FTMA CEO’s Report – 2025 Annual General Meeting

Introduction

2025 has been a significant and productive year for the Frame and Truss Manufacturers Association of Australia (FTMA). Despite challenging economic conditions, labour shortages, and an evolving policy environment, FTMA has continued to strengthen our representation and support for members.

It’s hard to keep on top of everything we do, as we are helping members daily who either email or call with a wide variety of queries. For a small team, we are proud of what we have achieved, and I’d like to thank Kat Welsh and Trish Waters for their amazing support throughout the year.

The biggest task this year were definitely the 2025 State Seminar Series, delivering valuable education, networking, and engagement opportunities across NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA.
Attendance improved significantly compared to earlier years' events. Whilst we always want improved numbers, especially in some states, in total we had 22% of the entire industry attend. Something we hope to grow for the 2027 events.

The success of the program has prompted consideration of transforming future seminars into Safety Forums, further cementing FTMA’s leadership in this area.

 

 

The Frame & Truss National Safety Council (F&T NSC) supported many members throughout the year, providing critical assistance on issues ranging from nail gun incidents and forklift safety to chemical storage and transport safety.

FTMA’s aim to support safety culture initiatives included supporting member events such as the Timbertruss Forklift Safety Event, where we ran a live toolbox meeting for all members.

The Chair position is currently vacant, and FTMA will advertise for a new NSC Chair to join our team, and to lead the Council. We will be providing greater resources for members to ensure the safety culture in our sector continues to improve, benefiting all.

Looking ahead, FTMA will introduce a dedicated Safety Portal through the CRM, giving members access to templates, checklists, and resources that promote a proactive and positive safety culture. Best of all, everything will be available at your fingertips with our new CRM.

Another major focus this year has been the Timber Systems Designer Online Training Program, developed through collaboration between ForestWorks, FTMA, training developer Purple Infinity, the three nail plate companies and two RTOs.

Once completed, this will be the first nationally recognised online training pathway for Timber Systems Designers — a vital step in addressing the industry’s skills shortage. The course is expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

The Australian Forest & Wood Innovation Program (AFWI) is a once in a generation chance to invest into research for our industry. There are over a dozen projects focused on our sector. They aim to create our own industry standard, improve safety, increase the deemed to satisfy provisions, remove nogs from our Wallframes as an example.

I sit on the Future Framing Initiative (FFI) Project Management Committee, ensuring governance and alignment with industry needs. However, given how many AFWI projects are focused on our sector, our aim is to engage a Research Associate to ensure our sector is heard throughout the research.

FTMA’s Strategic Technical Committee, facilitated by Wood Products Victoria, has been quiet this year since the departure of Dr. Alastair Woodard. This committee was designed to help members interested in entering mid-rise, multi-residential, or cassette markets with their technical challenges. The committee will be relaunched in 2026 to deliver even greater value to members through targeted technical guidance and support.

The 2025 National Manufacturer Census achieved 79 responses, representing approximately 32% of the 249 frame and truss businesses nationally. While participation was lower than in 2019 and 2022, FTMA remains committed to reviewing the survey’s structure and improving engagement to ensure it continues delivering reliable, industry-specific benchmarking.

FTMA continued investing in the Trussted Insight Reports and the Frame & Truss Sector Outlooks (FATSO) written by Tim Woods of IndustryEdge. Future editions of FATSO over the coming year will feature insights about our industry from builders, timber companies, nail plate providers, certifiers and others in our supply chain. You cannot strengthen a supply chain, if the supply chain doesn’t understand one another.

FTMA has remained a strong supporter of circular economy principles through the Timber Circularity Project, (circular economy), which developed the national online map linking manufacturers to waste facilities and recycling options.

We have continued our financial support of the Timber Framing Collective, which transitioned into a WoodSolutions program. This transition allows our funding to be matched by government contributions, further amplifying the impact of the campaign promoting the benefits of timber framing.

FTMA maintained strong advocacy across all levels of government, participating in key political and industry meetings to ensure our members’ voices are heard.

Highlights included attendance and exhibition at the South Australian Climate Change Conference, where the Carbon Warrior campaign received outstanding recognition. The engagement opened new political pathways, including direct dialogue with the SA Premier.

