We are pleased to announce that our Professional and Educational Standards Committee has approved the promotion of eight new Fellows.
Iain Anderson FICFor – Senior Forester, Treeline Forestry Ltd
Iain’s career has given him the opportunity to bring thousands of hectares of forest and woodland into active management, both as a private sector Forester and public sector Woodland Officer. He was awarded Professional Membership of the Institute in 2014 and joined Treeline Forestry in 2019 as a Senior Forester and Woodland Carbon Project Developer. Before this, Iain was Scottish Forestry’s Woodland Officer & Tree Health Champion for the Grampian Conservancy.
Iain said:
“Achieving Fellowship is a significant milestone in my continued personal and professional development and is recognition of my dedication to our sector. Membership of the Institute has always been important to me to show we are holding ourselves to the highest professional standards. It is an amazing honour and accomplishment to be awarded Fellowship, and I am hoping I can use this as an opportunity to help inspire other foresters to consider their own development within the Institute regardless of their role within the industry.”
David Bole FICFor – Head of Green Economy & Skills, Forestry Commission
A senior leader in the forestry sector, David brings enthusiasm, creativity and professionalism to his projects. He has been with the Forestry Commission since the start of his career as a practicing Forester and is now Head of Green Economy & Skills where is he responsible for developing the capacity of the forest sector and its contribution to the green economy. Chartered since 2018, David has supported the Institute in various ways including as a Mentor for the Emerging Leader Programme, chaired the Steering Team for the Forestry Sector Skills Plan (published in 2025) and led on the development of the Institute’s Forestry Facing the Future Horizon Scan webinar series.
Phil Brophy FICFor CEnv – Associate Director, Barrell Tree Consultancy
Phil has been with Barrell Tree Consultancy since 2006 and is now an Associate Director and Arboricultural Consultant at Barrell Tree Consultancy which involves providing high level technical assessments, expert advice on planning and legal matters, and promoting best practices in tree management. He is a Chartered Environmentalist and Professional Member of the Arboricultural Association. Phil has supported the Institute’s Professional Membership Entry (PME) process as an Assessor since 2011.
Amanda Bryan FICFor – Lecturer, Scottish School of Forestry
Amanda is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Consultant with a background in the land and asset management sector, particularly forestry, natural heritage, natural capital investment, agriculture, renewable energy, coast and seabed and built assets. She was Executive Director of the Scottish Forestry Trust from 2020 to 2024 and was Head of the Scottish School of Forestry from 2018 to 2020 where she remains a Lecturer. A 2023 Churchill Fellow, Amanda is committed to raising young people’s awareness of forestry management, the wider societal benefits of forests, woods and trees and forestry careers.
Amanda said:
“I am genuinely delighted to have been appointed as a Fellow of the Institute. In some ways it is hard to put into words why as it is an emotional response, but I think it is because Fellowship is awarded by your peers in recognition of two key things: the commitment you have shown to continuing professional development and your contribution to the sector.
These are things that I believe every professional should strive for so to have that be acknowledged is a lovely thing. I prevaricated for a while before preparing and submitting my application, largely because I wasn’t sure that I was worthy and it is a hard thing to sit down and write about yourself. However, the whole process was very cathartic and provided a chance to reflect on what I have done to date and what I still want to achieve. It can be very easy to stick with what you know, however someone once said to me that joy (and growth) is what is found when you step outside your comfort zone. On that basis I would encourage anyone who like me sits on the fence or who feels uncomfortable about applying for Fellowship to just go for it.”
David Cashman FICFor – Associate Director, Barrell Tree Consultancy
A Fellow of the Arboricultural Association since 2001 and Chartered Arboriculturist since 2006, David has been a committed international ambassador for arboriculture throughout his career. He has worked with Barrell Tree Consultancy (BTC) since 2003 where he helped the business grow from humble beginnings to the consultancy renowned and respected internationally today. David is an accomplished public speaker, having presented papers in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and Norway, and leads BTC’s training programme for other build environment professionals.
David said:
“Having started professionally in the tree world in 1979, becoming a Fellow of the Institute is the pinnacle of my career and acknowledges the support from my peers, encompassing almost a lifetime of tree experience. I would encourage members to seriously consider applying for Fellowship and the recognition it provides in underpinning your knowledge and experience, particularly with allied professionals.”
Desmond Henry FICFor – Forestry Director, Scottish Woodlands
Desmond has been working in the forest industry for the past 35 years, employed by Scottish Woodlands in various levels of management for the last 30 years. Now a Forestry Director, Desmond is responsible for the operational running of the South West Scotland and Ireland regions, as well as plant procurement, Environment and Forest Certification Team, Planning Department, and special projects such as windfarm clearance and compensatory planting. He was awarded Professional Membership of the Institute in 2008 and is also a member of the Society of Irish Foresters, Royal Forestry Society and Royal Scottish Forestry Society.
Desmond said:
“For all of my career I have always strived to be as professional as possible and carry out a high standard of work in all aspects of my forestry career. I have always felt that the Institute endorses this within my career and it’s why I gained my Professional Membership. I felt I needed to become a Fellow of the Institute, as it shows a commitment to maintain and increase my professionalism within the industry and gain recognition from fellow professionals.
I have always promoted the Institute to my colleagues throughout my career encouraging them to become Professional Members and supporting them to achieve this, as I believe it is important to be a member if you are to be a professional forester. Achieving Fellowship for me meant that I am further endorsing this among my colleagues within the Scottish Woodlands Group and also developing my professionalism within the wider industry. I feel that in my senior position within the Company and the industry, achieving Fellowship is essential and will help develop my career to the next level. I also want to further promote the Institute with the Scottish Woodlands Group and the industry, and I feel this will assist me to achieve that goal.”
Charles Robinson FICFor – Forestry Consultant, Robinson Forestry Ltd
Charles has had a varied career with experience working within the charitable, public and private sectors, which has given him a breadth of learning from peers and organisations. He set up Robinson Forestry Ltd in 2022 providing a leading professional forestry and woodland management service to clients across central England and Charles now leads a team of seven forestry professionals. Charles has supported the Institute throughout his career as a conference speaker, Member Network Chair, PME Assessor and he represented the Institute on the UKFS Review Panel in 2021. He is one of the Institute’s 2024 Emerging Leaders.
Charles said:
“I feel incredibly honoured to have attained Fellowship of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. This marks a point in my career where I am fortunate to be giving back to the Institute and wider sector in ways to support UK forestry and the people within. I am grateful to my peers who supported my application and would encourage others to consider their journey to Fellowship. This is the start of a new journey, and I look forward to the next challenge.”
Robert South FICFor – Managing Director, Bronwin & Abbey
Robert is committed to making a meaningful and lasting contribution to the UK forest industry and is focused on balancing sustainable practices with forward-thinking innovation and problem solving whilst improving the perception of the industry by wider society. Taking on the role of Managing Director of Bronwin & Abbey in 2024 (having joined the company first in 2016), Robert is now responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategic vision and long-term goals, overseeing daily operations and financial management and provides key leadership and support to the senior management team and wider staff. Robert regularly facilitates Institute and external events and was a Mentor for the Emerging Leader Programme.
Robert said:
“In a time when forestry has opportunity we must all strive to do better, raise the bar and promote ourselves and our industry, and what better way than becoming a Fellow of our industry’s Institute. I encourage others to consider applying for Fellowship to raise the bar of yourself and those around you to do and be better. We are a minority group in an everchanging world that must lead and demonstrate professionalism of ourselves and our industry.”
