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Keynote Speakers and Session Chairs

Keynote Speakers

Session Chairs


Martin Kelly

Martin Kelly 

United Kingdom

The Trees and Design Action Group. Past, Present and Future

Abstract

My presentation will briefly describe the evolution of the Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) and its role in the Urban Tree Agenda. I will also explain how we recommend applying our initiatives to Green Infrastructure in planning and design, through collaborative working and innovative funding to achieve multiple benefits. To demonstrate theory in practice, I will include a presentation of two of TDAG’s publications: Trees in the Townscape. A Guide for Decision Makers; and Trees in Hard Landscapes. A Guide for Delivery. These both provide comprehensive guidance on the design and establishment of trees in the urban environment.

Biography

Martin Kelly is a qualified Landscape Architect and Urban Designer and is a Fellow of the Landscape Institute, Fellow of the Institute of Highways and Transportation and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is the Land Planning Director for Capita Property and Infrastructure Division. Martin has over thirty years of experience in the design and delivery of landmark projects in the UK and Overseas. He is the Founder and Chair of the Trees and Design Action Group and now Trustee of the Registered Charity. Martin chaired the Landscape and Urban Design Steering Group for the Farrell Review into Architecture and the Built Environment, on behalf of the Government.

Merrick Denton Thompson

Merrick Denton-Thompson OBE FLI 

President of the Landscape Institute

United Kingdom

Collaboration, planning and management in the landscape

Abstract

A new era is emerging where biological systems will at last be playing centre stage in meeting the needs of humanity for the future. Superimpose the uncertainties surrounding a changing climate and the need to build resilience, alongside the complex issues of bio-security and the recognition of the importance of green infrastructure to health and wellbeing – this combination is both exciting and a challenge for all of us. We also have a Government committed to reducing public intervention and consequently we must collaborate in being a powerful advocate for trees and the part they play in the new agenda.

Biography

Merrick Denton-Thompson is President Elect of the Landscape Institute. He has worked in local government and the voluntary sector for all of his career. He left local government as the Assistant Director of the Environment at Hampshire County Council where he was responsible for environmental policies in strategic planning, rural affairs and the countryside service. He was appointed to the Board of Natural England to assist in the development of the new government agency in 2006 - 2009. He is the founding Trustee of the Learning Through Landscapes Trust. He is a Trustee of Marwell Wildlife and Chair of its Conservation and Education Committee. He is a member of the South Downs National Park Design Panel.


Paul Ries

Paul Ries 

USA

The changing face of arboricultural education – a global perspective

Abstract

The rapid pace of technological change is having a significant impact on the way people learn. From university courses to continuing professional education, arboricultural instruction is increasingly headed “on-line”. Distance education programs and online self-study courses are a fast growing segment of the arboricultural learning. Faculty members are no longer “the sage on the stage” – they are now the “guide on the side” as well.

This presentation will explore how arboricultural education is changing on a global scale, and what that means for research, education, and the practice of tree care. Members of an increasingly fast-paced society, especially the Millennial Generation, depend upon accessible information to help them solve problems, manage resources, and develop leadership. In this way, learning is unbound by space and time, and unlike rigid courses, online learning can be paced with separable modules indexed to each person’s needs. Like the importance of species diversity in the urban forest itself, this diversity of learning delivery will pay great dividends in the coming years.

High-tech will never completely replace high-touch, but will impact how we learn and work as arborists caring for our diverse landscapes.

Biography

Paul D. Ries is the Director of the Graduate Certificate in Urban Forestry Program at Oregon State University in Corvallis, OR, USA, where he teaches online courses in arboriculture, urban forestry, and green infrastructure. He also directs a program that provides technical urban forestry assistance to cities, community groups, and non-profit organizations. He holds BS and MS degrees in Natural Resources and is nearing completion of a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. He has been a Certified Arborist since 1988 and serves as President-Elect of the International Society of Arboriculture.

de Gourét Litchfield

de Gourét Litchfield 

United Kingdom

Theme: Urban Tree Management

Biography

de Gourét Litchfield has been involved in the tree care industry for more than 35 years and established the first treecare company in Sweden. Since 1982, he has served on the ISA Board of Directors for six terms totalling 16 years and is currently the ISA Board President with his final term ending in August 2016.

