FSC Australia is excited to welcome Mark Annandale to the Standards Development Group (SDG), replacing Aidan Flanagan and joining Tim Anderson and Travis Wacey as the Social Chamber representatives. Mark brings important experience and expertise regarding Indigenous issues in forestry to the group. Coinciding with Mark’s appointment to the SDG was the first meeting of FSC Australia’s recently formed Indigenous Working Group (IWG). Earlier this week the IWG and the SDG came together for the first time. Moving forward Mark will be an important conduit between the two as the IWG uses its combined experience and knowledge to provide input into the SDG’s work.
The selection process was finalised last Friday afternoon (6th March). As per the original process there was an application period of 4 weeks that concluded on the 25th of February. We received four applications in all, two for the indigenous policy position and two for the alternate regional forest communities’ position. As per the process approved by the board a ballot proceeded for the two indigenous policy applications: Mark Annandale and Phil Duncan (who is on the Indigenous Working Group).
The ballot was quite close. Just prior to the ballot closing, however, a social chamber member raised a concern regarding the process. The concern related to differences in the processing of the two applications and the assistance provided to Phil, allowing him to provide information regarding certain selection criteria verbally, complimenting his earlier IWG application, rather than by writing.
Acknowledging the validity of the concerns and wanting to ensure confidence in the outcome the option of extending the ballot or closing it and recasting was considered. However, Phil chose to withdraw his application as he was keen to get on with the work of the IWG and he also felt that Mark was a very strong candidate and recognised his FSC work to date. Phil had previously put forward the idea of he and Mark working together across the SDG/IWG in the week during a social chamber teleconference we facilitated to give members the opportunity to hear from each applicant.
Moving forward FSC wants to ensure the right balance betweenstrong process and the need to be flexible to allow widespread participation in our various activities. As such we will ensure that processes are transparent in both their rigor and the flexibility we seek to provide to ensure that accessibility.