Rupert Oliver is Director of Forest Industries Intelligence Limited. He was formerly Editor of Hardwood Markets and has 20 years experience working in the international timber trade and industry. He has written regularly on hardwood markets and forest management issues for a wide range of European trade and industry journals. He maintains close contacts with editorial staff of these journals and with representatives of the trade, industry, government, and NGOs throughout the EU. He has travelled widely, studying forestry practices and market development in North America, Europe, the Far East, and Africa. He is regularly consulted by international and national agencies on timber market developments and associated environmental issues and is a regular speaker at international conventions.
Rupert Oliver is a strong believer in the contribution that forestry and timber can make to sustainable development. He is devoted to encouraging increased market access for timber products from well managed forests. He is a strong advocate of inclusive approaches to environmental timber procurement, including recognition for a diverse range of credible forest certification schemes.
In previous work, Rupert Oliver spent 7 years with the UK Timber Trade Federation acting as an advisor on forestry and environmental issues. During this time he represented the TTF at an international level and advised timber trading companies on the development of environmental purchasing procedures. He also prepared numerous papers on forest certification and management in major timber supplying regions. Prior to this, Rupert Oliver worked for 12 months with ABW Associates Limited, a UK-Based overseas development consultancy specialising in development of computer systems for tropical forestry; and for 2 years with the Economic Forestry Group as a forestry contractor in the UK.
Rupert Oliver has a Masters Degree in Forest Business Administration from Aberdeen University and a BA(Hons) Degree in Geography from Oxford University.