Conservationist, award-winning photographer and founder of Save Sunrise Glossies Spencer Hitchen, 15, will bring his message of hope and action to Logan’s LEAF festival on Sunday June 7.
The young environmental advocate, who has already met world-renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, began his conservation journey at just six years old before later taking a stand to protect glossy black cockatoos near his Sunshine Coast home.
A close connection with a pair of cockatoos transformed that early interest into action, after Spencer watched birds he later named “Tea for Two” feeding in a forest slated for clearing.
“When I found out that whole forest would be destroyed, that was my spark to get started,” he said.
The story deepened when the pair returned with a fledgling, affectionately named “Fledge”, which Spencer watched grow in the habitat he was fighting to protect.
The young bird became a symbol of hope, but after the habitat was cleared, Fledge was killed on a nearby road — a loss Spencer said strengthened his resolve to keep advocating for wildlife.
“It was really about loving nature first,” he said.
“From loving nature, I went to my local environment group and learned about these incredible species.”
His passion has since taken him to stages across Australia and to meetings with Dr Goodall and wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin, with Spencer describing the Goodall encounter as “absolutely incredible”.
He also features in the 2025 documentary Love Letter to the Unseen, which follows his journey to Tasmania/Lutruwita to learn about the endangered Maugean skate, a stingray-like species more than 65 million years old, and the pressures threatening its only remaining habitat.
His outreach work includes an annual wildlife photography calendar, started with the help of a Jane Goodall Institute Roots & Shoots mini grant and Noosa Biosphere award, which he uses to raise awareness and inspire action.
At LEAF, Spencer hopes to encourage Logan’s young residents to take action for local wildlife.
“I think all kids love nature, you just need a spark to get started,” he said.
“Get out in your local environment and observe, learn, protect.
“That’s how I started, everyone can do that in their backyards.”
He said even built-up areas had wildlife worth protecting, pointing to wetlands such as Eagleby as important birdlife habitats.
“We can’t do it alone, but all of us doing small things together makes a massive difference,” he said.
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