Happening Now…
instagram: @plasticfreesophia
Bio
Sophia Skarparis is a 21 year old uni student with a passion for being involved in solutions to reduce and more importantly stop plastic pollution impacting on marine life for current and future generations.
At the age of 14, Sophia collected over12,000 hand written signatures to support banning single use and heavy retail plastic bags in NSW. She presented the petition to the NSW Premier and it was tabled in Parliament in October 2018. Whilst the motion to ban single use plastic bags was unsuccessful, Sophia’s campaign to reduce plastic waste in her own daily life, including school and sporting life continues, and in addition she has been instrumental in mobilising youth to act on climate change.
Her efforts to reduce plastic pollution saw her awarded with the title, Australian Geographic Young Conservationist of the Year in October 2018 with Sophia receiving her award from the Duchess of Sussex.
Since then she has had a speaking platform to educate how as one person, one family and of course as one community through small cumulative changes you can have a positive effect on ensuring that the environment is protected not only for current but also for future generations.
STOP PRESS:
NSW Government legislation to ban single use plastic items was passed in NSW parliament meaning a phasing out from
JUNE 2022!!!
NSW is the ONLY State in Australia that has not legislated to ban single use plastic bags
MARCH 2023
I was honoured to be chosen as a member of the youth jury for the 2023 Blue Solutions Summit held at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney.
The theme of the conference was COLLABORATION IS KEY to solving the big issues we ALL SHARE.
On the Youth Jury with me was Kal Glanznig, Sophie Way and Molly Owen.
It is exciting to see that the ocean is now being recognised as part of the solution and not just a victim of climate change!
Tim Silverwood from Ocean Impact Organisation inspired attendees with three local startup businesses who are building their success by bringing a blue focus to their businesses right from the start: Kimberly Bolton (Carapac), Angus Hudson (SLURRYTUB) and Tom Loefler (Hullbot).
Jan 2023
30 January Excited to be a key speaker representing Take 3 for the Sea @ Bondi Beach Primary School with talk held in The Hive. The school is a dynamic, community school in a cosmopolitan beach side area.
NOV 2022
Sustainable Future Festival (as part of National Recycling week)
How exciting!! Take 3 for the Sea had a stand at the festival held at the Mingara Recreation Club which I had the privilege to mann over three days. The 2022 event aimed to educate and inspire Central Coast residents on how to live more sustainably and had a jam-packed program full of environmentally friendly educational activities, displays, and competitions. The festival saw special guest appearances from the former ‘The Block’ stars and Central Coast locals, Kyal and Kara and leading scientist and environmental activist, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.
Enjoyed chatting to Dr Karl !!
25 November
As the key Take 3 for the Sea member hosted a Clean Up and talk for St Ignatius College’ Riverview College for Year 9 boys @ Watsons Bay.
Take 3 for the Sea achieved a huge amount during 2021 and 2022:
21,816 people reached through events
190,602 students educated (including online)
23,455 items kept out of the ocean and
303 kgs weight kept out of the ocean
So proud to be a member of this organisation which is a global movement of people who are connected to the planet.
OCTOBER 2022
7 October Key Take 3 for the Sea member for a corporate Clean Up for Le Specs @ Maroubra Beach.
The key take out message always is - We need a healthy ocean for our own survival.
19 October Another corporate Clean Up for Capgemini @ Wynyard Park. Capgemini are a global leader in consulting, technology services and digital transformation with their headquarters in Paris, France. It would be neat if they became a global leader in their sector in protecting the seas.
22 October As a proud Youth Ambassador for the Sustainable Sports Program (SSP) was involved in a SBS film shoot for the FIFA football World Cup which was held in Qatar. During the World Cup these environmental videos included our SSP program being promoted.
SEPT 2022
15 September: So privileged to be a Take 3 for the Sea educator - this time at Waverley College Junior School @ 44 Henrietta Street, Waverley in Sydney. The College is a Catholic school for boys in the Edmund Rice tradition.
AUGUST 2022
Back home from travels and straight back to being an environmental advocate.
19 August I led a Take 3 for the Sea corporate Clean Up - the quintessential seaside experience @ Coogee Beach Sydney.
JUNE 2022
JUNE 1 2022 One small step for NSW, one giant leap for the environment
NSW Government has legislated against single use plastic items
From 1 June 2022 lightweight plastic bags of 35 microns or less (including compostable and bioplastic alternatives) are banned.
From 1 November the following items to be included in ban are:
single-use plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls, and cotton buds (including compostable alternatives to these items)
expanded polystyrene food ware and cups
rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads
I was provided with the opportunity to voice my support on behalf of youth for this much overdue change. My first media release snared me an interview on Wednesday 1st June with ABC Radio News at primetime at 5pm and a mention in an online article with Sydney Morning Herald authored by Angus Dalton.
Take 3 for the Sea (various)
I continue my advocacy and education about the harmful effects of plastic on the environment, in particular the effects on our lakes, streams, beaches and landfills
3 June: In my role as lead educator for Take 3 was welcomed by Year 7 Central Coast Sports College, Kariong - I was proud to lead a Clean up of the school college grounds and collected over 20 kgs of waste.
7 June: Led an ocean clean up with a corporate group, JLL Real Estate.
10 June: Spoke at a Year 11 Assembly Sydney Secondary College, Blackwattle Bay to provide an inspirational voice for their Environmental Awareness week and to provide some guidance and input on how students can calculate and reduce their carbon footprint and set up a recycling program for coffee cups.
