Future Forestry Finance

Latest Industry Experts Add Impact To Industry Finance Conference

Finance for forestry will be THE hot topic in March when the Forest Industry Engineering Association brings together local and overseas experts for the inaugural Future Forestry Finance Conference at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland.

Recent speaker confirmations will boost interest the conference programme. Jacob Kajavala, director of Kajavala Forestry, and Pat Coley, Financial Services Manager for Cable Price, have been jointly confirmed to speak on the issues of the bankability of contracts for forest contractors. Forest contractors regularly invest millions of dollars in major and specialised capital plant for logging and transport and there is a growing need for better and longer-term contracts to ensure stability in investments in this part of the forestry sector.

George Asher of Lake Taupo Forest Trust and Bill Liley of Poyry have also been confirmed to speak on Maori aspects going into the future for the forestry sector. Both speakers have considerable experience with Maori stakeholders in the forest industry.

The conference in Auckland will held on 4-5th March 2010 will focus on strengthening ties between the finance and forest products industries in New Zealand. Many of the countries that are key wood export markets are now rebounding from recession. Forestry is now poised to capitalise on potential new rules for the next Kyoto Protocol commitment period which could make for huge change and growth.

“Forest products opportunities are set to grow massively in bio-energy and carbon credit markets– and finance company risk managers would benefit from a local and international market update.” says conference organiser John Stulen of the Forest Industry Engineering Association (FIEA).

The “Future Forestry Finance” conference is being organised by FIEA in association with a number of key forestry groups including the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, Wood Processors Association, Forest Industry Contractors Association, Resource Management Law Association, the Southern Wood Council and the Institute of Forest Professionals. Event sponsors include bnz partners and RISI an major international forestry adviser RISI based in USA.

“Important structural changes in forestry ownership through treaty settlements have added significant Maori ownership of the timberlands. With Maori communities now making up a big percentage of the workforce in traditional forestry their new land ownership role bodes well for the industry’s future.” said Stulen.

“Finance industry leaders and executives will also learn a lot from the collection of international forestry investment experts who will play a leading part in the conference on 4-5th March at the Rendezvous Hotel in Auckland.”

It’s also vital that financiers are aware of the global factors which will affect future forest and forest products developments in Australasia. The conference in March will include key international forestry investment experts who will provide that global view.

Key note speakers include:

Eva Greger of GMO Renewable Resources, Boston, USA – speaking on international forestry investment comparisons to Australia.

Russell Taylor of International Wood Markets Group, Vancouver, Canada – speaking on international wood markets and future competition from Russia and China.

Bob Flynn, RISI – speaking on international biomass and woodchip markets and future competition from South American forest industries. RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products industry.

Further information is available from two websites www.fiea.org.nz and the main event website www.forestryfinanceevents.com Registrations for this key event on the forestry and finance calendar in Auckland event can be made directly online via the event website by phoning 0800 34 22 69 in New Zealand.

Footnote – Keynote speakers include:

Eva Greger, Executive Operating Member, GMO Renewable Resources, Boston, USA

Prior to joining GMO in 1997, Eva was responsible for evaluating and structuring acquisitions for Resource Investments, Inc. Over a period of twelve years, she completed purchases involving $1 billion of forestry assets in three countries, as well as analyzing single transactions valued up to $1 billion, and led RII’s efforts in the drafting and negotiation of joint venture partnership structures. Subsequently, she founded GMO’s timber group along with Eric Oddleifson, and holds the position of Managing Partner. She earned her B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and has studied timber economics at Duke University and the University of Georgia.

Russell E. Taylor, President , International Wood Markets Group, Vancouver, Canada

Russ Taylor 's twenty-five year background in the forest industry encompasses forestry, manufacturing, marketing and consulting positions. Mr. Taylor has been responsible for various mill management activities, such as log purchasing, custom cutting, value-added remanufacturing and new product development. He also has valuable woods experience gained through his position as Operations Forester for Northwood Pulp Limited. As well, Mr. Taylor has gained expertise in marketing lumber and specialty products throughout North America and overseas, holding positions in sales, marketing and remanufacturing.

Russ Taylor brings his production, marketing and woods expertise to bear in such areas as strategic and business planning, product and market development, and global marketing research. His particular talents lie in market and strategy development for commodity and specialty wood products, forecasting supply, demand and prices, and strategic planning.

Bob Flynn, Director, International Timber, RISI

Robert (Bob) Flynn is Director, International Timber for RISI, the leading information provider for the global forest products industry. Mr. Flynn has more than 30 years experience in the forest industry, including 9 years as a forester for Champion International in Oregon. He has spent the past 20+ years as a consultant to the industry, with a focus on analysis of timber supply and demand trends outside of North America; international trade of logs, woodchips, and biomass; and trends in international timberland investment. He joined RISI in April 2006, and has published two reports on China’s timber supply and demand; a global comparison of planted forest economics and investment attractiveness for tree farm development; a profile of India’s forest products industry; an analysis of the impact of Russia's log export tax on Asian log markets; annual reports on international trade in woodchips and biomass; and most recently he published a report on South American plantation forestry and bioenergy markets. He holds a BA degree in geography from the University of Texas, a BS degree in forest management from Northern Arizona University and an MS in economics from the University of Oregon.

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