FTMA also hosted several plant tours for policymakers and bureaucrats, showcasing the capabilities of our sector and educating decision makers on the vital role we play in housing delivery. It’s simple. Housing does not happen without us!

FTMA is represented on numerous committees, including the Delivering Social Housing at Scale Committee, the Wood Products Victoria Board, multiple ForestWorks committees, and four Australian Standards Committees. It’s important that FTMA contributes directly to national policy development, standards, and workforce initiatives.

We continue to be part of the national discussion on Modern Methods of Construction, ensuring our industry’s pivotal contribution to Australia’s housing supply is recognised. I sit on the NSW MMC Taskforce and am pleased that FTMA’s strong advocacy for an elemental approach to MMC has been adopted by the NSW Government. This outcome highlights the timber frame and truss sector’s role as the backbone of efficient and sustainable construction.

At the end of 2024, FTMA released the report Modern Methods of Construction and the Important Role of Australia’s Timber Frame & Truss Sector, which has been central in lobbying efforts to ensure our sector is recognised as essential to offsite construction. We have made it clear that our members are not newcomers to prefabrication — we are the original innovators, the “OGs” of offsite prefab — and it’s pleasing to see government and industry increasingly understand this.

 

 

FTMA new Member Jungle CRM launched in August. This is transforming member communication, enabling real-time updates, event registrations, HR and safety resource access, and machinery listings through a single mobile app.

The FTMA HR Portal has also continued to provide exceptional support to members throughout the year. The service from HRAnywhere has been outstanding, with more than 180 individual calls made to the PMA Line. The service is being used across all member types, from large multi-plant businesses to small operators, offering practical HR guidance when it’s needed most.

The HR Portal can now be accessed directly through the new CRM Member Jungle app, giving members immediate access to wage guides, policies, reports, past webinars and machinery listings, all at your fingertips!

FTMA has continued to promote the benefits of offsite prefabrication at trade shows and industry events, including builders’ expos, Holmesglen TAFE Open Day, and various member functions, strengthening awareness and understanding of our sector’s value across the construction landscape.

Two Supporting Annual Partnership positions became available during 2025. Rather than filling these immediately, FTMA decided to hold off until 2026 to show appreciation for the partners who have stood by us through challenging times.  Let’s face it, it’s been a tough market, and we simply could not support members without the amazing support we receive from our Annual Principal, Strategic and Supporting Partners. Whilst we have a waiting list for partnerships, FTMA will be seeking EOI’s before Christmas from companies wishing to be considered for partnership. The board feels it is important; we choose the best partners for our members.

Planning is well underway for the 2026 FTMA National Conference and Trade Exhibition, to be held on 18–19 May 2026 at Novotel Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast. The event promises a dynamic exhibition program, interactive sessions, and engaging networking activities.

 

In Conclusion

I’d like to acknowledge that the FTMA Board never fails to amaze me. I must be one of the luckiest CEOs of an association I know, as I have never had an issue with the incredible FTMA Board since I started back in 2009.

The support they provide me, and the governance they provide the Association, has ensured we have continued to grow. Not only are we expanding the FTMA team to provide greater support to members, but we have also increased membership to now represent 62% of the entire national industry, while maintaining a strong and secure financial position.

I’d like to thank outgoing board members Billy Bowley, Elizabeth van der Plaat and Aaron Hillman. Billy resigned during the year due to work commitments, and whilst Elizabeth has only been with us for one year, she has made outstanding contributions to the board. Aaron Hillman first joined the FTMA Board in November 2018 and during his seven years on the board served a term as Chair. Aaron has been vocal, committed, and always willing to provide input, and we thank him sincerely for his time and dedication to FTMA.

FTMA continues to evolve as a collaborative, forward-thinking organisation dedicated to strengthening the prefabricated timber sector and building pathways for growth, innovation, and sustainability.

I would like to thank the Board, staff, and members for their unwavering support and engagement throughout the 24/25 year. Together, we are ensuring that timber remains the material of choice in a sustainable and resilient built environment.

 

Kersten Gentle
Chief Executive Officer
FTMA Australia