Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee is responsible for proposing a list of candidates to fill the vacancies within the PEFC International Board, ensuring a balance of the major stakeholders supporting PEFC, the geographical distribution of members, annual cutting categories and gender.

Every year, we invite PEFC members to nominate candidates for the Board. The Nominations Committee guides our members by advising them on what qualifications and experience are sought from the nominees.

Once the members have submitted their nominees, the Nominations Committee is responsible for considering the nominations and proposing a list of candidates to fill the vacancies within the Board. This includes the Chairman, Vice Chairs and Board members.

This list is proposed to, and voted on by, the PEFC General Assembly.

Appointing the Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee is made up of four members: two PEFC Board members and two people from outside the PEFC alliance. Each member of the Nominations Committee serves a term of three years and they can serve two successive terms.

The two Board representatives are appointed by the Board. The two external members are appointed by the PEFC General Assembly, based on a proposal by the Board, which in turn will have considered candidates proposed by at least two PEFC members.

Current Nominations Committee

Esa Härmälä

Director General of Metsahallitus (State Forests & Parks in Finland); Director General (Energy), Ministry of Employment and the Economy in Finland; Director General of European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association (EFMA, Brussels) and President of Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK).

Esa is also a chair of the Board in two energy companies in Finland - Fennovoima Oy and Baltic Connector Oy and a member of Board in MTK Foundation (Forest estate management) and Apetit Oyj (Food industry).

Jan McAlpine

Jan is a former Director (CEO) of the Secretariat for the 197 countries of the United Nations Forum on Forests in New York. Prior to that she was the Senior Advisor and Negotiator for Forests for the US Department of State for 8 years in Washington DC where she conceived and initiated the President's Initiative Against Illegal logging, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, launched by Secretary Colin Powell, the Liberia Forest Initiative and more.

Jan is currently CEO and President of McAlpine International Consultants, focusing on Natural Resources, Forests, Water and Water Pollution, Education, Training, strategic planning and development, policy development and implementation, fund raising and project management. She is also a part-time Lecturer, Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and serves as a Senior Policy Fellow, Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy; and is a Board member of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR).