Celebrating Leadership in Sustainable Forestry
Among the many highlights of the recent Australian Forest Products Association dinner in Melbourne was the presentation of the prestigious Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award, awarded to Monique Blason of ForestrySA by Responsible Wood. CEO Simon Dorries and Chair Dr Tony Bartlett had the honour of presenting this esteemed award.
Named in memory of Richard Stanton, a passionate advocate for sustainable forestry, this award recognises individuals who embody the principles of sustainable forest management and the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme (RWCS) and PEFC certification standards. The award continues Richard’s legacy, focusing on those who significantly contribute to the future of forestry in Australia.
Simon Dorries, Mark Thomson, Dr Tony Barlett, Monique Blason. Michael O’Connor, Matt de Jongh, Katie Fowden and David Little at the presentation of the 2024 Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award.
A Standout Leader in Sustainable Forestry
This year’s award recipient is Monique Blason, the General Manager of Community Services at ForestrySA and a Director on the Forestry Australia Board. Monique’s leadership and dedication to sustainability have set a new standard for forestry management in Australia, particularly through her and her team’s work managing over 16,000 hectares of Native Forest Reserves and supporting conservation and recreational activities across 10,000 hectares of commercial pine plantations in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.
Her influence goes far beyond forest management. Monique has become a leader in advocating for forests’ non-wood benefits, including biodiversity conservation and recreational opportunities for local communities. She is widely regarded for her commitment to enhancing the social and environmental value of Australia’s forests while balancing the industry’s economic needs.
One of her standout achievements is successfully integrating the RWCS across all ForestrySA-managed sites. These areas proudly display the Responsible Wood logo, a symbol of her organisation’s commitment to sustainable forest management. Among these sites is the popular Wilampa Trail, a testament to Monique’s efforts to provide accessible, sustainable recreational spaces for the public.
Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries and Chair Dr Tony Bartlett address the room during the Richard Stanton Award presentation.
Collaboration and Cultural Heritage
Monique’s leadership also extends to her work with local Aboriginal groups, providing access to native trees for traditional uses. Her dedication to preserving cultural heritage while promoting sustainable forestry practices reflects the ethos of responsible land stewardship, making her a true advocate for both the environment and Indigenous communities.
A Unique and Meaningful Award
Monique received a handcrafted Blackwood bowl as part of the award, a special gift that symbolises the connection between sustainable forestry and craftsmanship. The bowl was made from a burl sourced from Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s certified forest estate and crafted through a certified chain of custody supply chain, including Island Specialty Timbers and skilled artisan Darryl Freestone, a proud member of Wood Connect—Australia’s largest chain of custody group.
This unique award celebrates Monique’s outstanding achievements and reflects the importance of using sustainably sourced materials throughout the supply chain. Monique’s contributions to sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and community engagement have earned her this recognition. Her leadership should inspire the forestry sector and serve as a benchmark for excellence in forest management and certification.
Please join us in congratulating Monique on her achievements and ongoing commitment to keeping Australia’s forests healthy, productive, and accessible for many generations to come.
Interested in Chain of Custody Certification?
Consumers are increasingly demanding that the wood products they purchase come from sustainable and legal sources. The Wood Connect Chain of Custody system provides this assurance. It is a proven, simple, and rigorous system that covers all steps in the supply chain.
The Wood Connect group’s chain of custody certification offers businesses a value proposition for certification against Responsible Wood’s AS 4707 and PEFC ST 2002, the Chain of Custody Standard for Forest and Tree-Based Products. By being part of a group scheme, the costs of certification are spread across the members of the group, rather than each organization needing to develop its own certification system.
