Born on 24 July 1934, he attended the University of Aberdeen, graduating in 1956 with a degree in forestry.
[1] Cutler left New Zealand in 1990, when he was appointed Director-General and Deputy Chairman of the Forestry Commission of the United Kingdom.
[3] During his tenure, the government's Forest Review (1994) removed the commission's management section and turned it into its own agency, Forest Enterprise; the Conservative government had considered privatising the whole commission, but faced heavy opposition.
According to Herald Scotland, Cutler was "largely credited with the more enlightened thinking of the Commission" during this period rapid change.
[3] He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1995 Birthday Honours in recognition of his service.