Sophie Handford - Climate Impact Award Winner 2019

On July 27th, 2019, Sophie Handford became the inaugural winner of the Impact Award for Climate. Launched by the team at Inspiring Stories, The Impact Awards celebrates young New Zealanders making a difference with $20,000 awarded across four categories – climate, enterprise, inclusion and wellbeing.

The Impact Award for Climate recognises young New Zealanders demonstrating inspiring leadership and taking action to combat climate change. Sophie Handford was a key driving force behind New Zealand’s Schoolstrike4Climate; with an estimated 170,000+ people turning out in force for the School Strikes in September 2019. Sophie’s advocacy on climate change has inspired many people, she continues to challenge this status quo, and went on to be elected as New Zealand’s youngest Councillor in the local body elections for the Kāpiti Coast District Council in October 2019.

The inaugural Impact Awards attracted 200 applicants from 12 regions across New Zealand. The Awards Ceremony took place on the Saturday night during the weekend of Festival for the Future, and attracted 400 guests, including CEO’s and senior leaders from business and government, as well as young people and finalists from across the nation. We caught up with Sophie to hear more about her experience…

Pictured from left: Guy Ryan, CEO & Founder of Inspiring Stories and The Impact Awards; Jacinta Gulasekharam – winner of the Evolve Leadership Summit scholarship; Shaquille Shortland, CEO of Tuapapa Māori Language Academy & Consultancy – winner of the Inclusion Award; Sophie Handford, National Coordinator School Strikes 4 Climate – winner of the Climate Award; Jazz Thornton, CEO of Voices of Hope – winner of the Wellbeing Award; and Shay Wright – Co-founder of Te Whare Hukahuka – winner of the Impact Award for Enterprise

Q: Let’s rewind to the Awards Ceremony – what was it like? 

A: There was so much positive energy, and so many incredible connections and conversation happening. Everything was so well set up, it felt very professional, but there was still space to have casual conversations. It was such a fluid environment, where we had business people walking around keen to have a chat with young people and have conversation about anything. The atmosphere was unlike any other award ceremony I’ve attended – that’s what’s stuck with me. 

Q: What was it like winning the Award?

A: It was such a surprise – especially hearing in the lead up the clip where they share a bit about each finalist. I basically forgot I was even up for an award because I was just listening to the amazing things that everyone else had done. Then it clicked that my name was actually up there with them, and that in itself was such an honour. So winning the award just blew me away. It’s an incredible recognition of the climate movement, of every single person that showed up to take part in the marches, and how important real leadership and action on this issue is.

Pictured From left: Guy Ryan, CEO & Founder of Inspiring Stories and The Impact Awards; Sophie Handford, National Coordinator of the School Strike 4 Climate – winner of the Climate Award; and Natasha Lewis who is part of the senior leadership team at the Ministry for the Environment.

Q: What difference has winning the award has made for you?

A: It provided us with a really cool opportunity to grow the strikes; through not only the recognition of the movement but also the funding that came with it. The funding helped us to buy some of the key things that we needed to make the school strike happen at scale, and a couple of months later more than 170,000 people showed up in support.

So I think there were impacts on many different levels – for the SchoolStrike4Climate movement; for my campaign for the local body elections; giving me the confidence to share my voice and thoughts more; and trying to represent those people who aren’t represented as much in these conversations who should be.

Q: What did you use the prize money for?

A: We purchased megaphones, and a whole lot of high-vis vests that we needed for all of our marshals to support the march. We had about 80 marshals just for Wellington alone - so we were able to buy some vests for them, as well as other groups across the country.

The really cool thing about this funding is it’s had a national impact. We don’t get a lot of funding for SchoolStrike4Climate, which is why the $5,000 for us was really huge. All of that money can be shared across the country. I think that really made the movement more accessible too, because people shouldn’t be digging into their own pocket when they’re fighting for the planet and this home that we all share. Because it was mostly lots of small things we needed to support the march, it meant we were able to make it go really far, nationwide, and that we could use it quite strategically.

Sophie leading the SchoolStrike4Climate March in September

Q: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about applying for The Impact Awards next year?

A: I would say just 100% go for it. You don’t know where it might take you – I certainly didn’t. From what I remember, the process was really straightforward, and everyone in the team at Inspiring Stories was there to support. I remember the interview during the later stages was so friendly, and just talking about how we can grow the movement with the funds to make a real impact. So I would say just back yourself because you never know what might come of it. There are amazing things that come out of it no matter who wins. The chance to even just be in the room with all these amazing people working in the same space as you is such an incredible networking opportunity.

There are so many more things that come from The Impact Awards that are bigger than just the award itself. That’s why it’s so great. The ceremony was a really inclusive environment, which is different from most awards ceremonies.

Q: What role do you think Inspiring Stories plays in making a difference for young New Zealanders?

A: What I love about Inspiring Stories is that there are so many ways to get involved in the Kaupapa. I’ve been involved in the Future Leaders programme, I’ve been to Festival for the Future twice now. The first time I went to Festival was absolutely mind-blowing. All of the things I’ve been involved with at Inspiring Stories have been really empowering.

The Future Leaders programme is so much about coming up with our own ideas to make a difference, and championing our own thought processes. We’re given the tools and resources, they’re there for us to take, but it’s not like ‘you must do this, you must do that’. It’s more like ‘here are some tools, put your heads together and see what you can come up with, and we’re here to support.’ I think that really teaches some amazing real-world skills that you can’t learn except for going through that process.

Sophie sharing her story at Festival for the Future 2019.

Q: What do you think New Zealand can do to better support young people to make a difference for our future?

A: I think the main thing would be for older generations to pass the mic and create more space for young people to step up and share their ideas and voice, and to engage meaningfully with young people in a way that’s not token. There are young people out there – and I’ve seen this through Future Leaders and Festival for the Future, who have incredible ideas and drive. These people know how to work in a way that is potentially far more efficient and effective than many of our old school bureaucratic systems.