8 June: Delighted to be a guest speaker on an online event organised by Better Business Partnership Other guest speakers included Jen Stokes Ku-ring-gai Environmental Citizen of the Year and Kate Doutney from NSW EPA - Environmental Protection Authority (Unit Head Compliance)
Better Business Partnership Event session focussed on the impacts of the NSW Plastic Ban
NOV 21
One of the co-founders of Take 3 for the Sea, Amanda Marechal invited me to be one of the education speakers for Take 3 at the following two schools during November:
St Ignatius College, Riverview (Year 9 students) and
Wenona School, North Sydney (Year 8 students) onsite at Curl Curl lagoon where a clean up of the lagoon was conducted and different plastics identified
St Ignatius College Riverview
Wenona College students clean up Curl Curl lagoon
SEPT 2021
Cool opportunity to discuss in a podcast the importance of sustainability and taking action on climate change (especially after the certainty of climate change as outlined in the latest August IPCC report). Other speakers in the podcast included Nabilah Chowdhury School Strike 4 Climate Organiser, Mandy Spooner and Cameron (son of Mandy). Go to the link in my Instagram Bio - Episode 2: Generational Analogies to have a listen. Sophia’s tip was BYO - Bring your Own and if you forget don’t get.
Catholic Mission invited me to their online One Heart, Many Voices conference as a Youth Panellist on the topic: Mission in the World and Climate Justice.
Onscreen image of Catholic Mission Youth panel
AUGUST 2021
It was awesome to be a guest speaker at Xavier College, Llandilo (a Catholic secondary College in Western Sydney) speaking to their topic “Plastic isn’t Fantastic”
June 2021
I had the pleasure of being a guest environmental speaker at the 2021 Take 3 for the Sea inaugural Youth Summit @ Taronga Zoo Institute of Science and Learning on the second day of the Summit on the 8 June. 150 young leaders participated from 25 schools around New South Wales. I met the Take 3 co-founders marine ecologist Roberta Dixon-Valk and youth educator Amanda Marechal.
Sophia, Take 3 co-founders Roberta Dixon-Valk and Amanda Marechal and Take 3 CEO Sarah Beard
APRIL 2021
Northern Suburbs Football Association (NSFA) with over 30 member clubs and 17,000 players launched the Sustainable Sports Program on Sunday 18 April. As a lead Youth Ambassador of nearly 50 Youth Ambassadors it was exciting to inspire these group of passionate sustainable advocates through their favourite sport, football. It was good to reconnect again with Trent Zimmerman who showed his support for the Program and the endorsement by NSFA.
Left to Right: Linda Curtis, April Rose (Northbridge FC), Liz Courtney, Trent Zimmerman and Sophia (Northbridge FC) @ North Turramurra Recreation Area
Northern Suburbs Football Association launch crew with CEO Football NSW Stuart Hodge
It was so relevant that on #Earth Day, 22 April that I was able to share my personal journey of banning the plastic bag in NSW with Deutsche Bank at an event hosted by dbLife and dbGo (Gender Opportunity), an employee networking group promoting the link between health and wellbeing with the MC being the interim CEO Glenn Morgan.
Sophia and Interim CEO Glenn Morgan Deutsche Bank
Left to right Deutsche bank personnel, Sophia and Leyla Parbery Head of Benefits/Wellbeing Specialist Deutsche Bank
DEC 2020
23 December: Very excited to receive an offer from the University of Technology, Sydney to study UTS Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation. Will be enrolling into the courses in January 2021.
Update: In August 2021 transferred to UTS Bachelor of Communication (specialising in Social and Political Sciences)
NOV 2020
19 November: After 13 years of schooling so happy to announce that I graduated from Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College North Sydney. What an occasion, with my parents in attendance as well as 200 of my Year 12 peers.
19 November Graduation photo on front lawn of Monte Sant’ Angelo, North Sydney
Mum, me and Dad on front lawn
SEPT 2020
Celebrating the Season of Creation from 1 September and ending with the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4 October. For this year the Australian Jesuit Province Reconciliation with Creation Committee has listed a few ways you can mark the season and I am honoured that they include my story as one of their ways:
Be inspired by the story of Sophia Skarparis (Plastic free Sophia) whose journey as an environmental activist began at North Sydney Our Lady of the Way Parish.
teenBreathe (Issue 17) included me as one of their 10 courageous #EarthGirls who are crusading to save the planet.
Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Kind. Be Yourself
teen Breathe Sept 2020 Issue 17
My story
CEO Take 3, Sarah Beard engaged me to be a participant in an online learning program for Cool Australia: Take 3 for the Sea - NEW LESSONS. The lessons which serve 30,000 students and 1,000 teachers from 300 schools went live on the site on 17 September, 2020. So thrilled that I am in the video labelled: Simple actions can address complex problems.
In this series of lessons, students use a project-based learning approach to look at how individual, community and global actions impact our waterways. These lessons have been created in partnership with Take 3 who believe in simple actions (like taking 3 pieces of rubbish every time you visit the sea or a waterway!) to address complex problems. They’ve created a series of short films exploring the issues, drawing on voices from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as well as experts and public figures from all walks of life.
