Gippsland Forestry Hub Executive Committee
Trevor Nicklen
(Chair)
Trevor Nicklen has over 20 years’ experience working in the native forest industry in Victoria, primarily for VicForests in operational production forestry with a focus on planning, harvesting and regeneration. During this time Trevor has also worked extensively in forest and fire management within the Gippsland region. Trevor has been a long-time advocate for sustainable forest management and passionate supporter of a sustainable timber industry. More recently Trevor has taken on the role as Senior Farm Forestry Officer with the primary focus to establish, develop, promote, and manage a farm forestry program in Gippsland.
Simon Gatt
(Vice Chair)
Simon Gatt has lived in Gippsland for 30 years and has a passion for the positive way the forestry and wood products industry contributes to the Gippsland community. During this time, he has worked in the forestry industry both in the public and private sectors across a range of native forest and plantation settings. Now as Resource Manager of Associated Kiln Driers Pty Ltd (trading as AKD Softwoods) which is 100% Australian owned and operated integrated forestry and timber processing company with operations in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
As a regional employer, AKD plays an active part in supporting a variety of local community activities and sees its employees as the vital ingredient in its past and future success. Simon has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from Deakin University. His extensive networks and forestry experience compliment his role as Chair of the Gippsland Forestry Hub.
Ian Reid
(Treasurer)
Ian Reid is the managing director of Gippsland based Austimber Harvesting & Haulage Pty Ltd. This company has several contracts for the harvesting of Plantation Pine and Ash for Hancock Victorian Plantations throughout their Gippsland and Northern Victoria plantations. The company operates several fully mechanised crews in both thinning and clear fell operations. A believer in innovation, automation advances and new technology Ian is always looking for opportunities to bring improvement to the company’s operation.
Ian is a former director of the Australian Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) from 2008-2016 and was the Chairman of AFCA from 2012-2016. He also was the Chair of the organising committee for the AUSTimber2016 Expo held at Traralgon in 2016.
Ian has been a member of the Victorian Government Forestry Industry Council since 2015 and was appointed the councils Chairman in 2016.
Ian is a passionate supporter of the timber industry, the contractors involved and their workforce. Through his membership in the above organisations he continues to promote the benefits of a good sustainable timber industry for local and regional communities, the maintenance of a safe working environment for all workers and the environmental benefits that the industry provides. With this professionalism he believes the industry will be one of the success stories of the 21st century.
Lou Bourke
Tony Cantwell
Passionate about Gippsland’s future, Tony is committed to helping realise opportunities the region has to offer.
He has a lifelong connection to Gippsland’s agriculture sector, growing up as part of a family-run beef farm in South Gippsland.
Tony has worked across the private, government and not-for-profit sectors both locally and in Melbourne.
Beginning his career as a journalist at a local Gippsland newspaper, Tony then went on to study law and work as a commercial litigation lawyer with a full-service commercial law firm based in Melbourne.
Tony has served on the Board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, as part of their Director’s First Program, and is currently on the Committee at the Stony Creek Racing Club. He is a graduate of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program.
Tom Schraenkler
With a passion for forestry and wood products innovation and engagement in leading edge initiatives, Tom brings a fresh commercial perspective and understanding of the processes involved in building a culture of trust to achieve progressive, strategic and sustainable improvements.
Tom is the Carbon and Forestry Manager with Sumitomo Forestry Australia and is actively engaged in Gippsland forestry development - supporting the Sumitomo Forestry Wood Cycle of forests, product supply chains, manufacturing, housing construction, and recycling through renewable energy.
Qualifications include Bachelor of Science (Forestry), Business Management, and auditing Chain of Custody, Forest Management and Integrated Management Systems. With solid hands-on experience in senior management and executive roles in major forestry, sawmilling and wood manufacturing enterprises, industry consulting and advisory organisations, as well as forest product harvesting and transport management positions throughout NSW and Victorian supply chains, Tom appreciates the opportunity of contributing to the Gippsland Forestry Hub’s ongoing success.
Jon Lambert
Jon Lambert (BForS) has experience in forestry, agriculture, and business management. Jon has worked across Australia and internationally including receiving a Churchill Fellowship in 2003 to Europe and undertaking extensive agroforestry development work in Africa.
Jon is presently the Managing Director of Heartwood Unlimited, based in Gippsland Victoria. Founded in 1995, Heartwood is Victoria’s foremost agroforestry company managing over 2,500 hectares of medium-scale timber plantations in combination with livestock, carbon and conservation enterprises.
Jon is also the founder of the charity Beyond Subsistence (2008), co-founder of the Australia and New Zealand Durable Eucs Growers Forum (2018), and a recipient of the Gottstein Fellowship in 2022. Jon is also a member of Forestry Australia and the Victorian Farmers’ Federation.
Steven Zyhajlo
Nick is currently Commercial Manager at Opal Australian Paper Maryvale.
Lesia Goodwin
(General Manager)
Lesia has more than 20 years extensive experience in education and training, client relationship management and stakeholder engagement within the Forest Industry, Lesia has excellent time management and skills in prioritisation. Lesia has proven expertise in the management of projects, programs, and organisational initiatives.
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