Centre for Forest Protection Team

You can find more information about each of the core Centre for Forest Protection team below.

Jess Allan – Centre for Forest Protection Lead

Jess is the Centre for Forest Protection Lead, based at Forest Research. She works closely with colleagues across FR, Kew, and Defra to deliver the CFP Strategy, and she coordinates the science programme and knowledge transfer and exchange. She also oversees comms and outreach activities.

Jess has a background in environmental science and an MSc in Conservation. She previously worked at The Tree Council, managing collaborative and multidisciplinary research projects with a range of partners. She is interested in trees in all their forms and functions, whether they are in forests, woodlands, scrub, parkland, hedgerows, farms or gardens!

A woman with long, dark red hair, and black glasses, wearing a dark blue jacket, smiling against a background of a tree covered in colourful leaves,

Milly Bell – Programme Support & Communications

Milly is based at Forest Research and manages the Centre for Forest Protection (CFP) communications, including the CFP website, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube, and mailing list/newsletter. She collaborates with researchers and scientists across Forest Research, Kew, Defra and partners to develop and publish regular content including research updates, training opportunities, news, and more. She also supports the CFP education programme.

Prior to joining the CFP, Milly was an Engagement Officer for the Forestry Commission South West Area Team, and before that, a Senior Sustainable Development Officer for East Riding of Yorkshire Council where she developed and managed environmental policies and action plans. She has degrees in BSc (Hons) Geography and MA Enviornmental Sociology, both from Lancaster University.

A smiling woman with long blonde hair, and black glasses. She is facing towards the left, and is wearing a dark grey-brown jumper on top of a black tshirt. She is stood against an out of focus background of bushes.

Suzanne Sancisi-Frey – Education & Training Officer

Suzy is the Education and Training Officer for the CFP and leads on the delivery of a Master’s module in Forest Protection with Bangor University, a successful internship scheme and online training modules designed to promote continuous professional development in the forestry and tree health sector.

Suzy has a background in environmental microbiology (PhD), plant pathology (BSc. and MRes) and many years of experience in forest pathology (research, diagnostics, training and education). She has worked at Forest Research since 2010 and was previously employed by Cranfield University, and the Open University as a research fellow.

Cheung Tang – Senior Science Education Coordinator

Cheung is currently the Senior Science Education Coordinator at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he oversees the education and training components within the Centre for Forest Protection. In addition, he serves as the Teaching Lead for the MSc in Plant and Fungal Taxonomy, Diversity and Conservation.

His research focuses on plant systematics, molecular phylogenetics, biogeography, and diversification rate analysis, and he also maintains a strong interest in environmental education. Prior to his current role, he worked as a Science Education Coordinator at RBG Kew and spent over four years as a lecturer in Hong Kong, where he was actively engaged with environmental NGOs.

Science & Research

Our science programme will support the UK governments' forest and tree strategies and the successful delivery of tree planting programmes. Research outcomes will also directly contribute to the improved resilience of the UK’s forests, woodlands and trees and help promote enhanced capacity and capability in forest and tree health research.

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