Ian Kiernan
Encyclopedia
Ian Bruce Carrick Kiernan AO
(born 4 October 1940) is an environmentalist
who organised the Clean Up Australia
campaign, and in 1993 a similar Clean Up the World
operation which attracted participation from 30 million volunteers in 80 countries.
Kiernan was born in Sydney
to George Arthur and Leslie Katherine Kiernan. He was educated at The Scots College
in Sydney, The Armidale School
in northern New South Wales
, and the Sydney Technical College
, where he trained as a builder.
Kiernan is a passionate yachtsman, sailing competitively for more than 40 years and representing Australia at the Admiral's, Southern Cross, Dunhill, Clipper, Kenwood and Trans Pacific Cup competitions. In 1986/87 Kiernan represented Australia in the BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race. He finished 6th out of a fleet of 25 yachts from 11 nations, setting an Australian record for a solo circumnavigation of the world.
It was during the BOC Challenge that Kiernan saw and was appalled by the amount of rubbish choking the world's oceans. With the support of a committee of friends, he organised a community event - Clean Up Sydney Harbour on Sunday 8 January 1989. 40,000 volunteers turned out to help clean up.
Since then more than 7 million people have heeded the call through annual Clean Up Australia Days, Friday Schools Clean Up Days and Business Clean Ups.
Clean up Australia's Mission is "To inspire and work with communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment.
Kiernan met with the United Nations Environment Plan in order to discuss a global Clean Up. Then Clean Up the World event took place in 1993. Over three days (17–19 September), over 30 million people from 80 nations turned out in order to Clean Up their world in May 2009. Currently 40 million people from 120 countries taking part in the annual Clean Up the World in May 2009.
(OAM).
r.org.au/pages/page71.asp]
He was awarded Australian of the Year
in 1994.
In 1995 he was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia.
In 1998 he was the recipient of the UNEP Sasakawa Prize. The prize is awarded every year to individuals with an established track record of achievement and the potential to make outstanding contributions to the protection and management of the environment consistent with UNEP's policies and objectives.
He received the World Citizenship Award
from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
in 1999.
In 2006 Ian received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
The 2007 Reader's Digest Most Trusted Poll voted Clean Up Australia as the country's most trusted environmental charity and Chairman Ian Kiernan AO as the fourth "most trustworthy" Australian.
In 2008 the same poll Kiernan was ranked number 3
He is also the recipient of Toastmaster's International Communications and Leadership Award, The Berger-Sullivan Tourism Award, the International Banksia Award, and the 1999 Building World Citizenship Award.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 4 October 1940) is an environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
who organised the Clean Up Australia
Clean Up Australia
Clean Up Australia is a not-for-profit Australian environmental conservation organisation founded by Australian Ian Kiernan, and co-founder Kim McKay, in 1989. It works to foster relationships between the community, business and government to address the environmental issues of waste, water and...
campaign, and in 1993 a similar Clean Up the World
Clean Up Australia
Clean Up Australia is a not-for-profit Australian environmental conservation organisation founded by Australian Ian Kiernan, and co-founder Kim McKay, in 1989. It works to foster relationships between the community, business and government to address the environmental issues of waste, water and...
operation which attracted participation from 30 million volunteers in 80 countries.
Kiernan was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to George Arthur and Leslie Katherine Kiernan. He was educated at The Scots College
The Scots College
For other schools with a similar name see Scots College.The Scots College is an independent Presbyterian day and boarding school for boys, located in Bellevue Hill, an eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in Sydney, The Armidale School
The Armidale School
The Armidale School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in Armidale, on the New England Tablelands of northern New South Wales, Australia...
in northern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and the Sydney Technical College
Sydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College was a name used by Australia's oldest technical education institution.It began as the Sydney Mechanics' Institute in 1843...
, where he trained as a builder.
Kiernan is a passionate yachtsman, sailing competitively for more than 40 years and representing Australia at the Admiral's, Southern Cross, Dunhill, Clipper, Kenwood and Trans Pacific Cup competitions. In 1986/87 Kiernan represented Australia in the BOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race. He finished 6th out of a fleet of 25 yachts from 11 nations, setting an Australian record for a solo circumnavigation of the world.
It was during the BOC Challenge that Kiernan saw and was appalled by the amount of rubbish choking the world's oceans. With the support of a committee of friends, he organised a community event - Clean Up Sydney Harbour on Sunday 8 January 1989. 40,000 volunteers turned out to help clean up.
Clean-up
The success of the first Clean Up event in 1989 sparked national interest in the simple but effective community-based idea. In 1990, the first Clean Up Australia Day took place on Sunday, 21 January. Again, the response of Australians was astounding. More than 300,000 Australians volunteered their time to help make a difference to the health of their local environment.Since then more than 7 million people have heeded the call through annual Clean Up Australia Days, Friday Schools Clean Up Days and Business Clean Ups.
Clean up Australia's Mission is "To inspire and work with communities to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment.
Kiernan met with the United Nations Environment Plan in order to discuss a global Clean Up. Then Clean Up the World event took place in 1993. Over three days (17–19 September), over 30 million people from 80 nations turned out in order to Clean Up their world in May 2009. Currently 40 million people from 120 countries taking part in the annual Clean Up the World in May 2009.
Awards
Kiernan's environmental efforts were originally recognised in 1994 when the Australian Government awarded him the Medal of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(OAM).
r.org.au/pages/page71.asp]
He was awarded Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
in 1994.
In 1995 he was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia.
In 1998 he was the recipient of the UNEP Sasakawa Prize. The prize is awarded every year to individuals with an established track record of achievement and the potential to make outstanding contributions to the protection and management of the environment consistent with UNEP's policies and objectives.
He received the World Citizenship Award
World Citizenship Award
The World Citizenship Award is an award of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts . Launched in 1996, the award is given to people outside the Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting movement who have contributed to a better world in at least one of the following areas - peace, environment,...
from the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
in 1999.
In 2006 Ian received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Trust of Australia (NSW).
The 2007 Reader's Digest Most Trusted Poll voted Clean Up Australia as the country's most trusted environmental charity and Chairman Ian Kiernan AO as the fourth "most trustworthy" Australian.
In 2008 the same poll Kiernan was ranked number 3
He is also the recipient of Toastmaster's International Communications and Leadership Award, The Berger-Sullivan Tourism Award, the International Banksia Award, and the 1999 Building World Citizenship Award.
Links
- http://activities.cleanuptheworld.org/
- http://www.cleanup.com.au/au/