August 2020
Here are a number of firsts! On 9 August the Sustainable Sports Program was launched at Northbridge Oval hosted by my mum Linda Curtis and Liz Courtney, co-founders of Sustainable Sports Program (SSP). The environmental and well being program has been funded by a small Federal grant nominated by Trent Zimmerman, North Sydney MP. The program is also strongly supported by the Willoughby Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney who also attended the launch. The program is being piloted at Northbridge Football Club and after a call out by myself on a short video on the club website 14 youth ambassadors registered. The youth ambassadors are meeting regularly once a month via Zoom with the first Zoom session held 4 August. At the launch the Sustainable Sports Program Charter was on display on both sides of the transitioning to plastic free canteen and Wastefree recycling bins were on display.
9 August 2020 Sustainability Sports Program launch with 11 of the 14 youth ambassadors (including Sophia on LHS), Trent Zimmerman North Sydney MP, Willoughby Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney, Liz Courtney on LHS and Linda Curtis on RHS.
Co-Founders Sustainable Sports Program Liz Courtney and Linda Curtis
May 2020
Good news The soccer club that I play for, Northbridge Football Club incorporating the North Shore Mariners, has been awarded a grant under the Communities Environment Program. The nomination came from our meeting with the Federal Member of North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman last August. As a consequence the football club can undertake a number of environmental and wellbeing initiatives this season and next. We are in planning mode updating our Sustainable Sports Program (SSP) Charter with the hope that we can commence our activities in August with my soccer community (after appointing SSP youth ambassadors).
March 2020
Before the world changed (pre COVID-19) I was asked to be involved in a photohoot for a lead article in northsider Issue 6 Autumn. It coincided with the lead up to Clean Up Australia Day Sunday 1 March. It was a privilege to be photographed along with Pip Kiernan, chairman of Clean Up Australia.
northsider Autumn 2020 Team GREEN:
Sophia and Pip Kiernan, Chairman of Clean Up Australia
Memorial Plaque Star of Ian Kiernan, Patron of Sydney Flying Squadron
Sophia and Pip Kiernan on stairs of Sydney Flying Squadron
NSW Plastics Plan - the first steps
With the coronavirus and the restrictions now in place please stay safe and stay at home. We are #allinthistogether.
The down time has allowed me to provide feedback on the NSW Government Future for Waste and Resource Recovery in NSW (Issues Paper March 2020) and Redirecting the Future of Plastics in NSW (Discussion Paper March 2020).
Now is your chance to help set the direction for how NSW deals with plastic You can do this through a short or detailed online survey or even a written submission: yoursay.dpie.nsw.gov.au. Surveys and/or submission need to be completed prior to Friday 8 May, 2020.
Feb 2020
TV Interview
28 January How exciting to share my 2020 Eco Top Tips with Studio 10 Channel 10
Top 3 tips:
Scrap Single- Use Plastic Bottles: Invest in a reusable alternative instead. Even those who love sparkling water can do this, thanks to SodaStream sparkling water machines. Just one Sodastream bottle can save the average Australian family (and environment) over 2,000 bottles and cans.
Vote with your Dollar: Spend money on companies that are doing the right thing by the environment and
Get Creative and DIY: When using personal hygiene products, be aware of damaging microbeads which end up in the ocean ultimately ending up in the food chain. Make sure your body and face wash, toothpaste and other products don’t contain these microbeads. Avoid chemicals and opt for natural cleansing products. Try DIYing your beauty routine!
Channel 10 Studio panelists: Sarah Harris, Narelda Jacobs, Sophia, Angela Bishop and Joe Hildebrand
Sustainability
@Monte Sant’Angelo
We’ve Changed for Good
Woo hoo! Back at school and my school, Monte Sant’ Angelo, North Sydney has launched Sustainability We’ve Changed for Good program: Phase 1. This phase is about Managing our Waste and Maximizing Recycling with new bins which has these related waste stream colours:
Food Waste turned into compostable material, energy and grey water
Cardboard & Paper returned to pulp and sold back to manufacturers of paper and cardboard as pulped product
Green Waste turned into compostable product
Mixed Recycling sorted into recyclable and general waste
General Waste sent to landfill. Target is for less than 20% of waste returning to landfill
January 2020
Koala soaking paws at a Koala Sanctuary
House on fire
Koala being strapped by WIRES staff
Support for our home…
It breaks my heart to see the devastating impact the bushfires over the Christmas New Year season have had on the land we call home.
My thoughts are with the communities who lost their homes, their livelihoods and their lives during the fires. My thoughts are also with our land and our animals who are suffering.
For anyone who would like to donate, follow the links below to help support these worthy organisations amongst the many more organisations and individuals who are helping during this distressing time for our country.
Every little bit counts.
To all those who have been affected, you are in my heart.
Dec 2019
So fortunate to receive an invitation to be the guest speaker at Plastic Oceans Australasian (POA) End of Year event on 5 December (invitation came from Ricki Hersburgh POA’s Executive Director) in my capacity as POA’s 2019/2020 Junior Patron. The Mission of POA is to change the world’s attitude to plastic within a generation. The event was held at the Cardno offices in Swanston Street, Melbourne. Cardno is a global infrastructure, environmental and social development company that operates in more than 100 countries, powered by a mere 600 plus employees.
Environmental Talk
Plastic Oceans Australasia: Take Action Now
Chairman of POA, Tony De Domenico OAM, John Monash Science School students, Sophia and Stephanie Karras - POA Education Coordinator
Nov 2019
1 November: Sophia was invited as a guest to the 2019 Australian Geographic Society Gala Awards. She was seated with Angelina Arora, this year’s winner of Young Conservationist of the Year. Angelina has become known as the young scientist reshaping plastic waste with her invention of a biodegradable alternative made from prawn shells. She has discovered an element of prawn shells that could be mixed with a protein from spiders’ webs to create a plastic that decomposes 1.5 million times faster than conventional plastics.
Australian Geographic Awards
Sophia and Angelina Arora: 2018 and 2019 AG Young Conservationists of the Year
Sophia and Victor Vescovo: Victor is the first person to dive to the deepest point in each of the world’s five oceans
6 November: Sophia was a guest speaker @ Aussie Ark Gala Dinner held at Curzon Hall, Marsfield. She inspired the audience with her journey leading a plastic free sustainable journey and shared her environmental friendly solutions she is leading in both her school and soccer communities.
Aussie Ark Gala Dinner
Aussie Ark Gala Dinner Guest Speakers
Sophia and a Tasmanian Devil
Planet Ark: National Recycling Week
11- 17 November: Sophia was pleased to be asked by Planet Ark to be the youth face for National Recycling Week. Her interview with Planet Ark was included in Planet Ark’s Green Schools newsletter which was sent to over 8,000 teachers around the country.
Oct 2019
Marie Claire
Sophia was asked to be involved in a photoshoot for marie claire ‘Be the Change’ (November edition; on sale from 3 October).
Click on the image to go to the podcast of Sophia and Kit Willow!
Nov 2019 issue @ Coogee Beach
L-R Sophia, Madison Stewart aka Shark Girl, Danielle Ryan - Bluebottle Films The Map to Paradise
She was one of three environmental Future Shapers featured (along with Danielle Ryan, Filmmaker of The Map to Paradise and Madison Stewart aka Shark Girl). The location for the photoshoot was Coogee Surf LifeSaving Club (Ross Jones Memorial Pool).
Environmental Talk at Apple HQ
Friday October 11 Sophia was asked to share her environmental journey at Apple Australia/NZ in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child (breakfast session). Staff were encouraged to bring their daughters. The event was hosted at Apple HQ, 20 Martin Place. The opportunity came via Mr Tom Lee, Director Innovation & Technology @ Monte Sant Angelo after follow up by Tony King, Apple Vice President of South Asia & Australia/NZ.
L- R Apple PR Manager Kristen Young, Sophia, Vicki Hawthorne and Inger Adamson
11 October Apple audience in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child -
Sept 2019
SodaStream Event
2 September: SodaStream Australia (through Fuel Communications Stephanie Banno) identified Sophia as the Generation Z youth participant on a panel to launch SodaStream’s Ocean of the Future campaign with the aim to bring awareness to the single-use plastics epidemic and drive a sense of urgency amongst Australians to act and change. The campaign included a world first Virtual Reality experience that highlighted the devastating effects of single-use plastic pollution in our oceans. The VR experience was set up at Sydney’s Circular Quay between 3rd and 7th September.
The other panellists included the CEO SodaStream Daniel Birnbaum, Chief Executive Clean Up Australia Terrie-Ann Johnson, Australian surfer Joel Parkinson and Elyse Knowles, an Australian model who won The Block (along with her boyfriend Josh Barker) in 2017. For the VR experience David Day from Lump Sculpture Studio (based in Mackay) built ‘Eddy’ the Turtle, a 242 kg large scale installation made from marine litter and debris.
The next morning Sophia and her school friends appeared on Channel 9 Today Show, live weather television crosses with Steve Jacobs interviewing Sophia.
L-R SodaStream Australian Managing Director, Mark Fenton, Australian Surfer Joel Parkinson, Chief Executive Clean Up Australia Terri-Ann Johnson, CEO SodaStream Daniel Birnbaum, Sculptor David Day, Australian model Elyse Knowles and Sophia
Panel L-R: Daniel Birnbaum, Sophia, Terri-Ann Johnson, Joel Parkinson and Elyse Knowles
School Strike for Climate
20 September: It was epic to see over 80,000 attend the Climate Strike rally in the Sydney Domain (and 300,000 participate across Australia).
High School Talk
25 September: Sophia was invited to speak at Queenwood Senior Campus @ Mosman to Years 10 & 11. The students embraced Sophia’s message of being plastic free and BYO. Queenwood helped Sophia in her quest to achieve over 10,000 handwritten signatures for her ‘Ban the Plastic Bag’ NSW Government petition with Dr Fiona Radford (History teacher) organising over 150 student signatures from the school.
Aug 2019
Primary Schools Environmental Talk
Meeting with Federal Member, North Sydney Mr Trent Zimmerman
6 August (morning): Sophia was the keynote speaker at the Broken Bay Catholic Primary Environmental Leaders Think Tank held at the Sydney Taronga Zoo Institute of Science and Learning. 25 primary schools attended the event.
Eco warriors Sue Martin, Sophia and Catherine Judd, Education Officer - Sustainability for Broken Bay
6 August (afternoon): Sophia and two community liaison officers from Northbridge Football Club (NFC) met with the Federal Member for North Sydney, Trent Zimmerman to update him on the Northbridge Football Club Environmental Charter (launched at the NFC Women in Football event in May 2019) and how the Club was already living out the Charter, having a ‘Recycle for Goodness’ weekend in June.
Note: The donated gear from this weekend, enough for three soccer teams, was sent to Gwydir Shire Council (sister council of Willoughby City Council), the region is 160km north of Tamworth and suffering from severe drought.
Bingara Primary School wearing donated soccer gear
Meeting with the NSW Energy and Environmental Minister
Mr Matt Kean
26 August: Sophia was able to secure a meeting with the NSW Minister for Energy and Environment, Matthew Kean, who shared with her his three main goals:
Reduce greenhouse emissions
Increase the footprint of natural forests and
Develop a waste management policy (including plastics)
As discussed with Matt, Sophia is keen to be a member of the NSW Government committee (representing Gen Z) in developing a plastic policy for the State.
