Dr Jeff Lloyd, vice president research and development at Nisus Corporation, has been appointed Vice President of the International Research Group on Wood Protection (IRG). The appointment to VP lasts for three years and is followed by three years as president, then another three years as past president, so the responsibility represents a significant career commitment.
 
IRG is a non-profit group that focuses on the latest developments and research in wood protection by providing the opportunity to develop and foster interaction between scientists from all over the world.  It does this principally through its annual and regional conferences as well as working with different bodies active in the field.  IRG has now been meeting for more than 40 years and has members representing more than 50 countries.
 
“This is an incredible honor,” says Lloyd, “and with the strong support of Nisus Corporation, I was able to accept the nomination. I consider this appointment as a pinnacle in my career in wood protection, and I hope I can do justice to the position.”
 
Lloyd has been involved with IRG since he was a graduate student with his first paper, ‘The Mechanisms of Action of Borate Wood Treatments’ in 1991. He attended his first IRG meeting in 1992 in Kyoto, Japan. Over the years he has served as Diffusible Preservatives working party convener, Wood Protecting Chemicals vice chair and chair as well as serving on the Executive Committee.  “I would urge anyone involved in wood protection or wood destroying organism research and control to become a member of the group,” Lloyd advises. “It has been a great value to me personally and a great way for our company to keep ahead of the curve. It has also enabled us to have active research programs with other members across the world.”
 
Dr. Lloyd has more than 20 years of experience in preservation, pest control and forest pathology research, technical service and global market development. He holds degrees in Applied Biology and Microbiology as well as a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Preservation Technology from Imperial College at The University of London, England. He has authored numerous scientific publications and is a member of several industry and scientific organizations, including the American Wood Protection Association and the Railroad Tie Association, and is a fellow of the Institute of Wood Science. Dr. Lloyd holds several patents, including patents on the use of calcium borate to protect wood composites and the use of borates on concrete as a termite barrier.
 
While he has already assumed his new responsibilities, Dr. Lloyd will participate in his first official meeting as the new Vice President at the next IRG annual meeting, May 8-12, 2011, Queenstown, New Zealand. For more information on IRG, visit www.irg-wp.com.