Our Governance

Geraint is the Head Forester for the Duchy of Cornwall and to His Majesty The King. He is responsible for the management of the trees, woodlands and forests across the Duchy of Cornwall’s extensive land-holding and is involved with other estates associated with His Majesty The King. Geraint graduated in 1992, with a degree in Forestry from Bangor University in North Wales, and then worked for four years for the Forestry Commission before taking up his current position with the Duchy of Cornwall. Geraint is also involved with a wide range of tree-related organisations and initiatives, both nationally and internationally.

Geraint was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 2017 and, in 2019, he was awarded the Royal Forestry Society’s Gold Medal for distinguished services to forestry. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

Graduating from Aberdeen in 2001, Andrew began his career with the Forestry Commission in South Wales. After 15 years in the public sector covering roles in Forest Planning, Harvesting & Marketing and Operational Support, Andrew joined Pryor & Rickett Silviculture in 2016 as a Forest Manager based in Brecon. He readily adjusted to serving private clients, charities and public bodies and winning competitive contracts which led to his appointment as a director in 2022.

Andrew is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, the chair of the Confor committee in Wales and coordinates Mbale Coed, a charity that supports tree planting in the Mbale region of eastern Uganda.

After receiving a BSc in Ecological Science from the University of Edinburgh, John’s academic journey continued at the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Forestry in 1990. He joined the Forestry Commission’s graduate entry fast stream programme and was awarded Professional membership of the Institute in 1994.

John’s work has taken him from Scotland to South England, North England to Wales, Edinburgh and back to Wales, where he is currently Senior Specialist Advisor Land at Natural Resources Wales. John has contributed greatly to the Institute where he has spoken at regional and national events, submitted articles for TREES magazine and was previously an elected Council member from 2018-2022.

Michael began his journey in the sector studying Forestry at Bangor University, culminating in a Master’s degree. Following a year in the Highlands and Islands with Scottish Forestry, he returned to Wales and initially worked in land management for Natural Resources Wales and more recently in forest operations. This is where he leads a team undertaking planning, harvesting and establishment on the Welsh Government Woodland Estate in Mid Wales. Mike is an Institute Council member and was awarded Fellowship of the Institute in 2023.

Martin is an independent Chartered Forester based in North Yorkshire working on a range of forest industry supply chain, market and workforce assignments for clients in the public, private and third sectors. He has held various professional positions including as a non-Executive Director of the National Forest Company and is a member of the England Forest and Wood-based Industries Leadership Group.

Martin has played an active role with the Institute, being until recently the Chair of the North England Regional Group and representative on the Forestry & Climate Change Partnership, and is currently a mentor for the Emerging Leader Programme.

Craig works for Forestry England as South District Forest Management Director and Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest. His 30 years of experience include forest and land management, private sector woodlands and urban forestry. He became a Chartered Forester 20 years ago and a Fellow of the Institute in 2016. Craig is keen to assist thinking on attracting new talent into the sector and skills development – the current forestry agenda is so exciting but needs more professional expertise. His experience of talent attraction and staff development programmes will be of value to the Institute and sector.

Gary is the Principal Silviculturist in Forest Research based at Alice Holt Lodge in Surrey.  From 2001-2021, he held the honour of being Editor-in-Chief of Forestry: An International Journal of Forest Research, the Institute’s scientific journal published by Oxford University Press.  He has worked in Forest Research for most of his career focussing on applied forest science with a special interest in continuous cover silviculture and species diversification.  During his career, he has been a Research Group Leader with the International Union of Forest Research Organizations and is currently vice-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the European Forest Institute. Gary is currently Chair of the Institute’s Professional and Educational Standards Committee and is Commissioning Editor for the Royal Forestry Society’s Quarterly Journal of Forestry.

With over 34 years of UK and international experience, Peter’s strengths lie in developing strong strategic visions, innovative problem-solving, influencing public policy, implementing institutional change, building multi-stakeholder partnerships and in leading and publicly representing organisations. He initially worked to support commercial reforestation projects in Jamaica and the Solomon Islands, then returned to the UK to pursue his interest in working at a strategic level to influence public policy. He took a leadership role for 16 years with the Timber Growers Association and Forest Industries Development Council and was interim Executive Director of the Institute in 2005 and 2006. Peter led the UKWAS partnership through three standard revisions. He is currently Principal of Wilson Applied Consultancy.

