The Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Programme offers a unique opportunity for rising leaders in forestry to participate in a three-month paid international work placement, to share knowledge and gain hands-on experience in international practices.
From March to May 2025, these young professionals will bring their expertise, curiosity, and passion to their host organisations. In turn, the host employers will gain fresh perspectives and insights from these emerging leaders in forestry says the New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF).
During their placements, candidates will maintain blogs, offering a glimpse into their experiences and the forestry practices of their host countries. They will also share their learnings in an article upon completion of the programme.
‘To our host employer organisations; we thank you for your generosity and vision. By mentoring and inspiring the next generation of forest leaders, you are playing a vital role in shaping the future of sustainable forestry worldwide,” says the NZIF.
The successful candidates and their host organisations for 2025 are:
Candidates from New Zealand
- Pheobe Milne will join the Ontario Woodlot Association, a champion of sustainable private forest management, in Canada.
- Tor Drummond will head to Tillhill Forestry, a leading sustainable forestry and timber harvesting company in the UK.
Candidates from the UK
- Emyr Parker will be joining Juken NZ, a leader in sustainable forestry and wood product manufacturing, in New Zealand.
- Alex Donaldson MICFor will work for Forest Corporation of New South Wales in Australia.
Candidates from Canada
- Hope Rebonne will gain experience with Sustainable Timber Tasmania in Australia.
Candidates from Australia
- Prue Crundall will be hosted by the Duchy of Cornwall in the UK.
- Sean Boucher will work with Strategic Natural Resource Consultants, a trailblazer in forest management and resource consulting, in British Columbia, Canada.
The programme is administered by the Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC), the Institute of Chartered Foresters (United Kingdom), the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, and Forestry Australia.
