Chris Hardy
BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, MICFor
Chris Hardy
BSc (Hons), MSc, MBA, MICForHead of Science Centre - Forest Management
Senior management
About Chris Hardy
Chris began his career in the forest nursery sector, working across technical and commercial roles before leading Forestry England’s Plant and Seed Supply Unit for several years.
He joined Forest Research in 2023. He brings extensive experience in leadership, change management, business operations, customer relationship management and project management, supporting effective delivery in complex organisational environments. Chris is a Chartered Forester.
He holds an MSc in Plant Pathology from Harper Adams University, and an Executive MBA from Lancaster University Management School.
What Chris does
Chris provides strategic leadership and overall management for the Centre for Forest Management, a multidisciplinary unit of around 120 staff working across six Science Groups: Climate Change; Silviculture; Mensuration, Growth and Yield; Society and Environment; Urban Forests; and Land Use and Ecosystem Services.
He is responsible for ensuring that the Centre’s research programme aligns with the strategic direction of Forest Research and is delivered to high professional standards. Chris oversees the effective planning and execution of scientific work so that projects are completed on time, to budget, and with high scientific integrity.
The Centre, together will colleagues from across Forest Research, delivers world‑class applied research that enables customers and stakeholders to make effective use of data, models and analytical tools. This evidence provides a robust foundation for policy development and commercial strategy, driving environmental, societal and economic gains in the UK and internationally.
Affiliations
Professional Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters; Trustee of the Future Trees Trust
Other Publications
Edwards, D., Barsoum, N., Bathgate, S., Blake, M., Dainton, K., Davidson, M., Gill, R., Green, S., Ham, C., Hardy, C., Hattersley, R., Hendry, S., Kurtev, S., Leslie, A., Macdonald, E., Mason, B., Morison, J., Nisbet, T., Reynolds, C., Ridley-Ellis, D., Saraev, V., Steinke, S., Stokes, V., Webber, J., Whittet, R., Wilks, M. & Willoughby, I. (2025) Future productive species for Scotland.