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About our Experts
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David Venables
European Director
David Venables, has a specialised background in hardwood, with a BSc in Timber Technology and more than 20 years experience in the international marketing of hardwood products. He is responsible for their promotional and marketing programmes in Europe, the Middle East and India. David is an acknowledged expert on wood markets and the uses and applications of hardwood species and products. He has developed a number of technical publications for the AHEC, including the “Guide to American Hardwoods”. He is an experienced speaker, frequently making presentations on American hardwoods and other wood related topics, to trade, manufacturing and architectural audiences worldwide.
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Roderick Wiles
Consultant to AHEC for International Markets
For the past ten years, Roderick has travelled and researched the hardwood markets of North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and India. He is a recognised authority on the trends and issues concerning the trade and consumption of wood products across these regions and beyond and an acknowledged expert on the uses and market applications of hardwood species and products. Working internationally, he specialises in hardwood market analysis and promotion and offers private confidential market analysis and marketing advice, on a long term or project basis to a wide range of government and corporate clients, including the American Hardwood Export Council, for whom he worked from 1999 to 2003.
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Bob Sabistina
Consultant to AHEC for Lumber Grading
Bob has been working in the hardwood industry for over 30 years, 12 of which he served as the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Chief Inspector, and is extremely well known by the US hardwood sector. He also has experience from working for a number of private firms within the hardwood trade over recent years, but this year sees him rejoin the NHLA as their ‘International Grading Consultant’. He continues to travel extensively with AHEC, providing grading seminars all over the world, teaching the NHLA grading rules. Bob also submits a regular ‘Grading Q & A’ article for distribution by AHEC.
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Rupert Oliver
Consultant to AHEC for Sustainability Issues
Rupert Oliver is an internationally recognised independent authority with 20 years experience on environmental issues related to the timber trade and forest management. 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 in the international forest products sector and is a regular speaker at international conventions. He is a strong believer in the contribution that forestry and timber can make to sustainable development. He holds a Masters degree in Forest Business Administration. He is Director of Forest Industries Intelligence Limited.
