Dr James Pendlebury has been appointed chief executive of Forest Research, the scientific research and technical development agency of the Forestry Commission.
Dr Pendlebury, who is currently head of the Forestry Commission’s team of specialist advisers, has had a distinguished career in research, management and market development in the timber and forestry sectors in several countries.
He has held timber research positions in several countries, including the UK, US, South Africa and New Zealand. He has been head of the TNO Centre for Timber Research in the Netherlands and more recently chief executive of Highland Birchwoods in Scotland. Since joining the Forestry Commission six years ago he has held several posts, including business policy adviser for Forestry Commission Scotland and a period on secondment to the Scottish government’s Renewable Policy Team.
He is a graduate of the Cabinet Office Leaders UK programme to develop management excellence in the public service, and a member of the Institute of Wood Science, the Institute of Directors and the International Research Group on Wood Preservation.
Forest Research has two large research stations – the Northern Research Station at Bush, near Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland, and Alice Holt Lodge, near Farnham in Surrey. It also has a number of smaller research, survey and technical development sites and a staff of more than 300.
