Media Release

EWPAA Media Release

13 January 2022

EWPAA WELCOMES NEW FOREST & WOOD PRODUCTS AUSTRALIA CEO

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) joins many other timber product industry voices welcoming the appointment of Andrew Leighton as the new Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) Chief Executive Officer.

EWPAA’s Chief Executive Officer, Gavin Matthew said, “Andrew has significant previous experience and a strong knowledge of the issues affecting our renewable timber product industry supply chain and regional communities across Australia.”

“Andrew takes on this important leadership role at a critical time with very high demand for our essential products, a worldwide push for reduced emissions and renewable products, and COVID impacts continuing to disrupt supply chains.”

“The timber product manufacturing sector produces many innovative, reliable, and renewable products that should be recognised as preferred building materials in a low emissions future. There is much to be done but we are confident Andrew will hit the ground running, using his understanding of our timber product industries, and backed by the great work done by the FWPA team and the previous CEO Ric Sinclair.”

“EWPAA is keen to work with Andrew and his team to undertake quality industry R&D, progress standards and codes development, educate the market, grow our forest product industries, and increase recognition of our renewable timber products,” Mr Matthew concluded.

ENDS

Media Inquiries: Gavin Matthew, CEO of EWPAA. (b) (07) 3250 3700. (m) 0429 990 528

2022-01-13 EWPAA Media Release – FWPA CEO

EWPAA is looking for a new Technical Officer to join our dynamic small team based in Brisbane 2021-06 EWPAA Advertisement Technical Officer final.

Engineered wood products are the renewable and innovative products of the future, being used in new ways in residential homes, and the construction of new multi-residential and commercial buildings.

If you have an engineering degree or other relevant qualifications and a passion for our renewable timber products industry, then this new role will suit you.

The new role will work closely with the Technical Manager and is responsible for ensuring quality outcomes with EWPAA’s certification schemes, advancing the development of engineered wood products, and improving clients’ production processes.

Applications are open until COB Monday, 5 July 2021.

If you want more information and the full position description, please contact Harrison Brooke on (m) 0416 613 814 or harrison.brooke@ewp.asn.au

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S HOMEBUILDER CONTRACT COMMENCEMENT EXTENSION WELCOMED

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement yesterday to extend the existing construction commencement deadline from six months to 18 months.
EWPAA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gavin Matthew said, “HomeBuilder and associated State government stimulus measures have successfully underpinned increased consumer confidence and significant new home and renovations demand in key markets around Australia.”

“Over the last few months, the building sector identified a strong need to smooth and prolong new housing and renovation demand into 2022. The Federal Government has responded by extending the existing six month timeline between signing a contract and construction starting to 18 months in the Homebuilder program. This welcome refinement will positively impact jobs, businesses, and communities right across Australia, and support the broader construction supply chain into 2022,” Mr Matthew concluded.

The timber manufacturing sector produces many innovative, reliable, and renewable products that should be recognised as preferred building materials in a low emissions future.

Inquiries: Gavin Matthew, CEO of EWPAA. (b) (07) 3250 3700. (m) 0429 990 528

18.04.2021 EWPAA Media Release – HomeBuilder Contract Extension Welcomed

29.03.2021 EWPAA Media Release – Refining HomeBuilder

EWPAA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gavin Matthew said, “The construction sector is known as the engine room for growth and jobs in Australia’s economy for good reason, with timber
manufacturing industries supplying significant amounts of renewable timber products to build and renovate houses in Australia.”

“HomeBuilder and associated State government stimulus measures have been successful and are effectively underpinning increased consumer confidence and significant new home and
renovations demand in key markets around Australia. However, there are growing concerns about maintaining a sustainable level of building demand into 2022, as HomeBuilder with its
existing settings runs its course,” said Mr Matthew.

“There is a strong need to smooth and prolong new housing and renovation demand into 2022, by extending the existing 6 month timeline between signing a contract and construction
starting to at least 12 months in the Homebuilder program. This change will positively impact jobs, businesses, and communities right across Australia, and support the broader construction
supply chain into 2022,” Mr Matthew concluded.

