Jon Dee, a high-profile advocate for environmental issues and co-founder of Planet Ark, has been re-elected Chair of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in Australia and New Zealand.
The announcement occurred at FSC Australia and New Zealand’s most recent board meeting – Mr Dee will serve a second term after replacing Matthew Crapp from New Forest Management, who was elected during the 2022 AGM.
The FSC board comprises representatives from three economic, environmental, and social chambers. Crucially, it has vowed to select an independent chair ahead of the 2025 AGM.
Before being appointed Chair, Dee served as Deputy Chair and was a member of the social chamber.
“I’m really excited about this new role – protecting rainforests was why I became an environmentalist back in 1986,” Mr Dee said after being appointed to the important position last year. “Since its foundation in 1994, the FSC has grown to become the world’s most respected and widespread forest certification scheme.”
Mr Dee is an astute media performer, directing and producing more than 300 environmentally focused TV adverts and videos featuring Tom Cruise, Kylie Minogue, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Bob Geldof, Sir Richard Branson, Greta Scacchi, Pierce Brosnan, and Jeff Goldblum.
Mr Dee, the former host of Sky News’ Smart Money,’ is behind National Tree Day, One Tree Per Child, DoSomethingNearYou, and most recently, Social Build Australia.
As an author, he has moved more than 140,000 sustainably focused ‘guidebooks’ on Sustainable Growth,’ ‘EnergyCut,’ and ‘EnergySmart.’
In 2017 Mr Dee founded DoSomethingNearYou with Pat Cash and Tina Jackson, and in 2015, he founded One Tree Per Child with the late Olivia Newton-John.
Supporters and Patrons of One Tree Per Child Patrons include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Lord Stern, Lord Hastings, Costa Georgiadis, Kevin McCloud from Grand Designs, and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall from River Cottage.
Dee and the Newton-John launched the initiative with help from former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, former Environmental Minister Greg Hunt, and News Corp.
Supporting Mr Dee, Sue Feary will continue as Deputy Chair of the social chamber, and James Felton-Taylor will remain Deputy Chair of the economic chamber.
FSC Australia and New Zealand welcomes two new directors
In a media statement published late Friday, FSC ANZ announced the addition of two new directors, including Rachael Cavanagh from the Social Chamber and Scott McLean from the Social Chamber.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who nominated for the Board of Directors. Your participation is vital to our organisation’s success,” according to Melanie Robertson, CEO of FSC ANZ, who added that “we are excited to welcome both new and returning Directors to the Board and to have Jon Dee back as Chair. Their expertise and guidance will be instrumental in steering our organisation towards future success.”
- For more information about the FSC board and its election process, visit the FSC ANZ website.
