The National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life had appointed as its new Director, Professor Tripti Singh, one of the leading names in wood protection research.

The centre is a Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) and University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) supported initiative. It launched in 2016 with the goal of returning Australia to the forefront of international best practice and underpinning consumer confidence in timber product performance.

“We are delighted to welcome such a well-respected and widely recognised name from the international wood science community to the Director role,” says Craig Taylor, FWPA Chair.

Over the past six years the centre has made important inroads. It has collaborated with the sector to ensure Australia has access to the world’s leading research while building strong links between industry, academia and customers.

It has overseen critical research projects that have delivered significant value to the sector and helped to educate the next generation of durability scientists, boosting Australian research capacity. Today it is home to 20 associated researchers and students.

“Tripti has a proven ability to innovate, build teams, and develop strong relationships with stakeholders including industry members, funding bodies and academics, making her the perfect fit for this role,” says Professor Ross Young, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

“Under Tripti’s expert guidance there is no doubt the centre and its team will continue to expertly fulfil the vital role it has come to play within the industry during the next stage in our collaboration,” says Young.

Professor Singh is currently a senior scientist at New Zealand’s Scion, a government-owned company that conducts research to drive innovation and growth from the nation’s forestry, wood products and wood-derived materials. She is also highly familiar with the work of the centre having acted as an international advisory committee member since 2017.

“Taking over the leadership of such a vital centre for research into timber durability is a privilege, particularly during a time where so many opportunities exist for expanding timber use in Australia,” said Professor Singh.

“Industry collaboration on vital research projects will be key to ensuring the ongoing success of the centre. At its core, I believe nurturing relationships with industry and strengthening linkages with research groups in the domestic and global durability community will help align centre research with industry needs and result in practical solutions ready for implementation in real-world settings.

“While there are many opportunities associated with the increased popularity of timber use for construction and infrastructure, durability and susceptibility to decay and degradation present challenges, which the centre is well-placed to help overcome,” Professor Singh says.

Image: Supplied

Branko Miletic

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