A forestry professional from the United Kingdom is gaining first-hand experience in sustainable forest management in NSW, as part of an international exchange program.

Karen Batten, a Forest Manager with F&W Forestry UK, is halfway through a three-month placement with Forestry Corporation of NSW under the 2026 Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Program.

Since arriving in Australia, Karen has spent time with Forestry Corporation's Hardwoods Division on the North Coast and is now working in the Softwoods Division in the Snowy Valleys, experiencing the diverse forestry systems used across NSW.

The placement will enable Karen to gain experience in silviculture, plantation management and harvesting operations.

During her time in Australia, Karen is writing a blog published by the Institute of Chartered Foresters in the UK, detailing her experiences working in Australian forestry operations.

“Everyone at Forestry Corporation has been so generous with their time and knowledge and I hope to convey even a snippet of the interesting work that they undertake,” Karen said.

Karen said she was impressed by the productivity of NSW’s hardwood plantations, the scale of the state's softwood estate and the innovation that is applied to forest management in Australia.

“If I had to pick the biggest takeaway from my first month with Forestry Corporation, it would be how data collection is utilised across the organisation,” she said.

“Being exposed to this and other data collection techniques has broadened my understanding of the possibilities to move beyond observations and adopt similar approaches to support management decisions.

“I want to sincerely thank my colleagues and hosts at both the Coffs Harbour and Tumut offices who have shown me around and shared their knowledge so readily,” she said.

The Young Professional Foresters’ Exchange Program provides emerging forestry professionals with opportunities to build international networks, share expertise and gain practical experience in different forest management systems around the world and is delivered through a partnership between Forestry Australia, the Institute of Chartered Foresters in the UK, the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the New Zealand Institute of Forestry.

To find out more about Forestry Corporation go to www.forestrycorporation.com.au