OBITUARY

Ian Ferguson died on 10/07/2019.

The local and international forestry industry lost an outstanding leader in forest science with the death of Emeritus Professor Ian Ferguson, who died on 10 July, aged 84.

Professor Ferguson was born in December 1935 in Melbourne. He completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in Forestry at the University of Melbourne before completing his masters and doctorate at Yale University.

After stints as a lecturer at the University of Melbourne and at the Australian National University he was appointed in 1981 as Foundation Professor of Forest Science at the University of Melbourne. There he also held many senior appointments including Head of the School of Forestry, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Pro Vice- Chancellor and President of the Academic Board.

Professor Ferguson was elected a Fellow of the Academy in 1992, participating in the Agriculture Forum from 2014 until his death.

He retired in 2003 and was appointed Professor Emeritus.

During his working life, he also worked with the Forests Department of Western Australia and in a number of senior positions with the Australian National University.

Professor Ferguson was a highly respected international expert in forest economics, policy and management and served on numerous boards and chaired a major government enquiry into the timber industry that was instrumental in modernising the Victorian forest sector.

His achievements included 1953-57, a Commonwealth Forestry Scholarship; 1962, a Fulbright Travel Grant; 1962-63, Yale University Scholarship; 1963-65, Yale University Fellowship; 1989, MR Jacobs Oration; 1989, Fellow, Institute of Foresters of Australia; 1989, Fellow, Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation (now Parks and Leisure, Australia); NW Jolly Medal: Institute of Foresters of Australia; 2003, Centenary Medal, Commonwealth of Australia; 2005, Erskine Visiting Fellow, University of Canterbury, New Zealand; and 2006, Fellow, Institute of Wood Science (UK).

He was on the governing boards of many organisations including CRC Forestry, Tiaki Plantations, Taswood Growers, Hancock, Forests and Wood Products, Timber Training, Lignotek, Timber Promotions Council, Institute of Foresters and the School of Forestry, Creswick.

He is survived by his wife Sandra, two daughters and five grandchildren.