres. Each has an individual identity and research focus but they work collaboratively for greater impact.
- Forest Industries Research Centre
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre
- National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life
Contact
Forest Research Institute Administration
Email: FRIAdmin@usc.edu.au