Doug Ducker
Chair of Woodco

Woodco is the overarching body representing the Forestry and Wood Processing interests of New Zealand. The Council is made up of Forest Owners Assn, Farm Forestry Assn, Forest Industry Contractors Assn, Wood Processors Assn and Pine Manufacturers Assn and operates to provide oversight to the industry in all areas of its activity.

Doug Ducker has chaired the Council since 2006 and has seen the strength and image of the industry develop through collective representation to Government and others – this joint Conference is in itself testament to the success of Woodco in achieving a common purpose.

Doug Ducker has been Managing Director of Pan Pac Forest Products since 2004 – this appointment followed substantial service with the company in roles including process engineering, technical R & D, project management and production management.
In addition to the role as Chair of the Wood Council of New Zealand Doug is a Director of the Wood Processors Association, a councillor of the Japan New Zealand Business Council and Vice President of the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Rt Hon John Key, Prime Minister
Governments vision for Forest & Wood products industry

Prime Minister John Key was born in Auckland but moved to Christchurch with his mother and sisters when he was a child. He was educated at Burnside High School and then gained a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Canterbury. John launched his investment banking career in New Zealand in the mid 1980s. After 10 years working in the New Zealand market he headed offshore, working in Singapore, London, and Sydney for US investment banking giant Merrill Lynch. During that time he was in charge of a number of business units including global foreign exchange and European bond and derivative trading. In 1999, John was invited to join the Foreign Exchange Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank of NY and on two occasions undertook management studies at Harvard University in Boston. In 2001, John headed back to New Zealand to fulfil a long-held ambition to stand for Parliament for the National Party. He won the Helensville seat in 2002 with a majority of 1589. John rose through the ranks, becoming deputy finance spokesman and then finance spokesman, rising to number 7 in the party ranking prior to the 2005 election. At the 2005 election he again won the Helensville seat, this time with a majority of 12,778. He continued to be the Party’s finance spokesman and was ranked at number 4 before being elected National Party Leader on 27 November 2006. In the November 2008 General Election, the country voted for a National-led Government and John was re-elected as MP for Helensville with an increased majority of 18,562 votes. On November 19 he was sworn in as New Zealand’s 38th Prime Minister. John is married to Bronagh and has 2 children. When he has some spare time he likes to spend it with his family, cooking, playing golf, and watching rugby.

Rob Davies
Chairman, WPA

Rob Davies has worked in a range of industries including Aluminium, Pulp & Paper, Wood Panels and Timber in New Zealand and Australia. His current role is Chief Executive Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts New Zealand and Chairman of WPA.

The CHH Woodproducts NZ business group manufactures and markets a full range of wood based building products, including timber, plywood, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), particleboard and a range of interior decorative products, supplied from nine major manufacturing operations spread throughout New Zealand.

Doug Steel
Economist, BNZ

Doug has been forecasting the NZ economy for over 12 years. He joined the BNZ economic research team in 2010, following five years as an economist at another NZ bank.  Prior to banking, Doug managed the macroeconomic forecasting team at the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research – producing a comprehensive set of economic forecasts and presenting these to members of the business community and media.  Between 1999 and 2004, Doug represented the New Zealand Pacific Economic Cooperation Council at the Pacific Economic Outlook forecasters’ and structure specialists’ taskforces.  Doug has a focus on agriculture, which he thinks underpins much of New Zealand’s economic activity. He writes BNZ’s agricultural commentary and outlook publication Rural Wrap.

Nigel Jones
General Manager Strategy, Fonterra Trade and Operations

Nigel Jones is General Manager Strategy, Fonterra Trade and Operations. In this role Nigel is charged with delivering the strategy for a NZ$9 billion operation stretching from the farm gate through to an international market place that encompasses over 120 countries.

Nigel joined the dairy industry in 1999 with 18 years experience in leading international companies within the logistics industry. Since joining the Dairy Industry Nigel has held a number of senior logistics and supply chain related roles.

In addition to a comprehensive operational background involving international logistics and the port sector, Nigel has sea going qualifications, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, holds Bachelor degrees in Accountancy, Business Finance and a Master of Science in Supply Chain and Logistics from Cranfield University in the UK.

Nick Roberts
CEO, Forests NSW

Nick studied at Bangor University in North Wales graduating with an MSc in Wood Science in 1980. On leaving he joined Tasman Pulp and Paper Company Limited in Kawerau, New Zealand where he was initially employed as a Mill Wood Scientist. In 1982 he transferred to Auckland where he held various marketing roles before being appointed General Manger Sales in 1987. In this role Nick travelled extensively marketing newsprint and kraft pulp in Australia, Europe and Asia. In 1992 he joined Tasman Forestry Limited in Nelson as General Manager Operations of a 78,000 hectare forest estate in the South Island. In 1997 this business was acquired by Weyerhaeuser and Nick was appointed Managing Director and became Sydney based Managing Director of Weyerhaeuser Australia in 2002. Nick joined Forests NSW as CEO in April 2007.