NSW Minister Energy & Environment, Matt Kean and Sophia in Matt’s office
Preliminary HSC Technology Project
28 August: At Monte’s Design Exhibition, Sophia was able to display the light fitting that she designed made from discarded soy sauce plastic fish containers (sourced from clean ups and her community). It was an opportunity for Sophia to make a social statement about the single use of these containers and how they are then wasted to landfill.
Light fitting made from soy sauce fish containers
July 2019
PLASTIC FREE JULY
Claycups
Met Claycups Founder Steve Dyer and friend Helen Barry where we shared conversation about our passion for ridding the world of plastic. Having a Claycup is a unique opportunity to be part of something bigger. They are plastic-free vessels (with silicon lids) that make for great conversation starters. They are made in Australia from clay with no plastics whatsoever. Barista-approved, dishwasher and microwave-safe. Order one now
Claycups
On Thursday, 4 July Sophia paid it forward and spoke at her primary school, St Mary’s North Sydney. Sophia met up again with her 2014 Kindergarten buddies and current Year 6 Environmental leaders.
Primary School Talk
2014 Kindergarten buddies
Year 6 Environmental Leaders
June 2019
High School Talk
Loreto Normanhurst Green Team -
Sophia in middle at back
Sophia was invited to speak at the Loreto Normanhurst Green Team waste-free breakfast on Wednesday, 12 June. The breakfast was co-ordinated by Elizabeth Cranfield, Ecology Coordinator, Teacher of Science. The event was also attended by the Director of Mission, Mrs Libby Parker.
Youth at Taronga Zoo (YATZ)
How awesome! Sophia was welcomed into the Taronga family by being accepted into the Youth at Taronga Zoo (YATZ) program. She attended an induction session on 29 June at the recently opened Taronga Institute of Science and Learning.
Kerry Staker (YATZ Coordinator) led the induction session.
YATZ May 2019 intake
Sophia in white sitting in the back row
May 2019
Film Screening
24 May, 2019 A magical evening, where the award winning director Damon Gameau (That Sugar Film) took us on a journey to explore what the future could be like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into mainstream. What an honour as Sophia was asked to be a guest Q&A panelist after the film screening of 2040 at Verona Cinema, Paddington. The other three panelists were:
Take 3 co-founder and CEO, Tim Silverwood,
Damon Gameau, writer, director and leading actor of 2040
Adriana Verges, UNSW Associate Professor, marine ecologist and seaweed expert
Sophia at Palace Verona
Sophia and Take 3 supporters
Sophia launched the Northbridge Football Club (NFC) Environmental Charter at a Female Football event organised by NFC club on 30 May, after her presentation on plastic pollution. The other three guest speakers were Grace McKeon: Exercise Physiologist, UNSW Medicine; Gabe Marzano: Former Sydney FC and Perth Glory W-League player and North Shore Mariners Womens NPL Club Captain and Linda Carroll: Former professional player in the Netherlands and current Northbridge FC Women’s All-Age player and mother of three.
Football
30 May 2019 Women in Football Talk at Ron Dyer Centre, North Sydney
L-R speakers Grace McKeon, Sophia, Gabe Marzano, Linda Carroll
April 2019
On 6 April Sophia was invited back to the Northside Produce Market by Lisa MacDonald, the Northside Produce Market Coordinator. Theme for the day was - A Sustainable Future. Sophia was able to interact and support Better Business Partnership with their stall on the day. She was active in handing out reusable cloth bags to market attendees. The market is looking to be single use plastic free by 2020. A UTS university student joined Sophia on the day and interviewed, Lisa the Market Coordinator, Sophia and Sophia’s Mum. The student is studying journalism, chose Sophia as her topic and for her assignment, compiled a 4 minute video on her enviro quest.
Produce Markets
Plastic Free Ideas
Better Business Partnership Stall
Environmental Talk
Sophia was honoured to be invited to be a guest speaker at the Ocean Lovers Festival Talks at the Bondi Pavilion. She spoke passionately about how we need to BYO and reduce, refuse or recycle our waste. The event was hosted by AustralianEthical ae Investments and MC was Leah Willis, Head of Client Relationships ae.
Ocean Lovers Festival Talks Bondi Pavilion 13 April
TV Interview
Monday 15 April Sophia was live on television, Channel 7 Daily Edition. Producer of the show, Emily Costello invited her to be interviewed by the hosts, Sally Obermeder and Ryan Phelan on her enviro quest. Such a good interview promoting Sophia’s cause of living a plastic free lifestyle.
Channel 7 Daily Edition hosts LR Ryan Phelan, Sophia and Sally Obermeder
Pre-School Talk
Tuesday 23 April Sophia visited Kelly’s Place Childrens Centre Crows Nest, a not-for-profit, community-based, long day care centre. She was able to share with the preschoolers her story and her passion to reduce and remove plastic pollution from everyday life. The Centre then shared with Sophia their quest to petition to put the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Centre has also won a SPROuts award for their environmental efforts.
Possum Project: Respect and Fairness for our Environment How do we care for our land? Cammeraygal land and beyond
SPROuts Practice Awards - NSW Early Childhood Environmental Education Network
March 2019
Front page Local Newspapers
Well Sophia made front page of North Shore Times and Mosman Daily, nicknamed Waste Warrior.
