KUCHING, Jan 9: Zolkipli Mohamad Aton has been appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) as well as the Controller of Wild Life and Controller of National Parks and Nature Reserves, effective Jan 1.
In a media release today, Zolkipli said he was honoured and excited to have been appointed to lead SFC to the next level of a new frontier in biodiversity conservation.
His appointments followed the restructuring of forestry agencies in Sarawak a week ago to aenable Sarawak Forestry Department (SFD) and SFC to focus on carrying out their respective duties.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the handing over of duties between the two organisations.
Following the restructuring, SFD relinquished the functions of SFC under Forests Ordinance, 2015, namely forest management, forest research and development, forest engineering, forest compliance, compliance and collection of forest produce and farmland.
SFC will take over duties enshrined under the National Parks and Nature Reserve Ordinance 1998, and the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998 relating to the management and administration of the Fully Protected Areas, National Parks, Natural Reserves as well as the management and preservation of wildlife.
Zolkipli has been part of the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd (SFCSB)’s management team for more than 20 years and is one of the few pioneer staffs left.
He joined Corporate Services Division in May 1999 and was involved in the formation, establishment and launching of SFC and SFCSB.
Since then, he has worked in various fields within the company including as the manager in Human Resource Department as well as heading the SF&C Division and SP&SP Division. In January, 2018, Zolkipli was promoted as SFCSB CEO.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Forest Management from Iowa State University, USA in 1984 and a Master of Science in Wildland Resource Science (Forest Economics) from the University of California, Berkeley, USA in 1986.
Upon returning, he joined STIDC for four years as an executive and later as divisional executive officer in Miri and thereafter with Sarawak Shell Bhd for nine years in human resource prior to joining SFCSB in 1999. —DayakDaily
