Tasmania’s public forest management is set to enter a new era with the appointment of Dean Kearney as CEO of Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
Mr Kearney, a veteran of the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales, was selected following what officials described as a rigorous recruitment process. Felix Ellis, Tasmania’s Minister for Business, Industry and Resources, welcomed the appointment, citing Kearney’s long record in forest and land management.
“Mr Kearney brings extensive experience in forest and land management across a 25‑year career,” Ellis said yesterday. “I also thank Greg Hickey, Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s General Manager of Operations, for his leadership while acting in the CEO role since the retirement of Steve Whiteley in July.”
Wood Central understands that Hickey will continue as Acting CEO until Kearney formally takes up the position on February 2, 2026.
Learn more about Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s new CEO
Serving as Executive Director of Forestry and Hunting at the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Kearney previously spent nearly 25 years with the Forestry Corporation of NSW.
During that time, he held senior roles in planning, sustainability and operations, after beginning his career as a research scientist in hardwood plantations. He is a graduate of the Australian National University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Environmental Science and an honours degree in forestry, with studies spanning earth science, economics and environmental law.
Sustainable Timber Tasmania, a government‑owned enterprise, manages more than 800,000 hectares of public production forest. The organisation plays a central role in balancing commercial timber production with environmental stewardship, and its leadership transition follows a period of continuity under Mr Hickey, who has overseen operations since Whiteley’s retirement earlier this year.
Please note: Wood Central will have additional coverage about this appointment in the coming days.
