From Paddock to Pre-Fab: Doing Timber Business in Queensland 2025 Conference

The Doing Timber Business in Queensland conferences have earned a prestigious reputation for delivering quality content and speakers in great venues.

Themed Building Farm Resilience and co-hosted with AgForce Queensland (including the evening networking event, Carving out Connections: Steaks and Stumps Industry Dinner), Day 1 is focused on the unique links and opportunities for Queensland's forest and beef industry to collaborate and prosper, with sessions exploring farm forestry, certification and carbon markets.

Day 2 expands the conversation with a program focused on the theme of Building our Future in Timber, with sessions traversing engineered timber, modern construction, framing specification and mid-rise housing.

Held in Brisbane from 2–3 September, the conference brings together growers, producers, processors, builders, investors and innovators to shape the future of Queensland’s forest and timber industries. It’s a rare chance to see the full picture of where the industry is heading and participate in two days of discussion, insight and action.

Day 1 – Building Farm Resilience

Tuesday 2 September | Walkabout Creek, Brisbane

Co-hosted with AgForce Queensland

Discover how trees, timber and cattle can work together to deliver better returns, stronger land stewardship and new market opportunities.

• Queensland’s Future Timber Plan & private native forestry

• The implications of EUDR and illegal logging regulations

• Silvopastoral systems and insights from the “Steak n Wood” project

• Financial performance of timber-beef-carbon stacking

• AgCarE and natural capital tools for reporting

• Fixing carbon markets for landholders

Round out the day with networking over lunch and afternoon tea, plus our evening industry dinner,

Carving out Connections: Steaks and Stumps, co-hosted with AgForce Queensland at Rydges Fortitude Valley.

Day 2 – Building our Future in Timber

Wednesday 3 September | Aurecon, 25 King Street

Shift the focus to construction and timber’s role in solving Australia’s housing and climate challenges:

• Delivering on housing demand

• Why timber works in modern methods of construction (MMC)

• Timber-framed mid-rise apartments and simplified design tools

• Social housing innovation using mass timber

• Code change updates allowing 18-storey timber buildings

The afternoon includes site tours to showcase innovation in action:

• 25 King St – Australia’s tallest timber commercial building

• SigmaBuild – Hybrid prefabrication using CLT, LVL and steel

• Wat Thai Buddharam Temple – Local truss and frame case study

Join decision-makers, innovators and professionals for dynamic sessions, site tours, and networking events – all focused on driving growth and resilience in Queensland’s timber industry.

Whether you’re in farming, forestry, design, construction or policy, this is your chance to connect with the full supply chain and shape what’s next.

Tuesday 2 September

DAY ONE: Building Farm Resilience Forum

Co-hosted with AgForce Queensland

Walkabout Creek, 60 Mount Nebo Rd, Enoggera Reservoir, Brisbane

Click arrow to view Day 1 program

8.10am

Bus departing Rydges for Walkabout Creek

Conference attendees are welcome to enjoy a complimentary transfer from Rydges Fortitude Valley to the Conference Day 1 venue (Walkabout Creek) via bus, or by using their own transport. Free parking is available onsite at Walkabout Creek.

8.30 - 9.10

Registration, Tea & Coffee

Exhibitor Room Open

9.10 – 9.25

Welcome & Introduction

Mick Stephens, CEO, Timber Queensland

Alongside CEO, AgForce Queensland

9.25 – 9.50

Queensland Future Timber Plan & Farm Forestry Opportunities

Mick Stephens, CEO, Timber Queensland

9.50 – 10.20

EUDR deforestation rules: a beef industry perspective

Chris Parker, CEO, Cattle Australia

10.20 - 10.30

Are you “Ready for Payday Super

Steven Fehring, Education Lead – Partnerships, Advice and Education Delivery, Australian Retirement Trust

10.30 – 11.15

Time for a Networking Cuppa

Morning Tea

11.15 – 11.45

Certification of forestry activities: navigating the EUDR and illegal logging regulations

Simon Dorries, CEO Responsible Wood

11.45 -12.30

Silvopastoral systems: key findings from MLA “Steak n Wood” project

Dr Nahuel Pachas, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Adjunct Fellow at the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, University of Queensland

12.30 – 12.40

Lunch Presentation

Hulton King, North Queensland Regional Forestry Hub

12.40 – 1.40

Time for a Networking Munch

Lunch

1.40 – 2.30

Timber, beef and carbon opportunities in Queensland: financial performance of farm forestry in detail

