Jillian Kennedy shortlisted as Rural Rising Star
Three young professionals, including Scottish Woodlands’ Jillian Kennedy, have been shortlisted for the Rural Rising Star prize in Scottish Land & Estates Helping it Happen awards.
Jillian, a Senior Forest Manager based in Perth, is hoping to make it a 2026 double success after being named Future Leader in the Forestry Industry at the Confor Awards in March.
Jillian’s citation as a finalist for the Helping it Happen awards says that she “bridges farming and forestry, leads complex projects and strengthens rural communities through influential industry, youth and policy roles”.
She is also a Director of the Perthshire Agricultural Society, and was Chair of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs in 2025-26.
Also shortlisted for the Rural Rising Star Award, sponsored by Scottish Woodlands Ltd, are:
Hailey Anderson - a young gamekeeper at Chirnside Hall Hotel in the Scottish Borders, who has “turned her training into a rural career through exceptional dedication, enthusiasm and passion for the countryside”.
Lauren Houstoun - a former high dependency nurse who co-founded Glenkilrie Larder in Highland Perthshire, transforming farm-reared venison, beef and lamb into a thriving business supplying markets, hotels, cookery classes and schools.
Scottish Woodlands Ltd took no part in the shortlisting process for the award.
Ian Robinson, Managing Director of Scottish Woodlands Ltd, said: “This is an excellent shortlist in a hotly-contested category. We wish all of the finalists for all categories the very best. The Helping it Happen Awards are a brilliant annual showcase of rural excellence and Scottish Woodlands Ltd is proud to sponsor them.”
The winner will follow in the footsteps of 2025 Rural Rising Star Sammi Kinghorn, a Paralympic champion and an outspoken advocate for safety, inclusion, and rural community wellbeing. The judges praised her “authenticity, tireless work ethic, and ability to connect with people from all walks of life” which made her “not only a role model but a voice of strength and hope across the agricultural sector”.
The 2026 winners will be revealed at the Helping It Happen Awards on 1 October at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Book your place today here - and look out for a Scottish Woodlands’ video to promote the awards soon!