Ian Kiernan

Ian Kiernan is full-time Chairman of Clean Up Australia, a national non-profit organisation which co-ordinates Clean Up Australian Day - an event which has now been held yearly since 1990, and conducts year-round community education programs and environmental "fix up" projects through the Clean Up Australia "fix up" program.

Over the weekend of March 5-7 1999, more than 750,000 Australians volunteered at 8700 clean-up sites around the country. They collectively removed around 12,500 tonnes of rubbish from Australia's waterways, parklands and roadsides. More than 4.5 million Australians have now participated in Clean Up Australia Day activities.

In recognition of his leadership within the community, both in Australia and internationally, Ian Kiernan was named 1994 Australian of the Year. The honour was bestowed on Australia Day, 26 January, 1994, by the then Prime Minister, Paul Keating. Ian was made an Office of the Order of Australia (AO) of Australia Day 1995.

Ian Kiernan's environmental efforts were originally recognised in 1991 when the Australian Government awarded him the Order of Australia Medal (OAM).

In October 1991, he was named "Communicator of the Year" by the Public Relations Institute of Australia and was the recipient of an Advanced Australia Award the same year.

On 5 June 1993, Ian Kiernan was made a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Laureate for his work and leadership in the local and global environment.

Prior to this in June 1991, UNEP invited Ian and his team to meet at their Headquarters in Nairobi to discuss the Organisations plans for a Global Clean Up Campaign. UNEP entered into an agreement with Clean Up Australia to manage and promote Clean up the World in September 1993 based on the concept of 100 cities around the globe participating at the same time, and Ian, who describes himself as "just an average bloke" became chairman of Clean Up the World.

The results were staggering. During three days (17-19 September 1996) more than 30 million people in 80 countries participated in the Australian initiative. It has grown each year since and in 1998 some 40 million people representing thousands of communities in more than 100 countries took to the streets, beaches, river banks and parks to "think globally and act locally" as part of the sixth Clean Up the World campaign.

Ian has given literally thousands of media interviews locally and overseas. In addition, he gives his time to address school and community groups, about caring for the global environment. He has been the presenter for the Living Earth segments for Discovery Channel, and other environmental programs. In August 1995 the then Prime Minister, Paul Keating launched Ian's autobiography titled "Coming Clean".

In 1997/98 he was named as a "National Living Treasure" and as inducted as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and he also became a Vice-President of the international organisation, ACOPS (Advisory Council on Protection of the Seas).

He is also the recipient of Toastmaster's International Communications and Leadership Award, The Berger-Sullivan Tourism Award, the International Banksia Award, the prestigious United Nations Environment Program 1998 Sasakawa Environment Prize, and the 1999 Building World Citizenship Award. He is also Patron of Sailors with disabilities and the Lord Howe Island Public School

Client Ovations: After Ian left there was some thoughtful discussion as the group found particular resonance with his notion of 'fear of failure' and overcoming the sceptics. As this group are looking at taking projects to their respective teams they also welcomed his advice of the team taking the direction of the projects as he does with Clean Up. Finally there was a lot a lot of discussion about sustainability and the part QBE could play.

QBE Insurance

Ian had the full attention of the audience for the entire presentation.

Interdepartmental Accounting Group 2007 Conference.

Thank you for your contribution to the CPA Congress. Feedback from participants included comments such as thought provoking; truly inspirational and excellent format and interactions.

CPA Congress

Your address and interaction with course members had a very positive impact on all present.

Australian Institute of Police Management

The messages you conveyed on environmental sustainability and collaboration were very powerful. Your presentation was enthusiastically received and referred to frequently in informal conversation throughout the remainder of the conference.

Western Australian Public Sector Leadership Conference

Thank you very much for your time and your opening speech at the conference. The feedback from the conference participants was very positive.

The University of New South Wales