Inside the paper, the feature article (Thursday 28 February 2019 edition) emphasises Sophia’s efforts to educate the general public on the problems of plastic pollution and how she mobilised others to obtain hard copy signatures for a NSW Government petition to ban plastic bags in NSW (the only State in Australia that has not banned plastic bags). She has commenced speaking at different forums kickstarted by Australian Geographic award winners roadshow late February. In her talks she takes the opportunity to be able to advise audiences of the life cycle of a plastic bottle and how only 12% of the bottles are recycled, the rest end up in landfill and our oceans.
Clean Up Australia Day
Clean Up Australia Day - Surfrider Foundation on steps of Sydney Opera House
Sophia with school friends after ‘Paddle Out’
3 March Clean Up Australia Day: Sophia joined in with the Surfrider Foundation ‘Paddle Out’ event commemorating 30 years since Ian Kiernan founded Clean Up Australia: 1989 -2019. Surfrider was able to film the ‘Paddle Out’ using a drone. The event was held at Sydney Harbour entering from Man of War jetty beside Sydney Opera House.
Climate Strike Rally
15 March: Students across Australia took part in a day of global action to protest inaction on climate change with more than 90 countries participating. Sophia was an enthusiastic supporter attending the Climate Strike rally at Sydney Town Hall with tens of thousands protesting.
Sophia attending Climate Strike rally
Feb 2019
Australian Geographic roadshow
Environmental Talks
Exciting month!
20 February: Sophia was a speaker at the inaugural awardees Australian Geographic roadshow (hosted by AG Presents) - she was able to talk on her mission which is to make others aware of the impact of plastic pollution The event was held at NSW Teachers Federation Conference Centre, Surry Hills with the theme of: Perspectives of Antartica.
At lunchtime she was a guest speaker at the inaugural 2019 Stead Memorial Environmental Lecture held at NSW Parliament House. She had the opportunity to co-speak with Bob Carr, the longest continuously serving Premier in NSW history (1995-2005). The theme for the event was ‘One person can make a difference’, in memory of David G. Stead.
Promotion of 2019 Australian Geographic Award Winners roadshow
21 February: Sophia was invited as a speaker to Just Around the Corner breakfast event held at Kernel Property, O’Connell Street, Sydney. One of the directors Steve Urwin heard Sophia speak at a mass at North Sydney and invited Sophia to speak. The other speaker at the breakfast was Dr Michael Seo, a member of CSIRO’s Graphene Membrane Group.
Sophia and Dr Michael Seo
Bye-Bye Plastic Bag NSW Launch
Better Business Partnership have also released videos that they produced about Sophia’s quest to mobilise signatures for her petition to ban plastic bags in NSW. The videos have been shared with aligned NSW state politicians and social media.
Jan 2019
Willoughby and North Syndey Council
Award Ceremony
Saturday January 26 was extra special as Sophia was awarded Young Citizen of the Year by both Willoughby City Council and North Sydney Councils. Both Councils recognised Sophia’s efforts to mobilise 12,000 plus handwritten signatures for a NSW Government petition for legislation to ban plastic bags in NSW.
She was able to celebrate with distinguished guests, family and friends at both events.
2019 North Sydney Young Citizen of the Year L-R CEO Clean Up Australia Terrie-Anne Johnson, Sophia and Surfrider Rowan Hanley
2019 Willoughby Young Citizen of the Year L-R NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Sophia, CEO Guide Dogs NSW/Act Dale Cleaver and Willoughby Mayor, Gail Giles-Gidney
Nov 2018
Waste Audit
Film Screening
Youth Congress
Friday 16 November
Sophia conducted a Waste Management Audit at her school, Monte Sant’ Angelo, North Sydney campus. She and her supporters weighed 59 of the 113 bags that were collected over two days from the site. Click here to find out how to conduct your own waste audit.
Monte Students Sorting Through 3 Days Waste
On Wednesday 21 November, Sophia attended an exclusive private screening of The Map to Paradise hosted with support from The Wilderness Society Sydney Committee of Management. The screening was at the Guthrie Theatre, University of Technology, Sydney. The film was an adventure-filled tale about the birth of the global movement to protect the sea.
Enthusiastic youth attendees of North Sydney Sustainability Youth Congress - Sophia second from right
Monday & Tuesday 26 & 27 November; Community Forum 3 December
Sophia attended a North Sydney Sustainability Youth Congress, cohosted by North Sydney Council and ozGREEN, held at the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, Waverton. Thirty six high school students from 9 different high schools came together to develop a vision and most importantly to create practical action plans to make a difference.
Oct 2018
NSW Day of Action partnering with Clean Up Australia
“Ban Plastic Bags” Petition Discussed in NSW Parliament
25 October, 2018
Clean Up Australia (CEO Terrie-Ann Johnson) and Sophia led an early morning community event at Bradfield Park, North Sydney where Terri-Ann acknowledged Ian Kiernan’s passing and legacy and handed over to Sophia, one of the leaders of the new generation taking responsibility and continuing his mission..
NSW Parliament discussed Sophia’s petition at 4.30pm. When the petition was discussed in the chamber, the NSW Government continued their stance of opposing a plastic bag ban.
Australian Geographic Awards
26 October, 2018
Sophia was awarded Australian Geographic 2018 Young Conservationist of the Year
Sep 2018
Newspaper “Afloat'“
“Blue” Film Screening
North Sydney Young Person of the Year
Afloat magazine included Sophia’s Letter to the Editor in their September issue.
