Forestry Commissioner appointed head of the Scottish School of Forestry

FORESTRY Commissioner Amanda Bryan has been appointed head of the Scottish School of the Forestry at Inverness College UHI.

Amanda’s career spans over 25 years in land management and rural and community development in the Highlands and Islands. She has been a Forestry Commissioner since 2012 and chair of the Forestry Commission’s National Committee Scotland since 2015. She’s also chair of the Board of Crown Estate Scotland and a board member for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Amanda has been appointed on an interim basis following the departure of Elizabeth Barron-Majerik, who recently took up the post of Lantra Scotland director.

She said: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to help shape the future of the Scottish School of Forestry and build on its already considerable heritage. The fact that the forestry sector is expanding at a time when it is facing an ageing workforce means there are lots of opportunities for our current and future graduates at all levels. We need to make sure that our courses remain relevant into the future. There is also huge potential to expand links with timber processing and offsite construction as well as further develop our research and outreach facilities."

Over the next 6 months, Amanda will work with colleagues to scope out the future direction for the Scottish School of Forestry, the only provider of further education and higher education forestry and arboriculture courses in Scotland, and set a plan for the next 10 years.

Amanda has been a part-time lecturer at the School for over 5 years and leads on its BSc (Hons) Forest Management degree.

Professor Chris O’Neil, principal of Inverness College UHI, said: “I am delighted that Amanda has agreed to become head of the Scottish School of Forestry and lead on its development plans for the future. She brings significant experience and strong networks across the forestry and rural sectors to the position and will be a major asset as we look to enhance the school’s offering, develop new areas of the curriculum and strengthen its position as one of the best forestry schools in the UK.”