The timber manufacturing sector produces many innovative, reliable, and renewable products that should be recognised as preferred building materials in a low emissions future.

Inquiries: Gavin Matthew, CEO of EWPAA. (b) (07) 3250 3700. (m) 0429 990 528

Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gavin Matthew as Chief Executive Officer, effective 8 February 2021.  

Prior to this appointment, Gavin was a Senior Policy Manager with the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) looking after the softwood manufacturing sector. Gavin steps into the CEO role previously held by Dave Gover, who leaves EWPAA in a strong position after more than five (5) years of enthusiastic leadership.

Announcing Gavin’s appointment, EWPAA Chair Mr Stuart Toakley said: “Gavin is well known around the industry for his broad knowledge, inclusive leadership style, and a passion for our renewable sector and communicating the benefits of using innovative wood products.”  

“The Board looks forward to working with Gavin to ensure EWPAA continues to deliver world-class technical and testing support to businesses producing innovative wood products, trusted product and process certification services, expert standards development, and innovative research and development outcomes.”  

Reflecting on his appointment Gavin said, “I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead EWPAA and excited to continue working in the wood processing sector. It’s a great team and organisation. Wood processing is an industry that produces innovative, reliable, and renewable products that should be recognised as preferred materials in a low emissions future.”  

“My clear focus is to promote the many benefits of our renewable wood products, the assurance that comes with EWPAA’s gold standard quality certification programme and strengthen EWPAA’s trusted core businesses while delivering value and effective outcomes to industry.”  

About Gavin Matthew. Gavin has over 2 decades of diverse experience in industry policy development and advocacy, natural resource management, forest industry supply chain, wood processing and consulting. Gavin has been a passionate and effective advocate for the forest products sector, including in the areas of processing and manufacturing policy, WHS, technical skills, certification, energy, water, climate change, trade, and the environment.  

ENDS

Media Contact:- Gavin Matthew CEO

Ph: +61 7 3250 3700 / 0429 990 528

Email: gavin.matthew@ewp.asn.au

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is offering a three year scholarship opportunity for graduate students undertaking their research with the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life.

The scholarship will provide graduate students interested in wood product durability research with $10,000 funding per year, to a total value of $30,000.

The Timber Durability Centre is on the hunt for graduate students, looking to study either an MSc or PhD, to join their research team and focus on timber durability and service life prediction.

EWPAA CEO, Dave Gover, said that the purpose of the research is to ensure that all timber types receive the benefit of service life prediction and durability research, given that different types of timber have different levels of durability and different applications will have varying service life expectancies.

“We are hopeful that the scholarship opportunity will attract driven graduate students to a research area with great academic opportunity and industry relevance.” Dave said.

“Given the increased use engineered wood products in mid-rise construction across Australia, and across the world, durability of these products is an important research focus area.” Dave said.

“There are well established and proven methods to ensure the durability of timber, and these need to continue to be developed to take advantage of improvements in wood modification technologies, physical chemistry, and biological modelling.” Dave said.

“The EWPAA is proud to continue our commitment to fostering research and development in engineered wood products through the provision of this scholarship.” Dave said.

The Timber Durability Centre, whose primary mission is to revitalise durability research in Australia, is looking for BSc graduates with backgrounds in biology, forestry, civil engineering and architecture.

The Timber Durability Centre is a joint venture between the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), the Unverisity of Queensland and the Queensland
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

USC is offering qualified full-time graduate research students an annual stipend and free tuition. EWPAA scholarship recipients will receive the scholarship funding in addition to these benefits.

Opportunities are also available for science, engineering, architecture and forestry professionals seeking further advancement to undertake part time study.

For further information about the EWPAA scholarship, the new graduate program or the Timber Durability Centre, visit their website (http://www.usc.edu.au/timber-durability) or email Professor Jeff Morrell (jmorrell@usc.edu.au).

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of engineered and solid timber products across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The EWPAA coordinates a market development program which includes product testing, product certification, standards and codes development, technical promotion, research and development, market maintenance; as well as education and training.

