NHG Timber Ltd

We sat down with Paul Randall, who works in our Finance & Logistics department. After 10 years working at N.H.G. Timber Limited, Paul was given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville with Director and Trader Ben Goodwin in July 2025. This trip allowed him to experience firsthand and better understand the operations of some of our core suppliers.

During his visit, Paul went to sawmills, slept in the same accommodation as the forest workers, and completed a full tree stump traceability exercise in the heart of the Congo forest. This Q&A aims to capture his transformative experience and the unique perspective it brought to him and his role in the timber industry.

What was your very first impression when you stepped into the African forest?

Stepping in was genuinely breathtaking. The atmosphere was immediately serene and deeply peaceful, an immersive and relaxing experience far beyond anything I could have imagined. It was the feeling of being in a vast, ancient cathedral of nature and also reminded me of my childhood in the forest.

Was there a moment that really stuck with you during the trip?

There were many, but seeing a family of gorillas in their natural habitat was a core memory. And just walking through the forest, surrounded by towering trees, gave me an immense feeling of awe. It truly showcased the grandeur and vitality of this unique ecosystem.

What did you learn about local communities?

On a personal level, witnessing the resilience and adaptability of the local communities was profoundly moving. Observing how people live, sustaining their livelihoods while respecting the ecosystem, truly changed my perspective on what humans are capable of. Oh, and an unusual moment that made me jump? Seeing a wasp emerge directly from the ground!

How did visiting the forest suppliers and completing the traceability exercise change your view of the supply chain?

It was a revelation. Before the trip, traceability was theoretical but seeing it on the ground—taking one of our active NHG orders and successfully tracing the logs back to the original, sustainably managed tree stump—proved the incredible robustness of our supply chain.

I also gained a profound respect for the logistical hurdles our suppliers face, such as challenging road networks and limited connectivity. It clarified how my F&L role, which handles the documents, is intrinsically linked to their immense effort and precision in these remote, demanding environments.

What surprised you most about how operations and systems work on the ground?

I was fascinated by the methods the forest teams use for navigation and inventory. They use the planned harvesting roads as guides and traditional techniques, like strategically placed branches with markings, to efficiently locate and account for every felled tree. It’s a remarkable fusion of deep forest knowledge and modern sustainable inventory control.

Did this trip give you a new appreciation for the job our traders and directors do?

Absolutely. I gained a deep appreciation for the complex work of our traders and directors. Their role is about navigating intricate logistics and bureaucratic hurdles, but also about building trust. Seeing our director, Ben, go above and beyond to engage directly with the forest workers, not just the management, underlined that trust is the ultimate currency in this industry.

How would you explain the importance of these trips to our customers?

These trips are our ultimate proof point. They demonstrate that our commitment to sustainable sourcing isn’t just a claim on paper; it’s a practice we verify firsthand. By immersing ourselves, we gain a deep, unparalleled understanding of our products’ origins. This transparency ensures our customers are receiving timber from truly responsible and legal sources.

If you had to sum up the trip, what would you say?

It was an amazing experience to have, and everyone should do it if given the chance and if they are willing to experience the breathtaking forests of Africa firsthand, experience the different culture and people, as well as seeing firsthand how operations in the sawmills and felling activities happen. It is a unique and rare experience that not many people get to do, and I am thankful that I did.