Professor Emeritus Hugh Miller is the new chairman of PEFC UK.
Mr Miller, a long-standing board member, succeeds Peter Latham who has moved to the PEFC international board.
Professor Miller graduated in forestry from the University of Aberdeen in 1964 and then for 20 years led research into forest bio-geochemistry at the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research.
In 1981 he was awarded the Scientific Achievement Award of the International Union of Forest Research Organisations. In 1984 he was appointed professor and head of the Department of Forestry at the University of Aberdeen. He retired in 2004.
Professor Miller is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and was president from 1994-1996.
PEFC UK has also appointed two directors – Pat Burke and David Leslie.
Pat Burke is group purchasing director at Arnold Laver Timber World. He is a former chair of the North East Timber Trade Association and has held positions with Forests Forever and various Timber Trade Federation committees, as well as serving on the boards of the British Woodworking Federation, Proskills and the Wood Industry Training board.
David Leslie is general manager, harvesting & operations, at James Jones & Sons Ltd. He is responsible for the company’s roundwood procurement, sawmill co-products and haulage.
In addition to his PEFC role, Mr Leslie chairs the Private Sector Timber Forecast Group, is a member of the Grampian Forestry Forum, a board member of Strategic Integrated Research in Timber at the Forestry Commission, and a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
