Partnership at the Centre: FTMA's Board and Partners Meeting Charts the Path Forward

FTMA CEO, Kersten Gentle, opens up the Board & Partner Meeting for 2026

"Every project we deliver is built to advance one of our six Strategic Pillars - and none of it happens without our partners." 
That message ran through FTMA's Board and Partners Meeting on the 26 August, as the Association's leadership team gathered to update members and partners on progress against the 2026–2028 Operational Plan. 

CEO Kersten Gentle opened proceedings with a reminder that the day's update was, for the first time, a genuinely whole-of-team affair - with every FTMA staff member presenting on their portfolio, from finance and safety to research and marketing. Gentle presented on the deliverables of FTMA from the current 3 year Operational Plan, and the intended pathway forward for FTMA as it continues to match its commitment to Support - Invest - Grow.

Finance Manager Trish Waters reported a financially stable year, underpinned by prudent, debt-free governance. Waters was direct about what that stability is for: it exists to support member-facing initiatives and to give partners confidence in FTMA as a long-term collaborator, not just a channel for sponsorship. Having strong financial governance puts FTMA in a sturdy position to continue future strategic and programme planning. 

Marketing and Communications Manager Kat Welsh spoke to the growth of FTMA News, and the public-facing powers of supporting brand trust and reliability - and to the principle guiding that growth: reciprocity. FTMA News, she said, works because it promotes partner stories as consistently as its own, turning the page into a shared showcase for the people and businesses behind the sector rather than a one-way broadcast. The future focus is FTMA developing marketing resources for members and providing support to deliver into a world where strategic branding is critical both for individual businesses and the sector as a whole.

National Research and Technical Manager Rhianna Robinson presented an impactful session with an update on FTMA's research portfolio, anchored by its role in the Australian Forestry and Wood Innovations programme – a fund attendees heard described as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to secure investment for the sector. Robinson's message was consistent with the day's broader theme: FTMA doesn't need to lead every project, but it does need to be at the table, connecting the right partners and ensuring frame and truss interests are represented.

National Safety Council Chair Simon Williamson’s presentation (who unfortunately was unable to present in person) outlined a newly constituted Council already running hazard-control trials - including a magnetic crane-hook trial and a glove trial aimed at reducing nail-gun injuries - alongside a commitment to quarterly webinars and a forthcoming Safety Portal, to provide members with safety resources, templates, and guides.

 
If one thread ran under every presentation, it was this: FTMA's growth, credibility and influence depend on the strength of its partnerships. From safety trials to research funding, to the stories told in FTMA News, the association's ambition to be a trusted, leading national voice in the years to come rests on partners who continue to invest their time, expertise, wisdom, and support in the sector's future.

Thank you to all who were able to make it. Your partnership with FTMA is very valued, and FTMA is looking forward to planning, developing, and delivering future strategic growth for members, and the frame and truss sector at large.