First Super welcomes forestry expert to the board

First Super has appointed the chief executive of Timber Queensland and a director of Forestry Australia to the board.

Mick Stephens has worked in the forestry industry for more than 30 years as a resource economist, including a two-year secondment to the Canadian Forest Service.

He has held senior roles in the Australian Government in research and policy, including with the CSIRO and ABARES and spent three years as deputy administrator of Norfolk Island.

Working across public policy, research and advocacy in the forestry and timber industry, the new associate director has assessed market and supply chain issues impacting the sector, including climate change and sustainability.

In 2012, Stephens received a Gottstein Fellowship to investigate active forest management for multiple landscape benefits in the United States and Canada, particularly for fire risk reduction and renewable bioenergy.

First Super chief executive Bill Watson said appointing an associate director of Stephens' calibre and experience will greatly benefit the $4 billion fund and its members, which began as a super fund for forestry and timber workers.

"Mick's abiding passion for forestry and the wood products industry is demonstrated by the breadth and depth of his experience," he said.

"His professional experience in natural resource management, public policy and market analysis is a great addition to First Super."