Peter Gutwein,Premier
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:
- Bruce French AO, Tasmanian Senior Australian of the Year;
- Kaytlyn Johnson, Tasmanian Young Australian Of The Year; and
- Kim Smith APM, Tasmanian Australia's Local Hero.
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.
