Tenison Woods College sustainability officer Tom Linnell has been awarded a 2022 Churchill Fellowship for his previous and ongoing efforts in redefining sustainability-based educational experiences for young people.

Mr Linnell works closely with students from the school’s Early Learning and Community Centre to senior school as well as the college community, to drive important conversations about sustainability, climate change and ecological values, most recently in connecting circular economy principles to student learning.

Mr Linnell said he saw young people as an important yet often under-represented voice in the discussion about the future of the planet.

“Young people are passionate about these issues as it will ultimately impact them more than any other demographic on earth,” he said.

“I believe we owe it to young people to have these important conversations embedded in the curriculum and schools have the ability to act as microcosms of the broader community, where students can experiment with different solutions and be innovative.

“The recognition by the Winston Churchill Trust in being awarded a Churchill Fellowship is a significant milestone in my life.

“The Fellowship, which has supported some of Australia’s best and brightest minds, has always been something I wanted to be involved in but was unsure whether my passions, skills and experiences to date were worthy.”

As a successful recipient of a Churchill Fellowship, Mr Linnell said he was fortunate to have his study proposal supported.

“I am investigating how educational communities are transitioning to more circular (waste free) communities and will travel through Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Scotland during July and August next year,” he said.

“Several European nations have been successful in mandating circular strategies on campus, in communities and into curriculum.

“Through site visits to leading education communities and speaking directly with students, educators, leaders and policymakers, I hope to strengthen my understanding of the importance policy and culture plays in a school’s transition to circular economy practices.”

Mr Linnell has previously been recognised for his work in progressing sustainability within the school and broader community in recent years.

He was nominated and named South Australia’s Climate Leader of the Year in 2020 by the Premiers Climate Change Council.

Earlier this year he was also included as one of the Sydney Powerhouse Museum’s 100 Climate Conversations, which aims to inspire action by presenting an evidence-based and empowering vision of the future.

The impact and momentum Mr Linnell has been able to generate within the college has also been recognised, with the sustainability vision seeing a small delegation invited to attend Sustainability Week 2018 in Abu Dhabi, where they were named a finalist for the Global High School Sustainability Award.

The college was also fortunate to have recently been named Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) Innovative Project Award at the CESA Awards Ceremony recognising the efforts of the entire student and teacher community.