Our People
Willmott Forests' key management and staff have substantial experience both in the forestry industry and within the company. Several members of senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer, each have over fifteen years experience with Willmott Forests. The knowledge base of Willmott Forests' key staff covers project management, silvicultural practices, legal and compliance, accountancy and financial control. Willmott Forests' specialised staff includes foresters, geologists, holders of licences and certificates for field operations, economists and chartered accountants.
| Jonathan Madgwick | Marcus Derham | James Higgins | Hugh Davies | Raymond Smith |
The Board
Jonathan David Madgwick
BBus, ACA
Chairman
Mr Madgwick has over 27 years experience in public practice accountancy and is a Chartered Accountant, registered company Auditor and registered Tax Agent. He graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 1984 with a Bachelor of Business Degree with distinction. Mr Madgwick has been directly involved in an advisory capacity for Willmott Forests Limited's commercial forestry projects since 1990, and a Non-Executive Board member of Willmott Forests Limited since 1994. He has long been recognised by the plantation industry as being expert in taxation matters and has, on numerous occasions since 2001 represented the interests of the plantation forestry investment sector with Federal Treasury, the Australian Taxation Office and ASIC in successfully negotiating and drafting provisions regarding taxation treatment of forestry based managed investment schemes. Mr Madgwick is Chairman of the Willmott Forests Nomination Committee and a member of its Audit and Risk Management Committee.
Marcus Derham
FAICD, FAIM
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Derham has been involved in the forestry industry since 1985 at both middle and senior management level and has been the Chief Executive Officer of Willmott Forests Limited since 1991. During that time he has dealt with all facets of practical forest management from site preparation through to utilisation. Mr Derham has been involved in the management and administration of all of Willmott Forests' projects since 1989. Mr Derham is affiliated with a number of industry associations. He is currently a Board member of the Australian Plantations Products and Paper Industry Council known as A3P and is also a Government appointee to the New South Wales Forests and Forest Products Ministerial Advisory Council. Mr Derham holds a Certificate of Applied Management. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is a member of the Willmott Forests Nomination Committee.
James William Antony Higgins
LLB, LLM, FCPA
Non-Executive Director
Mr Higgins has spent most of his professional life practising corporate and commercial law and has been involved in the legal aspects of managed investment schemes since 1981. He is currently self-employed as the sole proprietor of James Higgins and Co, specialising in estate planning and commercial law. Previously, he worked as a Partner of Mallesons Stephen Jaques from 1974 to 1998. Mr Higgins is currently a Member of the Compliance Committees of Legg Mason Asset Management Australia Ltd and National Mutual Funds Management Ltd and he is the Chairman of Secure Funding Pty Ltd. Mr Higgins has Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws Degrees from the University of Melbourne. He is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants and of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Higgins is an Independent Director of Willmott Forests Limited, Chairman of the Willmott Forests Audit and Risk Management Committee, and a member of its Nomination Committee.
Hugh Thomas Davies
BA, LLB
Non-Executive Director
Mr Davies has been a practising solicitor since 1966. He is currently self employed as a lawyer and mediator. He was formerly a Partner of Rigby Cooke solicitors from 1971 to 1995 and was Managing Partner of that commercial law firm from 1989 to 1995. Mr Davies holds qualifications in the development of quality systems and as a mediator in all court jurisdictions. He has been a sessional member of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal since 1998 and is the Chairperson of the Fisheries Licensing Appeals Tribunal (Victoria). He graduated from the University of Melbourne with Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees. Mr Davies is an Independent Director of Willmott Forests Limited, Chairman of the Willmott Forests Compliance Committee and a member of its Remuneration Committee.
Raymond Maxwell Smith
FAICD, FCPA, Dip Comm.
Non-Executive Director
Mr Smith was the Chief Financial Officer of Smorgon Steel Group Limited (SSGL) from 1996 to 2007. During that period SSGL was at the forefront of the rationalisation of the Australian Steel Industry, culminating in the 2007 merger of SSGL and OneSteel Limited. Mr Smith brings with him a wealth of corporate and financial experience, including in the areas of strategy, acquisitions and disposals, and treasury and fund raising. Mr Smith is currently an Independent Director of K&S Corporation Limited (ASX Code: KSC) and a Trustee of the Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust. Mr Smith is an Independent Director of Willmott Forests Limited and a member of the Willmott Forests Remuneration Committee and its Audit and Risk Management Committee.
John Rutledge
BEc Grad Dip Acc GAICD
Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary
Mr Rutledge is a Director of Willmott Timbers Pty Ltd which is a joint venture company developing a world-class timber processing facility in the Bombala, NSW region. He is also Managing Director of Ethanol Technologies Ltd that is responsible for developing and commercialising patented technology to convert woody fibre to ethanol. Mr Rutledge's 25 years of business experience has been gained both domestically and internationally spanning diverse industries and responsibilities in senior production, sales and financial portfolios.
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Senior Executives
Antony Paul Spielvogel
BSc BEc
Senior Executive - Sales & Marketing
Mr Spielvogel joined WFL in 1997 after spending over nine years with Visy Industries Limited in their Finance and Treasury operations. Prior to this he worked at National Australia Bank Limited. In the Treasury department and spent over six years with CRA Limited in its Business Analysis, Geology and Treasury operations. He is responsible for the development and national distribution of WFL's managed investment scheme products and the day-to-day management and expansion of its dealer network throughout Australia. Mr Spielvogel holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University. |  |
David Alan Smith
Dip. For. Cres
Head Forestry Operations
Mr Smith has been directly involved in all facets of plantation management since 1990 with Willmott Forests. In his role as Senior Executive for the Forestry Operations Department, Mr Smith manages a team of qualified foresters and industry professionals located throughout Willmott Forests' plantation regions. Mr Smith is responsible for the overall day to day operations of Willmott Forests' expanding plantation estate. Prior to 1990 he was involved in the implementation and control of information systems with Rio Tinto (previously known as CRA Limited). Mr Smith has completed an Advanced Diploma of Forestry at the University of Melbourne, School of Forestry, Creswick and is a member of the Australian Forest Growers (AFG), The Institute of Foresters of Australia and The Australian Institute of Management. Mr Smith is also a Director of BioEnergy. |  |
Stephen Arrowsmith
BBus (Accounting)
Chief Financial Officer
Mr Arrowsmith's role as Chief Financial Officer for Willmott Forests includes management and internal reporting requirements of all financial functions for the various business divisions, responsibility to ensure Willmott Forests and its subsidiaries comply with all statutory and taxation requirements and treasury associated responsibilities. Mr Arrowsmith previously worked as Chief Financial Officer at Adecco (from 1993-2000), one of the largest personnel groups in the world, and as Chief Financial Officer (from 1987-1993) at Jon & Associates, a leading Engineering & Architectural contractor supply group in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Arrowsmith is instrumental in the implementation and delivery of Willmott Forests' capital management strategy. |  |
Expert management and staff
Willmott Forests' key management and staff have substantial experience both in the forestry industry and within the company. Several members of senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer, each have over fifteen years experience with Willmott Forests. The knowledge base of Willmott Forests' key staff covers project management, silvicultural practices, legal and compliance, accountancy and financial control. Willmott Forests' specialised staff includes foresters, geologists, holders of licences and certificates for field operations, economists and chartered accountants.