FWPA announces Dr Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra as new CEO [AU]Friday 18 Sep 2026
Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra brings more than two decades of senior executive, board, and operational leadership experience across the forestry, research, and government sectors. She joins FWPA from the University of Tasmania, where she currently serves as Dean of Natural Sciences, overseeing a large team, managing complex operations, and directing substantial research and development portfolios. The FWPA Board welcomed the appointment, highlighting Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra’s proven leadership, deep sector relationships, and strong track record of translating research into practical, commercial outcomes for industry. "We are delighted to welcome Dr Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra as Chief Executive Officer of FWPA. Julianne is an exceptional, outcome-driven leader who brings a rare blend of people management expertise, deep technical knowledge, commercial acumen, and high-level governance capability. Having worked at the intersection of research, industry, and government for 26 years, she is uniquely positioned to drive FWPA’s strategic vision and deliver measurable value to our members and the broader forest and wood products sector." Throughout her career, Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra has played a pivotal role in national sector initiatives. She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI), having previously led the successful $101.5 million federal funding negotiation to establish the national research institute. Her previous positions include Chair of the Tasmanian Forests and Forest Products Network (TFFPN)—where she oversaw significant membership growth and governed the Tasmanian Regional Forestry Hub—as well as Director of the ARC Training Centre for Forest Value. Commenting on her appointment, Dr Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra said: "It is a privilege to be appointed to lead Forest and Wood Products Australia at such a pivotal time for our industry. The forestry and wood products sector faces a changing economic, environmental, and global landscape, but it is also primed with incredible opportunity. "FWPA plays a critical role in supporting innovation, capability, and profitable market growth for its members. I look forward to working closely with our members, industry partners, and government stakeholders to execute FWPA's strategic priorities, build industry capability, and ensure our sector can thrive." Dr O’Reilly-Wapstra will commence work as CEO on 1 December and relocate to Melbourne to lead the FWPA team in delivering its national Research, Development & Extension (RD&E) programs, promotional activities, and standards development. Source & image credit: FWPA  | ||
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