Private Forests Tasmania welcomes new director

Posted 17 June 2022

Joanna Jones brings extensive practical commercial skills from various agricultural disciplines to the PFT board.

Tasmania’s private forestry industry continues to grow strongly, with the private sector delivering nearly 75 per cent of forest products in Tasmania at a time of significant market demand.

Private Forests Tasmania has a clear priority to implement innovative policies to expand private forest resources sustainably.

This month PFT welcomes a new director, Dr Joanna Jones.

Dr Jones is a senior consultant with Pinion Advisory and an adjunct senior researcher with the University of Tasmania.

She co-owns and manages Fidelity Peonies and, with her husband, runs a family-owned dairy farm in the Derwent Valley.

Minister for Resources, Guy Barnett, said Dr Jones would bring extensive practical commercial skills from various agricultural disciplines to the PFT board.

“We welcome Dr Jones to the PFT Board where her skills in project management, farm-focused agricultural research and development and communications will be extremely valuable,” he said.

PFT chairman Evan Rolley welcomed Dr Jones appointment while visiting one of PFT’s demonstration sites, The Back Run at Ellendale.

The farm demonstration sites, funded via a grant by PFT with assistance from the Australian Government, help establish and integrate commercial trees on farms.

“Many agricultural businesses, organisations and markets have announced carbon-neutral policies and targets that will impact the supply chains,” Mr Rolley said.

“Trees on farms help landowners to be investment-ready for the emerging carbon-neutral economy and will help improve farm resilience by diversifying income through carbon storage and options for wood products.

“Jo’s experience in whole farm planning and understanding of agriculture in Tasmania, alongside her decade-long board experience, will assist PFT in delivering its strategic plan.”

“Her skills will complement the existing board’s forest industry strengths and help advance Private Forest Tasmania’s purpose to grow the state’s private forest resource in new and innovative ways with farming stakeholders.”

Dr Jones will join the board in a position made vacant by valued director Andrew Morgan’s term expiring.

Mr Morgan served on the PFT board for six years and the last four years as deputy chairman.

“Andrew has always been an active contributor and brought with him contemporary forestry and business knowledge,” Mr Rolley said.

“Andrew helped Private Forests Tasmania shape policies to showcase innovation and help expand sustainable private forestry in Tasmania.”

Dr Jones joined the board on June 27, 2022.