The peak body representing Australia’s 1,100 forest scientists is balancing the scales this International Women’s Day, revealing that half of its senior leadership team are now female — including President Dr Michelle Freeman, Vice President Dr Lyndall Bull, and CEO Jacquie Martin.
It comes as female membership has climbed 10% over the last five years, a figure Martin says reflects a profession actively working to become more inclusive, more attractive, and more reflective of the communities it serves.
“We are seeing real change in the pipeline. More women are joining the profession, moving into leadership, and shaping the future of how we manage and value our forests. That matters not just for equity. It matters for the quality of decisions being made and the long-term sustainability of the sector.”
Jacquie Martin, CEO of Forestry Australia.
But Martin was quick to acknowledge the work ahead.
“Whilst we celebrate these achievements, we also acknowledge there is still more work to be done to create an environment where all individuals have the opportunity to thrive, and that includes women, people from non-English speaking backgrounds and First Nations People.”
Balancing the Scales
The milestone aligns with this year’s International Women’s Day theme — Balance the Scales — which calls for concrete action to dismantle the structural barriers holding women back from equal opportunity, representation and leadership across every profession.
For Forestry Australia, Martin says that means deliberate investment in mentoring, leadership pathways, and cultures that genuinely welcome diverse perspectives. “For forestry, that means continuing to invest in mentoring, leadership pathways and building organisations where individuals at every career stage feel genuinely welcome. And that means taking deliberate action, empowering supporting allies and creating cultures where diversity and broader perspectives can thrive.”
Martin will chair a panel discussion at the University of the Sunshine Coast Forest Research Institute on Monday, joined by Dr Lyndall Bull, Charlotte Raven, Dr Leanda Garvie and Kelly Stewart.
UniSC Forest Research Institute Director Professor Mark Brown said the occasion was an ideal opportunity to recognise the full contribution women are making to forest science. “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions women are making across every part of forestry research and practice. When we bring diverse voices, experiences and perspectives to the table, we strengthen not only our research institutions but also the forests and communities we serve,” Professor Brown said.
About International Women’s Day
Observed on March 8, International Women’s Day is a global occasion recognising the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. First celebrated in the early 1900s, it has grown into a worldwide movement calling for gender equality and the acceleration of women’s rights.
Each year, a campaign theme guides the global conversation — in 2026, Balance the Scales urges individuals, organisations and governments to take meaningful, structural action to close persistent gender gaps across every industry and sector.
