WoodSolutions proudly hosted the 2024 Industry-Educator Workshop at the University of Tasmania’s Inveresk Campus on 11-12 November, bringing together more than seventy people engaged with the wood products sector from across Australia. Participants spanned forestry, academia, timber production, and building design and construction, creating a diverse and collaborative environment.
WoodSolutions is proudly resourced by Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA), a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to increasing the demand for and value of wood products. By providing free resources, expert guidance, and practical solutions, WoodSolutions empowers professionals to embrace timber as a sustainable choice for building and design.
Over two days, attendees engaged in site visits, presentations, discussions, and networking activities, fostering connections across the entire timber supply chain. The workshop underscored the importance of strengthening ties between industry, academia, and building professionals to drive innovation and growth.
“Our primary goals for this event are to build capacity within the sector by cultivating a supportive, collaborative community and to attract and retain new talent in the industry,” said WoodSolutions host and timber engineer Jon Shanks.
He continued, “By aligning expertise and resources, the workshop showcased how the timber sector can achieve maximum impact together.”
Collaboration driving innovation
The workshop discussions emphasised the critical role of collaboration and community in achieving high-quality, impactful outcomes through meaningful research and development. Participants highlighted the value of leveraging collective expertise to address challenges and drive innovation across the timber industry.
To enhance these connections, new tools will be developed to facilitate technical support and mentoring, creating stronger links between professionals across academia, design, and industry. The enduring importance of face-to-face engagement was a recurring theme, highlighting its role in fostering meaningful collaboration and trust.
The workshop also acknowledged the timber sector's deep and complex relationship with the broader community. Nurturing this connection is vital to ensuring the industry’s growth, sustainability, and alignment with societal needs.
Student competition to engage future timber leaders
Dr. Kyra Wood, Research Fellow in Timber Design & Products at the University of Tasmania’s Regional Research Collaboration Program and Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood, announced an exciting upcoming competition in collaboration with WoodSolutions, the University of Tasmania, and the University of Queensland.
The competition is a national student design competition, culminating in the announcement of winners at the 2025 World Conference on Timber Engineering in Brisbane. The competition will focus on sustainable timber buildings for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics athletes' village, designed for adaptability or repurposing post-Games, and will involve cross-university teams mentored by industry professionals.
The competition invites expressions of interest from both industry and academia to join the steering committee, contribute as industry mentors, or assist in promoting the initiative to student networks. This collaborative effort aims to engage the next generation of talent while strengthening ties between the timber industry and academic institutions.
If you are interested in contributing your time to support this exciting competition, reach out to us at info@WoodSolutions.com.au.
Building trust and connections for growth
"It’s all about finding the right people with the right competencies, connecting across the supply chain, and building relationships founded on understanding and trust—something that requires time and investment," said Head of WoodSolutions Kevin Peachey.
He continued, "In the short term, we must support and connect the talent we have while maintaining a long-term ambition to attract new people to the industry."
Kevin concluded by highlighting that WoodSolutions is grateful to facilitate the Industry-Educator Workshop annual event, noting that participant insights are invaluable in shaping efforts to grow and strengthen the wood products sector long into the future.
