Back to EventsKal Glanznig is a former water polo athlete turned ocean advocate who grew up surfing the beaches of Cronulla. Health-conscious and deeply curious, he became increasingly concerned by emerging research into the human health impacts of plastic.
Realising that Australia is now one of the world’s largest producers of plastic waste per person, Kal began to question what this means not just for our environment, but for our bodies. What follows is a journey across the country, from remote coastlines to wildlife hospitals and Parliament House, uncovering how plastic pollution is infiltrating ecosystems, politics, and human health. The Plastic Country is both a warning and a rallying cry – revealing solutions already underway and showing how everyone can drive the change needed to turn the tide on plastics for good.
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Kal Glanznig is one of Australia’s leading youth ocean and climate champions, dedicated to building a generation of hopeful, action-driven environmental leaders. In the past year, he has inspired over 20,000 people in person through keynote talks, school programs, and Q&A film screenings of his documentary Rising Up.
Elected in 2024 as the youngest independent Councillor in the Sutherland Shire, one of Sydney’s largest coastal communities, he is driving local climate action through transformative sustainability strategies.
Creator of the acclaimed documentary Rising Up, Kal first made headlines in high school after delivering a $100,000, 100 kW solar panel project that inspired over 20 schools to follow suit. He later co-founded Plastic Free Cronulla, a community movement that helped secure New South Wales’ legislative ban on single-use plastics, and co-founded Blue Minds, a national program empowering young Australians to tackle eco-anxiety and lead ocean action.
A multiple TEDx and United Nations Climate Change speaker (COP27 & COP28), Kal was named Sutherland Shire Young Australian of the Year (2020) and Environmental Citizen of the Year (2023). He served on the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council and is an ambassador for Take 3 for the Sea, Ocean Lovers Festival and Better Futures Australia. A passionate aquatic athlete, Kal has also represented Australia in water polo at the Youth World Championships.