JOAN WEBBER

A senior research scientist employed by the Forestry Commission since 1989 and based at the Alice Holt research station of Forest Research (FR), she has been Principal Pathologist since 2000, and head of Tree Health Research (25 scientists and students) since 2011. She has a 30+ year international track record of research and collaboration on pathogens of forest and woodland trees, their population biology and epidemiology, and the use and deployment of biological control agents in the management of tree diseases. Over the past ten years her work has focussed on alien invasive pathogens including Phytophthora and most recently Chalara dieback of ash evaluating the threat they poseand their potential long-term impact on trees and forest ecosystems following introduction. In 2014,she was awarded The Institute’s Medal, the highest award from the UK Institute of Chartered Foresters, as a mark of her professional excellence in forest pathology.