About AB Training
Vision
Provide world-class training in good governance relating to the use of natural and human resources
Mission
Improve natural and human resources management through high quality, responsive and participatory educational, training and capacity building programmes responding to the needs of different organisations working on natural resources management.
Core values
The ABTraining programme is committed to quality, responsiveness, participation, and transparency in the development and implementation of its activities relating to natural and human resources management.
The people behind ABT
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| Liviu Amariei |
Michal Brink |
Liviu Amariei, a previous head of the Accreditation Business Unit of FSC International, was born in Romania, but has lived in several countries during his forestry career. These include Austria, Mexico and Italy, where he is currently living. Liviu has a masters degree in forest engineering from the Bodenkultur University of Vienna, and post graduate studies in international relations at the School of Advanced International Studies of the Johns Hopkins University. He is a qualified FSC Lead Auditor, both at accreditation and certification level, and a trainer for FSC Forest Management and Chain of Custody courses.
Michal Brink was borne in Zimbabwe, has an MBA and a PhD in forestry, and currently lives in South Africa. Michal was the previous Director of the SGS Qualifor Programme, a certification body accredited to the FSC to provide FSC certification. Michal has had experience in lecturing, consulting and has also worked for several forestry companies during his 25-year forestry career and has a wealth of FSC auditing experience all over the world.
The common concern for the forests of the world and the passionate drive to play a significant role in improving forest management and the livelihood of all people that make a living on forest based resources is what brought these two individuals together. Furthermore they both share an entrepreneurial spirit, which can be fulfilled through the provision of qualifications for all stakeholders involved in FSC certification. ABT does not provide FSC certification and thus have no conflict of interest with any stakeholder involved with FSC - be it a client, an NGO or an individual who wishes to learn more about the FSC certification process.
Training and auditing experience
Both Michal and Liviu are experienced Lead Auditors in the key areas of FSC auditing work: accreditation and certification, bringing together to ABT 17 years of auditing experience, in addition to expertise in other areas related to certification such as institutional development, standard setting and certification market development. As consultants, training developers and trainers Michal and Liviu have been working with several FSC-accredited certification bodies (SGS, ICILA, Certiquality, LGA, Woodmark/Soil Association), as well as many other institutions such as the Universities of Stelenbosch in South Africa, Padova and Viterbo in Italy, international aid agencies like USAID, companies like Asia Pulp and Paper, NGOs like WWF, the FSC International Centre, WWF, the Union for Ethical Biotrade, Pi Environmental Consulting, Leading Standards, ProForest and many others.
