Sam Elsom

What we pass down. Partner to @shereecommerford and father to Sugar and Captain, @samelsom_ is a passionate environmentalist and 2025 Tasmanian Australian of the Year. His life is grounded in a deep sense of responsibility to land, to future, and to family. Sam reflects on how Sheree’s energy shapes the rhythm of their family – the way she lifts those around her, turning even the most ordinary moments into something memorable. This Mother’s Day, we honour the qualities that make our mothers so special. The small, often unspoken things that shape who we are and stay with us over time, and the ways we hope to be more like them every day.

Happy 100th Birthday @davidattenborough what inspirational impact you’ve had on us all!

As my time as Tasmanian Australian of the Year comes to a close, I am proud to hand the torch to @jo_kippax and recognise a remarkable new cohort of Tasmanians as finalists and nominees. Each of them is making extraordinary contributions across various fields, redefining what it means to be Australian and making real impact in their community. For me this platform has provided an opportunity to meet hundreds of young Tasmanian’s to share a message of hope and opportunity, to share the importance of working together to create meaningful change. When we unite our efforts, combining diverse perspectives and skills, we amplify our impact, fostering innovation allowing us to tackle complex challenges more effectively than we could alone and that really has been our journey @seaforestaustralia I feel incredibly honoured to have received this award and grateful to have shared the experience with other inspirational individuals who are now dear friends @ariarnetitmus_ @young_leaders_of_tasmania Thank you to Tasmania and thank you to our local community in Orford and Triabunna for your support in all its forms. Together, we’re not just shaping our community we are laying the foundation of hope and positive change for future generations and shining a global spotlight on our regional town. #AustralianOfTheYear #Tasmania #CommunitySpirit #TogetherWeCan

I feel blessed to have met Jane Goodall on several occasions over the journey and to have been touched by her kind eyes and gentle spirit. Yet she was a force and travelling endlessly educating and inspiring young people around the world. Right until her last breath. It’s hard to come to terms with the loss. But let her final reflections inspire us all: “every action counts, every voice matters.” 🌍💚 @janegoodallinst

No words can’t express the feeling of this moment or at least I can’t find the ones to do it justice The beauty of this place takes your breath away and watching these incredible creatures roam their icy kingdom fills me with awe and gratitude… and a sense of responsibility, a gentle reminder of our role in protecting these almost mythical animals and their arctic home. The weight of this encounter is not lost on me. @ponant @lecommandantcharcot @elyseecollective Thank you so much @elisehassey for the lens 🙏

Being in this place and navigating this landscape, 270 nautical miles from Tassilaq near the tip of our planet it’s hard not to feel completely insignificant against the power of the elements and yet at the same time be confronted by the effects of Climate Change largely driven by the evolution of our existence. It’s crazy also to think about the wild history of exploration in East Greenland and to wonder how in the world sailors in the 1800’s could possibly fared in the freezing and isolated conditions. This fjord on the Blosseville coast is steep and hard to access due to ice floes, heavy fog and dangerous currents. It is fed by ancients glaciers flowing from the ice sheet create large icebergs locked in the fast ice. This area is named after French explorer Jules de Blosseville, commander of “La Lilloise”. In 1833 Lt. Blosseville first sighted the stretch of unexplored coast between the 68th and the 69th parallel north. He decided to survey the coast more thoroughly and sailed first to Iceland to make repairs on his ship. Then he headed back to the area of this coast but was lost without a trace. In the years that followed, apparently three expeditions were organized to find Blosseville and the 83 other men on the ship but no trace was ever discovered.

In the vast stillness of East Greenland — a land of ice, silence, and unbelievable beauty — how we choose to explore has never mattered more. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 but achieving this means rethinking everything — from how we shape a ship’s hull to the energy that powers it. It is a massive challenge for the industry, one that stretches from polar expedition vessels to the cargo ships. And while the world debates and delays, some have leaned into the challenge. Mathieu Petiteau is one such figure. A distinguished French maritime engineer and the Director of Newbuilding and R&D at @ponant , Mathieu is an inspiring and humble guy who has reimagined what a modern expedition vessel can be. With Le Commandant Charcot, he did not simply build a ship — he and his team have lead a movement. From the outset, the vessel was designed to tread lightly. Every system, every angle, every decision guided by one question: “What is the gentlest way we can be here?” 💡 A hybrid electric engine powered by LNG, dramatically cutting emissions 🔇 Quiet propulsion to protect the acoustic world of marine life 💧 Sophisticated systems to treat water and recover waste heat 🧭 Intelligent navigation that hovers without anchoring — leaving the seabed undisturbed and many more. Through collaboration and innovation, Le Commandant Charcot is leading a new wave of maritime engineering and vessel design and supporting the IMO to meet its reduction target. It’s great to see examples of individuals taking on the challenge of decarbonisation and company’s like @ponant behind them supporting the efforts. #LeCommandantCharcot #LowImpactExploration #exploretoinspire @ponant @lecommandantcharcot @elyseecollective

