Joel Fitzgibbon joins forest industry board

Former Labor minister Joel Fitzgibbon will join the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Board as an independent non-executive director.

Joel Fitzgibbon

Mr Fitzgibbon, who served as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in 2013, said the industry can play a role in climate mitigation, building regional communities, and providing jobs and products.

“As the former Minister and Shadow Minister for Forestry, I have met many of AFPA’s members and have seen firsthand the countless benefits the industry provides to Australia’s economy and the livelihoods of Australians,” he said in a statement.

He was also recently the co-chair of the Federal Parliament’s Friends of Forest Industries Group, a position he held for seven years.

“During that time, I observed an industry which is passionate about the role it can play in climate mitigation, building our regional communities by providing meaningful and secure jobs and delivering the millions of fibre-based products we often take for granted,” he said.

Chair of AFPA Greg McCormack made the announcement on Wednesday.

“(Joel) is a passionate supporter of forest industries right around Australia and understands intimately how we can assist the new Albanese Government deliver both greater climate change initiatives and more timber for our builders and renovators,” he said in a statement.

“Joel’s vast experience in both strategic vision and policy development will provide valuable input for the AFPA Board and in dealings with all levels of the government and the Public Service.”

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