In addition to these roles Nick has been actively involved in industry Associations chairing the Forestry Sector Operating Committee of Forest Industry Training in Rotorua, New Zealand, President of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, a Director of Forest Research and Chair of PTAA and more recently inaugural Chair of A3P. Nick is currently a Director of Forest and Wood Products Australia.

Bryce Heard
CEO, Lockwood Group

Bryce Heard began a distinguished career in the forest and wood products industry with the Kaingaroa Logging Company (KLC) and held the position of General Manager for six years. KLC was originally set up to hold and operate the logging rights to Kaingaroa Forest. It employed some 500 staff and was a highly unionised company. He then became Chief Executive Tasman Forestry Limited; Tasman Forestry was the Forestry arm of NZ’s largest company (in its heyday), Fletcher Challenge and held this position for nine years.

Some concurrent positions held at that time were NZ Forest Industries Councillor (FIC) and President NZ Forest Owners Association. FIC was set up represent the interests of all parts of the forest industry. Bryce was a founding member. As President NZ Forest Owners Association, Bruce initiated and led the reform of the NZ waterfront industry in 1990/91, taking 30-50% of wages costs and featherbedding out of the Stevedoring labour cost structure. He also initiated, led and signed the NZ Forest Accord Agreement between all parts of the NZ Forest Industry and the Major Conservation/Green organisation in this country.

Bryce left Fletchers to become the Chief Executive Forest Research/Scion (FR). FR was one of eight Crown owned Research Institutes, and at the time of appointment employed 450 scientists. He held this position for 8 years. Concurrently he was also appointed as the President of NZ Association of Crown Research Institutes (ACRI)

Bryce is now Chief Executive Lockwood. Lockwood is a small-medium family owned timber product manufacturing and group housing company. He has been in this role for 3 years. Outside the wood products sector Bryce has a very strong interest in deer farming. He is a stud deer farm owner, operating for 22 years on various properties around the Rotorua area and has served two terms on the NZ Game Industry Board as a farmers’ elected member.

Chair Peter Berg
 President, FOA

As a professional forester, business manager and advisor, Peter Berg is an exceptional example of outstanding leadership. He has been a member, chairman and director of many key NZ forest industry associations. His efforts have extended to administration, co ordination, planning and strategy development with a focus on community, environmental, educational and economic interest. He has a wide experience in the international marketing and operational trading of forest products which has extended to China, Japan, Korea, India, USA and several other south east Asian countries. As a New Zealand forester he has specialized in the areas of harvesting and marketing, development of quality systems and plantation forest certification. Peter's career has also included work in Western Samoa under the NZ Bilateral Aid Programme. He was responsible for the planning and implementation of afforestation and wood processing projects, as well as leadership of a specialist aid team concerned with education, training, forest management, engineering and agro-forestry. The Commonwealth Forestry Association awarded Peter the 2009 Regional Awards of Excellence, South East Asia and Pacific Region in 2009.

Gerry Van Leeuwen
 Vice President, International Wood Markets Group

 In the short period of less than 15 years, China has become the fastest growing producer, importer, exporter and consumer of wood in the world. Today, China is the largest producer of plywood, MDF, blockboard and furniture in the world. China has become the world’s third largest producer of softwood lumber (after the U.S. and Canada) and the world’s second largest importer of wood products (mainly logs and lumber). China needs to continue to increase log and lumber imports in order to continue to meet growing domestic demand for wood products and to continue to increase exports of finished wood products. China prefers to import competitively priced softwood logs but since the large price increase of softwood log imports from Russia, China has been forced to dramatically increase competitively priced (delivered China port basis) softwood lumber. New Zealand and the Pacific Coast of North America are the only two regions in the world that have been able to increase softwood log exports to China. With growing domestic demand and consumption forecast for the next five to ten years, where will China find competitively priced softwood raw material (logs and/or lumber)? What does soaring Chinese demand for logs and lumber in the next five to ten years mean for New Zealand log and lumber export opportunities? What impact will rising wood demand in China likely have on global log and lumber prices? As I will be visiting many of China’s major log and lumber importers from Sept. 18th to 26th, I will be able to provide some very current information about China’s log and lumber imports, delivered log costs, current import trends, and the outlook for New Zealand radiata pine log exports.

