Luci takes the stage at Forestry Conference to inspire inclusion

When the organisers of the 2025 Forestry Australia Conference began shaping their inaugural Diversity Breakfast, they reached out to people whose lived experience and industry insight could meaningfully contribute to the conversation.

Greenmill operator Luci Virgo was among the few invited to join the panel, an opportunity that recognised her leadership within the LGBTIQA+ community and the authenticity she brings to work every day.

With OneFortyOne’s support, Luci attended the conference as a guest speaker to share her story on a national stage. What unfolded was a conversation about diversity, inclusion and the changing face of forestry, a discussion that has resonated far beyond breakfast.

By Luci:

On Day 2 of the recent Forestry Australia Conference at the Adelaide Convention Centre, I attended with the support of OneFortyOne not just as a participant, but as a speaker at the inaugural Diversity Breakfast.

Joining Kelly Crosthwaite, DECCA; Jacquie Martin, Forestry Australia; and Nora Devoe, Sylvacare International, and our facilitator Christine Briggs, together we opened the day’s program.

I arrived early to register, prepare, and meet and talk with the women I would be sharing the stage with.

Representing OneFortyOne and the LGBTIQA+ community, I shared my story on this national platform.

We had such different stories – confronting issues like sexual harassment, to supporting colleagues, connecting with different groups of people, and my personal experience being out as transgender at work and what had led to that. I shared the acceptance and support I received at the time when I came out, which has continued for the five years since.

As we talked, the time allocated for our conversation ran out rapidly, and we could easily have continued for longer, the entire day. It seemed we had hardly begun.

Conversations and connections throughout the day

After the panel, people gathered, talking. A short respite before joining their next session. I had the time to  network, and I spent a great deal of time talking for much of my day . People frequently approached me, wanting further details about my life as a transgender woman, at work and outside of it, which I was more than happy to discuss.

Several people were also asking for more information about OneFortyOne. I did not expect telling my story would generate such interest, reaching people across Australia and overseas. Being out as transgender in the workplace with such a positive experience certainly attracted attention.

A greater surprise to others was discovering that my workplace was a sawmill, known as a traditionally male‑majority environment, and wondering how I managed. (Quite well..!)

There was a range of people attending the conference, representing a variety of organisations, companies and expertise. From plantations to tech support, academia and First Nations, it was a pleasant diversity, which was a key theme of this year’s conference. Readily demonstrating that forestry, sawmilling and the associated professions are certainly changing for the better, with an increasingly diverse workforce.

Mingling, talking, professionally known as ‘networking’ throughout the entire day, some continued to approach me, wanting to talk, until the very end, as we were departing at close to 7pm. It was quite a finish to the day -A day I enjoyed.

Reflections

Being onstage and speaking at the Diversity Breakfast was a definite pleasure and a privilege. It was no small opportunity for me, as part of the LGBTIQA+ community and as someone ‘off the floor’.

If a similar opportunity arises in the future, I would do it without hesitation and highly recommend it to anyone else!