FISC

Safetree is run by the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC)

FOREST INDUSTRY SAFETY COUNCIL (FISC)

Overview

The Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) is a not-for-profit that leads and co-ordinates health and safety initiatives within the plantation forestry industry.

FISC operates as Safetree, and runs the Safetree website, Facebook and TikTok pages, and Safetree’s Certification scheme, leadership programme and other initiatives. It also produces Safetree-branded health and safety resources, including Best Practice Guides.

FISC’s workplan is guided by a Council that includes representatives of industry, government, workers and Maori. (See a list of Council members below) Programmes are developed with the aid of the industry representatives and experts who make up our Operational Advisory Group (OAG) and Technical Action Groups (TAGs).

FISC is funded by the Forest Growers Levy Trust and ACC and its creation was a recommendation of the 2014 Independent Forestry Safety Review.

CONTACT

Level 9, 93 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011

Po Box 10029, The Terrace, Wellington 6143

enquiries@fisc.org.nz

OUR TEAM

FISC / Safetree team

JOE AKARI, CEO / National Safety Director

Joe is a Kiwi with Samoan heritage and whakapapa. He began his working life in forestry with the NZ Forest Service as a Ranger, and with PF Olsen as a contractor. He then forged a career in human resources with organisations including Rotorua Lakes Council, Bay of Plenty Health Board, Refining NZ and Carter Holt Harvey. He joined FISC in 2022.

M: 0210 888 9240; email: joe.akari@fisc.org.nz

JACKIE DELANEY, Office Manager

Jackie joined FISC in 2015 and is responsible for running the day-to-day activities of the FISC office. Her work includes supporting forestry contractors and workers to achieve Certification.

P: 04 282 1478; email: jackie.delaney@fisc.org.nz

MARK PREECE, Certification Manager

After completing a Bachelor of Forestry Science at the University of Canterbury, Mark began his career with Forestry Corporation before moving into a series of roles across the Central North Island. There, he planned and managed harvesting, distribution, and earthworks operations for several companies. Mark also brings experience from the training and education sector, as well as his time at WorkSafe, where he served as Engagement Lead for Forestry.

At FISC, Mark leads ongoing improvements to the Contractor and Worker Certification schemes, oversees the introduction of the second‑tier Canopy Class Contractor Certification and the Forest Manager Certification programmes, and has designed a consistency review process for Safetree auditors and assessors.

P: 0800 723 3123; Email: mark.preece@fisc.org.nz

The Council

GRANT DODSON, Acting Chair

Grant has run City Forests since 2006 and previously worked for NZ Forest Products and Carter Holt Harvey. He graduated from Canterbury University with a BSC. He is a former president of the Forest Owners Association and a board member of Forest Growers Research. He is chair of the Southern Wood Council, the School of Forestry Advisory Committee, and the NZ Game Animal Council.

JOE AKARI, CEO / National Safety Director

DON WALLACE, NZ Farm Forestry Association

For 20 years, Don and his wife owned 60 hectares of forestry and pasture in Ōtaki. He has qualifications in engineering and public policy and for more than 25 years ran his own management consultancy. He is a past Secretary/Treasurer and member of the Executive of the NZ Farm Forestry Association and represents the 14,000 small scale forest owners on the FISC Council.

ROWAN STRUTHERS, CEO Forest Industry Contractor Association (FICA)

Rowan became FICA CEO in 2024 and prior to that was Chief Operations Officer at China Forestry Group. He previously worked for Fletcher Challenge Forests, Umbraco, Hancock/Manulife. He has a BSC in Forestry Science and has been a member of the NZFOA executive.

NICK TOMBLESON, FICA President

Nick Tombleson is the Director of Tombleson Logging Ltd, a forward-thinking, family-owned forestry company, established in 2002. Tombleson Logging operates multiple harvesting and establishment crews in the Central and Auckland regions. Outside of his own business, Nick is the Chair of the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA). He is a contractor representative on the Forest Growers Research Forest Research Council and the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC). Nick is a Safetree / HFM certified tree faller and industry assessor. He is passionate about bringing a practical perspective to wider industry discussions from a contractor perspective and is an advocate for continuous improvement through education and effective utilisation of technology.

KEVIN IHAKA, Managing Director of FPS Forestry / FICA

FPS Forestry is based in Whangarei and carries out silviculture operations and rural firefighting across Northland. Kevin has been involved in the forest industry for over 30 years. He is a board member of FICA and the Chair of the Forest and Rural Fire Association New Zealand.

ROBERT REID, First Union / Worker Representative

Robert Reid is a life member of Workers First Union having served in the roles of President and General Secretary over the last two decades. He has had a strong interest in Health and Safety issues over this time. Workers First Union represents 32,000 workers in several sectors including the wood sector. It is the second-largest private sector union in New Zealand.

Robert holds a Graduate Diploma in Economic Development from AUT. He has previously served on the Boards of Unitec and MIT and recently co-chaired the Tāmaki Makaurau Regional Skills Leadership Group. He was on the Forestry and Wood Processing Transformation Implementation Group. Robert was also a founding member of the Forest Industry Safety Council. Although retired now from full time union work he keeps active on boards and working on union projects from time to time.

KARL BOWMAN, Workplace Trainer Assessor, Rosewarne Contractors / Worker Representative

Karl has more than 25 years of experience in forest harvesting as a worker, then as crew foreman. For the past 10 years he has worked as a Trainer Assessor, Company Auditor doing Operational Audits and Safe Behavioural Observations.

GLEN COLEMAN, National Health & Safety Manager, Manulife Forest Management NZ (MFM) / NZFOA

Glen Coleman is a senior Health and Safety professional with extensive experience in governance and strategic leadership within the forestry sector. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management (NZISM) and the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ). Glen holds a Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice (Occupational Health and Safety) and a Diploma in Lead Auditing. His credentials include warranted authority as a Health and Safety Inspector (Construction & General Workplace) and HSNO Enforcement Officer, alongside specialist training in workplace assessments.

ROBERT GRIFFITHS, Sector Engagement, Te Uru Rakau / NZ Forest Service (Observer)

OUR WORK

Annual reports

Our Annual Reports provide an overview of our activities:

FISC Review Report 2024

This report by HSE Global reviews FISC's progress since it was established in 2014 and makes suggestions for future priorities. Read the report

CosmanParkes Review Report

This 2018 review identifies how well recommendations of the 2014 Independent Forestry Safety Review have been implemented. Read the report

FISC Charter

In 2016, members of the inaugural FISC Council signed a Charter confirming their commitment to work towards FISC's goal of zero serious harm in forestry. See the Charter