By: Authors: Lori Walker, Founder & Executive Director of the National Association of Women in Timber (NAWT) and Kathryn Fernholz, President of Dovetail Partners & a Founding Steering Committee Member of the Women’s Forest Congress.

We come from different corners of the forest sector – from roots in Midwest farming and a career in cross‑sector convening, to a childhood picking pine in Pennsylvania and being grounded in the lived realities of timber companies and communities. From those roots, we share a belief that has shaped our work for decades: collaboration is the most powerful tool we have.

As leaders and supporters of the National Association of Women in Timber (NAWT) and Women’s Forest Congress (WFC), we see firsthand how women across forestry, conservation, and the wood products industry are stepping forward with vision, skill, and determination. And we also see how much stronger we are when we work together.

 

Who We Are — and Why Our Work Intersects

The Women’s Forest Congress (WFC) is a big-tent movement to “create community and cultivate change” by bringing women together across the forest sector. We convene women from across the landscape — Tribal leaders, researchers, foresters, mill operations, conservationists, policymakers, and innovators. The National Association of Women in Timber (NAWT) is dedicated to “supporting, educating, and connecting women in the timber industry”, and started as Carolina Women in Timber before growing to activate national engagement.The WFC provides a national forum where diverse voices share experiences, shape strategies, and influence the future of forests through a collective voice. The NAWT is deeply rooted in the community and provides practical learning, field‑based experiences, and leadership development by working directly with those whose livelihoods are tied to timber – from logging operations to mill work to small business ownership. The NAWT’s annual conference, scholarships, mentorship, and hands-on programs empower women in timber communities. 

The NAWT and WFC serve diverse audiences and operate in unique ways – and that’s exactly why collaboration matters.

Our strengths – like any good team – complement each other. Women in forestry and forest products don’t need one organization to do it all. We need many organizations that meet diverse needs, interests, scales and moments – the more the merrier! There is plenty of need to go around and plenty of skills to share and build upon.

Together, aligned organizations supporting women are able to create leadership ecosystems that span national vision and local action, policy and practice, innovation and tradition.

Collaboration Makes Us Stronger

When we collaborate, we multiply our impact. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

  • Elevating Women’s Leadership Across the Sector

A national platform for women to share their stories and shape sector‑wide commitments grows stronger when there is capacity to also provide the mentorship, training, and community support that help women step into those leadership roles.

  • Strengthening Workforce Pathways

Shared recognition of the urgent need to grow and diversify the forest sector workforce. Between us, we can highlight national workforce gaps and opportunities through advocacy work and also offer scholarships, field tours, and hands-on learning to help women enter and advance in the timber industry.

  • Aligning Policy and Practice

The lived experience of timber communities belongs in national conversations, ensuring policies reflect on‑the‑ground realities. Together we can improve national visibility to issues like equity, workforce development, and forest resilience while also supporting growth within our workplaces and with neighbors.

  • Building a Unified Narrative

Together, we tell a fuller story of women in forestry — from the woods to the boardroom, from mills to research labs, from rural communities to national leadership tables.

Collaboration Matters Right Now

Forests and forest‑dependent communities are facing unprecedented challenges: market disruptions, shifting rural economies, workforce shortages, forest health and wildfire threats, and an increasing need for cross‑sector innovation.

No single organization — no matter how strong — should even be trying to address these challenges alone. Collaboration is the leadership model the sector needs more of: inclusive, cross‑boundary, community‑informed, and future‑focused. If you’re not collaborating – you’re not serious about solving today’s problems.

 

A Shared Commitment to the Next Generation

We celebrate every time we see another organization forming, growing, and committing itself to serving the needs of women in this sector. We aren’t competitors; we are building a stronger network with every new space we create for ourselves and each other.

We want women to see a place for themselves across the entire forest landscape and in every part of the sector throughout every part of our careers. We want women in timber communities to have national visibility, support, and opportunities that reflect their skills and contributions. 

The WFC and NAWT each bring something essential to the table. Together, we are shaping a future where women’s leadership is visible, valued, and transformative.

Join us!