Brendan is the Interim CEO of Environmental Standards Scotland. He was previously Head of Operational Delivery with Scottish Forestry, responsible for key government forestry and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programmes including the Climate Change Plan tree planting target and the £60m per annum Forestry Grant Scheme. Brendan has a strong track record of working with environmental and industry stakeholders to develop and lead environmental initiatives, has led Scottish Forestry’s stakeholder group since 2013 and was previously Chair of the Red Squirrels Northern England partnership. Prior to this Brendan held a range of senior roles within the Forestry Commission, including Area Director for South West England and Conservator for North East England. He has a degree in Ecological Science from Edinburgh University.

Jo is currently Head of Planning and Environment at Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and has 25 years of experience in the forestry sector. Leading FLS’s spatial planning, her work enables FLS to maintain habitats, landscapes and timber availability while proactively tackling climate impacts, biodiversity loss, tree health threats, and responding to the needs of neighbours and stakeholders. She has worked in England and Scotland in policy, regulation and delivery.

Jo is committed to promoting professional, responsible and sustainable forestry practices, and maintaining trust in the sector. She encourages public sector foresters to join the Institute, to support collaboration within the profession.

Since being awarded Lantra’s Forestry Apprentice of the Year in 2011, Kate has built a reputation for her expert practical knowledge of forestry management from plantation establishment and infrastructure to eventual harvesting. Working with managers, contractors, developers and landowners, she enjoys the variety that the forestry industry has to offer.

Before joining Bidwells nine years ago, Kate previously worked for the Forestry Commission as a Forestry Liaison Officer for one of the largest onshore windfarm schemes in Scotland, as a beat forester for Scottish Lowlands Forest District, and as a Harvesting Manager for Euroforest in the Lochaber area.

An Aberdeen university forestry graduate; former research officer at Bangor University, Ben worked as Technical Director of the Timber Growers Association before moving abroad to establish and lead the PEFC Council, the world’s largest forest certification scheme, based in Geneva. He is passionate about promoting both SFM, and the urban and rural tree growing profession, in the UK and abroad, at a time when the world’s most pressing challenge is climate change. Ben brings 30 years’ experience of cross-sectorial,  multistakeholder engagement to the Institute to further position itself with global partners to influence the direction society takes to address this challenge.

Elaine did not come from the conventional route, she came from commercial horticulture, using her contract management skills and BSc in Countryside Management, transferring these skills to gain a job with Natural Resources Wales as a harvesting contract manager. Following this, Elaine learnt to manage establishment contracts as well as planning coupes. She has managed a forestry programme for clearfell, thinning and establishment, and is now a team leader in forest operations, managing a team of eight foresters.

Alongside working full time, she studied at Bangor University for a MSc in Forestry, as well as gaining Chartered Forester status in 2022.

Jon’s experience is broad – over 25 years in forestry and 20 years in arboriculture. He has been an ICF assessor and a member of the Professional and Educational Standards Committee. He has represented the ICF on government biosecurity committees.

Jon has experience as a forestry and arboriculture expert witness giving evidence in criminal, civil and coroners’ courts. He is also a Registered Consultant of both the Institute and the Arboricultural Association. As an ex-Chair of two Charities, 20 years’ experience as a director and an MBA, Jon is used to working with others to develop and deliver effective organisational strategies.

Russell is a Chartered Arboriculturist who specialises in working with community groups and cities on urban forestry management planning and public engagement. He is an internationally known speaker for his work in local government and has presented to audiences around the UK, Canada and Europe.

A former Institute Development Director, Russell founded the environmental consultancy Goetre Villa in 2016. He is passionate about planting the right tree in the right place while also ensuring the health of the tree until maturity. He is a graduate of the University of Brighton and gained a Masters degree in Forestry Conservation with a specialisation in Urban Forest Management at the University of Toronto.

Pherenice works for the Forestry Commission as a Woodland Officer across 32 London Boroughs and the City. During her 25 years as an urban forester, she has worked with multiple stakeholders to develop tree and woodland strategies, manage woodlands, set up community forestry groups and tree planting programmes.

Pherenice is passionate about creating greener, more resilient, and healthier cities where the benefits of trees and quality green spaces are universally available to all communities. When she is not working, Pherenice is an enthusiastic runner, learner of British Sign Language and an organiser of a woodland volunteer group.

Stephen graduated from Oxford University with a geography degree and subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant. After nearly 30 years working in finance and governance roles, mainly in investment management, Stephen decided to focus his career on the forestry sector. He is involved in the management of a forestry business in Northumberland and is a Student member of the Institute, studying for a masters degree in forestry. Stephen is currently a Forestry Investment Analyst at Tilhill and is also a member of the Royal Forestry Society and the Continuous Cover Forestry Group.