Gerry Van Leeuwen has more than ten years of senior managerial and operational experience with a major coastal B.C. forest company. With twenty-seven years experience in the B.C. coastal wood products industry, Gerry Van Leeuwen has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in all aspects of the forestry and sawmill business. His business and managerial experience includes log and chip trading, sawmill management, mill efficiency improvement, global wood product markets, new product development, grade and value recovery, margin enhancement, value-adding processes, and team building related to lumber manufacturing. He has also been directly responsible for the marketing and sales of all grades and qualities of lumber and remanufactured products into the Pacific Rim, Europe, and North America.

Gerry Van Leeuwen has also travelled extensively to visit many industrial manufacturers throughout North America that produce cut stock, doors, windows, mouldings and millwork products. Gerry has also made dozens of marketing trips to Japan and Europe to meet with key industry customers. Gerry has developed excellent strategic insight into key industry operating issues and can provide analysis and recommendations for operational and marketing elements for investment purposes, plant renovations/ upgrades, new construction, and the due diligence process.

David Grimmond
Infometrics

David Grimmond provides economic consulting services for Infometrics clients, including model development, customised forecasts, and policy analysis. He has provided economic analysis on a wide range of topics for private business, non-profit organisations, central, and local government. He also provides input to the company's forecasting process. David has played a leading role in preparing economic forecasts at the NZIER, the Treasury, and at Infometrics.

David graduated from Otago University in 1982 with a BA (Hons) in economics. Along with his experience as an applied economist, he has also had considerable public sector management experience, managing the macroeconomic policy at Treasury, as well as research and evaluation, the future of work, and the labour market information unit at the Department of Labour. David first worked at Infometrics between 1997 and 2000, returning in 2004 after almost four years at the Department of Labour.

For details about David's presentation,visit www.infometrics.co.nz

Murray Sherwin
Director-General, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Murray joined MAF as Director-General in November 2001. He came to MAF from the Reserve Bank where he was Deputy Governor and Deputy Chief Executive.

He joined the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in 1976, working as an economic analyst. In 1984, Mr Sherwin was appointed Chief Manager of the Bank's International Department. He subsequently held Chief Manager positions in the Financial Markets Department and the Banking System Department.

During his career with the Reserve Bank, Mr Sherwin had a number of secondments, including to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris (1979); the Prime Minister's Advisory Group (1982-1983); and to the World Bank, Washington DC (1987-1989) where he was a member of the Board of Executive Directors. He was appointed Deputy Governor in June 1995.

John Lemm
President PMA

John Lemm was born and bred in Tauranga. John joined Intalok in 1985 as a construction supervisor. Twenty years on and John, a qualified carpenter, now leads the Intalok team. He is passionate about the Intalok building system and loves living in his own Intalok. John relishes time with family and friends, follows sport - especially motor sport and rugby - and enjoys fishing and diving.

Andrew Irving
Architect, Irving, Smith and Jack

Andrew was born in Pahiatua, New Zealand in 1970 and went to Tararua College before going to Victoria University in Wellington. He graduated in 1993 with a first class honours degree in Architecture and a Bachelor of Building Science. He is an Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

Before settling in Nelson, Andrew spent some time overseas and gained valuable experience working with the Donovan O’Connell Partnership in London from 1998-99. In 2003 he completed the Museum Building and Environment Workshop, run by the National Library of New Zealand, the National Preservation Office and the Consortium for Heritage Collections and their Environment.

Andrew has been involved in a variety of projects including tourist ventures, commercial developments and educational facilities. He has extensive experience of residential and commercial design, and was the architect for the award-winning Nelson Provincial Museum, collaborating with local artists and incorporating materials from the region into the final design.

Jacob Kajavala
FICA President

Jacob Kajavala is the Managing Director of KFL, based in the Bay of Plenty. KFL are specialists in central processing yards and log warehousing. Mr Kajavala is the president of FICA and a member of the Woodco board.

John Stulen
FICA

John Stulen is chief executive of the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA). In his role for FICA as he represents members’ collective interests at a national level to government agencies, related business interests and policy makers. FICA’s role is to improve the profitability of contractors and their clients. This is achieved through professional development programmes including regional seminars, workshops and networking meetings around the key forest products regions of the country.

John completed a degree in mechanical engineering and has worked his entire career to date in the forestry and wood products industry in New Zealand for the past 29 years. Originally from Canada he is based in Rotorua – the heart of forest industry.

John Dermer
FFA

John Dermer was elected National President of the NZ Farm Forestry Association in April 2010. Prior to that he was on the NZFFA National Executive for 7 years, latterly as National Vice-President. John and wife Diny run a mixed cropping and livestock farm at Cheltenham, 15 km north of Feilding. His policy of where to plant trees on the property is simple: if you can’t drive a tractor over the land, that’s where the trees should go. John has also been a partner in local forestry ventures.

