The BWF is the voice of the UK Woodworking industry, and our staff team works hard to support your business in every way. Below you can meet the team here at the BWF. In addition to the staff team, you can also see which members are representing you.

We are a member led organisation with our Council of members and Executive body driving the strategy. There are three Council meetings per year where the BWF’s strategy is discussed.  If you are a member and are interested in getting involved with the BWF Council, you can nominate yourself and are welcome to call us to discuss what it entails.

Helen Hewitt – Chief Executive
Email Helen Here
Helen has overall responsibility for the BWF’s operations and direction.

Tony Batchelor – Training Manger
Email Tony Here
Tony is responsible for delivering on the BWF’s three core training objectives: increasing recruitment into the sector; maintaining and developing high quality qualifications and delivery partners, and fostering a culture of continuous learning in the industry.

Kevin Underwood – Technical Director
Email Kevin Here
Kevin spends much of his time out of the office sitting on technical standards committees both in the UK and Europe. He works to drive standards for the advancement of our industry and offers advice through the technical helpline.

Tracey Hemming – Office and Finance Manager
Email Tracey Here
Tracey manages the finance department and the office. She is the main point for contact for general invoicing and other financial queries.

Hannah Mansell – Head of Technical Research and Insight
Email Hannah Here
Hannah leads various projects supporting the growth of the woodworking industry, as well as leading the technical committee of the BWF Fire Door Alliance.

Hayley Baptist – Membership and Training Officer
Email Hayley Here
Hayley deals with all queries regarding Membership and Training. She is the main point for contact for membership application and fee enquires.

Jenny Taylor – Senior Officer, BWF Schemes
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Jenny is the BWF’s main administrator and deals with general enquiries, queries regarding the BWF-CERTIFIRE Scheme and new BWF member applications.

Peter Clifton – Schemes Manager for Fire Door Alliance and Stair Scheme
Email Peter Here
Peter is the main point of contact for the Fire Door Alliance and Stair Schemes.

Amanda Chesson – Marketing & Communications Manager, WWA Lead
Email Amanda Here
Amanda is the main point of contact for all BWF marketing and communications enquiries and is the lead for the Wood Window Alliance.

The BWF Board of Directors (all voluntary representatives from Member Firms)

Sean Parnaby – President
Email Sean Here
West Port Timber Windows & Doors
Sean is the President of the British Woodworking Federation contributing to the organisation’s strategy. Sean also takes specific responsibility for leading the BWF’s work to increase their sales and profitability in the marketplace.

Paul Bailey – Honorary Treasurer and Vice President
European Doorsets Ltd
Paul is the Honorary Treasurer, contributing to the organisation’s strategy with specific responsibilities for the BWF finances and ensuring we are a well-resourced organisation delivering exceptional value to members.

David Pattenden – Immediate Past President
Specialist Joinery (South) Ltd

Roy Wakeman OBE
Mumford and Wood

Gary Vaughton – BWF Officer
Premdor

Andrew Madge – BWF Officer
Gowercroft Windows and Doors

Stephen Wright – BWF Officer
George Barnsdale and Sons Ltd

David Oldfield – Fire Door Alliance Scheme Chair
Arnold Laver

Pauline Kelly – BWF Stair Scheme Chair
E A Higginson & Co. Ltd

Your BWF Council (all voluntary representatives from Member Firms)

Specific Representatives

Tony Pell – Wood Window Alliance Chair
JELD-WEN Ltd
Tony chairs the Wood Window Alliance, helping to develop communications to support the growth of the wood window market in the UK

Roger Silk – Wood Industry Training Forum Chair
Houghtons of York Ltd
Roger chairs the training arm of the BWF, the Woodworking Industry Training Forum, leading strategy on training policy, provision, qualifications & funding.

Ordinary members of the Council

Amarjit Binji , AJB Group
Jonathan Bowers, MWC Holdings
Jim Horsman, Icklesham Joinery
Steve Goodburn, Pyroguard
Alan Turner, Joinerysoft
Paul Taylor, Canopy products
Peter Horner, Andrew Horner & Son
Harjender Singh Batchu, Akaal
Wolfgang Gorner, Allan Brothers
Simon Badham, Arden Windows

Co-opted Council Members

Keith Tyson, Lignum Associates

Honorary Life Members

Ian Purkis
Keith Whitaker
Brian Styles