Jillian nominated for second rural award
A Senior Forest Manager at Scottish Woodlands has been nominated for a second award in Scotland’s ‘Rural Oscars’.
Jillian Kennedy is on a shortlist of 3 for the Rural Champion prize at the Scottish Land & Estates Helping it Happen Awards.
The new award will recognise “an individual who has gone above and beyond, making a significant, lasting impact on their rural community in Scotland”. The shortlist was chosen from all the Helping it Happen finalists - around 40 in total.
The Rural Champion Award carries a £10,000 prize courtesy of The Royal Countryside Fund, which was founded by His Majesty The King, and has supported rural and farming communities across the UK since 2010.
The £10,000 prize goes to the winner's community organisation - in Jillian's case, the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC).
She is immediate past chair of the SAYFC, as part of her wide-ranging rural interests, which bring farming and forestry closer together by fostering greater mutual understanding and cooperation.
Her citation as a Rural Champion finalist says: “Jillian has strengthened rural communities through leadership in forestry, youth development and cross-sector collaboration. As a Senior Forest Manager and National Chair of SAYFC, she bridges farming and forestry, develops young people’s skills and confidence, and ensures rural voices are represented in national and European policy discussions.”
Jillian is already a Rural Rising Star finalist in the Helping it Happen Awards, which will be presented at a ceremony on 1st October. Earlier this year, she was named as the Future Leader in the Forestry Industry at the Confor industry awards.
In the Rural Champion award she is up against John Scott and Emma Ruxton. John has built Farmstrong Scotland into a "trusted, community-led wellbeing movement for farmers and crofters” while Emma Ruxton has helped the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative connect thousands of young people with farming, food production and rural life.
Jillian Kennedy said: “It’s an absolute honour to be shortlisted for this brand-new award. The Helping It Happen Awards are a fantastic celebration of rural life, and this special award is a great addition. The past few years have been an incredible journey across forestry, farming and SAYFC, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to contribute, learn and support others along the way.”
Ian Robinson, Managing Director of Scottish Woodlands, a sponsor of the Helping it Happen Awards, said: “We're delighted that Jillian has been shortlisted for this new and prestigious award. As well as being an excellent forester, she has put in so much hard work in her own time to further greater collaboration in the rural world. I very much look forward to enjoying the awards evening with her and our colleagues, no matter what the outcome is. She is already an absolute winner in our eyes.”