Some months ago, I wrote you to say CIFOR was looking for outstanding candidates to fill leadership positions. The response was overwhelming. We received over 350 applications from 80 countries, including many from highly qualified people. Now I have the gratifying task of announcing CIFOR’s new management team.

Assistant Director General – Yemi Katarere

Yemi is a Zimbabwean forester who has headed the IUCN regional office for Southern Africa. He previously directed the Zimbabwe Forestry Commission and chaired ICRAF’s Board of Trustees. His private sector experience includes plantation forests, processing plants and marketing. Yemi has authored or contributed to 70 publications and holds a PhD from the University of Idaho.

Director of Environmental Services & Sustainable Use of Forests – Markku Kanninen

Markku is a Finnish forester who has been Director of Research for CATIE in Costa Rica. He brings expertise in forest ecology, silviculture, forest management, and global climate change. Before going to CATIE, Markku coordinated Finland’s Research Council for Environment and Natural Resources. He has 170 publications and did his doctorate at the University of Helsinki.

Director of Forests and Governance – Doris Capistrano

Doris is a Filipina resource economist, who has been the Ford Foundation Deputy Representative for India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Doris has over 20 years professional experience in teaching, research, development and grant making. She is member of the technical panel of the Millennium Ecosystems Assessment, has a substantial publications record and got her PhD from the University of Florida.

Director of Forests and Livelihoods – Bruce Campbell

Bruce Campbell, a South African natural resource scientist, has worked with CIFOR in various capacities for the last eight years. Before joining CIFOR full time, Bruce directed the Institute of Environmental Studies at the University of Zimbabwe. Bruce is interested in interdisciplinary work on environmental goods and services, institutional arrangements for resource management, livelihoods and action research. He has authored or contributed to almost 200 publications and received his PhD from the University of Utrecht.

Director of Information Services – Michael Hailu

Michael Hailu, an Ethiopian communications specialist, joined CIFOR in 1999. Prior to that, he headed ICRAF’s Information Services in Kenya. Michael also serves as Deputy Coordinator of IUFROs’ task force on Global Forest Information Services and previously coordinated the AfricaLink project, which provided email and Internet access to national agricultural research programmes and networks in Africa. Michael holds a master’s from the University of Pittsburgh.

Deputy Director General for Corporate Services – Norman Macdonald

Norman Macdonald, a Canadian accountant, joined CIFOR in 1994, and has managed the center’s human resources, administration, and finance since. Before, Norman spent 13 years with IDRC in Ottawa and New Delhi. He has a BA from the University of Western Ontario and is a Chartered Accountant.

As Director General of CIFOR, I look forward to working with this new team. I hope you do too.As Director General of CIFOR, I look forward to working with this new team. I hope you do too.