News story

Forestry Commissioners reappointed

His Majesty King Charles III has reappointed two Non-Executive Commissioners to the Forestry Commission, and extended the appointment of a third.

By Royal Warrant, His Majesty King Charles III has reappointed Hilary Allison and Sandy Storrie as Non-Executive Commissioners, and extended the appointment of Julian Evans as Non-Executive Commissioner, to the Forestry Commission.

Hilary Allison and Sandy Storrie have been reappointed for a second term of three years from 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2026. Julian Evans’ appointment has been extended for nine months from 1 April 2023 until 31 December 2023.

These appointments have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments. All appointments have been made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. The time commitment is expected to be up to 30 days per year and the daily rate for each Commissioner is £409.

There is a requirement for significant political activity to be declared by appointees. None of the appointees have declared taking part in any significant political activity in the past five years.

The Forestry Commission’s Non-Executive Commissioners play a pivotal role in establishing a strong, sustainable future for the organisation.

The Forestry Commission (FC) is a non-Ministerial Government department that has a key role in helping the Government achieve its tree planting objectives. The Forestry Commission is responsible for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woodlands to society and the environment.

Biographies

Hilary Allison PhD, MICFor:

  • Hilary Allison is a freelance environmental consultant.
  • She was formerly Head of Ecosystem Assessment and Policy Support at UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre and for many years was Director of Policy at the Woodland Trust.
  • She has participated in several government-led processes on forest and tree health policy as well as leading the Trust’s advocacy work on the protection, restoration, management and expansion of native woodland.
  • She is a former chair of Wildlife and Countryside Link and is currently a trustee of Tree Aid.

Julian Evans OBE, DSc, FICFor:

  • Julian was formerly Professor of Forestry at Imperial College and previously the Forestry Commission’s Chief Research Officer (S).
  • He was also a past president of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, vice-president of the Commonwealth Forestry Association and chaired (2013-19) the Forestry Commission’s Expert Committee on Forest Science.
  • He is an honorary fellow of Bangor University and author of over 100 research papers and many books on tree and forestry related matters.
  • For more than 30 years he has owned a 30-acre woodland in Hampshire.
  • He was appointed OBE in 1997.

Sandy Storrie CB CBE:

  • Sandy Storrie has spent 35 years in the British Army, served as an Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff, taught at the Royal College of Defence Studies, and was deputy head of the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
  • In retirement, he works as a strategy consultant, company director and NATO senior mentor, advising the current generation of coalition commanders on crisis management and Board development.
  • An Oxford graduate, he holds the IOD’s Diploma in Company Direction, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. He brings an external perspective, broad experience of strategic and operational planning, and a strong track record of leadership and management in the public sector.

Updates to this page

Published 26 June 2023