Forestry Australia Conference 2025 concludes with awards
Friday 24 Oct 2025
Forestry Australia’s 2025 Conference formally concluded
on Wednesday, 22 October, in Adelaide, celebrating the
remarkable contributions of Robert (Bob) Gordon, Dr Peter
Stanson PSM, and Dr Tom Fairman, who were honoured with the 2025
N.W. Jolly Medal and Prince of Wales Award respectively.
Held from 20 to 23 October, the conference brought together 400
attendees under the theme Restoring forests and landscapes
and securing Australia’s future, marking the 150th
anniversary of plantation forestry in Australia and the 90-year anniversary of The Institute of Foresters of Australia,
trading as Forestry Australia.
Aligning with the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration, the event
united experts, researchers, forestry professionals, farmers, rangers,
and tree-growing practitioners to advance sustainable forest management
and foster the next generation of forestry leaders.
2025 Award Winners
- Robert (Bob) Gordon – N.W. Jolly Medal: Bob
Gordon, a nationally respected forestry leader with over 40 years of
service, received the N.W. Jolly Medal, Forestry Australia’s
highest honour, for his transformative contributions to sustainable
forest management, policy reform, and Indigenous inclusion.
- Dr Peter Stanson PSM – N.W. Jolly Medal
(award accepted by his son, Matthew): Dr. James ‘Peter’
Stanton was awarded the N.W. Jolly Medal for his 50+ year career
advancing forest conservation, particularly in Queensland’s
tropical forests and the Wet Tropics World Heritage area.
- Dr Tom Fairman – Prince of Wales Award: Dr
Tom Fairman, a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s
FLARE Wildfire Research Centre, received the Prince of Wales Award for
his outstanding contributions as a young forest professional. His
leadership in recovering alpine ash forests after the 2019/20 Black
Summer bushfires, including reseeding over 11,000 hectares and co-developing a $7.7 million seed stock initiative, showcases scientific
and operational excellence.
Conference Impact
The 2025 Conference highlighted Forestry Australia’s commitment to
sustainable forestry, First Nations collaboration, and youth engagement.
Discussions on innovative forest management, global conservation
challenges, and strategies to attract young professionals underscored
the sector’s role in delivering ecological, social, and economic
benefits for Australia’s future.
Conference Summary
Source & image credit: Forestry Australia
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