More about Rebecca Prince-Ruiz OAM In 2011 Rebecca became concerned by the amount of plastic going into landfill and encouraged her family to go plastic-free for the month of July. Her idea is now a global initiative, with an estimated hundreds of millions of people having participated worldwide. Rebecca has worked with communities, government and business leaders on reducing single-use plastics and is on the board of the WA state government’s Container Deposit Scheme. Rebecca is now the Executive Director of the Plastic Free Foundation, the not for profit with the vision of a world without plastic waste that delivers the annual challenge. Rebecca is a regular media commentator and has been interviewed by the BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, The Hindu, NPR, La Nación, SBS, and appeared on the ABC television show ‘War on Waste’ to increase awareness of the plastic waste and pollution issue and the solutions available. She has co-written a book on the Plastic Free movement, published by NewSouth Books and Columbia University Press. With 30 years’ experience in the world of environmental and waste management, community engagement, and sustainability behaviour change she has a unique perspective on the role of individuals in environmental issues. Rebecca has participated in plastic pollution research expeditions in Australia, the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and explored innovative solutions to plastic waste worldwide during a Churchill Fellowship. In 2023 Rebecca was appointment a Member of the Order of Australia for services to conservation and the environment. Rebecca believes it’s critical to stop the waste problem at the source and believes we all need to take responsibility to change our throw away culture.