Severn Cullis-Suzuki

Environmentalist, United Nations Speaker and Philanthropist.

Severn Cullis-Suzuki is quickly becoming recognized as one of the most respected environmentalists. Following in the footsteps of her father, Dr. David Suzuki, she leads by example and is passionate about encouraging young people to speak out.

Growing up on Canada's West Coast, she and her family spent a lot of time in B.C. communities where the effects of declining natural resource industries on individuals and culture were obvious. Cullis-Suzuki also travelled with her family outside of Canada, giving her the opportunity, at the young age of nine years old, to witness first-hand the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Feeling compelled to do something when she returned to Canada, Cullis-Suzuki recruited some of her elementary school classmates to start the Environmental Children's Organization.

That was just the beginning. Three years later, she delivered a bold and moving speech at the United Nations' Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where she implored the audience to think about sustainability and the world it is leaving for children.

She has done countless interviews, written many articles, and hosted a TV show for kids called Suzuki's NatureQuest. 'Lead by example' was the message Cullis-Suzuki spread in the Powershift 2000 campaign when she and five friends cycled across Canada to raise awareness for clean air and action. At Yale University, where Cullis-Suzuki earned a bachelor of science, she co-founded an Internet-based think-tank called The Skyfish Project in 2002. Its aim was to find ways for people to live and work in line with their ideals.

Today, Cullis-Suzuki continues to speak out. She regularly talks to schools, universities, businesses, and governmental conferences about the need for defining our values, acting with long-term vision, and our individual responsibility.

All her life, she has watched how humans exist in relation to nature and to each other. Let Severn Cullis-Suzuki share with you her perspectives on promoting a culture of diversity, sustainability, and joy.