Webinar: The NZ Tree Improvement Story: Part 2

Following on from Mike Carson's very interesting and well presented webinar on 5^th November traversing 50 years of tree improvement work in NZ from the time Ib Thulin arrived in New Zealand from Denmark in 1951, Heidi Dungey will pick up the story and describe developments in New Zealand’s tree improvement program over the last 20 years. Heidi will cover later developments in the Radiata breeding program as well as breeding work to improve other exotic species and opportunities with indigenous species. She will also cover the use of new genetic technologies to improve the accuracy of tree improvement work. Importantly for forest owners she will cover  how these technologies, along with new propagation technologies, can speed up the delivery of genetic gain and therefore value to forest owners.

Heidi has nearly 30 years’ experience in tree breeding and genetics. Heidi completed her PhD in Tasmania, after which she spent 2 years in Chile working with a breeding cooperative out of Valdivia, then 3 years at the Queensland Forestry Research Institute before moving to New Zealand and commencing at the NZFRI, now Scion, in 2000. Heidi has experience in the genetics of the majority of exotic species grown in New Zealand forests, having been involved in collaborative research with the Radiata Pine Breeding Company particularly in the initiation of genomic selection research. Heidi has also been involved with Forest Growers Research through the Diverse Forests and Specialty Wood Products areas. Heidi was also involved in the development of the Scion research nursery alongside Craig Ford, and the Tissue Culture for the 21^st century programme with Jana Krajnakova, as integral parts of the delivery system for genetics. Heidi became Science Leader for the Forest Genetics group in 2011 until 2021 when she moved to lead a Portfolio at Scion on Establishing Indigenous Forests where Heidi has co-developed various indigenous forest research projects with iwi. Heidi is now at PF Olsen, where she is employed as a specialist in indigenous, alternative species and genetics.

Date: Tuesday, 19th November 2024

Time: 7:30pm (NZDT)

Ticket Costs: $NZD

$20.00 NZIF Members

$20.00 Australian Forestry Members (please quote membership number in 'note to administrator')

$40.00 Non Members

Free: NZIF Student members only

Payment: Credit Card

Ticket Sales close: 3:00pm, Tuesday, 19 November 2024