About

David Henderson Howat (Chair)

David joined the RSFS in 1986 when he was Forest District Manager in Aberfoyle. Prior to that he worked for the Commonwealth Development Corporation as a forest manager in Eswatini, in southern Africa.  He later spent seven years as the Forestry Commission’s Chief Conservator in Scotland, and – more recently – has undertaken consultancy work for the United Nations Forum on Forests and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.  He is a past President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

David lives in the Scottish Borders, where he enjoys managing his own “tiny forest” and is a member of the Lamancha, Newlands and Kirkurd Community Council.

Chris Quine (Vice Chair)

Chris studied geography as an undergraduate and then took a Masters degree in forestry. He enjoyed a long career in the Forestry Commission, beginning with five years in forest management in southwest Scotland and then more than three decades in applied research at Forest Research’s Northern Research Station studying topics such as storm damage, risk and resilience, biodiversity and ecosystem services, and biosecurity.

Chris held several senior roles contributing to organisational growth and leadership, latterly as Chief Scientist, and since retiring retains links with Forest Research as a research fellow. He has published widely, and his work has been recognised through a PhD from Edinburgh University, an Honorary Professorship from Stirling University and in becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

He is a council member and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and has recently been appointed a trustee and vice chair of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society. 

Genia Kolb (Treasurer)

Genia graduated with a degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Glasgow and is also a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Her professional background is in Internal Audit, in professional services firms and global Investment Banks, with a focus on regulatory compliance and governance.

Genia also acts as a Trustee for the Moray Rape Crisis Scotland. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, baking and learning German.

Andrew Macqueen

Andrew is an independent forester based in South Scotland. After graduating with a degree in Forestry from Aberdeen University, he spent nearly ten years with a large forest management company before setting up his own business in 2021 with a view to focus greater attention on diverse species and silvicultural systems.

He has a strong desire to reduce the current polarisation between 'productive' and 'native' forestry in order to encourage forests and woodlands which work for nature and people as well as production. To that end, he works with the Future Trees Trust and the Association of Scottish Hardwood Sawmillers on the breeding and silviculture of hardwood species as well as regularly assisting with training and CPD for both the Society and the Institute of chartered foresters.

Virginia Harden Scott

Virginia has been a member of the RSFS Lothians & Borders Committee since 2015 with a previous role as Regional Secretary. A graduate of Aberdeen University (MA Hons Geography) 1998, Virginia returned from 2 years working for a Zambian based safari company in 2007 to undertake an MSc in Environment and Development at the University of Edinburgh.

An Associate member of the Institute for Chartered Foresters, she has worked in the forestry industry since 2009, beginning her forestry career as Biomass Development Officer (Woodfuel) for Forestry Commission Scotland, moving on to work as a community woodland Development Officer and then Woodland Creation Officer on behalf of and laterally for what is now Scottish Forestry. She is currently employed as Land Use Practice Advisor for Scottish Forestry, covering the areas of Forest Plastics, Wildfire, Carbon and Forestry & Private Water Supplies. 

Steven Brown

Steve trained as a physical education teacher before moving to work in the financial sector in the city of London. After working there for six rewarding years he decided to return to Scotland with his new wife to complete a degree in forestry at Aberdeen University. He then joined the Forestry Commission and left for Knapdale Forest, Kintyre in September 1979, focusing mainly on harvesting. He transferred to Achaglachgach forest which had the largest planting programme in Scotland at the time. From there to Culloden to specialise in site surveys, then Newton nursery, then harvesting in the pine woods of Moray district. His final move, this time with four children in tow was to Huntly to take up a Woodland Officer post. 

He is a director of Deveron Projects an arts body based in Huntly and runs a group of young musicians called the Strathspey fiddlers. He is chair of NE region RSFS, a role which helps him retain his interest in all things forestry.