The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) welcomes newly elected President of the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) David Jochinke to the role and thanks outgoing President Fiona Simson for her collaboration with, and advocacy for, Australia’s forest products sector, Acting Chief Executive Officer of AFPA, Natasa Sikman said today.
“We congratulate David Jochinke or ‘DJ’ as he is better known as. AFPA has already been fortunate to work with David on forestry issues when he attended the joint AFPA-NFF political delegation farm forestry study tour to Jigsaw Farms in south-west Victoria, in early July 2023. He witnessed an excellent example of successful farm forestry in an integrated high input – high output farm business which credits their production trees to multiple beneficial outcomes from shelter belts, to increased biodiversity and future income from wood products, to name just a few of the tangible and real outcomes,” Natasa Sikman said.
“We look forward to continuing to work with David on forestry and farming issues and especially promoting the benefits of farm forestry across Australia.”
David Jochinke has served as Vice President of the NFF since 2017 and was previously the President of the Victorian Farmers’ Federation (VFF) from 2016 to 2020.
AFPA also thanks Fiona Simson for her long standing, working relationship with Australia’s forest products sector and wishes her well for the future.
“Fiona has been an enthusiastic advocate for farm forestry. She has addressed AFPA’s members on a number of occasions and played a leading role during the AFPA-NFF delegation to COP27 in Egypt last year where she helped promote the global need to grow and process more sustainable timber and wood fibre and the benefits of farm forestry.
“We wish Fiona all the best in her continuing role as a Director of the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO). Fiona’s advocacy will augur well for Australia to fight climate change and secure sovereign capability by harnessing the power of our farmers through promotion of farm forestry in integrated farm managed systems,” Natasa Sikman concluded.
