Phil Taylor

As Managing Director of Port Blakely’s New Zealand Forestry Division, Phil Taylor oversees the strategic direction of the company’s forestry, essential oils, barge and carbon operations across New Zealand.

Phil joined Port Blakely in 2006 after serving as CEO of City Forests Ltd, where he spent nearly three decades in progressively senior roles. With more than four decades in the forestry industry, he brings deep knowledge of the full forestry value chain—from field operations to executive leadership and industry governance.

Phil serves on the Forest Growers Levy Trust and is a member of the Executive Council of the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, where he previously served as President. He is a respected voice in national forestry strategy, climate resilience, and research investment.

Phil holds a New Zealand Certificate in Forestry and a Bachelor of Forestry Science (First Class Honours) from the University of Canterbury. A Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Forestry, he was named New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) Forester of the Year in 2013. In his free time, Phil enjoys photography and travel—often combining the two to capture landscapes near and far.