de Gourét’s long-time involvement with the European Arboriculture Council (EAC) includes terms as both vice president and president. He has also served as chair of the EAC Accreditation Board, secretary of the EAC European City of the Trees Committee and EAC chair of the AWEB Committee. In addition, de Gourét has served on the Swedish National Work Safety Board Chainsaw Committee and is co-author of the European Tree Worker Handbook and European Tree and Palm Planting Guide and the EAC Guide to Safe Working Practice.

de Gourét has an international perspective with language skills covering three continents. He is an experienced intermediary and bridge builder with an extensive network of contacts amongst the international arborist community and broad experience in committee work on an international level.


Jon Banks

Jon Banks 

United Kingdom

Theme: Tree Health

Biography

Jon Banks is the plant diagnostician for the Bartlett Tree Expert Company Ltd. He has been involved in Bartlett research at the University of Reading since 2010. He was awarded the Gatsby Summer Bursary for his research on plant stress mitigation and the R. F. Addey Memorial Prize for Horticulture while studying for his undergraduate degree. He is a member of the London Tree Officer’s Associations Biosecurity Working Party and a member of the Fund4Trees Research Advisory Committee. He has presented his research at numerous conferences including the International Urban Tree Diversity Conference in Alnarp, Sweden. He is currently involved in a range of research projects and is undertaking a part-time PhD assessing drought tolerance within the Acer genus. His role also includes keeping Bartlett representatives advised of recent developments in pest and disease diagnostics and management.

Baroness Kate Parminter

Baroness Kate Parminter 

United Kingdom

Theme: Planning and Development

Biography

Kate Parminter was created a life peer in July 2010. She is Deputy Group Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. She is the party spokesperson on the Environment.

She was a member of the House of Lords EU Select Committee and Sub-Committee on agriculture, fisheries, environment and energy until May 2015 & a member of the House of Lords’ Select Committee on National Policy for the Built Environment.

Kate grew up in West Sussex. She studied Theology at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.

She was Chief Executive of CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the leading conservation charity. She was also a Liberal Democrat Councillor on Horsham District Council in West Sussex for eight years (1987-1995).


Robert Huxford

Robert Huxford 

United Kingdom

Theme: Natural Capital and Infrastructure

Biography

Robert Huxford is director of the Urban Design Group, an international membership charity for people concerned about improving the design of cities, towns and villages. He is co-founder of PRIAN, the Public Realm Information and Advice Network, and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers Municipal Expert Panel.

He has been involved in a number of publications on the design and management of towns and cities covering, subjects such as transportation, streets, public realm, highway law and urban watercourses. He is currently working on the 3rd edition of the UK Guide on Highway Risk and Liability Claims.

David Dowson

David Dowson 

United Kingdom

Theme: Arboricultural Practice

Biography

David is an AA Registered Consultant, Chartered Arboriculturist, Educational Assessor and Environmentalist, a qualified expert witness and holds the professional diploma in arboriculture and a Master’s degree in educational assessment. He has 39 years of experience in the industry and is currently a director of Tree Life AC Ltd providing consultancy and training services to a wide range of clients. My main focus is on providing training for tree officers, contractors and consultants and improving professionalism within the relatively new arboricultural profession. I am the external verifier/lead moderator for both the Lantra PTI programme and the ABC Awards arboricultural qualifications.


Stephanie Hall

Stephanie Hall 

United Kingdom

Theme: Tree Risk Management

Biography

Stephanie Hall is a barrister specialising in town and country planning and is a tenant at Francis Taylor Building.

She has a busy practice representing both local authorities, developers and objectors and regularly appears before a wide range of tribunals including planning inspectors, the Magistrates' Court, County Courts and the High Court.

Stephanie has recently been working with Charles Mynors in relation to his specialist tree practice. In particular, Stephanie has advised both individual clients and local authorities on matters such as compensation, the extent of historic tree preservation orders, the removal of protected trees and the recovery of compensation for damage to trees on behalf of local authorities using the CAVAT system.