Confor Awards shortlists are out

Confor dinner and awards is back – with strong shortlists in all categories as the industry prepares to celebrate leaders, communicators and innovators.

The Confor dinner and awards in February 2020 was a hugely enjoyable and positive celebration of all that is good about the forestry and wood sector. Two years later, after an enforced absence in 2021, the awards dinner is back. In addition to the well-established Dedicated Service to Forestry Award, the three new awards handed out for the first time in 2020 return for 2022.

There are very strong shortlists for all three awards - Changing Attitudes (sponsored by Scottish Woodlands), Innovation & Research (sponsored by Forestry & Land Scotland and Forestry Commission) and Future Forestry Leader (sponsored by James Jones & Sons).

Four entries have been shortlisted in each category as entry numbers were up on 2020, with judges facing a challenging task to whittle down a number of quality entries in each of the three categories.

Stuart Goodall, Chief Executive of Confor, said: “Leadership, innovation and communication are all absolutely vital to the future success of our industry - and I’m very pleased to see the number of entries is up from 2020 – and to see a really high quality of entries too.

“It’s also great to see the variety of businesses shortlisted – from both small and large businesses, from the private and public sectors and from all along the supply chain.

“I really look forward to announcing winners at the dinner on 1 March and celebrating the achievements of our growing industry. We will also unveil the latest hero of our industry who will pick up the prestigious Dedicated Service to Forestry Award.”

SHORTLISTED NOMINATIONS

CHANGING ATTITUDES AWARD INNOVATION & RESEARCH AWARD

Drew Easton

Learning & Development Manager at Jas P Wilson

Laura Jermy

Harvesting Manager and Timber Buyer at TG Norman

Vicky West

Woodland Carbon Code Manager at Scottish Forestry

Jamie Dewhurst

Managing Director at JA Growers

Eilidh Forster

Consultant and Bangor University researcher

FUTURE FORESTRY LEADER AWARD

Michael Cresswell

Forest Operations Team Leader at Natural Resources Wales

Alexander Lambton

Mill Manager for James Jones & Sons at Lockerbie

Tom Kemp and Nick Jarvis

Working Woodlands Cornwall CIC

Judges: David Lee, Public Affairs Cooperative; Ian Robinson, Scottish Woodlands; Stefanie Kaiser, Confor

Other nominated entries

Jez Ralph Timber Design Strategies

Forestry England North Forest District Lee Waters

Welsh Labour Member of Senedd Tim Kirk Kirk Valuations Jamie Farquhar Confor Peter Topham Savills

Josh Roberts

Innovations manager with Forestry and Land Scotland

Matt Stevenson

Founder & Managing Director, ECOSystems Technologies Limited

Judges: Jo Ellis*, Forestry and Land Scotland; Ian Tubby, Forestry Commission, Andy Leitch, Confor *has not participated in shortlisting of Josh Roberts, due to a conflict of interest

Other nominated entries

Matthew Brown and Rafi Cohen Forest Creation Partners Neil Stoddart Creel Consulting Bryan Elliot Eucalyptus Renewables Ltd Franziska Goeckavitz Tilhill Daniel Iddon SAF Woodland Management Prof. Jo Bradwell Norbury Park Brian Keen B W Keen Forestry

Shona Smyth

Forest Manager at Pryor & Rickett

Mike Yerbury

Director, EGGER Forestry

Judges: Stuart Goodall, Confor; Shireen Chambers, ICF; David Leslie, James Jones and Sons* *withdrawn from panel due to conflict of interest

Other nominated entries

Andy Maclachlan Scottish Woodlands Tom Croy Par Equity Cora Pfarre Forestry Commission Sam Brown Tilhill Sam Bristow Tilhill Ben Crisford Tilhill Luke Hemmings (ex) Forestry Commission