12 March 2026
The winners of the Confor Awards 2026 were honoured and celebrated by the industry at an event in Edinburgh on Wednesday 11 March.
A highlight of the annual industry calendar, the Confor Awards recognise those driving progress for forestry and the wood-using sector, through leadership, communication, resilience and sustainability.
Confor Chief Executive Stuart Goodall commented that the industry is “walking the talk” by investing in a sustainable future for forestry and timber, and by making a positive impact on the attitudes of the public and policymakers.
Speaking ahead of the Awards, he said: “In these times of global insecurity and economic and climate challenges, our industry can make a valuable contribution that ticks so many economic and environmental boxes.
“There are barriers to overcome, not least those related to misinformation and often polarised debate. The sector needs great people and businesses who can promote the industry and who can demonstrate excellence and drive growth - those shortlisted for this year's awards fit the bill.”
This sentiment was echoed by Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, who was unable to attend the Awards in person but addressed attendees with a video message commending the sector’s commitment to improving engagement and resilience across the UK.
She added: “Few sectors can boast the breadth, depth, passion, and ambition as this one. In Scotland alone, since 2015, we've approved over 100,000 hectares of new woodland, with more than 200 million trees planted. This is an incredible achievement that reflects close working between all parts of the sector, land managers and government.
“It's been an incredible honour to meet and work with so many of you across the industry during my time serving in the Scottish Government. I deeply appreciate the importance of trees and forestry to the future of our economy, our environment, and society for all of those who come after us.”
Baroness Barbara Young of Old Scone, recently appointed Chair of the Forestry Commission, also commented: “The Forestry Commission cannot deliver on its mission without the partnership of all the people here in the room tonight. The finalists show what is possible when we work, innovate and invest together.”
Baroness Young was presenting the Building Industry Resilience Award, which shines a spotlight on the projects and people taking action to futureproof the industry through innovation, education and collaboration.
This year’s winner was the Forestry Operations New Entrants Programme, an innovative programme delivered at the UHI Scottish School of Forestry to tackle industry skill shortages. Targeted at young people and career changers, the industry-backed training represents a powerful blend of expertise and investment. The programme is funded by Aviva Investors (supported by Par Equity) and equipment is supplied by Scottish Woodlands.
This award is sponsored by Forestry Commission and Forestry & Land Scotland.
The recipient of the inaugural Championing Forestry & Timber Products Award was the Forestry Commission’s Trees to Timber Campaign. Formally titled the Changing Attitudes Award, this honour recognises efforts to promote the forestry and wood sector through personal engagement, campaigning, or communication.
The Trees to Timber Campaign made an impact by translating complex technical information into clear, credible messages about the importance of UK grown timber. Through tailored content and stakeholder engagement, the campaign reinforced the importance of timber as a contributor to both the economy and environment, encouraging landowners to develop new commercial enterprises, highlighting innovation in the sector, and repositioning modern forestry.
This award is sponsored by Scottish Woodland Ltd.
Jillian Kennedy, Senior Forest Manager at Scottish Woodlands, was honoured with the Tom A Bruce Jones Memorial Award for Future Leader in the Forestry Industry. Jillian has become a recognisable face on UK and European policy stages in recent years. As National Chair of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs and a Director of the Perthshire Agricultural Society, she works to foster greater understanding between farmers and foresters, and to build stronger rural communities.
This award is sponsored by James Jones & Sons.
The Net Zero Innovation Award went to Ayrshire-based Land Energy, who are making strides towards their goal of having wood pellet energy accepted as a mainstream choice for commercial and domestic users. Virtually no fossil fuels are used in Land Energy’s production process, and their low-carbon product guarantees a minimum of 4,800 KWh of heat per tonne for users.
This award is sponsored by Tilhill Forestry.
The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) presented the title of Professional Forester of the Year to Tom Coates MICFor. In his role as Area Supply Manager at James Jones & Sons Ltd, Tom promotes responsible woodland management and champions collaboration across the sector. His ability to motivate and connect with people reflects a strong commitment to advancing forestry science and practice.
Among the other special accolades of the evening was the first ever Confor Chair Award, bestowed upon the ground-breaking Trust UK C16 Timber Campaign. Lord Ian Duncan of Springbank, Chair of Confor, noted that the campaign has real future potential to positively impact the perception of home-grown timber and drive growth in its use, especially in the construction and housing sectors.
The annual Confor Dedicated Service to Forestry Award was received by David Edwards, Forestry Director at Tilhill Forestry, for his leadership, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the industry. Additionally, it was announced that noted forestry advocate Sir William Worsley had been presented with the discretionary Confor Award for Distinguished Service in the Public and Private Sectors.
The Scottish Forestry Trust also presented the Dr Cyril Hart Memorial Award to Sarah Watts at the event, in recognition of her research completed with the organisation’s support.
Confor would like to thank the award sponsors noted here and Green-tech Ltd and the University of Cumbria for their support of the event. See full details on the shortlisted nominations.