Wood Recyclers’ Association Chair Andy Hill has announced he will be standing down from the lead role at the trade body’s AGM next March.
Andy has been Chair of the WRA for eight years, and was on the Board for two years prior to that. He will hand over the role to current Deputy Chair Richard Coulson. Andy will then take up the role of Deputy Chair to support Richard and maintain continuity for the Board and the wider association.
Andy said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the WRA and am incredibly proud of all it has achieved over the past eight years. We have totally transformed from the small, trade association we were to one which can really pull its weight on behalf of its members.
“Of course I am proud that has happened under my chairmanship, but it is very much a team undertaking and without the collective efforts of the whole Board and others we would not be where we are today.”
Over the past five years the WRA has dealt with some major challenges on behalf of its members. These have included campaigning to make changes to proposed Fire Prevention Plan (FPP) guidance, and more lately leading the Waste Wood Classification Project.
“FPP was a test of our strength and resilience, as well as our combined expertise, and together we managed to work with our members and the regulators to reach a conclusion which everyone was satisfied with,” said Andy.
“The blood, sweat and tears that was put into that project by the WRA’s Board and surrounding support team was all worth the effort because as well as resolving the issue of FPPs, it did a huge amount to raise the profile of the WRA with all the right audiences, as well as create many positive and beneficial relationships with our key stakeholders.”
On the back of the FPP work, the WRA was tasked by the Environment Agency to lead on the Waste Wood Classification Project, which aims to ensure that waste wood in the UK is properly classified at its origin and is processed into appropriate end markets, as well as clarify which waste wood items are hazardous and which aren’t.
Andy added: “I look forward to continuing as Chair until the springtime and then taking a step back to allow Richard to take over the reins. I will be sitting in the wings and supporting wherever I can as deputy Chair going forward.”
The WRA has seven Board members who are elected by WRA members to serve a for a three year. They can then stand for re-election at the end of that term. Elections are held every March at the trade association’s AGM. The Board members are: Andy Hill (Chair), Richard Coulson (Deputy Chair), Geoff Hadfield, Jamie Plevin, Alan Webb, Mark Hayton and Paul Caldwell. In addition, The WRA’s Executive Director Julia Turner is also on the Board.