The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce the three shortlisted candidates for Professional Forester of the Year 2025, the prestigious award that recognises outstanding service to the profession and the sector.
This award recognises the contributions made by Chartered Arboriculturists or Chartered Foresters to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, national or international level. Professional Forester of the Year is awarded for a specific project, or range of activities, undertaken by a Chartered member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters within the last three years.
The shortlist for Professional Forester of the Year 2025 is:
- Mark Child MICFor
Programme Manager – Great Northumberland Forest - Kath McNulty MICFor
Team Leader, Forest Operations, North West, Natural Resources Wales - Peter Wharton MICFor
Director, Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants
Louise Simpson, Executive Director of the Institute, commented:
“Congratulations to all of the shortlisted candidates for this year’s award. We received many strong nominations and our judging panel certainly had a tough job on their hands in finalising this shortlist. It is vital that we highlight, and celebrate, the ongoing achievements of our professional arboriculturists and foresters, and I look forward to finding out who the winner is!”
The winner of Professional Forester of the Year 2025 will be announced at the Confor Dinner & Awards in Edinburgh on 19 February 2025.
Shortlist
Mark Child MICFor
Programme Manager – Great Northumberland Forest
Mark is an outstanding candidate for the Professional Forester of the Year award due to his exceptional advocacy for forestry and his professional achievements. As Programme Manager for the Great Northumberland Forest since 2019, he has significantly increased tree cover and promoted forestry to rural and farming communities, achieving 2,560 hectares of woodland creation. His promotional efforts include attending the Northumberland County Show, creating a podcast series, and producing promotional films.
Mark is also a dedicated STEM Ambassador, leading the forestry sector’s presence at the STEM FEST event, which positively influences young people’s and teachers’ perceptions of forestry. His leadership and enthusiasm have made these events highly successful.
Additionally, Mark’s work on the ICF North England Member Network Committee has been instrumental in organising and delivering events that promote the ICF and significant topics within the forestry sector. His contributions to forestry, from community engagement to professional development, make him a deserving nominee for this prestigious award.
Kath McNulty MICFor
Team Leader, Forest Operations, North West, Natural Resources Wales
Kath is an innovative and influential leader in forestry, consistently delivering high standards in her operations. In 2022, she transitioned from Specialist Adviser, Forest Planning to managing 8,000 hectares of forests in the North West region, improving sustainable forest management and embedding adaptive practices.
At the request of the Welsh Government, Kath led the implementation of recommendations from a Woodknowledge Wales report on adaptive forest management. She organised a pivotal workshop that initiated significant changes in forestry practices.
Kath’s leadership in catching up on Forest Resources Plans (FRP) secured forest certification under the UK Woodland Assurance Standard. She also resolved internal tensions regarding conifer self-seeding by developing a pragmatic solution that integrated forest management with open habitat conservation.
Kath’s initiative in organising a workshop on adaptive forest management has led to significant changes in forestry practices.
Her ability to look outside the forest fence for solutions exemplifies her ability to view landscapes as dynamic, integrated mosaics, making her a standout leader in the field and a deserving nominee for the Professional Forester of the Year award.
Peter Wharton MICFor
Director, Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants
Peter is a remarkable candidate for the Professional Forester of the Year award due to his significant contributions to promoting inclusivity and addressing neurodiversity within the forestry and arboriculture profession. Since 2018, as a Professional Membership Examination (PME) assessor, he has worked tirelessly to break down barriers for individuals with neurodiverse conditions within the Institute of Chartered Foresters. His advocacy has led to significant process changes, including the introduction of a neurodiversity declaration option and a dedicated budget for assessor training.
Peter’s open sharing of his own experiences has raised awareness and fostered a culture of acceptance, helping to dismantle stigmas in the profession. His efforts have directly influenced how arboriculture and forestry professionals are supported, enhancing diversity of thought within the industry – a critical aspect of sustainable innovation.
Peter’s work aligns seamlessly with the Institute’s aims of advancing the science and practice of forestry and arboriculture while promoting inclusivity. His initiatives have resulted in tangible changes, such as revised PME application processes and dedicated training budgets. He continues to raise awareness and destigmatize neurodiversity through online platforms, advocating for the successes that neurodivergent individuals can achieve. Peter’s contributions highlight his role as a visionary leader committed to fostering a more inclusive professional community.