Dr Tyron Venn, UQ

2.30 – 3.00

AgCarE: a natural capital reporting tool for beef grazing and forestry at the farm level

Greg Leach, AgForce Queensland

3.10 – 3.30

Time for a Networking Cuppa

Afternoon Tea

3.30 – 4.00

Fixing carbon markets for beef and timber: the need for active land management methods

Jacquie Martin, Forestry Australia

4.00 – 4.30

Conference Summary, Prize Draws & Closing Remarks

4.30

Bus to Rydges

DAY ONE EVENING PROGRAM: Carving out Connections: Steaks and Stumps Industry Dinner

Rydges Fortitude Valley, 601 Gregory Terrace, Fortitude Valley

Wednesday 3 September

DAY TWO: Building our Future in Timber Forum

Aurecon, 25 King St, Bowen Hills

Day One Venue:

Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre, 60 Mount Nebo Rd, Enoggera Reservoir

View map

Industry Dinner:

Rydges Fortitude Valley, 601 Gregory Terrace, Fortitude Valley

View map

Day Two Venue:

Aurecon, 25 King Street, Bowen Hills

View map

Kim Baber

Architect, Baber Studio

Kim Baber is a Queensland Architect and the principal of Baber Studio Architects. He is also an Associate Professor at Bond University’s Abedian School of Architecture, and a researcher in the ARC funded ‘Advance Timber Hub’.

Kim has received a Gottstein Fellowship and the Richard Stanton Award for his contributions in promoting the sustainable use of forest resources in the design and construction industry, both through the buildings he has designed, and through his academic research.

Robbie Claase

General Manager Queensland, Modscape

Robbie is one of the industry’s leading innovators, known for his bold, forward-thinking approach. His experience includes senior leadership roles across major infrastructure projects in the transport, energy, and government sectors – both in Australia and internationally – where he delivered transformational programs of scale and complexity. His recent work bridges technology, MMC, and large-scale project delivery – pushing the boundaries of what modular can do and driving real change in how we design, build, and operate for a more efficient and sustainable future. Robbie’s leadership and passion for innovation drives Modscape’s commitment to re-imagining the built environment.

Simon Dorries

Chief Executive Officer, Responsible Wood

Simon Dorries is the Chief Executive Officer of Responsible Wood Responsible Wood is accredited as a Standards Development Organisation by Standards Australia to write, maintain and updating the Australian Standards which underpin the Responsible Wood Certification System. These Standards include AS4707- Chain of Custody for Forest Products and AS/NZS4708 Sustainable Forest Management.

Andrew Dunn

Chief Executive Officer, Timber Development Association

Andrew has 40 years of experience in the building industry, with the last 35 years within the timber sector and 25 years as CEO of TDA, where his work within the timber industry has been at the market end of the timber industry’s supply, focusing on the needs of the construction sector and matching the capacity or ability of the timber industry to meet these needs. Technically based, he has represented the industry on numerous committees from Australian Standard, Building Industry, Government and timber industry boards and panels. He has co-chaired two international timber industry networks on the promotion and promotion of fire-safe timber buildings; and has extensive fire and sound timber technology knowledge and has recently introduced cross-laminated and mid-rise timber-framed building systems to Australia.

Steven Fehring

Education Lead, Australian Retirement Trust

Steven Fehring is the Queensland-based Education Lead at Australian Retirement Trust, with over a decade of experience in banking and financial services. A former Financial Adviser, he holds an Advanced Diploma of Financial Advice alongside a Bachelor of Creative Industries. Steven has also played key roles across the organisation’s Digital Advice, Product, and Solutions teams, bringing a well-rounded perspective to member education and engagement.

Michael Guerin

Chief Executive Officer, AgForce Queensland

Michael Guerin is the Chief Executive Officer of AgForce Queensland, the peak representative body for the state’s cattle, sheep, and grain producers. With a career spanning agriculture, natural resource management and regional development, Michael is a passionate advocate for policies that support thriving rural communities and sustainable, productive landscapes. Under his leadership, AgForce has championed innovative land use approaches that align economic opportunity with environmental outcomes. He was a driving force behind AgCarE—AgForce’s nationally recognised framework for evaluating natural capital on farm—and has been at the forefront of efforts to better integrate timber, carbon and grazing systems for long-term regional resilience.