25 September - Sophia organised with the Wenona Environmental Group a screening of Blue at the Independent Cinema, North Sydney and invited Monte and Wenona school communities.
27 September - Sophia attended North Sydney Community Awards and was awarded 2018 North Sydney Young Person of the Year by Trent Zimmerman MP Federal Member for North Sydney for her unrelenting efforts in her work to raise environmental awareness throughout the North Sydney community, specifically in organising 12,000 handwritten signatures for a petition to ban the use of plastic bags in the State.
August 2018
Meeting with Monte Principal
and NSW Premier
13 August - Sophia has sought a meeting with the principal of Monte to have the Monte canteen accredited through Surfrider Foundation Australia as being plastic free.
24 August - Sophia met with the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian and whilst the Premier still did not support a ban on single use plastic bags she commented that she would be doing the same thing that Sophia is doing ‘which is educating the public’. She advised that she will be tabling the petitions in NSW Parliament for a debate as Sophia has obtained more than 10,000 signatures.
29 August - BBP (Better Business Partnership) have requested to undertake video footage of Sophia and her petition journey
Sophia Handing the NSW Premier over 10,000 Hand Written Signatures on a Petition to Ban Plastic Bags in NSW
July 2018
Good for the Hood
Market Stall
YMCA NSW Youth Parliamentarians
Market Stalls
AYCC
PLASTIC FREE JULY
Sophia attended Plastic Free July Party on 7 July, at Tonic Lane Cafe, Neutral Bay.
Met Jo Taranto, Director Social Enterprise, Good for the Hood who appeared on Q & A on Monday 23 July. Jo interviewed Sophia and advised Sophia about ABC Open. A contribution named Waste Warrior: Sophia was received by ABC Open.
12 July - Attended Living Plastic Free Information Stall at Chatswood Mall. Met Hannah Pickering from The Trolley Bag Project – she runs workshops on how to make beeswax wraps.
16 July - Attended YMCA NSW Youth Parliament held at Macquarie Street, Sydney. At lunch, Sophia addressed a youth parliamentarian crowd of over a 100 about her petition to ban the plastic bag in NSW. She also attended the debating session on the Environment and Climate Change after lunch. She obtained more than 30 signatures as well as a contact for the NSW Youth Parliamentarians Environment Group, Sam Harris.
21 July, 2018 - Attended Northside Produce Markets Saturday morning. Advised about a magazine called Afloat which has a readership of over 30,000 (Australia wide).
28 July - Attended a Plastic Free Community event held at Barrenjoey High School, Avalon. The theme was A Living Ocean for Future Generations. There were stalls and workshops from ocean care groups.
22 July - Attended Sustainability at Stucco in Newtown – Student Climate Action Network.
June 2018
Market Stall
Film Screening
TechShift
Church Community
In early June, Sophia sent out an update to the majority of her supporters advising them that she had just over 8,000 signatures. She still needed a couple of thousand more signatures and she would then meet with the Premier again when she obtained the 10,000 signatures.
With the knowledge that Northside Produce Markets were so successful Sophia booked a space at Mosman Market for 2 June, 2018. Unfortunately due to high winds/bad weather the Market was closed. Sophia was to share a table with Boomerang Alliance.
At Mosman Markets with Boomerang Bags
Through Surfrider Foundation Australia the petition was circulated at the Dee Why PCYC Club on 5 June. They showed a screening of Blue to over 200 people. Evening was hosted by Dr Michelle Blewitt, AUSMAP Program Manager, Total Environment Centre.
Sophia was able to solicit signatures from attendees at a Willoughby Council sponsored event called TECHSHIFT on the 15 June. The theme was around resource recovery and turning waste into resource. A soft launch of Bye Bye Plastic campaign also occurred. Sophia met Tim Silverwood Co Founder & CEO Take 3 and Katrina Kimmorley, Co Founder Pollinate Energy.
Sophia was accepted as a nomination for Australian Geographic Young Conservationist of the Year with application lodged on 27 June. Referee testimonial was from Surfrider Foundation Australia.
Meeting Jo Taranto and the team at TechShift 2018
At the Laudato Si 6pm youth mass held at St Mary’s North Sydney on 17 June, Sophia spoke to the congregation about how Laudato Si inspired her to organise a petition to Ban the Plastic Bag in NSW. The celebrant, Fr Daven Day SJ endorsed her petition and mass goers had an opportunity to sign after mass.
North Sydney Council are producing an online July newsletter which is to have an article about Sophia and her campaign to Ban the Plastic Bag including her petition.
Through a Surfrider contact, Australian Geographic (AG) interviewed Sophia for an online article published 22 June, 2018.
May 2018
Meeting with NSW Premier
Collecting Signatures
Sophia met the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian on Friday 4 May at her local office in Naremburn. Gladys is Sophia’s local member. Whilst the Premier was cordial and friendly she was only going to acknowledge the signatures by a letter. Sophia had only obtained 7,040 signatures at this stage.
Sophia also offered to meet the Premier on a regular basis to be a youth advocate for Environmental issues especially regarding plastic. The Premier advised that she was time poor and that a quarterly meeting with her was feasible. The Premier also said that if Sophia undertook these initiatives in her electorate that she would include Sophia in her media profile.
As soon as Sophia left the Premier’s office she decided that she would get the additional signatures and meet back with the Premier when she did. Sophia emailed the Premier’s office on Monday and updated her on that basis.
Monte Houseplays Event collecting more petition signatures in May 2018
Sophia lodged an application for UNICEF Australia Young Ambassador, however it was unsuccessful.
