Final weeks to have your say on the Sustainable Forest Management Standard (AS/NZS 4708) revision
Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries and Chair Dr Tony Bartlett Present Monique Blason of ForestrySA the 2024 Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award.
The Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award is taking applications for 2026
Established in 2015, the Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award is a perpetual tribute to the enduring legacy of the late Richard Stanton, renowned for his pioneering contributions to Sustainable Forest Management in Australia and internationally. This esteemed award recognises individuals who have made significant strides in Forest Management or Chain of Custody Certification within the Responsible Wood Certification Scheme.
Nominate online
HERE
Celebrating Sustainable Forest Management and Chain of Custody Leadership
In 2024, with the support of the late Richard Stanton’s widow, Sonya Stanton, the award now extends its eligibility to early-career professionals in forestry, environmental science, wood technologies, and design, as well as university students pursuing relevant studies, including those completing post-graduate degrees (i.e., Masters, PhDs).
The award recognises the multifaceted approach to sustainable forest management, emphasising environmental, social, cultural, and economic aspects, along with innovation in the use of forest products.
Eligibility for the Award
Open to all individuals contributing to Sustainable Forest Management under AS/NZS 4708 or Chain of Custody under AS 4707 or PEFC ST 2002, the award welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to:
- Certified Forest Owners and Managers
- Chain of Custody Certificate Holders
- Certification Bodies
- Forest Scientists and Researchers
- Builders and Designers advocating for sustainable timber utilisation.
As of 2024, the award extends its eligibility to early-career professionals in forestry, environmental science, wood technologies, and design and university students pursuing relevant studies, including those completing post-graduate degrees (i.e., Masters, PhDs).
We encourage Indigenous Australian nominations for this award as we strive to recognise and celebrate Australia’s diverse talents and contributions to forestry and land management.
Nomination Process
Candidates must be nominated, with nominations accepted from Responsible Wood members, certificate holders, stakeholders, lecturers, or senior leaders within academic institutions.
Nominating someone takes only minutes using the online form here.
Alternatively, email [email protected] with your responses to the following three questions, along with the nominee’s name, email address, phone number and organisation:
- How has the nominee demonstrated a commitment to Sustainable Forest Management and/or Chain of Custody Certification in their work?
Tip: Consider actions taken, leadership shown, or outcomes achieved. - In what ways has the nominee gone above and beyond what’s expected in their role?
Tip: This could include innovation, long-term dedication, community engagement, or overcoming challenges. - What impact has their work had – and why do you believe they deserve to be recognised with this award?
Tip: Think about the difference they’ve made to people, the environment, or the industry
Award Key Dates
Nominations close at 5:00 pm on Friday 14 August 2026
Areas of Excellence
Candidates should be nominated based on their exemplary achievements in the following areas:
- Significant and valuable contributions to sustainability.
- Innovation, improvement, or excellence in sustainable forest management or the fabrication, supply, or utilisation of certified forest products.
- Strong commitment to the principles of sustainable forest management.
- Innovation and improvement in promoting Responsible Wood and/or PEFC-certified products.
Selection Criteria & Judging
A Judging Panel will evaluate nominations, and their decision will be final. Each nomination will be ranked from 1 to 5 based on the following criteria:
- Contributions to the Principles of Sustainable Forest Management
- Promotion of Responsible Wood and/or PEFC-certified Forests and Forest Products
- Focus on Innovation and Leadership in the candidate’s sector
- Impact on the Development of the Responsible Wood Scheme
- Social contributions to promoting forest products, forest health and productivity, biodiversity, and/or indigenous forest values.
Award Bursary
The Richard Stanton Memorial Leadership Award includes a bursary of $2,000 to support the recipient’s continued professional development. This fund can be utilised for conference fees, related travel expenses, training courses, or any other activities aimed at skill enhancement or professional experience enrichment.
To claim the bursary, the award winner must contact Responsible Wood, outlining the intended use of the funds, upon which Responsible Wood will cover costs up to $2,000 on the winner’s behalf.
Nominate online
HERE
Previous Award Winners
- 2015: Dr Marie Yee, Senior Conservation Planner, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, who helped develop a system of forest management planning which provides a high level of certainty that biodiversity is being managed effectively within the forest at a landscape scale.
- 2016: Mark Leech, a driving force behind Fine Timber Tasmania, a sustainability-focused, non-profit association which represents the specialty timber supply chain – growers, processors, design makers and retailers – and promotes Responsible Wood certified products. For more than a decade, Mr Leech has played a pivotal role in the development and strong uptake of RW chain-of-custody certification in Tasmania.
- 2017: Lou Coutts, External Relations Manager, HVP Plantations, based at Shelley, Victoria, who is moving plantation forestry into new ground for stakeholder management, public access to plantation land, interactive websites, on-line inductions and social media.
- 2018: Liliane Kao, Digital Marketing Specialist, Hyne Timber who developed unique Building Information Model (BIM) content for glue laminated timber which captured and electronically communicated sustainability data available through Chain of Custody certification into the BIM environment.
- 2019: Nick Clarke and Thirukumaran Jallendran formerly of the Sydney Metro Northwest project Sustainability Team who were responsible for delivering the first Responsible Wood project certification. The project involved eight Sydney Metro stations (seven of them with Responsible Wood project certification) and four commuter car parks. The project represents the largest PEFC project certification delivered in the southern hemisphere.
- 2020: Simon Cook, Sustainability Manager for Forico, who leads a 5-member Sustainability Team, and has worked tirelessly to initiate and drive sustainable forest management activities – in areas of biodiversity, carbon and cultural values. Amongst projects initiated include fighting Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease, collaborating with CSIRO and other industry partners to develop a framework and methodology for assessing and gathering data related to Natural Capital and developing a Reconciliation Action Plan in conjunction with Reconciliation Tasmania to improve relationships with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.
- 2021: Kieran Gosden, Ranger for ForestrySA, for her contribution to the preservatinon of the red-tailed black cockatoo, in establishing biodiversity corridors and linking isolated native forest with strips of revegetation and in the success of the award-winning Ghost Mushroom Lane and the ‘Dry Cave experience.
- 2022: Kim Baber of Baber Architects, Principal Architect, was recognised for his specification and promotion of certified timber in the design and construction of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services North Coast Region Headquarters.
- 2023: Not Awarded – Revision of the Richard Stanton Award.
- 2024: Monique Blason, General Manager of Community Services at ForestrySA and a Director on the Forestry Australia Board. Monique has become a leader in advocating for forests’ non-wood benefits, including biodiversity conservation and recreational opportunities for local communities.
- 2025: Shona Heading, Commercial Planning Manager, HQPlantations and co-owner of Hall Homes, was recognised for her leadership in creating the Australian Araucaria™ brand and championing Responsible Wood-certified timber through innovative marketing, industry collaboration and supply chain engagement.
Nominate online
HERE
