2023 Pupil Power Assembly: Meet the speakers

Are you a UK based educator who’s passionate about inspiring the next generation of ocean activists? Join us with your class, or even better, your whole school, from 9am-12pm on the 24th November as we broadcast live to schools across the UK for a morning of inspiration and ocean activism. (Did we mention it’s completely FREE?!).

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NOW FOR SOME EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENTS?

We have an epic line-up of speakers. From nature presenters, marine scientists, cold water enthusiasts to youth activists – there is something in this pupil power morning for everyone!

Drum roll please…. ?

Joining us from far and wide, we have:

NAOMI WILKINSON: Pupil Power Assembly host for 4 years running, Naomi is a professional children’s TV presenter as well as being a wildlife and surfing enthusiast and eco-warrior.

GILLIAN BURKE: Biologist, presenter, public speaker, voiceover artist, writer and mother. Gillian’s passion for both the natural and human world has transpired into a life of science and storytelling.

CHARLIE YOUNG: Charlie is a marine scientist, sailor and storyteller who lives full-time at sea onboard her boat ‘Feral’ where she dedicates her time to documenting wildlife and advocating for the ocean.

WIM HOF: Known to many as The Iceman, Wim Hof is a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete noted for his ability to withstand low temperatures.

GREG MCLEOD: Greg is a BAFTA award winning illustrator and animator whose creativity has taken him from animation,  screenwriting, directing, poetry, illustration to writing books (including the ‘Knight Sir Louis’ series).

OLUWASEYI MOEJOH: Oluwaseyi is a Nigerian Environmentalist and National Geographic Young Explorer, educating the next generation of young leaders about climate action and helping them build the knowledge and skills they need to proffer innovative solutions to environmental issues.

SKYE NEVILLE: At just 13 years old, Skye is a dedicated climate activist, her campaign to eliminate plastic tat from children’s magazines has over 66,000 supporters, influencing Waitrose to take action, making her a prominent advocate for change.

MERJIN TINGA: AKA the Plastic Soup Surfer, Merjin is a surfing biologist turned plastic activist. Using surfboards made from plastic waste, he is campaigning to change Dutch plastic policy.

ALI MCKERNAN: Better known as The FUNgi Guy, loves to share his enthusiasm for all things nature with quirky models, hand crafted props and bad jokes.

YVETTE CURTIS: Surfers Against Sewage’s very own Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager. Yvette is also the founder of Wave Wahines, a surf club that empowers women and girls to feel they have a space within the ocean and the surfing community that is always accessible, inclusive and safe.

AYESHA AHMED-MENDOZA: Ayesha is a British-Bangladeshi birder, naturalist, conservationist and environmentalist. She helps to run Black2nature, a charity dedicated to connecting Visibly Minority Ethnic (VME) kids with nature. 

SIMON WEARS & LARA HAYWARD: Both passionate advocates for accessibility in sport and nature, landlocked surfers Simon and Lara founded the Home Counties Surf Club. An inclusive, friendly and supportive community of landlocked surfers, skateboarders and water-lovers, creating access to nature for marginalised groups.

What’s happening:

The three-hour assembly is a high-energy, jam-packed morning of live lessons and interactive activities that will help to help pupils get connected to nature, learn how to take action to protect it, and tick off objectives on the Plastic Free Schools programme at the same time. The morning will be split into three key sessions hosted by presenter, Naomi Wilkinson:

#1 – Getting connected ??

Session one is based on ocean explorer, Jacques Cousteau’s, belief that ‘we protect what we love but love only what we know’. So, to kick things off we’re going to help pupils understand their own unique connection with nature, no matter who they are or where they live, so that they can understand why it’s so important to take action to protect it.

Key Speakers: Wim Hoff, Yvette Curtis, Ayesha Ahmed-Mendoza, Charlie Young, Simon Wears and Lara Hayward

Suitable for: All ages

#2 – Identifying the problem ?

Before we can begin to tackle a problem, we need to understand it. In Session two we’ll explore the journey of a single-use plastic item from source to sea, and the impact it can have in the environments in travels through (including food chains!). Pupils will then be tasked to identify what plastics are polluting their environments in a spick, span and speedy clean up of their school grounds with a nationwide TRASH MOB!

Key Speakers: Gillian Burke, Ali McKernan and Charlie Young

Suitable for: All ages

#3 – Youth Activism ✊

Becoming a Plastic Free School takes a lot of pupil power! In the last session we’ll break down what this means by helping pupils to harness the power of their voices to create real, tangible change in their schools, to industries to government level!

Key Speakers: Wim Hoff, Oluwaseyi Moejoh, Skye Neville, Merjin Tinga, the Mcleod Brothers and Charlie Young

Suitable for: Primary and Secondary

Exact timings will be sent ahead of the Assembly in a pre-event pack, along with any resources you’ll need on the day… all you need to do now is sign up ?.

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MORE INFORMATION

Find out more about the Pupil Power Assembly

Find out more about Plastic Free Schools