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News Release from: Forestry Commission
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 18 July 2005
New team at Commonwealth Forestry
Association
New team appointed to lead the Commonwealth Forestry Association
The Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) welcomes Jim Ball as the newly appointed Chair of the Association, taking over the reins from Professor Jeff Burley Jim Ball has extensive experience of forestry in the tropics, having worked as a forester for 27 years in Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria and the Sudan
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 15 Jul 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Subsequently he was based at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), in Rome.
Since his retirement he has continued to undertake assignments in various countries, most recently in North Korea and in Brazil.
Jim has been Vice Chair of the CFA since 2003.
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"I'm looking forward to this new challenge" he said, "the CFA has enormous potential to provide the services that professional foresters all over the world require to keep their knowledge and skills up to date".
Mardi MacGregor was also recently appointed CFA Vice-Chair.
Mardi has played an integral role over the past two years in changing the profile of the CFA, particularly amongst young foresters and has also worked within the group of Commonwealth professional organisation to heighten forestry's pivotal importance in addressing sustainability issues.
She currently represents the forestry profession within the Commonwealth Youth Network and is a strong advocate for professional development for the younger generation of foresters across the world.
Mardi is the youngest Vice Chair of the CFA in its 84-year history.
The CFA's President, David Bills, welcomed the new leadership.
"We are looking forward to providing even better value to our members in the future, and I believe that Jim and Mardi will give us just the right combination of experience, enthusiasm as well as a comprehensive knowledge of the forestry sector to push forward with our new strategy".
Outgoing Chair Jeff Burley acknowledged that over the last 2 years the CFA has experienced its fair share of ups and downs but was optimistic about the future.
"We have come through a period of restructuring which has seen us re-examine our role in the international forestry community".
"I believe we are now better equipped than ever to provide the information needs of modern foresters and also to support the next generation of young foresters".
"Membership of the CFA now offers more than it ever has and I wish Jim and Mardi all the best with implementing their work ahead".
Jim and Mardi will work closely with the CFA Technical Director, Alan Pottinger, to support the professional development of those working with trees and forests.
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