Welcome to our July newsletter 

Welcome to the July edition of our newsletter.

It is deadline day for Round One of our National Open Call. Make sure you submit your application before 5pm AEST today! 

We eagerly await the results of the application process and look forward to seeing which research projects will be selected by the Research Advisory Committee and the Board.

The announcement of the selected projects will be a few months away, but we will bring you that news as soon as we can.

AFWI HQ has been very busy this month, as you will see below, with lots of travel, stakeholder engagement and learning opportunities. 

We hope you are enjoying the AFWI updates delivered straight to your inbox. If you think a colleague or friend might appreciate them, too, please share so they can subscribe.

AFWI goes global at IUFRO World Congress 2024 in Sweden

Last month, AFWI made its international debut at the IUFRO World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden.

Deputy Director Dr Patrick Mitchell and Communications and Engagement Manager Maeve McKenna presented AFWI to the world and began making important international connections that will position AFWI to assist the Australian forestry and forest products industries in taking advantage of innovations created worldwide.

Pat shared some insights from the event, highlighting the diversity of global forest systems and the cutting-edge research happening worldwide.

He also emphasised how AFWI can help put Australia at the forefront of forestry innovation.

Click the link below to read more. 

Forestry Australia | Fire Summit 

Our Interim Director, Dr Dean Williams, attended the Forestry Australia Fire Summit held on June 26th-27th in Melbourne, exploring the critical topic of prescribed fire.

Speakers and delegates reflected on what Australia can do better to protect against catastrophic bushfires. Over 30 experts from universities, government agencies, fire services, independent consultancies, and Aboriginal corporations shared their knowledge and led discussions with more than 150 attendees from across the country.

"Fire has always played a crucial role in shaping the Australian landscape, but the environment has changed and continues to do so, and our approach to fire management must adapt. Given our country's high susceptibility to bushfires, we must develop and implement robust fire management strategies to safeguard our communities and maintain the health, productivity and resilience of our forests, " Dean said. 

"The summit provided an invaluable opportunity to learn from experts about effective strategies, areas needing improvement, and innovations for the future. Improvement and innovation, in particular, is where AFWI can engage with the forest industry and First Nations peoples right across the country to help deliver solutions to help mitigate and manage the effects of fire in the landscape."