Master the material. Develop a foundational understanding of timber products and their unique properties to ensure the right material is selected for every application.
About this event
Explore the science of timber performance, and gain the clarity you need to select timber systems and products with confidence. Develop your material intelligence to better assess durability, moisture behavior, and mechanical strength, and evaluate the data that ensures long-term building health and performance.
In this free online session on 03 June 2026, we will be joined by an industry expert, together with one of the lead educators from the Timber in Construction Project Team, talking to what best practice actually looks like in the UK when selecting and applying timber materials.
This session will introduce the key intervention developed by leading built environment experts to help build confidence in the use of timber. It is designed to be introductory, accessible to beginners and professionals, supporting the growth of the use of timber in construction, and fostering a community of practitioners.
Date: 3 June 2026
Time: 13:00 – 14:00 (Online)
Cost: Free
Speakers
Rob McKenna, General Manager, James Jones & Sons
Having worked in the timber processing industry for 26 years, Rob is General Manager for James Jones and Sons Ltd., where he is responsible for their timber processing operations in South Scotland, and a champion of the Trust UK C16 timber campaign. He is Chair of the UK Timber Grading Committee, committee member of B518 (bsi. standards development – structural timber), and on the management board of the SIRT (Strategic Integrated Research in Timber) project.
Peter Smith, Partner, Roderick James Architects
Peter Smith is an Architect, Passivhaus Designer and qualified Carpenter/ Joiner, with a passion for sustainable, sensitive design using natural materials and home-grown timber. He has extensive experience in delivering bespoke house designs and small-scale community developments. Based in Glasgow, he runs the Scotland office for Roderick James Architects. He actively promotes the use of homegrown timber and natural materials wherever possible.
Wojciech Plowas, Structural Timber Design & Analysis, Edinburgh Napier University
Wojciech holds a BSc (Hons) in Civil and Timber Engineering and an MSc in Advanced Structural Engineering, with more than 10 years of experience in research and innovation in offsite methods of construction. He has a focus on the research and commercialisation of homegrown timber resources for mass timber applications, with expertise spaning timber engineering, material testing, and modern methods of construction, alongside teaching.
Nick Boulton, Head of Technical & Trade Policy, Timber Development UK (Chair)
With a degree in Wood Science, almost 20 years commercial experience in the UK timber trade, and having recently celebrated 25 years with the leading supply chain body for timber in the UK, Nick has extensive knowledge of the many facets which make up the diverse UK timber trade. Nick is also CEO of the Trussed Rafter Association, and stands as a passionate supporter of wood-based construction and the many positive benefits these solutions can bring to the UK built environment.