ENDS

Media Contact:-
Clair Borg
Communications Officer
Ph: +61 7 3250 3700
Email: clair.borg@ewp.asn.au

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is offering a three year scholarship opportunity for graduate students undertaking their research with the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life.

The scholarship will provide graduate students interested in wood product durability research with $10,000 funding per year, to a total value of $30,000.

The Timber Durability Centre is on the hunt for graduate students, looking to study either an MSc or PhD, to join their research team and focus on timber durability and service life prediction.

EWPAA CEO, Dave Gover, said that the purpose of the research is to ensure that all timber types receive the benefit of service life prediction and durability research, given that different types of timber have different levels of durability and different applications will have varying service life expectancies.

“We are hopeful that the scholarship opportunity will attract driven graduate students to a research area with great academic opportunity and industry relevance.” Dave said.

“Given the increased use engineered wood products in mid-rise construction across Australia, and across the world, durability of these products is an important research focus area.” Dave said.

“There are well established and proven methods to ensure the durability of timber, and these need to continue to be developed to take advantage of improvements in wood modification technologies, physical chemistry, and biological modelling.” Dave said.

“The EWPAA is proud to continue our commitment to fostering research and development in engineered wood products through the provision of this scholarship.” Dave said.

The Timber Durability Centre, whose primary mission is to revitalise durability research in Australia, is looking for BSc graduates with backgrounds in biology, forestry, civil engineering and architecture.

The Timber Durability Centre is a joint venture between the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), the Unverisity of Queensland and the Queensland
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

USC is offering qualified full-time graduate research students an annual stipend and free tuition. EWPAA scholarship recipients will receive the scholarship funding in addition to these benefits.

Opportunities are also available for science, engineering, architecture and forestry professionals seeking further advancement to undertake part time study.

For further information about the EWPAA scholarship, the new graduate program or the Timber Durability Centre, visit their website (http://www.usc.edu.au/timber-durability) or email Professor Jeff Morrell (jmorrell@usc.edu.au).

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of engineered and solid timber products across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The EWPAA coordinates a market development program which includes product testing, product certification, standards and codes development, technical promotion, research and development, market maintenance; as well as education and training.

ENDS

Media Contact:-
Clair Borg
Communications Officer
Ph: +61 7 3250 3700
Email: clair.borg@ewp.asn.au

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) supports the recommendations and final report by the Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products (NCBPs), released last week.

The recommendations centre around increased compliance in all levels of the construction industry, from builders through to architects and engineers, with a view to the recommendations being adopted at a State level across Australia.

The Senate’s recommendations include that the State governments urgently look to increase responsibility at all levels of the construction supply chain, similar to recent legislation enacted in Queensland.  

NCBPs represent a safety risk to occupants, to neighbours, a financial risk for owners, to insurers and financiers.

EWPAA CEO, Dave Gover, says that building products manufacturers have been campaigning for government awareness of NCBP issues in Australia for several years and it is time for more effective regulation, and for meaningful enforcement.

The Senate inquiry also highlighted the importance of third-party certification schemes. 

“EWPAA and other industry associations have been running third party certification programs which blend technical expertise with rigorous certification, to ensure products are fit for purpose” said Dave.

“It is our hope that the Senate inquiry’s recommendations will influence positive change to our built environment and ensure that conforming building products are, and continue to be, readily identifiable to Australian builders and specifiers,” said Dave. 

The use of wood products is well established in formwork, industrial access and residential applications, and are a growing opportunity in mid-rise construction.

Conforming products certified by the EWPAA have been available in Australasian markets for over 50 years.

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of engineered and solid timber products across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The EWPAA coordinates a market development program which includes product testing, product certification, standards and codes development, technical promotion, research and development, market maintenance; as well as education and training.

ENDS

Media Contact:-
Clair Borg
Communications Officer
Ph: +61 7 3250 3700
Email: clair.borg@ewp.asn.au

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) hosted it’s inaugural Research & Development Forum Wednesday 17 October 2018 in Brisbane, Australia.

