Gender Milestone – First Female President Elected at IUFRO

Professor Daniela Kleinschmit of the University of Freiburg has been elected as the new president of IUFRO, succeeding John Parrotta. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in IUFRO’s history, as she is the first woman to hold this prestigious position.

Professor Daniela Kleinschmit has held various academic positions at the University of Freiburg and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). She has a background in forest policy science, earning her PhD from the University of Göttingen in 2003.

This achievement marks an important change for the forest science community, where more women are increasingly assuming roles traditionally dominated by men.

The shift is evident at the present World Congress, where 44% of the delegates are women, predominantly under the age of 40, reflecting a positive trend towards gender balance and diversity in leadership.

Listen to Daniela’s thoughts on the next five years and what it means to be the first female IUFRO President.