Summary of Presentation:
From his experience as judge for the Husqvarna Farm Forester of the Year Awards John, is enthusiastic about the achievements of farm foresters in taking advantage of the economic opportunities of forestry and putting into practice an ethic of environmental sustainability. He believes carbon trading represents a further positive opportunity for farm foresters and smaller scale forest owners, but discontinuation of the Afforestation Grants Scheme is shortsighted government expediency just when the scheme was starting to make an effective difference.

David Rhodes
FOA

David Rhodes is the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association. A specialist in public policy, David represents the Association’s 250+ members and their associated forests’ interests with local and central government. David provides support and strategic direction in key areas such as transport, the natural environment, fire management, health and safety, research and biosecurity.

Previous industry experience has been as the New Zealand Head of Delegation to UN Forum on Forests, including work on the New Zealand national focal point for Food and Agriculture Organisation including Asia-Pacific regional activities and FAO Committee on Forestry. He has also been an executive member of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry and economic advisor on establishment of 2020 plantation forest project in Canada. Areas of forestry expertise include climate change, plantation economics, nutrient trading, certification and water quality.
David holds a BSc and MSc specialising in Zoology and Economics.

Dr Jon Tanner
WPA

Jon Tanner has spent the last 20 years working in primary industry in New Zealand, Asia, Africa and Europe. Originally from a farming background, Jon has experience as a science manager, director of public policy and as a CEO of primary industry bodies. He was formerly CEO of New Zealand’s organic sector body and International Director at the NZ Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. Prior to that, he was Land Policy Manager with the UK’s Environment Agency and a Rural Advisor with the UK Department for International Development before taking on the role of WPA Chief Executive Officer in August 2010.

Dr Tanner has considerable experience of working on sustainable land use around the world. He has advised land managers, firms and governments on technologies, practices and policies to improve the economic, social and environmental performance of primary industry.

Jon’s interests lie in enhancing the ability of sectors to add value to commodity products and to grow markets. He believes that firmly uniting effort across the sector and harnessing new knowledge will ensure that wood processing continues to be a strong contributor to New Zealand’s economic performance.

Jon holds Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Master of Science (Distinction) degrees in agriculture from the University of Reading (England) and a PhD (also from Reading University) based on a study of agro-forestry systems in Southeast Asia.

Lawrie Halkett
PMA

Lawrie Halkett is currently Chief Executive of the New Zealand Pine Manufacturers Association, with 35 years experience in the forest and wood products industry.

He began his career as a forester with New Zealand Forest Service, followed by two years as a volunteer in the Himalayas, developing a re-afforestation project. On returning to NZ he joined Fletcher Challenge Forests, managing extensive silvicultural and harvesting operations in Otago, Gisborne and Nelson.

The latter half of his career began with a move into international marketing and wood processing, first working for the New Zealand government marketing agency, followed by managing value-added export operations in sawmilling (Thames Timber), furniture (Jack Stow) and edge-glue panel manufacturing (Golden Downs Panel).

Hon David Carter
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry

Hon David Carter was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Biosecurity and Minister of Forestry following the 2008 General Election.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1994 as the Member of Parliament for the rural electorate of Selwyn. In the 1996 General Election, he won the Banks Peninsula electorate. In 1999 he became a list member based in Canterbury with specific responsibility for the Banks Peninsula electorate.

Hon David Carter was the Junior Government Whip in 1996, before being promoted to a Minister outside Cabinet in 1998. Ministerial responsibilities included Minister for Senior Citizens, Associate Minister for Food Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control, Associate Minister for Revenue, and Associate Minister for Education. From 1999 he was the National Party spokesman for Finance, Housing and Tourism. In 2002 he was made the spokesman for Agriculture, and chaired the Primary Production Select Committee.

He completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree at Lincoln University before embarking on a farming and business career.

By 1974 he had established New Zealand's first commercial cattle embryo transplant company and was instrumental in seeing cattle breeds such as Simmental, Charolais and Limousin established in both New Zealand and Australia.

During the 1980s he continued his involvement in the agriculture sector, establishing the Avon Park Simmental Stud and serving as the President of the Simmental Cattle Breeders' Society of New Zealand.  He was also involved with the hospitality industry in Christchurch, establishing New Zealand's first theatrically themed restaurant.

Hon David Carter currently farms a 2,500 stock unit farm on Banks Peninsula and owns a 7,500 stock unit farm at Cheviot, North Canterbury.