New chair appointed to drive forward Scotland’s Forest and Timber industries
Scottish Enterprise [SE] and the Scottish Forest Industries Advisory Board (SFIAB) have appointed John Kissock OBE as Chairman of the Industry Advisory Group.
John has over 35 years experience within the industry and in his role as Managing Director of James Jones and Son successfully introduced new technology to drive innovation within the sector. He was also awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to Forestry. John takes over from Bob Stubbs, who has been Chair of the SFIAB since 2008.
His appointment comes at a time when the Forest and Timber industries in Scotland continue to look at ways to innovate and contribute to the growth of wider industries such as Construction, Renewable Energy and Tourism with a naturally sustainable timber material.
Commenting on his appointment, John said: “I was very pleased to be asked to take on the role of Chairman of the Scottish Forest Industry Advisory Board not least because I have spent my career working in the Industry and remain committed to its development.”
“At a time when the world faces considerable challenges relating to climate change, the Forest & Timber Industries which encompass the growing, harvesting and wood processing sectors, offer some unique and sustainable long term solutions. Forests provide a natural carbon sink whilst wood and manufactured timber products perpetuate that carbon storage potential throughout the lifetime of the product be it in a building or a piece of furniture.”
“I believe that the SFIAB can play a leading role in finding new and innovative ways of building on
Dr Bob McIntosh, Director of Forestry Commission Scotland and a member of SFIAB, welcomed the appointment, saying: “John is a well respected figure within the forestry sector and has a broad knowledge of the key issues facing the industry. He is very committed to helping the industry progress and will play a key role in ensuring the priorities identified by SFIAB members are highlighted to Government, industry stakeholders and related sectors such as Construction and Energy.”
The Scottish Forest Industries Advisory Board was established following the Government’s review of Scottish Enterprise in autumn 2007. Forest & Timber Industries remain one of Scottish Enterprise’s key sectors and the SFIAB replaced the previous Cluster Leadership Group, which was dissolved in 2008.
- Other members of the SFIAB are:
- Alex Brownlie, Director, BSW Timber plc
- Tom R Bruce Jones, Joint Managing Director, James Jones and Sons Ltd
- Steve Lavery, Managing Director, UPM Tilhill
- Colin Mann, Managing Director, Scottish Woodlands Ltd
- Fergus Tickell, Managing Director, Northern Energy Developments Ltd
- Dr Ed Suttie, Director, Timber Division, BRE
- George Webb, Group Purchasing Manager, Norbord Ltd
- Dr Bob McIntosh, Director Scotland, Forestry Commision Scotland
- Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive, ConFor
- Margaret Watson, Forest Industries Manager, Scottish Enterprise
- Audrey McIver & Elaine Hanton, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- The Scottish Forest Industries Cluster is managed on behalf of Scottish Enterprise by Rural Development Initiatives www.forestryscotland.com