Students from ¶º±ÆÖ±²¥â€™s Forestry, Woodland Management and Agroforestry programmes took centre stage at the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) National Conference in May 2026, contributing to two panel sessions on the future of the profession.

Held at the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport, the conference brought together professionals, researchers and emerging leaders to explore forestry’s response to environmental and societal challenges. Students offered a thoughtful perspective, speaking candidly about the kind of foresters and woodland managers they aspire to become.

Across both panels, ten students reflected on their values, ambitions and the evolving role of forestry in society. While recognising the importance of technical skills, they highlighted the importance of people, ethics and long-term thinking. They expressed ambitions to balance productivity with environmental responsibility, including managing resilient woodlands and working with local communities. A consistent theme was the aspiration to be well-rounded professionals—open to learning from failure and combining ecological understanding with communication, collaboration, and a commitment to lifelong learning and experimentation.

The panels demonstrated students’ growing confidence as active contributors, engaging directly with current sector challenges in line with the conference’s focus on innovation. Their contributions showed that early-career foresters are already critically shaping ideas around sustainable landscapes, from commercial forestry to agroforestry and multifunctional woodlands.

Dr Ashley Hardaker, Lecturer in Land Management Planning and Economics / Director for the BSc Forestry and BSc Conservation with Forestry programmes, praised the students:

They were absolutely fantastic, thoughtful, articulate and genuinely inspiring to listen to. It was great to see them sharing such clear ideas about the kind of foresters and woodland managers they want to become.

Bangor students’ involvement in the ICF conference reflects a strong commitment within forestry education to connect learning with professional networks and real-world discussions. Their contributions highlighted that the next generation of foresters is not only well prepared, but also actively engaged with the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. The Forestry department thanks the Bangor Fund and Welsh Government for making this possible.

The Bangor Fund is made up of alumni donations, administered by the Development and Alumni Relations Office, helping to provide a margin of excellence to the student experience.

Learn more about the Bangor Fund