The Circular Economy Institute has installed Iain Gulland — former chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland — as the inaugural chair of its newly formed Strategic Advisory Forum, consolidating governance at the CIWM Group subsidiary as it shifts from foundation-building to scaled international delivery.

The Forum reports to both the CIWM Group Trustee Board and the CEI Board of Directors. CEI frames the body as an independent advisory panel that will feed "high-level market intelligence" into its training, accreditation and business recognition programmes — the commercial spine of the institute's offer to circular economy professionals.

What does the new Forum actually do?

CEI's announcement sets out three operating remits:

• Align training, accreditation, and recognition programmes with professional standards and market demand
• Translate policy into practical, practitioner-ready guidance
• Expand the institute's international reach through events and partnerships

The body will also back CEI's ambassadorial initiatives, giving the institute a single, senior-led platform when it shows up at national and international events.

Who is Gulland, and what does he bring?

Gulland ran Zero Waste Scotland — the publicly funded circular economy and resource efficiency agency backed by the Scottish Government — until his recent step-down. CEI describes his track record as "proven" across net zero transitions, sustainable resource management and sector policy shaping.

That mix maps directly onto the Forum's stated functions. Training credentials need policy literacy. International reach needs a regulator-facing profile. Market intelligence needs a practitioner network — and Gulland already commands one built inside a national agency.

His first public comment framed the appointment in operational, not aspirational terms: "The circular economy needs to be more than just a theoretical concept – it requires a global network of accredited circular professionals across all business sectors and governments to inspire and broker the transition."

Gulland added: "I look forward to working with the Advisory Forum to provide the insights to ensure that the Circular Economy Institute continues to provide the world-class training needed to underpin the shift to a more circular and sustainable future."

For members and training partners, the read is structural. CEI is now signing off major programme direction through a chaired, independent body — a closer fit to how professional institutes typically govern.

What changes for CEI members and training buyers?

Katie Cockburn, Senior Director for Policy and Education at CEI, called the appointment "an important milestone" in the institute's evolution. "As we move from building our foundations to scaling global delivery, robust and enabling governance is essential," she said.

"The appointment of Iain Gulland as Chair of the Strategic Advisory Forum brings exceptional sector leadership and independent insight to our work, ensuring we remain positioned to support professionals and organisations in driving meaningful, long-term impact."

CEI sits inside CIWM Group, the UK body that administers the Chartered Waste Manager (CWM) designation and other sector credentials. That parentage matters: the Forum's recommendations land inside a group that already issues recognised qualifications.

The market milestone to watch: the Forum's first published set of training and accreditation priorities — the document that will tell CEI-accredited practitioners, training providers and procurement teams which competencies the institute plans to elevate this cycle.