Late May Sophia was allowed to circulate her petition at House Plays, a major event at Monte which includes all school years. She obtained about 500 signatures. In the morning she attended Muffins with Francis at Mary MacKillop Place as they were discussing Laudato Si’. She was asked to speak at the session about her petition and her experience.
April 2018
Luke Foley, former Leader of the NSW Opposition mailed a letter supporting the petition and he advised that regardless of the number of signatures that he would be pleased to formally table the petition. Sophia emailed back advising that she was meeting the Premier in early May and would update him after the meeting with the Premier.
During April an organisation called Compost-A-Pak was contacted. Compost-A-Pak are a Newcastle based family business (for more than 10 years) providing online compostable bags and liners including dog waste solutions. All their products are made from a natural starch-based polymer derived from corn. It is third grade corn so the corn is not suitable for human or animal consumption. Compost-A-Pak mailed some free samples of their products to give/show the NSW Premier when Sophia had her meeting with her.
Collecting more signatures at Northside Produce Markets in April
March 2018
Newspaper Catholic Weekly
Collecting Signatures for Petition
Film Screening “Plastic Ocean”
In March 2018 Catholic Weekly contacted Sophia and asked if they could do an article. She agreed and a positive article was included in the Weekly on the 18 March, 2018. The article advised that she had gathered over 1,000 signatures.
At this stage she also established an email address for her cause so she could be contacted directly.
She was at the Earth Hour Breakfast at Riverview and identified other high schools who would be interested in circulating the petition (so forwarded the petition after the breakfast to these schools).
Through a contact from the OLOW Environment group she was allowed to be at the opening of the Coal Loader , Picnic on Platform, Waverton and obtained more than 600 signatures from this event.
Collecting Signatures in Monte School
Collecting Signatures at the Coal Loader
Earth Hour Breakfast, Riverview
Northside Produce Markets agreed to have her petition there and Sophia canvassed visitors during March and April. This proved very successful with over 1,000 signatures obtained from the Markets.
Sophia identified that there were also free screenings of The Plastic Ocean which the event organisers also allowed her to have her petition. The movie is an expose on the impact of plastic on the marine environment. From these screenings Sophia obtained about 400 signatures.
Northside Produce Markets
With Sophia’s contacts through Jesuit Communications she extended her reach of Catholic schools across the NSW state including Wollongong and Newcastle. The Office of Bishop Umbers saw the article in the Catholic Weekly and Bishop Umbers signed the petition and circulated amongst his colleagues.
Feb 2018
Collecting Signatures for Petition
From her experience with a multifaith Climate Change petition, Sophia recognised huge support from her generation, Generation Z. So she reached out to environmental leaders at local high schools in the lower North Shore with the petition, in the main they were Catholic schools. Her own school, Monte have been very supportive with over 1,500 signatures obtained from the school.
Sophia devised a standard email which went out to the schools, including the petition and a two minute movie which explained the background behind the petition. These schools greatly supported the petition. Sophia also approached Northside Produce Markets, North Sydney and asked if she could have her petition at the Markets.
In contacting Boomerang Alliance they provided Sophia free of charge Plastic Pollution Graphics and props which she has used to increase her visibility wherever she had a presence for her petition.
Sophia’s Story
After consulting with Caritas Australia (Catholic Agency for International Aid & Development), Sophia found out that NSW was the only state that had not banned or would be banning single use plastic bags. With her experience with a multifaith Climate Change petition through Our Lady of the Way (OLOW) parish Ecology group she decided to take on the challenge of obtaining 10,000 signatures through a petition to ban both single use and heavy retail plastic bags in NSW.
The petition made reference to banning heavy retail plastic bags which does go beyond what other states have done.
In obtaining 10,000 signatures she was guaranteed a debate about her petition in NSW Parliament. The signatures were required to be hard copy (NSW Government Petitions Committee do not allow online signatures).
NSW is the ONLY State in Australia that has not legislated to ban single use plastic bags
In 2018, as a Year 10 Monte Sant’ Angelo Mercy College student, North Sydney, Sophia Skarparis was required to undertake a Personal Project…
Testimonials
“We so much enjoyed meeting Sophia and seeing her in action. She is a very special young woman. It was great to see how Sophia inspired many of the other congress participants and also how kind she was when working together with the younger Monte students. A group of Mosman students would like to create a more engaging focus on sustainability at their school and they said they’d like to invite more guest speakers to come to their school, especially inspiring young ones like Sophia! ”
“Sophia has been a pleasure to work with and her passion for the environment, her strategic and measured approach to tackling big issues and her tenacity have been demonstrated to us at BBP on many an occasion. It was not a surprise to us that she was named the AG 2018 Young Conservationist of the Year and we look forward to continuing to support Sophia as she continues the great work that she has been doing and inspiring others in her generation to make things better for the future.”
“This quote by Norman Vincent Peale could have been written for Sophia...”One person can make a difference. You don’t have to be a big shot. You don’t have to have a lot of influence. You just have to have your faith in your power to change things”. ”
“Sophia’s presentation was brilliant – she spoke with such grace, confidence and passion and all the teachers in attendance were very impressed and inspired.”
“Thank you for taking the time out of your busy program to come and address the Environment Leaders from 25 Broken Bay Catholic Schools at Taronga Zoo yesterday. The students were so engaged and there was quite a buzz all day and this began with the tone you established of hope, conviction, passion and determination, along with indicating the challenges that are associated with this environmental journey.”
Contact Sophia.
