IUAF Trustee
Contact: elaine.springgay@fao.org
Elaine Springgay is a forestry and agroforestry professional with over 15 years of experience in international development. Holding a degree in Forestry from the Australian National University, she has dedicated her career to improving community livelihoods through community-based forest management, agroforestry, and enabling policy environments.
Elaine has lived and worked on all continents except Antarctica and identifies as a global citizen. Her professional experience spans government institutions and civil society organisations, including work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Philippines and with local and international NGOs in Ghana, Uganda, and Canada. Across these roles, she has focused on strengthening local capacities, supporting sustainable land-use practices, and fostering inclusive, multi-stakeholder collaboration.
She is particularly passionate about capacity development and career pathways in the forest and agroforestry sectors. Highlights of her work include training extension officers, farmers, technicians, and policy-makers, as well as establishing and facilitating multi-stakeholder platforms. Elaine has also been a strong advocate for young professionals in forestry and agroforestry. She founded the global network ForYP, which brought together early-career professionals from around the world to design and lead activities at international forestry forums, including intergenerational dialogues, networking events, a six-month mentorship programme, and a Youth Call to Action.
As an IUAF Trustee, Elaine is committed to strengthening the science–policy–practice interface in agroforestry, translating research into actionable knowledge for decision-makers and practitioners while ensuring that questions from policy and practice inform research agendas. She also aims to support IUAF’s efforts to empower young professionals and emerging leaders, fostering the next generation of agroforesters and strengthening leadership across the sector.