User:Graham West

Graham is experienced in the design, development, and application of computer-based forest management and land use decision support systems. He is experienced in the management and leadership of science programmes and his research has been predominantly applied and empirical, with an emphasis on integration frameworks and tech transfer. He has practical experience of the New Zealand forestry and farming sectors. He has a Masters of Forestry Science from Canterbury University, New Zealand

His experience has come from a variety of roles at Scion (formerly the NZ Forest Research Institute) over the last 40 years, ie:

The manager of a stand modelling system “STANDPAK” that introduced the use of computer models into the New Zealand forestry sector. He championed the role of computer modelling to integrate multiple forest management science outputs and deliver tools to support forest operations.

The founding General Manager of a forestry software development group at Scion called “ATLAS”. He developed the strategic vision and capability for delivery of integrated software, its maintenance, training and upgrade.

The Programme Manager of a forest management research collaboration called “Plantation Management Cooperative”, and a was member on the Establishment Board that created the successor of this structure now known as Future Forest Research Ltd.

For the past four years Graham has been the leader of the Intensive Forest Systems project that researches tree growth and wood quality issues to build a strategic forest value chain modelling system and investigates resource assessment methods to better utilise the existing forests.

Currently he has the role of Principal Technologist and leads forest management projects that are developing tech transfer methods and a strategic web based Land Use DSS project called “MyLand”.

On the weekends he manages his small farm and runs a forestry joint venture.