The former federal Member for Indi, Cathy McGowan AO — the project leader of the early-2000s Women in Timber Project — will headline a Forestry Australia panel webinar next Tuesday. That is according to Dr Michelle Freeman, President of Forestry Australia, who will chair “From Challenge to Change: Women Transforming Australia’s Industries” alongside McGowan, Radmila Desic AM and Fiona Simson — three figures with combined careers spanning federal Parliament, the construction trades and the National Farmers’ Federation.
“Their stories offer more than inspiration,” Freeman said, with the moderated session aiming to deliver practical insight into confidence, resilience, influence and creating pathways for others across traditionally male-dominated sectors.
McGowan led the Women in Timber Project in the early 2000s before winning the federal seat of Indi as an independent in 2013, with the Australian Financial Review later naming her one of the country’s top 10 “covert” power players in 2022 and the No 2 cultural leader in Australia.
Starting her career as an apprentice carpenter and joiner in 1992, Desic became one of only a handful of women in the Brisbane trade before earning the first female Chapter Presidency of the Australian Institute of Building in Queensland, NAWIC Life Membership in 2019 and a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021.
Dr Michelle Freeman, President of Forestry Australia, will moderate “From Challenge to Change: Women Transforming Australia’s Industries” with the panel running from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm AEST on Tuesday 12 May and member, non-member and student tickets are available through the Forestry Australia events portal. (Photo Credit: supplied / Forestry Australia)
The first female President of the National Farmers’ Federation across a seven-year tenure ending in 2023, Simson now sits as Oceania Vice President of the World Farmers’ Organisation, with chair and director roles spanning the Climate Change Authority, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Future Food Systems CRC from her family farm on the Liverpool Plains of New South Wales.
Please note: The webinar runs from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm AEST and carries 1.00 RFP CPD points. Every registrant will receive joining instructions 24 hours prior to the event and a recording for those unable to attend live.
