This Award was newly added to the CIF-IFC National Awards Program in 2021 and recognizes individuals who make significant, unique, and outstanding contributions to advance gender equity, equality, diversity and inclusion in their community or workplace in the field of forestry in Canada. This Award honours the dedication and commitment of those individuals to increase equity, inclusivity and diversity of underrepresented groups in the forest sector.
The 2024 recipient is Kelly L. Cooper of Ottawa, ON.
Kelly is a visionary leader who has approached Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in a holistic way across the forestry sector. By engaging public, private, not-for-profit, academic, and Indigenous communities, Kelly spearheaded the creation of a national action plan to increase the number of women in the forest sector. She was the driving force behind the Free to Grow in Forestry movement and authored the book Lead the Change – The Competitive Advantage of Gender Diversity and Inclusion.
Kelly also created and hosted Canada’s first podcast on DEI in the forest sector, helping to raise awareness and drive progress on this crucial topic. Her efforts inspired the creation of a similar initiative in the US, known as the US Inclusion Council. At the World Forest Congress in June 2024, Free to Grow in Forestry was recognized as the leading DEI initiative worldwide.
In addition, Kelly developed a cutting-edge online training course on DEI, focusing on overcoming resistance, inclusive leadership, and allyship. She is now leading the first North American Inclusion Council for the Forest Stewardship Council.
