| Local football hero to give global perspective of why we need to act locally |
 “I’m really pleased to represent the Australian Conservation Foundation at the launch of this important program that will help local businesses to live up to the motto “think globally and act locally”, Kannar said. A serious knee injury resulted in early retirement for this promising young rugby player. Rugby’s loss may be the environment’s gain with Kanaar turning to his next passion, the environment. He has recently taken on the role of NSW Sustainability Manager with Visy Recycling and was personally trained by Nobel Peace prize winner Al Gore, and is schooled in the science specific to Australian climate change issues. Australian Conservation Foundation’s Climate Project aims to educate Australians on the issues and consequences of climate change, using the material in Al Gore’s famous ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ slide show. Kanaar has strong links to the region that Business Treading Lightly covers. His family still reside in Nowra and he was schooled at Bowral’s Oxley College before moving to Sydney to continue his education at Sydney University. It was at university that Kanaar shone on the rugby field, beginning his career the Sydney University Club, spending three seasons in Colts before breaking into first grade in 2004. He achieved Australian Universities selection in 2003 and represented Australia at U21 level in 2004, just months before joining the Waratahs on their development tour of Argentina. The 10 months that followed that tour were nothing short of outstanding, seeing Kanaar make his state, Super Rugby, Australia A and Test debuts to finish the 2005 season as one of this country’s form second rowers. In 2006 he played every Waratahs Super 14 match but unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury at the beginning of 2007, which kept him sidelined for the season. Early this year he was forced to retire from rugby as the injury failed to heal, despite a knee reconstruction and two more operations. Kanaar is now combining his two loves by working with the NSW Rugby Union on green initiatives. He is the driving force behind their efforts to tackle climate change including recycling office waste, using renewable energy at the Stadium and choosing recyclable materials where possible. |
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 This program has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust |
