The Institute of Chartered Foresters is delighted to announce that Tom Coates MICFor, Area Supply Manager at James Jones & Sons, has been awarded Professional Forester of the Year 2026.
Presented on 12 March at the Confor Dinner & Awards 2026, the prestigious award recognises contributions to the betterment of forestry on a community, regional, national or international level. Professional Forester of the Year is awarded on the basis of a specific project or a range of activities undertaken by a member of the Institute within the last three years.
Competition for this year’s award was again very strong, with the judging panel shortlisting three worthy candidates from a significant number of submissions. Made up of four Institute Fellows, the judging panel was made up of Steve McCartney FICFor (Chair), Rachel Chamberlain FICFor, Shireen Chambers MBE FICFor, and Martin Glynn FICFor CEnv. In addition to Tom, the other shortlisted candidates were Catherine Nuttgens MICFor, Nuttgens Urban Forestry, and Charles Robinson FICFor, Robinson Forestry.
Commenting on his award, Tom said:
“Winning the Institute’s Professional Forester of the Year 2026 award is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the people and experiences that have shaped my career. I have great admiration for the work that my fellow professionals who were shortlisted do, and it is great to see recognition for people who are promoting modern forestry. Mentoring has been invaluable throughout my journey, and I am very grateful to those who have had a profound impact on my personal and professional life. Expanding mentoring opportunities through the ICF will be key to supporting and inspiring the next generation of forestry professionals.”
Tom is an Area Supply Manager with Scotland’s largest sawmill group, James Jones & Sons, where he plays a key role in supporting sustainable forestry and strengthening the supply chain between forest owners, managers, contractors and the processing sector. A central part of his work is outreach: sharing market intelligence, encouraging best practice in woodland management, and helping growers produce timber suited to commercial and sustainable outcomes.
Originally starting his career as a graduate forester, Tom spent 12 years with the EGGER Group before moving into the sawmilling sector just over three years ago. Since then, he has continued to broaden his expertise while taking on several influential roles across the industry, including ICF Council Member, ICF Professional Membership Entry assessor, ICF North England Member Network, STEM Ambassador and Chair of the Confor North England Wood Processors Group.
Tom is widely recognised for his ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences. Six months ago, he launched the video series Forester Asks Questions, where he hosts conversational interviews and discussions from forests and wood processing facilities. Through these videos he explores industry best practice, the pathway to becoming a Chartered Forester, and opportunities such as STEM Ambassadors, helping to showcase forestry as a rewarding career and encouraging greater engagement with the sector.
Learn more about the Professional Forester of the Year award at charteredforesters.org/what-we-do/icf-awards/professional-forester-year-award