Scaling this wild Greenland arctic peak was a crazy experience! 🏔️❄️ Stepping way out of the comfort zone, facing the raw freezing elements and feeling so small in this vast, isolated wilderness. Guided by our @ponant naturalist, learning about the ancient rocks shaped by glaciers and rare arctic plants like the crowberry which thrives in the tundra and is often found in places where most other plants would struggle to survive. They provide vitamin C vital to the Greenland Inuit. I’m not sure what I was expecting of this place but it’s extraordinary. @lecommandantcharcot @ponant @elyseecollective #lecommandantcharcot #exploretoinspire

Waking up to this almost imaginary world of drifting sea ice as far as the eye can see was about as surreal as it gets but also the most extraordinary experience. A landscape shaped by time, silence and elemental force. Being here feels like entering a living archive. Through the ice cores holding memories of Earth’s past and signals about its future. @lecommandantcharcot @ponant @elyseecollective @shereecommerford #lecommandantcharcot #PONANT #exploretoinspire

📍Today we embark aboard @ponant Le Commandant Charcot—a state-of-the-art polar expedition vessel—headed for one of the most remote and extraordinary places on Earth: Greenland’s icy frontier. Named after explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, this vessel is more than a ship—it’s a bridge between science, exploration, and our responsibility to better understand fragile polar ecosystems. I am grateful for the opportunity to witness it and excited for what lies ahead but for now we sail into the abyss. ❄️🌍🧭 #LeCommandantCharcot #GreenlandExpedition @lecommandantcharcot @elyseecollective #ExploreToInspire #PolarExploration #PONANT

“We rely entirely on this finely tuned life support machine and it relies on its biodiversity to run smoothly.” “The ocean is the heart of our planet’s climate system, silently regulating temperature and absorbing a third of our carbon emissions, yet we ignore its fragile balance at our peril.” @sirdavidattenborough 🌊 Ocean reveals the underwater world as a climate powerhouse—plankton and marine ecosystems sequester massive amounts of CO2, while ocean currents distribute heat globally. The film pulls back the curtain on a world we often ignore. It’s heartbreaking yet hopeful. 🌍 #OceanFilm #ClimateAction #SaveOurSeas

🌿🌊 For very close to a century, Sir David Attenborough has been a beacon, illuminating the intricate tapestry of the natural world for millions. His voice—steady, reverent, and urgent—has carried us into the hidden lives of creatures, from the fleeting dance of a firefly to the ancient migrations of whales. Through his pioneering work in nature documentaries, he’s not just shown us the world; he’s redefined how we see it, offering intimate windows into lives so fragile, so vibrant, that they’ve forever changed our understanding of our place within the web of life. 🐳🌍 Sir David’s genius lies not only in his innovation—revolutionizing filmmaking to capture the impossible—but in his ability to stir the soul. His stories have been my compass, guiding me to care fiercely for our planet, to question our impact, and to seek paths toward restoration. He’s shown us that knowledge breeds responsibility, and responsibility breeds hope. That hope drives me to contribute, however I can, to a world where ecosystems thrive and humanity treads lightly. 🌱💡 Last night we celebrated the premiere of Ocean, what may be his final film, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and awe. This is more than a documentary; it’s a testament to a life devoted to truth, beauty, and advocacy. On the eve of his 99th birthday, I stand in reverence of Sir David—a man who has not only documented nature’s wonders but has inspired generations to protect them. His legacy is a call to action, a reminder that we, too, can shape a future where the wild heart of our planet beats strong. 🌏🙏 Here’s to Sir David Attenborough, whose unmatched contributions have left an indelible mark on our hearts and our world. May we honor him by carrying his vision forward. 💚✨ #DavidAttenborough #OceanFilm #NatureLegacy #Conservation #EnvironmentalStewardship #HopeForThePlanet