Australian photographer Adrian Steirn receives Queen's honour
The Queen has recognised Adrian Steirn, Sydney-born but representing the United Kingdom, as the 91st Commonwealth Point of Light, in honour of his voluntary service campaigning for wildlife conservation.
Steirn is a global conservation activist who uses his skills as a photographer and film-maker to raise awareness, discussion and action to protect endangered wildlife across Africa.
Steirn has driven a successful campaign to raise awareness of Pangolin trafficking and he is highly involved with anti-poaching units, particularly in the Kruger National Park and Lowveld region.
The honour was given to Steirn as part of the legacy of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018.
In the two years following the meeting, The Queen has been thanking inspirational volunteers across the 53 Commonwealth nations for the difference they are making in their communities, by recognising one volunteer from each Commonwealth country each week.
“To be awarded the Points of Light award is a great accolade and I deeply appreciate it," Steirn said.
"It really is an award that represents communities of people that have touched me over the last decade of photographing Africa and speaks back to the value of our natural world and platforms such as ‘Beautiful News’.”
Steirn directed a short film highlighting the threats to Nepal’s tiger population and he lead a global campaign to protect Virunga National Park from the threat of drilling by oil companies.
He says his passion for protecting the natural world was inspired by childhood holidays to Africa and he is determined to preserve its beauty for generations to come through 'Beautiful News', a multimedia storytelling format, using photography and filmmaking to share the stories of ordinary people whose passion, dedication and commitment inspires, helps or otherwise influences the habitat, and those around them, in a positive way.
You can see more of the Commonwealth Point of Light honourees at pointsoflight.gov.uk.