The Challenge of Sustainability was the theme of this year’s Timber Trade Federation (TTF) conference held in Birmingham last week.

Forestry minister Elliot Morley was keynote speaker at the event attended by more than 65 delegates.

During the day representatives from a wide spectrum of the timber industry outlined how responsibility for sustainability affects them – and how they deal with the challenge.

At the AGM prior to the conference Geoff Rhodes was elected president, replacing Philip Underwood. John Tong was elected vice-president and Charles Sherborne treasurer. Paul Martin was re-elected director-general.

&#8220The Timber Trade Federation has been taking the concepts and ideas forward in a constructive way and taking responsibility for sustainability.”

Elliot Morley, forestry minister,

The event underlined the role the TTF has carved for itself with government. Mr Morley described sustainable development and corporate responsibility as a great theme for a conference and added: “You have been taking the concepts and ideas forward in a constructive way and taking responsibility for sustainability.”

Giving his support to the work of The Federation he also praised the TTF for its code of conduct and its role in helping the Forest Industries Development Council put together a sustainable strategy for the UK forest indutries sector.

Other speakers were Michael Ankers of the Construction Products Association; Geoff Rhodes, TTF president and marketing and sales director for Weyerhaeuser Europe; Paul Martin director-general of the TTF; George McRobbie, chairman of the Forest Industries Development Council Task Force; Rachel Butler environmental manager at Finnforest UK Ltd; Charles Hopping, chairman of Hoppings plc; Brendan Burns, national vice-chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses; Andy Roby, corporate social responsibility adviser at the TTF; Charles Trevor, managing director of wood. for good; and Darren Sherborne an employment lawyer

with BPE Solicitors.