The forum focused on product development opportunities for engineered wood products and featured a range of researchers and industry presenters discussing topics such as connector research, timber & construction adhesives development, building industry research needs, research funding models and durability research.

The forum was designed to showcase current research activity to manufacturers, as well as to highlight industry needs amongst researchers, which stimulated discussion amongst the attendees on future opportunities for engineered wood products.

EWPAA CEO, Dave Gover, said that he was encouraged by the level of engagement from attendees at the forum, and the potential impact this would have on the engineered wood products of the future.  

“We have had extremely positive feedback from our attendees and it was fantastic to see the industry so engaged with what is happening at the research and product development level,” Dave said.

“After the success of our inaugural forum, we intend to offer this event to industry every year,” Dave said.

The forum was attended by over 40 people from the Australian and New Zealand timber industries, many of whom were EWPAA members.

Presenters included Professor Keith Crews (Emeritus Professor of Structural Engineering at UTS), Bill Leggate (Product Development Manager at Koppers Performance Chemicals), Dr Rob McGavin (Facility Manager at the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries’ Salisbury Research Facility), Andrew Dunn (CEO of the Timber Development Association NSW), Dr Craig Cowled (Lecturer of Civil Engineering at QUT), Dr Robbie Currie (Development Chemist at Hexion New Zealand), Professor Jeff Morrell (Director of the National Centre for Timber Durability & Design Life at USC) and Dr Chris Lafferty (Research & Development Manager at FWPA).

Anyone who would like further information about EWPAA events is encouraged to visit the EWPAA website (www.ewp.asn.au), or contact the EWPAA via phone (+61 7 3250 3700) or email (inbox@ewp.asn.au).

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of engineered and solid timber products across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The EWPAA coordinates a market development program which includes product testing, product certification, standards and codes development, technical promotion, research and development, market maintenance; as well as education and training.

ENDS

Media Contact:-
Clair Borg
Communications Officer
Ph: +61 7 3250 3700
Email: clair.borg@ewp.asn.au

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) was deeply saddened to hear of the Grenfell Tower fire in London recently and our thoughts are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.

The cause of the Grenfell Tower tragedy has not yet been formally reported, but commentary strongly suggests that the type of cladding material used in recent renovations and its installation method may have contributed to the spread of the fire.

The EWPAA joins the Building Products Innovation Council (BPIC) in urging governments across Australia to implement and enforce stronger regulations to combat non-conforming building products (NCBP).

BPIC released a statement last week urging Australian governments to prioritise non-conforming building product legislation and follow the lead of the Queensland government in its recent introduction of a bill intended to control the spread of such products.

Dave Gover, CEO of the EWPAA and a member of the BPIC board, said that the issue of non-conforming building products is real and significant to the built environment.

“Non conforming building products represent a safety risk to occupants, to neighbours, a financial risk for owners, to insurers and financiers,” Dave said.

“Since the Grenfell fire tragedy, it has been reported that Australian politicians will push for investigations into cladding materials, but the NCBP issue is a much broader problem than just a particular brand of cladding or type of material,” Dave said.

“Building products manufacturers have been campaigning for government awareness of NCBP issues in Australia for several years and it is time for more effective regulation, and for meaningful enforcement,” Dave said.

The EWPAA is encouraged that the Queensland government is taking steps to combat the NCBP issue through the introduction of a new bill.

“Debate on this Bill needs to be a bi-partisan effort to pass a robust and meaningful Act which will inspire other State Governments to follow Queensland’s lead,” Dave said.

“In the absence of stronger legislation on the issue, we will continue to see non-conforming building products entering the country, with the potential to cause tragedies similar to the Grenfell fire here in Australia,” Dave said.

The Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia (EWPAA) is a member association for manufacturers of engineered and solid timber products across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji. The EWPAA coordinates a market development program which includes product testing, product certification, standards and codes development, technical promotion, research and development, market maintenance; as well as education and training.

Media Contact:

Clair Hammond
Communications Officer
Engineered Wood Products Association of Australasia Ltd (EWPAA)
Ph: +61 7 3250 3700
Email: clair.hammond@ewp.asn.au