Shireen Chambers

Last updated
Shireen Chambers
MBE FICFor
Born21 February 1962
Alma mater Bangor University
Employer Future Woodlands Scotland

Shireen Grace Chambers MBE FICFor (born 21 February 1962) is a British forester and the CEO of Future Woodlands Scotland.

Contents

Early life and education

Chambers studied forestry and soil science at Bangor University and graduated in 1985. She moved to The Bahamas, where she helped to establish a forestry department. [1] She returned to the United Kingdom in 1991, when she joined the Central Scotland Forest Trust. [2]

Career

Chambers was appointed CEO of Future Woodlands Scotland in 2022, [3] a Scottish conservation charity working to create and conserve native woodlands and greenspaces.

Prior to joining Future Woodlands Scotland, she was executive director of the Institute of Chartered Foresters (2006–2022). She was made a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters in 2012. [4] She was awarded an honorary fellowship from Bangor University in 2015. [5] Chambers has outlined how forestry can help to support sustainable, low carbon farming. [6] [7] She has spoken about the need for the public to be aware of the damage that can be caused by imported pests and disease in UK forests. [8]

In 2017 Chambers was made chair of the Board of Trustees of Tree Aid, which she led until 2023. In her capacity as Chair she visited Burkina Faso to understand he impact of trees in rural communities. [9] Inspired by her time in Burkina Faso Chambers established dryland developments in the United Kingdom. [10] She serves as a member of the Forestry Strategy Reference Group. [11]

Chambers has worked to improve the representation of women in forestry. [12] She launched the Institute of Chartered Foresters campaign "#ILookLikeAForester" in March 2019. [13] She was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to forestry in 2019. [14] [15] Under her leadership the Institute of Chartered Foresters has doubled member numbers. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ "2019 Annual Conference Speakers | European Forest Institute". www.efi.int. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  2. ↑ "5 Tips for Future Foresters – Inform.ed". 21 March 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  3. ↑ "Forestry Journal". Forestry Journal. 3 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  4. ↑ "Shireen Chambers and Nick Mottram, Fellows of the Institute of Chartered Foresters". www.hortweek.com. May 25, 2012. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  5. ↑ "Bangor University Honours Awarded during Graduation Week – News and Events, Bangor University". www.bangor.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  6. ↑ "Foresters can help deliver low-carbon farming". The Oban Times. 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  7. ↑ "OU academic recognised for 'pivotal' role in sustainable forestry development". www3.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  8. ↑ Biosecurity: A World Without Trees - Shireen Chambers, 26 October 2017, retrieved 2019-11-11
  9. ↑ Airey, Sally (2018-02-12). "Our Chair, Shireen, updates us from Burkina Faso". TREE AID. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  10. ↑ Airey, Sally (2019-06-11). "TREE AID Chair, Shireen Chambers, awarded MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours". TREE AID. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  11. ↑ "Scotland's Forestry Strategy 2019-2029: consultation process - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  12. ↑ "Scottish Forest and Timber Technologies - Welcome". www.forestryscotland.com. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  13. ↑ "Woman Foresters Urged to Promote the Sector". The Oban Times. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  14. ↑ Appleby, Matthew. "Sector recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours List". www.hortweek.com. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  15. ↑ "ICF Executive Director Awarded MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours List". Institute of Chartered Foresters. 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
  16. ↑ "Awards and appointments at ICF". Forestry Journal. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 2019-11-11.
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