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FSC Australia farewells CEO Sara Gipton

Sara Gipton

The Forest Stewardship Council Australia has announced that Sara Gipton will step down as Chief Executive Officer at the end of September 2019. Ms Gipton has played a critical role in FSC Australia’s successes over the past two years, including the finalisation, launch, and implementation of the Australian National Forest Stewardship Standard. Source: Timberbiz

Ms Gipton also oversaw the finalisation the Australian National Risk Assessment for sourcing controlled wood, released in 2019, and the New Zealand Centralised National Risk Assessment, which is soon to be completed.

As convenor of the FSC Australia Indigenous Working Group, she also reinvigorated FSC’s engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and has made great progress in building the market for FSC certified products in Australia.

Under her leadership, FSC Australia formed a group of prominent Australian retailers and B2B brands with the shared goal of raising awareness of FSC in Australia.

FSC Australia Chair, Amanda Naismith reflected on Ms Gipton’s contribution to the organisation: “Sara has been a dedicated CEO, her strengths in finance and governance have been particularly beneficial and are reflected in the successes of the organisation over the past two years. We thank Sara for her outstanding efforts and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.”

FSC Australia is in the process of recruiting a new CEO.