Future Trees Trust is delighted to welcome John McLaughlin as new Chief Executive. 

Future Trees Trust is the UK’s only charity dedicated to improving broadleaved trees by selective breeding, delivering environmental, economic and wellbeing benefits for current and future generations.  

John spent his early career working in the NHS and for the past 18 years has been CEO of one of the largest Mental Health and Housing Charities in the Thames Valley. He has also been Executive Chair of the RAW Workshop- a wood recycling charity that provides employment for vulnerable adults. 

John will be supporting Future Trees Trusts’ vision for all productive woodlands in the UK to contain a proportion of genetically-improved trees whose wood is used in the construction of net zero carbon social housing and public buildings, contributing to the delivery of the UK Government’s net zero carbon strategy. 

John is joining the charity at a crucial time in supporting the Trust’s strategy to promote resilient, healthy and productive woodlands in the UK. He will be supporting the core work of improvement for timber, in tree health, and enhancing woodland-level resilience by working to increase use of minor broadleaved species and mixed planting. Work will also continue in supporting young foresters in their early careers through the scholarship programme for placement of early-career foresters and researchers. 

John McLaughlin, CEO at Future Trees Trust says, “I am really excited to be joining Future Trees Trust as their new Chief Executive. In the short time I have spent with FTT I have been incredibly impressed with the passion and commitment of everyone I have met. With its new strategic plan and ambitions to increase impact, it is a great time to be joining. I look forward to meeting all our partners and supporters over the coming months.” 

John Leigh Pemberton, Chair of Trustees says,” It’s great to have John as the new CEO of Future Trees Trust.  We are very excited to have such an experienced CEO on board to help us develop as an organisation and take our work forward in providing industry with qualified and tested forest reproductive material.”