Fast-Facts: IDEA Conference 2020 Keynote Speaker Annie Leonard, Story of Stuff & Greenpeace USA

On Saturday, February 15, over 350 students from Boston University and the Greater Boston Area will come together for the 3rd annual IDEA Conference. This year, the conference will conclude with a keynote session from Annie Leonard, the founder of the Story of Stuff Project and current executive director of Greenpeace USA. 

Before Leonard takes the stage in February, check out these fast facts about the first non-profit leader to serve as an IDEA Conference keynote speaker. 

1. She grew up in Seattle and lives in San Francisco.
   
   
2. Leonard first worked for Greenpeace as an intern in 1988, which gave her the opportunity to travel the world and investigate the life cycle of our trash. 
   
   
3. In the late 1980’s she was an intern at the National Wildlife Federation. 
   
   
4. She has a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University. 
   
   
5. In the early 2000’s, she was a co-founder and coordinator of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, a worldwide alliance with a mission to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. 
   
   
6. In 2007, Leonard produced the Story of Stuff, a 20-minute documentary that told the story of all of our stuff, where it comes from and where it goes. After viral success, she transformed the documentary into a nonprofit that inspires and encourages civic engagement towards climate action around the world. 
   
   
7. Since her first documentary, she and the Story of Stuff Project have produced eight more videos that uncover specific waste topics including cosmetics, electronics, and plastic water bottles. 
   
   
8. She is the Executive Director of Greenpeace USA. Greenpeace is the world’s largest independent environmental organization whose mission is to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions for future generations. 
   
   
9. She serves on multiple advisory boards, including Ben & Jerry’s and Public Citizen, the organization leading the 2013 appeal of Facebook’s “Sponsored Stories” privacy settlement. 
   
   
10.  She has testified in front of the U.S Congress on international waste trafficking.
    
    
11. In 2008, Leonard was named one of Time magazine’s 100 environmental heroes.

Are you passionate about sustainability and climate action, too? Don’t miss these sessions at the IDEA Conference. 

• Panel: How to Transform Big Ideas and Create a World You Want to Live In? Ever wonder how innovators manage to turn their big visions for the world into reality? How do they follow their passion and leverage their skills to tackle complex problems? Come learn from four successful entrepreneurs who are doing just this and get insights into how they overcome challenges and adjust to realize their dreams.
  
  
• Workshop: Leadership in Climate Action: Entrepreneurs, Universities, and Cities How can a university or a city pursue a goal of carbon neutrality? Learn how partnerships with stakeholders who are committed to meeting the goal are key to bold solutions for big challenges.

Register for IDEA Conference 2020

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