Rupert Oliver

Rupert Oliver is Director of Forest Industries Intelligence Limited. He was formerly Editor of Hardwood Markets and has over 15 years experience working in the international timber trade and industry. He has written regularly on hardwood markets and forest management issues for a wide range of European trade and industry journals. He maintains close contacts with editorial staff of these journals and with representatives of the trade, industry, government, and NGOs throughout the EU. He has travelled widely, studying forestry practices and market development in North America, Europe, the Far East, and Africa. He is regularly consulted by international and national agencies on timber market developments and associated environmental issues and is a regular speaker at international conventions.

Rupert Oliver is a strong believer in the contribution that forestry and timber can make to sustainable development. He is devoted to encouraging increased market access for timber products from well managed forests. He is a strong advocate of inclusive approaches to environmental timber procurement, including recognition for a diverse range of credible forest certification schemes.

In previous work, Rupert Oliver spent 7 years with the UK Timber Trade Federation acting as an advisor on forestry and environmental issues. During this time he represented the TTF at an international level and advised timber trading companies on the development of environmental purchasing procedures. He also prepared numerous papers on forest certification and management in major timber supplying regions. Prior to this, Rupert Oliver worked for 12 months with ABW Associates Limited, a UK-Based overseas development consultancy specialising in development of computer systems for tropical forestry; and for 2 years with the Economic Forestry Group as a forestry contractor in the UK.

Rupert Oliver has a Masters Degree in Forest Business Administration from Aberdeen University and a BA(Hons) Degree in Geography from Oxford University. He was awarded the UK Forestry and Timber Association (FTA) Alan Mitchell Memorial Price for the best article published in FTA News in 2004.

Roderick Wiles

Roderick Wiles is Lead Consultant at Forest Industries Intelligence Limited. He specialises in wood market development in emerging markets. His experience includes 18 months as an independent Forest Industry consultant managing his own firm, Broadleaf Consulting. While working as a Forest Industry Consultant he provided various services to wood industry clients, as follows:

• Conducting timber market assessments based on desk research and field visits throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India;
• Writing up regular market reports and providing recommendations for timber market development and promotional campaigns;
• Co-ordinating and participating in trade shows, seminars, conventions and other PR and promotion-related events throughout all regions;
• Writing regular articles, news and statistical updates on global wood market trends for trade journals, such as Hardwood Markets (UK) and Inwood International (NZ), as well as private clients.

Between 1999 and 2004, he was a Market Development Manager for the American Hardwood Export Council in London. In this role he undertook the following:

• Regular travel throughout Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India to conduct hardwood market assessments and to carry out follow-up promotional activities.
• Strategic planning for market development and promotional campaigns.
• Co-ordinating and participating in trade shows, seminars, conventions and other PR and promotion-related events throughout all regions.
• Writing/delivering regular market reports, statistical analyses, articles and newsletters, as well as presentations.
• Maintaining regular contact with US hardwood industry.
• Directly supporting European Director.