Visy engineer nominated for prestigious global award

Visy engineer Michael Darveniza’s research into utilising blackened logs from last summer’s bushfires has earned him a nomination for a global award.

A process engineer at Visy in Tumut has been nominated for a global innovation award for his research into using bushfire-affected wood for pulping and paper making.

Michael Darveniza has been nominated for the Blue Sky Young Researchers Innovation Award.

The awards are held every two years and recognise excellence in forest industry research from around the world. 

Entries are judged by an international panel of researchers, with the three best entrants given the opportunity to present their research to industry leaders at the International Council of Forests and Paper Association’s (ICFPA) CEO Global Roundtable scheduled to be held virtually later this year.

Mr Darveniza joined Visy in 2018 as a graduate chemical engineer. He said he was proud to be nominated and thanked Visy for supporting his research efforts.

“I am glad that my research can assist in my region’s recovery after the devastating 2019/20 bushfire season,” he said.

The Chief Executive of the Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Ross Hampton said the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire season impacted the forest industry in many regions across Australia, leaving destruction and burnt plantation forests across the landscape.

“Michael’s important research finds a way to put more of this bushfire affected timber to use and helps ensure our industry maintains its enviable record for sustainability and renewability,” he said.

The Executive General Manager of Visy Pulp and Paper Jean-Yves Nouaze said the forest industry came together in the aftermath of the fires in a concerted effort to maximise fibre recovery efforts.

“Visy has been at the forefront of the effort, identifying early the need to utilise as much fire affected wood as possible,” he said.

“Congratulations to Michael, and the team at Visy Tumut, for this recognition of the research and work. It is fabulous to see talent like Michael, who started with us at Visy as a graduate, empowered to take on real life industry challenges … and to succeed.”

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