Göran Persson awarded EFI Fellowship
The Board of EFI has awarded Mr Persson an EFI Fellowship, for his outstanding leadership of ThinkForest, and his contribution to EFI becoming recognised as a leading science-policy platform.
Mr Persson, the former Swedish Prime Minister, is retiring as the President of EFI’s high-level discussion forum, ThinkForest, which he has chaired since its launch in 2012. ThinkForest regularly brings together policymakers, the scientific community and stakeholders, offering a space for inspiring and dynamic science-policy dialogue and building bridges on pan-European forest and bioeconomy issues.
In his farewell speech, given at the ThinkForest event in Prague on 4 April, Mr Persson reflected on the forum’s work over the last seven years. He highlighted the need for scientific-based forestry research, development and education, especially given such an uncertain future. He also stressed the need for a narrative for the sector, to ‘tell ordinary people about what we aim for, in which direction we shall go, what we have to undertake and why we do it.’
“This has been a fantastic series of seminars, from 2012 until today”, Mr Persson said. “I am grateful for having had this opportunity.”
EFI Director Marc Palahí said: “During the last seven years, I have had the privilege to work closely with Mr Persson, and I would like to thank him for his dedication, curiosity and compelling passion.”
The new ThinkForest President will be announced in the next few weeks.
