“Allison was a great fit for our team and our strategic planning process. We enjoyed working with her and continued to engage her beyond the strategic planning process.” - Paul Viney, Chair.
Hydrowood recovers timber from forests flooded decades ago by Tasmania’s hydro-electric schemes. It is one of the world’s oldest underwater forestry operations. From its base on the West Coast, it harvests rare Tasmanian hardwoods from Lake Pieman. This timber, no longer commercially available from native forests, becomes flooring, furniture and joinery, and features in projects like Tasmania’s Parliament Square. Hydrowood holds PEFC and FSC certification and is backed by hundreds of Tasmanian investors.
In 2025, Hydrowood’s chair invited episteme to design and facilitate a strategy day for the board and leadership team in Tullah, close to where the timber comes from. It was a special project for us. Allison is a former West Coast resident and a long-time admirer of the company.
We shaped the day around what the board needed, starting with a briefing with the chair and a tailored agenda. The session moved from the company’s current position and market context, through risks and the board’s criteria for a good idea, to an open exploration of opportunities. It finished by prioritising ideas against their importance and the company’s capability to deliver them. A written report then fed directly into Hydrowood’s strategic plan.
