Brian Mahony

 Soil Association Certification Board

Brian Mahony is a professional forester and a member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. He spent his career working for the Forestry Commission in England. His passion is for “multipurpose forestry” which combines the production of timber and other economic outputs, with encouraging public use for access and recreation and enhancing and protecting habitats for wildlife.  His career took him to the Lake District, North Yorkshire and the Forest of Dean before taking on a number of national roles and ultimately becoming the Director with overall responsibility for the Forestry Commission’s estate in England. He has a keen interest in Forest Certification to the Forest Stewardship Council standard and had a key role in securing and maintaining the Forestry Commission’s achievement of the standard.

Since retiring in 2013, he has been a non-executive member of the Soil Association Certification Board and through this role has been able to develop his lifelong interest in food and farming. He also served as a trustee of the National Forest Company which is delivering a vast new forest in the English Midlands and is a past trustee of the Grizedale Society which developed a unique approach to showcasing the arts in a forest environment in Grizedale Forest in Cumbria. Brian is a committed campaigner for rural public transport and public access to the countryside.