FTMA Board Dinner – Collaboration on National Forestry Day

On Tuesday 19 August, FTMA Australia hosted a special Board Dinner in Melbourne, coinciding with National Forestry Day. With the FTMA Board already in the city, it was the perfect opportunity to bring together leaders from across the supply chain – forest growers and sawmillers, nail plate suppliers, frame and truss manufacturers, builders, architects, government agencies, and the research and innovation community.

Purpose of the Dinner

Australia’s housing industry stands at a pivotal moment. Demand for new homes is growing rapidly, while expectations for sustainability, speed, and affordability are higher than ever. At the centre of this challenge is our sector – the prefabricated lightweight timber frame and truss industry.

Timber is more than just a building material. It is nature’s own carbon store, locking away carbon for the life of a structure, and playing a vital role in helping Australia meet its emissions reduction goals. For over 50 years, our industry has provided the structural backbone of Australian housing, and as demand intensifies, the need for prefabricated, sustainable solutions has never been greater.

The dinner was a rare chance to collaborate, share insights, and explore practical ways forward, ensuring our industry continues to lead in delivering more homes – sooner, and sustainably.

 

 

A Night of Insight and Collaboration

We were privileged to have Tim Woods of IndustryEdge, who channelled his inner Geoffrey Robertson to guide guests through a thought-provoking and engaging discussion. His facilitation encouraged open dialogue, reinforcing the vital role our sector plays in shaping the future of housing.

The atmosphere was inspiring – a room filled with Carbon Warriors, all deeply committed to building a stronger, greener future together. Importantly, the dinner was not about solving every challenge in one night, but about finding collaborative, practical pathways that will strengthen our industry’s impact in the years ahead.

The conversations shared were just the beginning. The energy, insights, and willingness to work together demonstrated the incredible potential of our sector when united. We look forward to building on these discussions and further engaging with dinner delegates during the upcoming industry tour, where collaboration will continue to drive innovation and sustainability.

Guests in Attendance

FTMA Australia sincerely thanks the following leaders for joining us at the Board Dinner and contributing to such an engaging and constructive evening:

• Andrew Leighton – FWPA CEO
• Arthur Potter – Universal Trusses & FTMA Board
• Brendan Schneider – Sunbury Wallframes & FTMA Chair
• Christine Flanagan – Calco Truss & Timber, FTMA Board
• Gary Walker – Belmont Timbers, FTMA Board
• Jamie Dahlsen – Dahlsens Building Centres, FTMA Board
• Jeremy McLeod – Director, Breathe Architecture
• Joseph Lawrence – AFWI Director
• Kerry Symeonidis – Specialist Advisor Inspectorate, Building & Plumbing Commission
• Michaela Lihou – MBA VIC CEO
• Oscar Stanley – UDIA (Vic) Board Member
• Peter Robinson – Pryda Fabrication Solutions Manager
• Scott Bradley – MiTek Director of Marketing
• Shane Vicary – AKD CEO
• Steven Wojtkiw – HIA Victorian Deputy Executive Director
• Yasuhiro Odagane – Sumitomo Forests Managing Director
• Tim Woods – IndustryEdge
• Kersten Gentle – FTMA Australia CEO

 

 

Your insights, expertise, and continued support are invaluable as we work together to shape the future of Australia’s housing industry.

Kersten Gentle