Governance structure
Nature Markets Strategy Board
The Nature Markets Strategy Board is responsible for guiding the strategic and operational development of the Woodland Carbon Code in line with the memorandum of understanding on cross-border provision of forestry functions and research delivery.
Read the Nature Market Strategy Board terms of reference.
| Name | Job title | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Stanford (chair until spring 2026) | Chief Executive Officer | Forestry Commission |
| Paul Lowe | Chief Executive Officer | Scottish Forestry |
| Naomi Matthiessen | Deputy Director, Landscapes, Nature and Forestry | Welsh Government |
| John Joe O’Boyle | Chief Executive Officer | Northern Ireland Forest Service |
| Pat Snowdon (technical support) | Head of Economics and Woodland Carbon Code | Scottish Forestry |
Executive Board
Executive Board is the executive body responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the programme, including its application, promotion and technical development.
Read the Executive Board terms of reference.
| Name | Organisation |
|---|---|
| Dr Pat Snowdon | Scottish Forestry (UK management team) |
| Dr Vicky West | Scottish Forestry (UK management team) |
| Andrew Baker | Scottish Forestry (UK management team) |
| Dr Mark Broadmeadow | Forestry Commission |
| Jamie Smith | Scottish Forestry |
| Fiona Hay | Welsh Government |
| Ben Searle | Northern Ireland Forest Service |
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board provides advice and expertise on the operation, promotion and development of the Woodland Carbon Code.
Read the Advisory Board terms of reference.
| Stakeholder group | Name | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Government | Emily Petrie Peter Coleman | Defra BEIS |
Forestry representative bodies (two-year term ending summer 2027) | Robert South Dr Kate Palmer | Institute of Chartered Foresters Confor |
Landowner representative bodies (two-year term ending summer 2027) | Matthew Doran | Country, Land and Business Association |
| Academia/ research | Ewan Mackie Craig Mackenzie | Forest Research The University of Edinburgh |
| Other standard setters | Peter Wilson
Renée Kervliet-Hermans Nick Blyth | UK Woodland Assurance Standard/Wilson Applied Consultancy UK Peatland Code Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment |
| Validators/ verifiers | Andy Grundy Steve Clarkson | Soil Association Organic Farmers and Growers |
Project developers (two-year term ending summer 2027) | Alex MacKinnon Nick Swinburn | Tilhill Forestry Ltd (CarbonStore) Woodland Trust |
Investor (two-year term ending summer 2027) | Clara Guttman Belling | Cresco Capital Services |
End-user buyer (two-year term ending summer 2027) | Bruce Kennedy | Boston Consulting Group |
Retail aggregator (two-year term ending summer 2026) | Areeb Arshad | ACT |
| Other market expert | Natalia Dorfman | Kita Earth Limited |
Disputes Panel
The disputes panel deals with any disputes relating to the interpretation of the standard.
Read the Disputes Panel terms of reference.
If you have an issue to bring to the panel, please complete the disputes claimant form and email it to info@woodlandcarboncode.org.uk
If you have a complaint about the standard of service from validation/verification bodies or disputes about the decision made by a validation/verification body, direct your complaint to the dispute process of the relevant validation/verification body in the first instance.
Any complaints about the conduct of Scottish Forestry staff members should follow our standard complaints procedure.
| Name | Board | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Wilson (Chair) | Advisory Board | Wilson Applied Consultancy |
| Stuart Goodall | Advisory Board | Confederation of Forest Industries |
| Dr Pat Snowdon | Executive Board | Scottish Forestry |
| Dr Mark Broadmeadow | Executive Board | Forestry Commission |
Secretariat
The Woodland Carbon Code secretariat function is provided by Scottish Forestry on behalf of the governments of the UK, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Before April 2019, it was managed by the Forestry Commission.
Members of the Woodland Carbon Code team complete a declaration of interest form identifying any potential employment, financial or board member conflict of interest of the employee or their family and friends. This is reviewed annually. Declarations are reviewed by the relevant line manager and mitigating actions agreed. These are reviewed by the head of economics and Woodland Carbon Code team.
Scottish Forestry is the Scottish Government agency responsible for forestry policy, support and regulation.
Board minutes
Read the minutes from our Nature Market Strategy Board, Executive Board and Advisory Board meetings.