August 2002

DFID secondment to the TTF

The Department for International Development has seconded Andy Roby to the TTF. Andy was previously DFID Forestry Adviser for West Africa. He is a UK trained forester with a business degree. He has 18 years experience working on forest management issues in developing countries (Africa, Latin America and Asia), in the European Commission and in DFID. He is keen to work more closely with the private sector and views a secondment to the TTF as an opportunity to develop his experience with the private sector and to add value to the work of the TTF.

Andy will concentrate on strengthening the UK timber trade contribution to tackling illegal logging in developing countries and providing strategic advice on corporate responsibility to the TTF and its members. Andy said of his secondment, "I am delighted to be joining the TTF and working with the UK timber trade on such important issues. It is a significant move, for both DFID and the trade, representing a new and exciting convergence of interests between business and development agencies."

DFID will second Andy Roby to the TTF for a period of 12 months from 1st September 2002.

Is Sustainability in Business an Issue?

The TTF will be holding its annual conference on the theme of Sustainability and its potential impact on the timber trade and will highlight the issue of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Elliot Morley MP, the UK Forestry Minister will be the keynote speaker and will outline the government's approach to sustainability and CSR. Other speakers include George McRobbie, Chairman of the Forest Industries Development Council Task Group and Geoff Rhodes, the President of the Timber Trade Federation. The conference will include other speakers from the industry who will present case studies outlining the way in which their companies respond to the challenge of sustainability.

The conference will be held on Thursday 19 September 2002 in the Hotel Du Vin in Birmingham. For further information about the conference please contact Jean Rennie on 0207 839 1891 or e-mail jrennie@ttf.co.uk.