What significant contribution has the nominee made to their rural community?
Jillian Kennedy has made a significant and sustained contribution to strengthening rural communities through her leadership in forestry, youth development and cross sector collaboration. As a Senior Forest Manager with Scottish Woodlands, she has helped bridge the gap between farming and forestry communities, promoting shared understanding and practical cooperation in land management. In 2026, Jillian was recognised with the Future Leader in the Forest Industry Award, reflecting her professional excellence and her wider contribution to rural development. Judges highlighted her commitment to building stronger rural communities and her ability to work across sectors and geographies, including representing the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) at national and European level. Her role extends beyond forestry. As Chair of SAYFC, Jillian has supported the development of young people in rural Scotland, creating opportunities for skills development, leadership and international engagement. She has been particularly active in ensuring that young rural voices are heard in policy discussions, including speaking at Westminster and contributing to European Rural Parliament initiatives. Through both her professional and voluntary roles, Jillian has consistently worked to ensure that rural Scotland remains connected, confident and forward-looking. Her ability to combine technical expertise in forestry with youth leadership and advocacy makes her a standout contributor to rural community development.
What has been the impact on their rural community?
Jillian Kennedy’s impact is most clearly seen through her role as National Chair of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), where she has strengthened the voice, confidence and connectivity of young people across rural Scotland. As National Chair, she has represented young rural people at a national level, ensuring their perspectives are included in discussions on skills, policy and rural development. Her leadership has helped strengthen engagement across SAYFC’s national network, encouraging greater participation in leadership development, competitions, training and international exchange opportunities. A key impact of her role has been improving connections between local clubs across Scotland. Jillian has supported stronger collaboration between regions, enabling members to share experiences, ideas and opportunities more effectively. This has helped reduce
isolation in more remote rural areas and reinforced a shared sense of identity among young farmers. Her leadership has also supported the development of essential skills among members, including communication, public speaking, teamwork and confidence, helping young people prepare for leadership roles within and beyond agriculture. Importantly, she has helped ensure young people are better connected to wider rural stakeholders, encouraging dialogue between SAYFC members and organisations across agriculture, forestry and rural development. This has strengthened understanding and built bridges across sectors that are critical to rural Scotland’s future. Overall, Jillian’s impact as National Chair has been to empower a generation of young rural people with stronger networks, greater confidence and increased opportunity to influence the future of rural communities.
How have they involved their rural community?
Community involvement is central to Jillian Kennedy’s approach, both in her professional role and in her voluntary leadership. As Chair of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, she works directly with young people across rural Scotland, ensuring they have opportunities to develop leadership skills, participate in events and contribute to shaping the future of rural industries. She actively encourages participation from members across different regions, fostering inclusion and connection between rural communities that can often be geographically isolated. Through SAYFC, Jillian supports training events, conferences and international exchanges, enabling young people to engage with peers, share experiences and bring new ideas back to their local communities. The Big Build Burns Suppers initiative was an excellent example of this. In her forestry role, Jillian also engages with land
managers, farmers and rural stakeholders to promote understanding of sustainable forestry practices and collaborative land use. Her work focuses on building trust and shared purpose between sectors that are essential to rural Scotland’s economic and
environmental future. A key strength of her approach is her ability to operate at multiple levels—local, national and international—while maintaining a strong focus on grassroots engagement. Whether working with young farmers in Scotland or representing them in European forums, she consistently ensures that rural communities are not only consulted but actively involved in shaping outcomes. Her work demonstrates a clear commitment to empowering rural people, strengthening networks and ensuring that rural communities remain connected, capable and confident in facing future challenges.