In 2023 the FWPA-supported Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life entered an exciting new stage in its evolution with the appointment of its new Director, Professor Tripti Singh. With more than 20 years of experience in managing collaborative, multi-million-dollar research programs, Professor Singh is a leading figure in wood protection research. She also has a long history with the Centre, having served on its international advisory committee since its launch in 2017.
Operating out of the University of the Sunshine Coast, the mission of the Centre has always been to return Australia to the forefront of international best practice, underpinning consumer confidence in timber product performance. Since its establishment, it has made important inroads in working with industry to ensure Australia has access to the world’s leading research, building strong links between industry, academia and customers. As well as overseeing vital research projects of significant value to the sector, it continues to educate the next generation of durability scientists, boosting Australian research capacity.
In the latest episode of FWPA’s WoodChat podcast series, listeners will hear from Professor Singh as she discusses her plans and vision for the future of the Centre, and how she’s found the first few months in her new role.
“Taking over the leadership of such a vital centre for research into timber durability is a privilege, particularly during a time when so many opportunities existed for expanding timber use in Australia,” Prof. Singh said.
“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.”
Listeners will also hear from the lead researchers of two key projects currently being conducted in collaboration with the centre.
- First up, Scott Kleinschmidt, Director at Australian Timber & Pest Research provides an update on his work in assessing the termite resistance of fast-grown plantation heartwood timber species.
- Meanwhile, Dr Pene Mitchell of the University of the Sunshine Coast discusses efforts to improve the environmental profile of treated timber by identifying appropriate alternative uses at end-of-life.
You can listen to WoodChat on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify.