Dr Greg Leach

General Manager Industry Engagement and Delivery & Development for AgCarE, AgForce

Greg Leach is the General Manager for Industry Engagement and natural capital portfolio at AgForce, the peak body organisation for Queensland’s cane, beef, sheep and grain producers. He also manages the delivery and development of the AgCarE program, a natural capital and farm business resilience assessment. Greg has a doctorate from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and three decades of program management experience in consulting with over 3,000 landholders, assisting with property management planning concerns, profitability and natural asset condition, and emphasis on enabling profitability while restoring natural assets and preserving property rights, he is passionate about assisting landowners in resolving issues around natural capital condition, and seeing long term improvements in agriculture and sustainability.

Jacquie Martin

Chief Executive Officer, Forestry Australia

Jacquie Martin was appointed CEO of Forestry Australia in 2019 and has since led the organisation through a period of significant transformation and growth. With a strong focus on strategy and member engagement, Jacquie has overseen the introduction of new member benefits, the expansion of professional development offerings, and a substantial increase in both membership growth and member satisfaction. Under her leadership, Forestry Australia has strengthened its role as the peak professional body for forest scientists, managers, and growers, advocating for sustainable forest management and evidence-based decision making.

Dr Nahuel Pachas

Queensland Department of Primary Industries

Adjunct Fellow at the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, University of Queensland

Dr Nahuel has strong research experience in silvopastoral systems with more than 15 years of experience in South America and over 10 years of experience in Australia. He joined DPI Forest Science team in 2019 and his currently research involves projects on silvopasture, carbon sequestration, and silvicultural management of commercial plantations. He is the Project leader of the Steak ‘n wood project co- funded by Meat Livestock Australia and the Department of Primary Industries. In the last 10 years he published 16 articles peer-reviewed journals, co-author 5-chapter books and has 30 publications in international conferences.

Chris Parker

Government Relations Manager, Cattle Australia

Dr Parker is a beef producer, respected veterinarian and former Chief Executive Officer of Cattle Australia. A staunch advocate for the Australian grass-fed beef industry on a local, national and global scale, Dr Parker brings to his role as Government Relations Manager immense technical knowledge and a deep understanding of government process, policy and trade. His extensive career has included key leadership roles with great relevance to Australian grass-fed beef production, including most recently as First Assistant Secretary Biosecurity Animal Division and National Animal Disease Preparedness Coordinator within the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). He was CEO of Cattle Australia from November 2023 until July 2025, growing the organisation’s profile and impact as a powerful voice representing grass-fed cattle producers throughout the country.

Mick Stephens

Chief Executive Officer, Timber Queensland

Mick Stephens is the Chief Executive Officer for Timber Queensland, the peak state industry body for the forest and timber industry. An experienced executive leader in research, policy and advocacy, Mick has served the interests of the forest industries for many years and was previously the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA), the peak national body for the forest, wood and paper products industry.

More speaker bios to be shared soon.

Conference venue accommodation discount

Doing Timber Business in Queensland attendees can access a conference discount on accommodation at Rydges Fortitude Valley by booking using this link: https://www.rydges.com/private-page/royal-icc-event-partnership-rates/

Please note: all accommodation must be booked directly with Rydges Fortitude Valley using the link above to secure the discounted rate, which is subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.

With a number of events happening in Brisbane that week, we recommend booking your Conference ticket and accommodation early to avoid disappointment.

Situated in Brisbane’s lively King Street precinct and surrounded with stunning heritage, Rydges Fortitude Valley is a 4.5-star, sustainability conscious hotel. The hotel offers an outdoor heated pool, well-equipped 24hr gym, in-room massage service, 24hr convenience store (only 50m away), as well as accessible accommodation, ensuring a seamless stay for all guests regardless of mobility needs. Secure undercover parking is also available for an additional fee.

Other accommodation options

Belise

510 St Pauls Terrace, Brisbane

7mins walk from conference venue

FV Brisbane by Peppers 191 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley

9mins walk from conference venue

Alpha Mosaic Hotel

12 Church St, Fortitude Valley

12mins walk from conference venue

Kennigo Hotel

22-28 Kennigo St, Brisbane

12mins walk from conference venue

View the Sponsorship Prospectus here.

Please contact admin@timberqueensland.com.au to discuss sponsorship opportunities.

Thanks to our event sponsors:

Ticketing options:

• Day One only (includes Industry dinner)

• Day Two only (includes tour + Industry dinner)

• Full Conference Pass

• Dinner only