Congratulations to Award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist, Craig Leeson, who has been named the Tasmanian Australian of the Year for 2022.
Craig’s first feature-length documentary, A Plastic Ocean, lauched a worldwide impetus for change, gaining attention from some of the world’s biggest companies.
A Plastic Ocean, first released in 2017, ranked number one on iTunes in the US, the UK and Canada, and is now streaming on Netflix.
Craig’s latest film, The Last Glaciers, looks at the impact of global climate change. Craig travelled to 12 countries over four years to make this film, which will be released in March 2022.
Craig is also active in charity work, having co-founded A Plastic Oceans Foundation and advising Plastic Oceans International – a charity dedicated to ending humanity’s single-use plastic addiction within a generation.
He is the CEO of Leeson Media International and Ocean Vista Films and founder of the I Shot Hong Kong Film Festival, and an adviser to The Klosters Forum and is the Global Sustainability Partner to BNP Paribas.
It’s fantastic to see a Tasmanian succeeding on the world stage, especially bringing attention to, and helping create change for such important issues.
I also extend a wholehearted congratulations to our other category recipients:
Our four recipients – Craig, Bruce, Kaytlyn and Kim – will represent Tasmania at the 2022 Australian of the Year Awards to be announced in Canberra on 25 January 2022.
Congratulations also to all 16 nominees whose outstanding contributions make our State an even greater place in which to live.
For more information visit www.australianoftheyear.org.au
Tasmanian Senior Australian Of The Year
Bruce French AO, Agricultural scientist and founder of Food Plants International
Bruce French was living in Papua New Guinea in the 1970s when he noticed many villagers suffering from disease and malnutrition. He embarked on a mission to document the edible plants of the region, and went on to document edible plant species from all over the world.
In 1999, Bruce founded Food Plants International. More than 31,000 species of edible plants are now documented on its website.
Bruce’s work is making a practical difference in improving food security, nutrition and health outcomes for people in developing countries.
Tasmanian Young Australian Of The Year
Kaytlyn Johnson, youth leader and singer-songwriter
Hailing from Wynyard, palawa woman Kaytlyn Johnson is an inspiring youth leader. In 2021, she won the First National Real Estate Leadership Award at the Tasmanian Young Achiever Awards, while also taking out the major category – the Premier’s Young Achiever of the Year Award.
Kaytlyn is a key member of Project O, which empowers young rural women to develop new skills, connect with their communities, and use their voices to campaign for change.
Also a talented singer-songwriter, Kaytelyn is an inspiration to many young Tasmanians, especially those in the Indigenous community.
Tasmanian Australia’s Local Hero
Kim Smith APM, community volunteer with the Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove
When Kim Smith retired as a police officer in 2010, he joined the Rotary Club of Sullivans Cove. His achievements since have been legendary.
Kim created Reclink, which organises sporting activities for drug-addicted teenagers becoming clean, and the Young Women’s program, mentoring teenage girls who were survivors of abuse and neglect. As an L1 Learner’s Licence Road Rules tutor, his ideas in teaching refugees were so successful, over 1,200 people have passed through the scheme.
A good and decent man, Kim has improved many lives in his years of dedicated service.